A future for biomaterials in construction

Maria is a researcher, computational designer, and intermediate architectural graduate at Warren & Mahoney Architects. Since 2021, Maria has been researching the market viability of biomaterials in construction, particularly mycelium bio-composites, and how their characteristics can influence market perceptions. As NZGBC’s Future Thinker of the year, Maria aims to facilitate multi-disciplines conversations regarding the drivers and barriers for biomaterial market uptake.

Ged recently completed his doctoral studies at Victoria University of Wellington which focused on the design and evaluation of circular building systems. In 2020 Ged co-founded XFrame - a circular economy construction start-up, with the ambition of commercializing his research. Now with more than three years of market traction XFrame has delivered prefabricated circular building solutions in offices across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Kelly has a strong interest in systems design, circular economy strategies, bio-based materials and sustainable design practice. She joined the Aurecon Aotearoa Advisory team in 2022 and specialises in Circular Economy. Kelly has innovation and sustainability project experience from a range of NZ sectors, including textiles, agriculture, manufacturing, FMCG, packaging and infrastructure. Projects have included circular strategic change implementation, life cycle assessment studies and methodology development, Environmental Product Declarations and continuous improvement quality assurance. She has a Bachelor of Design (1st class Hons), majoring in textiles and in 2014 completed a Masters of Design as a Callaghan Innovation Fellow at Massey University’s College of Creative Arts.

Kelly is also co-founder of social enterprises Reuse Aotearoa and CommonKind and is a Life Cycle Association of NZ committee member, co-chairing the Best Practice Working Group. She lives in Porirua, New Zealand with her husband and three daughters and is involved in local community projects as Chair of Ahu Charitable Trust ki Pukerua Bay which organises local cultural and arts events such as Matariki Celebration and is also part of Pukerua Bay’s grassroots climate action rōpū.

Maggie MacKinnon is a Teaching Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Architecture and Design. With her interdisciplinary background in biology and architecture, Maggie’s research connects both fields and investigates how architecture can provide habitat for native species in cities to increase urban biodiversity and mitigate climate change impacts.

Stuart is an Architectural Consultant, working out of the Wellington office of T&R Interior Systems. With his background in music his strengths lie in acoustic solutions. He has been championing the use of wool in interior spaces since the launch of Floc in November 2022