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.

Jamie Durie shares the story behind building his sustainable home on Sydney’s northern beaches. The future-focused build has incorporated 57,000 litres of rainwater storage and saved 178 tonnes of carbon dioxide during construction. This is equivalent to taking 39 cars off the road. It features an off-the-grid renewable energy system, uses thermally efficient materials and includes a state-of-the-art Australian-first home automation system to optimise efficiency.

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.