A/Prof. Beau Beza

Dr. Beza’s academic career was set in motion during his PhD studies where he combined aesthetic transactions and evidence-based decision making to produce outcomes. His thesis involved developing an aesthetic model that he used to identify local resident and tourist perceptions of the Mt. Everest landscape. This perceptual data, obtained from 150 respondents in Nepal and Australia, was analysed using statistical techniques (e.g.  ANOVA, Cluster & Factor Analysis) and the aesthetic model to provide for evidence-based decision making in his development of a waste management system for the Junbesi Valley, Nepal.

Beau performs three roles in his position at Deakin University. Below is a brief synopsis of each, his roles are:

Deputy Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning:
To be responsible for overseeing and implementing projects related to improving student learning outcomes and academic teaching across the four Schools in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE). In support of the Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (ADTL); i) To advise on issues related to teaching and learning (T/L) across the Faculty, ii) To support the Faculty advance its T/L objectives in its four schools, and iii) To proactively engage in T/L matters with Deakin University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education (DVCE), Pro Vice-Chancellor-Teaching and Learning, Dean of Students and its faculties, committees and academic/research groups.

Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning (Curriculum):
To provide leadership to the School of Architecture and Built Environment (A+B) in all aspects of Deakin's T/L plans and be an active member of the School Executive. To work collaboratively with the professoriate, academic and administrative staff of A+B and SEBE, to ensure high quality T/L within the School. To develop and deliver accredited, high quality on-campus and cloud-based teaching programs. To work collaboratively with the Faculty's ADTL, Deputy General Manager, the Governance and Curriculum Group and the Student and Staff Support Group to ensure the management of the School's teaching and learning align with the University and Faculty goals and plans.

Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment:
To teach in A+B with emphasis on cross-disciplinary design that is in theme with current issues and consistent with the University's principles of teaching, learning and the student experience. To develop learning environments that are flexible, student-centred and accessible, and to utilise appropriate technology. To contribute to research, scholarly publication and the generation of research funding. To develop and nurture links and partnerships with industry, professional bodies and the wider community. To supervise research and honours students, ensuring successful completions and the quality of results. To contribute to the administration of the School and Faculty.

Registered Landscape Architect, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

• Urban Perspectives (SRA742/PG)
• Urban Dynamics and Change (SRP782/PG)
• Intercultural Dialogue Through Design (SRD767/PG)
• Built Environment Research Project (SRR311/UG)
• Landscape Design Masterclass (SRD768/PG)
• Thesis (Landscape Architecture) (SRR716/PG)
• Built Enviironment Study Tour (SRR367/UG & SRR767/UG)
• Landscape Narrating and Meaning (SRL731/PG)
• Built Environment Research Project (SRR311/UG & SRR722/PG)

Urban Planning,

Landscape Architecture,

Urban Design,

Perception,

Placemaking, and

Development Planning

Links to industry       
2021 – Present: Chair, National Education Committee (NEC), Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.
2017 – Present: Member, National Accreditation Review Team (NART), Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.
2018 - Present: Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, VIC. Education Committee Member.
2013 – 2018: Director, Frueauf Village Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
2004 – 2015: Chair, Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal.
2007 – 2009: Environmental Design Guide Editorial Committee Member.
2003 – 2007: Editorial Advisory Board Member, Landscape Australia Magazine.
2004: National Jury Chair, 2004 AILA National Project Design Awards, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.
2003: Chair, Planning Jury, Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Victorian and Tasmanian Design Awards.

Professional Appointments         
2002 - 2004: Founding Director, Architects Without Frontiers, Melbourne, Australia.
1996 - 2000: Landscape Architect/Planner, EDAW (now AECOM), Melbourne, Australia. 
1994 - 1995: Project Manager, Urban Planning & Landscape Architecture Department, The Spink Corporation, Sacramento, California, USA.
1990 - 1994: Landscape Designer, The HLA Group, Sacramento, California, USA.

Professional Associations         
Registered Landscape Architect, Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture.
(American Society of Landscape Architects Eligible).
(Planning Institute of Australia Eligible).
Australian Karate Federation, Member (4th Dan – Sensei of Karate - i.e. 4th Degree Black Belt).

