Dr Gillian Lawson


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Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology), MSc(Agr) (University of Sydney), GDipLandArch (Queensland University of Technology), Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) (Queensland University of Technology), BSc(Agr)(Hons) (University of New England)

Research Area: Landscape Planning and Design Dr Lawson has three main research fields:

  • Landscape Planning and Cultural Exchange
  • Community Spaces and Public Well-Being
  • Knowledge Choices and Social Equity

In many cities today, access to clean air, clean water and high quality green space have become important in the lives of local inhabitants. Dr Lawson’s research looks at how green infrastructure along waterfronts can reduce the vulnerabilities of communities to disturbance events in subtropical and tropical environments, focusing on:

  • green space strategies for city master plans,
  • biodiversity and water quality improvement in parkland design and
  • ecological plant selection and use.

Local community spaces are important environments for social change. Dr Lawson’s research investigates how people in community spaces develop a shared understanding in order to act and communicate with each other. In particular, her work is mostly dealing with:

  • public parks in Australia, China and Vietnam,
  • green transport links through cities and
  • intercultural sensitivity in local communities.

In many learning settings (universities, colleges, work and home), people are being asked to make important life choices. Dr Lawson’s research provides new insights into knowledge choices regarded as important in setting future directions for professional practice, particularly with:

  • students transitioning to university
  • students transitioning to the workplace and
  • international students from other cultures, particularly Asia.

Career History

  • 2011 – present: Senior Lecturer, QUT, School of Design, Brisbane, QLD
  • 2008 – 2010: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tongji University, Department of Landscape Studies, Shanghai, PR China
  • 2002 – 2007: PhD Candidate, part-time at QUT, Brisbane, QLD
  • 1986 – 2001: Served in the Australian Army Reserve, Sydney-Brisbane
  • 1998 – present: Lecturer, QUT, School of Design, Brisbane, QLD
  • 1997: Professional Officer, QLD Department of Primary Industries, Regional Office, Nambour, QLD
  • 1997: Research Assistant, Redland Shire Council, Cleveland, Brisbane, QLD
  • 1996 – 1997: Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Queensland
  • 1995 – 1996: Part-Time Lecturer, QUT, School of Planning, Landscape Architecture & Surveying, Brisbane, QLD
  • 1994: Visiting Research Fellow, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
  • 1987 – 1994: Horticulture Farm Manager, University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury, Richmond, Sydney, NSW
  • 1987: Quality Control Technician, Horticultural Propagation Enterprises, Kumeu, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1984 – 1986: Horticulture Research Assistant, The University of Sydney, School of Crop Sciences, Sydney, NSW
  • 1983 – 1984: Field Assistant, Hassell and Associates, Agricultural Consultants, Trangie & Sydney, NSW.

Projects

Additional information

Experience

International Exchanges: Dr Lawson’s academic work promotes international exchange and collaboration, in particular with the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and India. Click here to view examples of completed Higher Degree Research (HDR) projects:

HDR projects currently under supervision include:

  • Assessing the Landscape Character of Malaysia’s Heritage Urban River Corridors
  • Urban Surface Treatments and Underground Water Flows as a Mitigation and Preventative to Saline Intrusion Within Inland Urban Aquifers.
  • Integrating Maori Landscape Associations into Legislative Frameworks in New Zealand
  • Application of Vastu Shastra and Belief Systems in Housing Design in Kerala, India
  • Eco-acoustic Soundscape and Naturalness Mapping for Possible Development in Peri-Urban Landscapes
  • Playfulness in Urban Environments: Breaking Social Barriers through Hybrid Interactive Media

Extra-curricular activities have included:

  • Nov-Dec 2015: Mobile Design Studio in Can Tho, Vietnam with staff and students from the Vietnamese National University – HoChiMinh City, Can Tho Association of Architects (KTS Can Tho), HoChiMinh City University of Architecture and Ton Duc Thang University (TDT)
  • Nov 2013: Outbound Postgraduate Student Mobility Visits to BMS Institute of Technology, MSRIT in Bengaluru and Hindustan University in Chennai (incl visits to Kochi and Alleppy in Kerala)
  • Oct 2013: Visiting Scholar at the Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh (incl visits to Glasgow, Aberdeen, York)
  • Sep 2013: Academic Study (Singapore, Shanghai, Istanbul, Hamburg, London)
  • Jun 2011: Outbound Postgraduate Student Mobility Visits to Tongji University & Fudan University Design Institute in Shanghai, Hubei University in Wuhan, China and NUS, Singapore
  • May 2008 – May 2010: Postdoctoral Research at Tongji University Shanghai including visits to Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces
  • Oct 2009: Academic Study (London, Sheffield, Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Rio De Janeiro)
  • Jun 2009: Student Study Tour to Japan (Osaka, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Tokyo)
  • Mar – May 2008: Academic Study (Singapore, Vietnam, Yunnan, Chongqing, Three Gorges)
  • Nov – Dec 2007: Student Study Tour to China (QUT/RMIT) (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong)
  • Aug 2006: QUT Summer School for Tongji University Students (Brisbane)
  • May – June 2004: Teaching Exchange to Tongji University Shanghai

In these activities, she has invited participants to

  • develop their scholarly interests in sustainable development,
  • undertake design projects in different cultural environments and
  • explore new places from alternative design perspectives.

