Tim McCarthy is the Director of the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the University of Wollongong. 

He holds a Bachelor and PhD degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Offshore Structures.  Having worked in Ireland, France, UK (for 19 years) and California he was appointed to the Chair of Structural Steel and Design at UOW in 2004.  His research in Australia has concentrated on Ecologically Sustainable Structural Design, improving the carbon footprint of construction materials and Engineering Education.  He has served as a Wollongong  Council representative on the Southern NSW Joint Regional Planning Panel for 3 tears.  He led the Construction team UOW which won the Solar Decathlon China competition in 2013. Professor McCarthy is a Member of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland.  In November 2018 he led Team UOW’s second Solar Decathlon entry in Dubai where the Desert Rose solar powered house came second overall. Tim is currently leading projects on the sustainability of prefab construction and circular economy in the built environment.