Recreational Associations        
Australian Sailing, Registered
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, Member
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, Member

Research Group Membership

Growing Up In Cities III: Project Lead, Co-ordinator & Researcher

Team Member of the Mediated Intelligence in Design (MInD) Lab

Research Team Member of the Live+Smart Research Lab

Researcher HOME

Competitive Grants/Awards/research consultancy and Prizes (Figures in Australian dollars) (Total from major awards 2010-2020: $1,736,000)

Endeavour Leadership Program grant, Australian Government Department of Education and Training (2019/20) $26,500. Title of project Informal Settlements: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Development, in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia and Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico.

Coastal scenario planning and assessment modelling research project (2019), $63,000. Through the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, in partnership with Deakin University’s Live Smart Research Lab (2019).

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)(2013-2017) $1.4 million (Chief Investigator (CI) and team member/Category 1/ACIAR project code ASEM/2012/063). Research title: Improving the methods and impacts of agricultural extension in conflict areas of Mindanao, Philippines.

Places Victoria/RMIT University Placemaking Research Grant (2011-2012) $100,000 (Chief Investigator/Category 2/Proj. Code: 0200309090).

Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre Limited (2010-2012) $84,000 (Chief Investigator/ Category 4/Proj. Code: 0200307878)

Various other grants pre-2011 total $62,533 (e.g. World Expeditions Travel Grant (2011), World Expeditions Corporation; Design Research Institute Grant (2010); Lonely Plant Foundation Grant (2006), The Lonely Planet.)

Current Substantive Research Project
I co-led the most globally expansive research into young people’s contemporary urban life. Growing Up In Cities III involves 17 countries and examines adolescent perceptions of urban space to better understand the impact the local environment has on their lives. The GUIC III project replicates two benchmark adolescent studies done in 1972 by MIT Professor Kevin Lynch and in 1998 by University of Colorado Professor Louise Chawla. Dr. Beza and Dr. Kreutz are the project’s lead researchers coordinating and directing the other international partners and the development of their respective studies. The GUIC III project is intended to empower children, providing them with a voice that advocates for their health and wellbeing, in contemporary urban contexts in Australia-Argentina, Canada-Chile-China-Colombia-El Salvador-India-Korea-Lebanon-Mexico-Nepal-New Zealand-Nigeria-South Africa-United Kingdom and USA. 

Self-Sourcing Research, Teaching &/or Co-Production Project Funding - From Intercultural, Development and Rebuilding Studios (Total income 2010-2019: $495,000) 

Nepal: Junbesi High School (Junbesi, Nepal)
Potable Drinking Water Co-Production Project (2019); Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology / Junbesi High School, Nepal / Junbesi Community, Nepal.

Junbesi High School Post-Earthquake Hostel Rebuilding and Co-Production Project (2016); Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology / Junbesi High School / Junbesi Community.

Student Hygiene Station Design Investigation and Co-Production Project (2012); Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia / Junbesi High School / Junbesi Community.

Nepal: Phungmoche Monastery & Sherpa Language Buddhist School (Phungmoche, Nepal)
Potable Drinking Water Co-Production Project (2018); Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology / Phungmoche Monastery & Sherpa Language Buddhist School.

Phungmoche Monastery Post-Earthquake Rebuilding and Co-Production Project (Phungmoche, Nepal) (2017); Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology / Phungmoche Monastery & Sherpa Language Buddhist School.

Incinerator Design Investigation and Co-Production Project (2010); Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia / Phungmoche Monastery & Sherpa Language Buddhist School.

Colombia
Informal Settlements: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Development (Bogotá) (2015); Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology / Universidad La Salle, Mexico / Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden.

Global Cities and Informal Settlement Investigation: Bogotá, Colombia & Mexico City, Mexico (2013): Deakin University, Australia / Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia / Queensland University of Technology, Australia/ Universidad La Salle, Mexico / Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia.

Mexico
Finding Common Ground: Creating Successful Places in the Redevelopment of Mexico City, Mexico and Melbourne, Australia (2014); Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia / Queensland University of Technology, Australia / Universidad La Salle, Mexico.