Zora Vrcelj

Background

About Zora Vrcelj

Professor Zora Vrcelj is the head of Victoria University’s Built Environment and Engineering program. She established the Built Environment discipline from the ground up, leading the design and accreditation of programs in Construction Management, Building Surveying, and Architectural Design, and building strong industry and professional networks to support their success. Under her leadership, these programs have proliferated, becoming a distinctive part of Victoria University’s higher education portfolio. Before joining Victoria University in 2012, Zora spent 12 years as an academic at UNSW’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. During her time at UNSW, she was one of two key academics who initiated and introduced the Bachelor of Civil Engineering with Architecture, the first program of its kind in Australia. The program was highly successful, consistently attracting students with very high ATAR scores, and became highly sought after by the industry. It addressed pressing questions about what a “next generation structural engineer” should look like and how to bridge the gap between civil engineering and architecture in practice. Her research focuses on developing technologies to advance built environment and engineering education, improving the performance of high-functioning structures (such as smart buildings and civil infrastructure), and driving digital transformation in construction quality control and health and safety practices. She has initiated and led numerous research undertakings in areas including smart infrastructure, sustainable materials, digitalisation of construction, and multimedia learning tools, securing over $3M in research funding (ARC DP, CRC, Australian Teaching & Learning Council, Sustainability Victoria, and others). Since 2010, Zora has also served as a Visiting Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and has published over 140 refereed technical publications. Zora's website: