Roberto Minunno Senior Lecturer at School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University

Roberto Minunno earned his PhD in the circular economy of prefabricated buildings from Curtin University and is dedicated to sustainability-focused research and teaching. With a background in structural analysis and a passion for innovative approaches, Roberto served as the Course Coordinator for the Master Course in Environment and Climate Emergency, overseeing a diverse cohort of 270 students across fifteen units. In this role, Roberto coordinated the curriculum and taught core units such as Sustainability Dissertation 1 and 2, Future Cities, and Sustainable Waste Management. He mentored over 30 Master’s students, guiding them to successful completion and publishing three dissertations in high-quality academic journals. Roberto’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices extends beyond the classroom. Roberto ideated and built the Legacy Living Lab: a movable, disassemblable modular construction that fosters an understanding of the circular economy of building materials and components. Legacy Living Lab was a collaborative effort engaging 26 industry partners for AU$ 1M and is now used for teaching and industry engagement. His efforts were recognised with prestigious awards, including the Curtin Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Award (2022), the Pro-Vice Chancellor Award (2023), and the Best Early Career Researcher of the Year (2022). Roberto is currently co-director of a research project on Making the Circular Economy of Western Australia, a AU$300k project.