Profile

With a career that began in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical industries, I transitioned from an engineer and project manager role to the academic world, leveraging my industry experience to maintain strong ties through consultancy and research. At the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Dubai, my research focused on construction design, building assemblies, and maintenance, leading to numerous high-impact journal publications. This work was crucial in advancing energy efficiency and comfort in Dubai's building sector.

My research made significant strides in the performance evaluation of Dubai villas, particularly in addressing thermal bridges. Additionally, I conducted the first life cycle analysis (LCA) of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the UAE. My doctoral research was a pioneering effort in optimising building sustainability through the reuse of structural components, informed by my expertise in construction technology and waste management. Utilising advanced machine learning techniques, I developed guidelines for practitioners to evaluate the reusability of structural elements, making a groundbreaking contribution to the field.

At the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) at Leeds Beckett University (LBU), my focus was on enhancing building sustainability in the UK. My work involved evaluating new and old buildings, requiring an in-depth understanding of construction methods, design management, and project management. I was actively involved in projects with DESNZ and Innovate UK, employing techniques like Coheating and IR inspections to assess retrofit measures and conducting occupant comfort studies.

In collaboration with the CIOB, I co-authored the "Building Performance and Evaluation Guide", published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in January 2023. This guide is a significant contribution to CIOB's professional development initiatives. I also contributed to ‘Guide to Sustainability in the Built’ published by the CIOB in October 2023 that supports Construction Managers in sustainable project delivery.

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

  • UKGBC
  • DESNZ
  • Leeds Beckett University
  • University College London
  • University of Salford
  • University of Maine