2021 Jury
They’re leaders in their respective fields. They’re from universities, industry associations and architecture firms, and they know what sustainable buildings look like. They are world-class industry experts and world-class judges, and will ensure that only the country’s most pioneering green projects have made the final cut.
Dick Clarke
Principal & Building Designer, Envirotecture
Dick Clarke is principal of Envirotecture, with over 35 years’ experience focusing exclusively on ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate buildings, as well as sustainable design in vehicles and vessels.
He is Director of Sustainability for Building Designers Australia (BDA) and is a member of the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).
This is Clarke’s 13th year on the panel and is the Jury Chair.
Jeremy Spencer
Director, Builder & Energy Rater, Positive Footprints Sustainable Design & Construction
Jeremy Spencer has been a registered builder and director at Positive Footprints for nearly 20 years. He is an advocate for sustainable design and construction and serves on multiple industry boards.
Mahalath Halperin
Architect & Director, Mahalath Halperin Architects
Mahalath Halperin, FRAIA, has managed her architectural practice since the 1990s, focusing on sustainable and liveable designs. She also conducts environmental audits and has authored various publications, including children’s books.
Meron Tierney
Associate & Architect, John Wardle Architects
Meron is an enthusiastic and engaging team leader. With experience extending across all project stages her recent focus has been on the delivery of the Ballarat Gov Hub, a contemporary office building with a primary structure of mass timber.
Meron is a senior leader of the JWA ‘Blue Dot’ research group. Dedicated to acting towards meaningful climate action by critiquing all projects, curated research, and investing in exploratory projects such as the New Normal ‘Solar Pavilion’ for 2021 Melbourne Design week.
Meron’s genuine interest in community, urbanisation and landscape reinforces her advocacy for sustainability in all aspects of her life.
Michael Faine
Architect, Faine Group Architects
Michael Faine has been a registered architect since 1980 and to date, has worked on a multitude of building types, designs, construction and procurement methods.
His diverse career led him to a teaching position at the University of Western Sydney in the Bachelor of Building/Construction Management degree, and saw him acting as the Head of School for a time.
After 17 years as an academic, and juror positions on both the Building Designers Association of Australia and the HIA Awards, Michael is attuned to analysing the work of builders and designers, and understanding the price in the work they are carrying out.
Nermine Zahran
Senior Architect & Sustainability Manager, Koichi Takada Architects
RAIA, GSAP, LEED AP BD+C
Nermine is a senior architect and sustainability manager at Koichi Takada Architects. She has worked in Australia and internationally on a number of large and small scale projects covering a wide range of architectural typologies. She brings to every new opportunity a contagious passion for sustainable design as well as a comprehensive understanding of industry best practices.
Nermine also believes that it is vital to continually learn – and to educate others in the industry and in the general public – about ways to minimise the impact of the built environment on the planet. Beyond her aim to positively influence materials selection, construction methods, and ongoing energy-efficient operations strategies, she also seeks to ensure that the buildings and spaces we create are human-centred and improve human health and well-being. She believes that every project, no matter how large or small, is an opportunity to make our communities, and ultimately our world, more liveable and resilient.
Sandra Furtado
Director, Furtado Sullivan
Sandra is the co-founder of Furtado Sullivan, an architecture studio based in Sydney. The practice enjoys the challenge of translating a project’s complexity into a design that works with its environment, combining large-scale efficiency and sophistication with a bespoke design approach.
In the past, she has been intrinsically involved in notable large-scale projects including 8 Chifley, Barangaroo Masterplan and International Towers, and One Circular Quay hotel in Circular Quay.
Sandra has an extraordinary ability to understand urban complexity. Through holistic design thinking, she seeks synergies with multidisciplinary practices, harnessing collective knowledge in order to achieve goals creatively and drive the sustainability agenda.
Suzanne Toumbourou
Executive Director, Australian Sustainable Built Environmental Council (ASBEC)
Suzanne Toumbourou is currently the Executive Director of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and soon-to-be the CEO of the Australian Council on Recycling (ACOR), the leading national industry association for recycling and resource recovery in Australia. Her passion and expertise lie in communication, collaboration and an inclusive agenda for a sustainable Australia. Suzanne possesses key knowledge and insights of ecological environments that will be instrumental to accurately judging this year’s Sustainability Awards.
