Let’s transition concrete for a sustainable Australia together
Communities of Practice (CoPs) serve as collaborative networks that unite stakeholders – including researchers, developers, architects, industry associations, and government agencies – to share knowledge, solve problems, and innovate. By connecting people with shared professional interest, CoPs foster collective learning and continuous improvement across the concrete ecosystem.
Aligned with SmartCrete CRC’s three research themes—Sustainable Concrete, Engineered Solutions, and Asset Management—we have established three CoPs that
Each CoP draws inspiration from the Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector report and features industry use cases and research outcomes.
While concrete is a versatile and sustainable construction material, its significant carbon footprint and intensive use have raised concerns about its sustainability, driving research and innovation to transform and decarbonise concrete.
The Sustainable Concrete CoP connects concrete experts, material scientists and industry practitioners to discuss the latest trends and advancements in concrete mix design, applying circular economy principles – reduce, reuse and recycle – to produce concrete with minimal carbon impact.
Arun is a product development engineer at Advanced Precast Australia, where he is focused on developing innovative automated product lines for precast concrete products.
With a PhD in Concrete 3D Printing from Swinburne University of Technology, Arun has pioneered advancements in ultra-high-performance concrete for 3D printing applications.
His research earned him the Best Concrete PhD Research Award at the CIA’s Concrete 2023 conference.
The impact that concrete has on Australia’s build environment often lies in the hands of engineers who specify, select and implement the materials, design and construction practices that ensure the durability, longevity and sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.
The Engineered Solutions CoP brings together industry experts and researchers from across several engineering disciplines who are interested in learning and discussing the things that engineers can do to improve designing and building with concrete.
Olivia is the product portfolio manager ANZ at Reid Construction Systems.
She has an engineering background and global experience in the construction and biomedical industries.
As vice president of the Concrete Institute of Australia (Vic) and in previous roles such as structural engineer at D&C Consultants, she has developed expertise in project management, business relationships, team development and leadership.
Australia’s concrete buildings and infrastructure are exposed to harsh and variable weather conditions that impact their lifespan, as well as industrial applications that contribute to their degradation. Innovative solutions are needed to effectively maintain and manage those assets.
This community brings together industry professionals, researchers and asset managers to share knowledge, strategies and innovations for preserving and enhancing the longevity and performance of concrete structures.
Gavin Chadbourn has more than 30 years’ experience in construction, engineering consultancy and asset management spanning transport, utilities and resources sectors in Australia, UK, Singapore, and the Middle East.
His current areas of focus are in real-time monitoring of infrastructure, digital twins, durability design, asset management and decarbonisation.
Gavin holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a PhD in concrete materials from Aston University in Birmingham, UK. He is a past president of the QLd chapter of the Concrete Institute and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
You can find recordings of previous sessions at our YouTube channel.
Below are the upcoming sessions, including discussion topics and featured speakers. Sign ups are via Eventbrite and join us via Microsoft Teams.
For a look ahead at this year’s proposed topics and speakers, download the 2025 schedule.
