In a time when "innovation", "collaboration" and "industry engagement" are frequently cited objectives across the global tertiary and research sectors, what does it mean to specifically design, build and foster for innovation? What does it look like?
We are excited to announce that Melbourne Connect has opened its doors to our network for a panel, followed by a tour, to specifically consider this question. Join us as we hear from key women that lead what is now widely regarded as a preeminent example of a purpose-built precinct for innovation and digital transformation.
Our panel presenters are:
Hazel Porter – Principal and Design Architect, Woods Bagot
Since the inception of Melbourne Connect with a design competition in June 2016, Hazel has been Woods Bagot's principal design leader on the project. The Woods Bagot team has led the masterplanning and architectural design of the buildings, working with Lendlease and the University of Melbourne, and Urbanest and Hayball, to deliver Australia's first innovation precinct.
An architect with over 18 years' of experience, Hazel excels on projects which transfer knowledge and research across typologies. Her architectural and master-planning expertise extends across an uncommon diversity of projects, including commercial, residential, lifestyle, and education developments.
Hazel is the recipient of several awards for her design and delivery skills and has been closely involved in some of the Woods Bagot's award-winning projects. She believes strongly in keeping the people she's designing for at the heart of the process. With a communication style that is clear and consultative, she holds the design's quality and integrity through all phases in her leadership of a project, from concept visioning to on-site construction.
Georgia von Guttner – Director Innovation Precincts, University of Melbourne
Georgia's career has been at the intersection of industry, government and the higher education sectors, establishing companies and new university centres & impact-directed programs in Australia, UK, Europe and the USA.
As the Director, Innovation Precincts at the University of Melbourne, Georgia is creating and activating innovation ecosystems through the recruitment of and partnering services for targeted cohorts of industry partners at the University's new purpose-built innovation precincts: Melbourne Connect (digital futures); Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (infectious disease preparedness); Aitkenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (medtech); and, Fisherman's Bend (precision engineering and the built environment).
Stephanie Kocovski – Design Manager, Lendlease
As a Project Engineer for Lendlease Construction delivering Melbourne Connect, Stephanie was instrumental in bringing key design concepts to life across several innovative elements of Melbourne Connect. These include the highly complex structure of the laminated timber low-rise building (now home to Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre and FROEBEL Carlton Early Learning Centre), developing innovative, embedded moisture-testing systems for timber construction, the 9-metre-tall, precast entry portals and the digital, interactive and illuminated glass bricks that celebrate the Grattan Street entry to Science Gallery Melbourne.
Stephanie's achievements on Melbourne Connect have been recognised by the industry, including as winner of the NAWIC Award for Outstanding Design (Victoria, 2020). Through this achievement, her approach to collaboration across complex client, technical consultant and subcontractor stakeholder groups was acknowledged as key to ensuring the successful realisation of each design vision.
