Timothy McCarthy

Professor Tim McCarthy retired as Director of SBRC in January 2025. He held that position for 4 years. He currently holds an honorary professorship at SBRC. Previously, he was Head of School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (2018-2021). He held the Chair of Structural Steel and Design in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong in since December 2004. Tim is passionate about Sustainable Engineering and Engineering Education. He was the Principal investigator on a major research project into the use of cold formed steel in mid-rise residential buildings at the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre. He combines his interest in renewable energy such as wave energy with onshore sustainability research. In 2011, Tim was co-leader when Team UOW and gained entry into the Solar Decathlon China 2013 competition. Team UOW were the first team from Australia to gain entry into a Solar Decathlon, and took a unique approach to the competition by being the first to demonstrate how to retrofit an existing home. The final of the competition was held in Datong, China in August 2013, and Team UOW was successful in winning first place! From 2016-2019 Tim lead another Solar Decathlon challenge. This time Team UOW competed in Dubai in 2018 with a new net zero energy house. The new house, dubbed Desert Rose, is both energy efficient and dementia friendly – a home suitable for ageing occupants as they enter life’s twilight years. The Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 took place in November 2018. Team UOW won Second Prize over all with Gold medals in Innovation, Comfort Conditions, Silver in Energy Efficiency and Bronze in Sustainability, House functioning. The Team also won first prize for Interior Design, and Second prize for Creative Solutions and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (special awards). In 2020 Desert Rose was awarded the Australian Engineering Excellence Award by Engineers Australia, Sydney Division. Tim inspires people to do extraordinary things and to raise their skills and their aspirations. He has established two Solar Decathlon teams each with over 200 students and 40 academics involved. He was a key member of the bid team that successfully won $25M to establish the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (where he is now the Director, leading a team of 25 researchers and almost 50 PhDs). As Head of School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, he established the innovative degree program in Architectural Engineering. Tim’s research is eclectic and reflects his passion for working with people across many disciplines. Structural engineering, Built environment and design, Construction materials