2025 HIA Future Homes Forum & GreenSmart Awards

Australia has faced many natural disasters over the past few years. With more frequent and intense ones on the horizon, how do we design our homes to withstand these? Are our building codes fit for purpose, are correct planning systems in place, and what role should industry and governments play to mitigate disasters going forward? This HIA expert-led session will explore these issues and how we address the impact of increased clean up, repair and mitigation work.

We all know Australia needs more homes right now the question is how do we solve this crisis, how do we do it swiftly, responsibly and how do we allow the great Aussie dream of an affordable home to be realised again. There are plenty of new techniques and innovations out there and we are at an exact crossroads in our industry. I have spent 5 years researching all of this and even built a house and a television show around it. I look forward to sharing all of my findings with you during the Forum.

Emma Sutcliffe is Project Director at EV Firesafe. She researches EV battery fires and emergency response. An operational firefighter, early EV entrepreneur, charging and electrification specialist, Emma will share data-driven findings on what is known, what needs to be tested and how those designing and building to incorporate the demand for EV charging can do so safely and efficiently.

Chris Kerr, CEO of Clipsal Australia, is a leader in home electrification and sustainability. In his talk, he shares practical insights and personal experience on how Australian households can drive the shift to clean energy through solar, batteries, EVs, and smart tech.

Nick Sowden, winner of the 2024 Australian GreenSmart Renovation/Addition Project will present the build techniques and processes he used to transform a drafty, mould-ridden 1884 built house in Balmain, Sydney to a home achieving the PassivHaus’ EnerPHit Plus standard.

Urban Futurist Lucinda Hartley examines the future of housing through the lens of innovation and inclusivity. This session unpacks the housing crisis and key housing trends in relation to generational changes and emerging technology. It also highlights cutting-edge solutions in construction, financing, and design aimed at making housing more affordable, accessible, and adaptable.

Australians face one of the worst housing crises in generations. Homes are more complex to build. Planning issues and approval delays are common. In this session, our expert panel will discuss the importance of embracing technological solutions. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are offering promising opportunities, particularly when paired with the expansion of robotics.