Sean McArdle
B.A. (Arch), B Arch (Hons)

Position in firm: Senior Associate
Primary role at SBE: Project Architect

Professional memberships:
Green Star Accredited Professional

Sean McArdle is a registered Architect with a significant background in tertiary facilities development as a senior project architect.

Sean has had first hand experience at briefing and designing academic facilities that embrace ESD principles. His project experience has been tempered by the rigour of tight budgets and high expectations. He has learnt how to prioritise and justify ESD initiatives and ensure their implementation is managed successfully through to project completion and beyond.

ESD buildings must be fit for purpose for both the users and those that manage and operate the facility. A thorough consideration of the full life cycle cost of the building during design will deliver optimised, beneficial and lasting environmental outcomes.

Sean is a firm believer in the contribution indoor environment quality (IEQ) can make towards increased productivity and improved learning outcomes. A good ESD building will embrace IEQ as a fundamental design influence.

Danielle McCartney
MPhil (Env. Design) Cambridge University, UK
BArch (UNSW)

Position in firm: Senior Associate

Primary role at SBE: Sydney Office Manager

Professional memberships:
• Green Star Accredited Professional
• Alternative Technology Association (2008 - )

Danielle McCartney manages the Sydney office of SBE. She has a strong technical background in architecture and specialises in integrating sustainability into the built environment.

Danielle has provided ESD advice and direction for a range of new buildings, fit-outs and refurbishments, including commercial, residential, education, aged care, community and public buildings as well as mixed-use, master planning and Defence projects.

Danielle has been involved in the development of ESD strategies, with this work including the development of design briefs, target setting, recommendations for sustainability initiatives, implementation advice, and performance measuring. She has further project experience in materials selection, “greening” specifications, feasibility studies, research and development, building thermal modelling and project management. Danielle has authored content for the Australian Government’s Your Building and Your Development websites and is on the steering committee for the Your Home publication. Danielle’s area of specialist expertise is sustainable master planning.

Danielle firmly believes that the collaborative integration of architectural and engineering services from the earliest concept design stage and the establishment of a framework for embedding sustainability into each stage of the planning, design, construction, operation and management process will optimise the sustainability performance of buildings and developments in operation.

Danielle previously held the position of Senior Sustainability Consultant with Maunsell Australia and gained invaluable experience on innovative European projects whilst acting as an Environmental Consultant with FaberMaunsell’s Sustainable Development Group in London. Danielle has a strong technical background in architecture, having worked with Romandi and De Luis Architects in Sydney, as well as Deffet Architectes et Partenaires in Belgium.

Nicki Taylor
B. Env. Eng (Hons), B Arts (Asian Studies)

Position in Firm: Associate Director
Primary role at SBE: ESD Engineer

Professional memberships:
• Society of Environmental Engineers, Australia (2006-)
• Australian Water Association Young Professional (2007-)
• Green Star Accredited Professional (2006)
• MUSIC – Integrated Stormwater Treatment Trained (2007)
• Alternative Technology Association Member (2007-)

Nicki Taylor is an Environmental Engineer and Associate Director of Sustainable Built Environments which has offices in Melbourne and Sydney and associated offices in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and London. She has a strong technical background in the development, review and use of assessments tools to measure building performance.

Nicki has provided ESD input and direction in over 200 projects. Nicki has been an ESD consultant to integrated design teams in based in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania. She has provided ESD advice on commercial, residential, aquatic and public buildings being either new building designs, refurbishments or fit-out. Notable projects include the 500 Collins Street refurbishment, Northbank, Lacrosse and the Carlton Housing Redevelopment.

Nicki has worked with both state and local government bodies on the regulation and adoption of ESD principles in the building industry, and involves herself in research projects on a continual basis to ensure that her knowledge is current. Recent research and development projects have included; the development of Class 2 benchmarks, Planning and ESD, and cost benefits analysis of 6 star HERS dwellings.

Nicki has been involved in the training of professionals in all of her professional roles and strongly believes that communication and the translation of theory is the key to better environmental outcomes. She has published papers on embodied energy, building modelling validation post-construction, and the autonomous home.

Steve Moller
B.E. (Mech)
M. AIRAH; M. ANZSES
Qualifications: Accredited Green Star professional and NABERS assessor

Position in Firm: Senior Associate, Senior ESD Engineer
Primary role at SBE: Engineering Team Leader

Professional memberships:
Australian Institution of Refrigeration Air conditioning and Heating (1982-)
Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (1982-)

Steve Moller is an energy specialist with significant experience in the development and application of energy modelling tools for commercial buildings.

In his current role at SBE, Steve has proposed and evaluated many measures for improving sustainability in many new and existing buildings, including the Dandenong Educational Precinct and the refurbishment of an historic hotel in Castlemaine. In many cases VE computer modelling has been used to test energy, ventilation and daylight strategies. Steve has also provided technical input to industry resources such as Your Building, City of Melbourne “Greening your building” and DEWHA ESD Operations Guide.

