Inaugural Connected Communities for Wellbeing Seminar

The purpose of the Connected Communities for Wellbeing Seminar Series is to connect researcher and practitioner communities interested in advancing wellbeing in education and the workplace. Our focus during the series reflect the Centre for Wellbeing Science foci including enabling environments for wellbeing, wellbeing literacy (intentional multi-modal communication about and for wellbeing), and education and training (about and for wellbeing).

We are delighted to host CWS Honorary Fellow Andrea Downie and Dr Fiona Gray to share insights from their recent publication Designing Thriving School Ecosystems: The Synergy of Biophilic Design, Wellbeing Science, and Systems Science.

Andrea Downie is an educational and systems leader, action researcher and wellbeing scientist who has worked collaboratively with hundreds of schools and organisations around the world on the application of wellbeing science, education redesign and systems leadership. Currently the Head of Wellbeing and a Board of Executive at British School Jakarta and an Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne, Andrea has been an invited keynote speaker at many conferences across 5 continents.

Andrea is also the co-founder of Project Thrive®, an organisation focussing on systems and wellbeing science design in education. She has worked across all systems and sectors of education and in the corporate environment. Her experience, knowledge and action research has given her insight into some of education's greatest strengths and importantly, opportunities for growth. Her strong activation skills have led to the implementation of successful outcomes that have enhanced success, engagement, wellbeing and culture. She has implemented theory of change processes with well over 100 leaders on long term journeys and designed, facilitated and hosted numerous overseas immersions for school principals. Andrea is passionate about making education the best and most desirable system in the world where wellbeing, authentic learning and personal growth for all students and staff is at the forefront.

Dr. Fiona Gray is a registered architect and Principal of Bioliving by Design, a consultancy specialising in biophilic design and healthy building practices. She serves on the Australian Institute of Architects' National Gender Equity Committee, the Living Future Institute of Australia’s Biophilic Design Advisory Panel, and Deakin University’s Industry Advisory Committee on Sustainable Regional Development. Fiona’s career includes executive leadership roles such as City Design Lead in local government and CEO of the national non-profit organisation Renew, which focuses on transforming Australian homes for climate and energy resilience. Her research has been published in international journals and recognised with prestigious awards, including the Neil Archbold Medal and the David Saunders Prize.