Awards and Recognition

  • 2012: Awarded Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award for outstanding commitment to research development
  • 2012: Awarded Creative Industries Executive Dean’s Commendation and School of Design Excellence Award for achievements in higher degree research supervision
  • 2009: Awarded Australian Defence Medal (ADM) for commitment to the nation
  • 2001: Awarded Defence Long Service Medal (DLSM) for 15 years service to the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
  • 1996: National Trust Historic Building Prize for completing an outstanding project or study involving a historic building or precinct in Queensland
  • 1996: Paddy Behan Memorial Prize for Design in Landscape Architecture for showing the most outstanding achievement in landscape design
  • 1995 -1996: Dean’s List for excellent academic performance in the Graduate Diploma of Landscape Architecture (Distinction)

Professional and Community Service

  • 2015 – present: Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Education Committee
  • 2005 – 2007: Brisbane City Council Sustainability Advisory Committee Member
  • 2002 – 2007: Brisbane Seniors Online Mentor
  • 2004 – 2005: Australian Green Development Forum (AGDF) Board Member
  • 2004 – 2007: ‘Landscape Australia’ Editorial Advisory Panel Member
  • 2003 – 2004: ‘200 Mile City’ AILA National Conference Organiser
  • 1999 – 2000: ‘Shaping the Sustainable Millennium’ BEE Conference Organiser
  • 1998 – 2003: Brisbane City Council Urban Advisory Committee Member
  • 1999 – 2001: Appointed as RAE Officer (CAPT, 1 TOPO SVY SQN, Brisbane)
  • 1996 – 1997: Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Queensland
  • 1996 – 1998: Appointed as Transport (RACT) Officer (LT, QUR, Brisbane)
  • 1995: Appointed as Transport (RACT) Officer (2LT, HQ 7 BASB, Brisbane)
  • 1994: Overseas deployment to ROTC, New Mexico State University, NM, USA
  • 1993: Appointed as Commissioned Officer (2LT, RACT, OCTU, Sydney)
  • 1986 – 1992: Enlisted in Australian Army Reserve (CPL, 12 Psychology, Sydney)

Awards

Type
Assessor, Examiner or Supervisor Role
Reference year
2016
Details
Invited Examiner for PhD Thesis in Architecture at University of Auckland, NZ on a project titled "Green Infrastructure and Urban LIveability: Measuring Accessibility and Equity in Auckland"
Type
Membership of Review Panels on Prestigious Grant Applications
Reference year
2016
Details
Peer reviewer for ARC Discovery Grant 2016 on a project titled "Planning urban futures using complex adaptive systems"
Type
Reviewer for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2016
Details
Invited reviewer for the top ranked international journal Landscape Research on an article titled "Hidden from the Wind and Enjoying the Water (藏风得水): Fengshui and the Shaping of Dong Villages in Southwestern China".
Type
Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
Reference year
2015
Details
Invited representative for QUT on the National Education Committee (NEC) of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) reporting to National Council on matters of higher education and research.
Type
Assessor, Examiner or Supervisor Role
Reference year
2015
Details
Assessor of 6 packages for ERA2015
Type
Membership of Review Panels on Prestigious Grant Applications
Reference year
2015
Details
Peer reviewer for the ARC Linkage Award 2015 on a project titled "Transforming derelict mine sites via collaborative partnerships"
Type
Reviewer for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2015
Details
Invited Reviewer for the top ranked international journal Landscape Research for an article titled "Vernacular landscape in the Chinese ancient painting ¿The Dwelling in Fuchun Mountain¿：Reflections on human-environment coevolution in the Fuchun River Basin."
Type
Membership of Review Panels on Prestigious Grant Applications
Reference year
2014
Details
Peer reviewer for an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2014 titled "Water Sensitive Urban Design: Post-implementation landscape sustainability assessment in new residential developments in South Australia"
Type
Membership of Review Panels on Prestigious Grant Applications
Reference year
2014
Details
Peer reviewer for an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2014 "Every square metre: Exploring the potential of remnant public open space in greyfield suburbs to perform ecosystem services"
Type
Membership of Review Panels on Prestigious Grant Applications
Reference year
2014
Details
Peer reviewer for an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2014 titled "Journey to paradise: a strategy for the development of a holistic design-methodology aimed at transforming degraded landscapes."

Publications

Research Projects

Title
Design and architecture practice research: contemporary PhD (DAP_r)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
ID15-4972
Start year
2015
Keywords
Practice Based Research; Embedded Industry Research; Studio Pedagogy; Design; Architecture; PhD Training; Higher degree; SME; Small to Medium Enterprise

Completed Supervisions (Doctorate)

Completed Supervisions (Masters by Research)