In his previous role with CSIRO, Steve was instrumental in the design and implementation of building simulation programs including Energy Express, Accurate and NATHERS. Steve also provided specialist ESD advice on a range of projects including the Sydney Olympic village, St James Theatre in Wellington, Gosnells Civic Centre in Perth and BlueScope Steel headquarters in Lonsdale St, Melbourne.

For more than 25 years, Steve has coordinated the implementation of building energy efficiency measures across the globe. He has been instrumental in producing valuable guidelines on energy efficiency and associated budget implications for a range of building typologies.

In addition to his energy efficiency specialisation, Steve has also designed mechanical services and conducted building energy audits for a range of commercial, institutional, health and educational projects. This has provided him with in-depth knowledge of the implications of energy efficiency measures in building design and operation.

Steve’s knowledge and experience adds valuable energy efficiency expertise to the SBE team.

Anetta Pizag
B Architecture and Building Engineering

Position in Firm: ESD Project Architect
Primary role at SBE: Project Architect and Documentation Coordinator

Professional memberships:
Green Star Accredited Professional

Anetta graduated from Technical University of Budapest, Hungary, and has worked in The Netherlands, Belgium and New Zealand before arriving in Melbourne in 2005. She has a strong commitment to sustainable architecture, from the initial concept through to the technical design details that ensure aesthetically, ecologically and economically sustainable solutions. Anetta's design philosophy is to consider the physical and social contexts of the project through a holistic design approach and integrated construction methods.

In addition to her international design experience, Anetta is familiar with residential and commercial ESD rating tools and is an accredited Green Star Professional.

Anetta is responsible for the coordination of SBE architectural projects through Concept Design, Town Planning, Contract Documentation and Contract Administration stages. Her project experience covers a wide range of building typologies, including retirement villages; healthcare facilities; tertiary education buildings; industrial and retail developments; office fit-outs, developments and refurbishments; residential buildings and villages; small public buildings; urban design concept plans and landscape concept plans.

Bernardo Cuter
BPD (Arch) B Arch (Hons)

Position in firm: Graduate Architect
Primary role at SBE: ESD Architect

Professional Membership:
Alternative Technology Association

Ben is a graduate architect from Deakin University. He has experience in a number of architectural projects through his previous work. He brings a depth of environmental understanding to SBE, and continues to develop this interest in both his personal and working environment. He is currently furthering his knowledge by undertaking a Masters degree at Deakin University researching how sustainable urban water infrastructure theory can be used to frame policy development within strategic planning at local government level.

Ben has significant experience working with Energy assessment tools, particularly in STEPS / SDS. In addition to working at SBE, he is currently working part-time with the City of Darebin as the ESD officer in the Urban Development Branch.

Ben has extensive experience in sustainability both in Melbourne and overseas in Swaziland and Sweden.

Chris Begert
MEng (Sustainable Energy)

Position in Firm: ESD Engineer
Primary Role at SBE: ESD Officer

Professional memberships:
Alternative Technology Association

Chris started to study mechanical engineering with focus on energy technologies at the TH Karlsruhe in Germany before he enrolled at the RMIT to finish his degree which is now completed. He has a keen interest in the built environment and believes that applying ESD features enhance not only the energy performance of buildings but can also improve the tenants’ productivity and well-being.

Before joining SBE, Chris was involved in various projects ranging from conducting Level 2 Energy Audits, modelling light levels and energy performance to revealing ESD opportunities at industrial facilities. In those projects he had the opportunity to work with clients like Hilton, Edlyn foods and CSIRO.

He promotes implementing ESD measures at an early stage to ensure that potential benefits can be maximised.

Pratik Pinakin Shah
M. Design Science (Sustainable Design) and (Building), University of Sydney
B. Architecture, India

Position in Firm: Graduate Architect / ESD Consultant
Primary Role at SBE: ESD Consultant

Building on his architectural degree, Pratik sought to deepen his understanding of sustainability in the built environment and recently graduated from The University of Sydney with a double degree in Sustainable Design and Building. He also acquired a Building Code of Australia Section J certificate during his Australian education. Pratik was involved in a national level design competition for a crematorium as well as an international competition to revitalise the Sydney Town Hall Precinct. His conviction about appropriate façade design has led him to design efficient shading devices for fenestrations facing various orientations.

Before pursuing his post-graduate education, Pratik worked in India for a few years in interior design, graphic design and landscape design on a wide range of projects including small to medium scale residential development and urban road re-development. It was during the independent commissioning of a detached residence that Pratik realised his passion for ESD principles in architecture, which has become his driving force.

Pratik believes in reducing the ecological footprint of the built environment by carefully considering the resource cycle based on a cradle to cradle approach. He is convinced that with innovative integration of appropriate architectural details and clever engineering services a more sustainable built environment can be achieved.