Keynote Speaker I

Prof. Eng. PhD Marco Casini
Department of Urban planning, Design and Architecture Technology
SAPIENZA University of Rome

Prof. Marco Casini is a leading academic in the Green and Smart Building sector with over 20 years experience in Building Sciences.
He is an environmental engineer, PhD in Environmental Engineering and Research Fellow in Architecture Technology at Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Urban Planning, Design and Architecture Technology. Since 2002 he has been Professor of Architecture Technology and of Environmental Certification of Buildings at the Faculty of Architecture of Sapienza University where he also teaches in several Master's, PhD and Graduate schools on subjects pertaining to Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Buildings. Dr. Casini's research activities cover a wide spectrum of topics within sustainable architectural design and energy efficiency of buildings, focusing on advanced materials and nanotechnologies for smart building envelopes as well as integrated renewable energy systems. He worked as scientific coordinator on major projects including the development of "Italian regional system for the certification of environmental sustainability of buildings - Protocollo ITACA Lazio" (2014) and the preparation of the "Sustainable Energy Action Plan of Rome" within the European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (2012). Dr. Casini's professional activity has included scientific and technical consultancy on technological, environmental and energy aspects related to the design and construction of complex building structures worldwide, as well as training on Green Building and Smart Cities strategies and policy making for Italian public authorities (Prime Minister's Cabinet, Ministry of Internal affairs, Regione Lazio).

Keynote Speaker II

Prof. R. J. (Dick) Haynes
Soil and Environmental Science, School of Land Crop and Food Sciences/CRC CARE, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland

Professor Haynes works in the areas of soil and environmental science. His present research interests are in the use and recycling of industrial, agricultural and municipal wastes and minimising their effects on the environment. He has extensive experience having worked as both an applied research scientist and as a university professor and has worked in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. He has published over 170 original research papers in international journals, over 20 review papers in international volumes as well as many conference and extension papers and contract reports. He has been an invited keynote speaker at 7 international conferences and has served on the editorial board of 4 international research journals. He has acted as principal supervisor and co-supervisor of PhD, MSc and honours students in both South Africa and Australia.

Professor Haynes has carried out research in commercial horticultural, pastoral, arable and forestry production as well as in small-holder semi subsistence agriculture. He has also worked on bioremediation of soils contaminated with organic pollutants, rehabilitation of mined sites, application of organic and inorganic wastes to soils and the effects of heavy metal contaminants on soil processes. His research has been mainly in the areas of applied soil chemistry and soil microbiology/biology with links to soil physical properties and to pollution of air and water. He has specialised in working on applied problems and maintains strong links with industry. Major areas of research have included the role of grazing animals in the fertility of pastoral soils, N cycling and gaseous and leaching losses from arable and pastoral systems, soil quality and soil degradation under agricultural land use, effects of soil contaminants on soil processes, rehabilitation and remediation of contaminated, degraded and mined sites and use of wastes as soil amendments.