Katrina Simon will join RMIT’s School of Architecture and Design in the position of associate dean of landscape architecture in July this year.
Simon has a background in architecture, landscape architecture and fine art and has worked in both in industry in the UK and New Zealand, and as an academic at the University of Auckland, the University of Cambridge (UK), the Unitec Institute of Technology (NZ) and most recently the University of New South Wales. Her research focuses on the role of public open space in structuring the urban realm, and on the impact of geographical conditions on the design of cities.
“Katrina is passionate about [bringing] an integrated approach to new generations of designers and researchers,” said dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Design, Martyn Hook, in a statement.
Over her twenty year academic career, Simon has played a major role in the development of professionally accredited undergraduate and postgraduate landscape architecture programs, including the research Master of Landscape Architecture by project program at Unitec, and the development of a new coursework Master of Landscape Architecture at UNSW. She has also been a key figure in multiple design teams that have won and placed in numerous art, landscape and urban design competitions and awards. Simon was a collaborator with the team that won the national NZIA Planning and Urban Design Award for Hurstmere Green, Takapuna in 2014, and was part of a design team with other researchers from UNSW whose entry was a finalist in the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial design competition in 2015.
“[I am] delighted to be joining an institution [with such] a strong tradition in design, that is so committed to ideas and experimentation,” stated Simon in a recent press release.
