Profiles
Kyra Wood

Kyra Wood
Research Fellow in Timber Design and Production, Regional Research
Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood, School of Architecture and Design
Room T40B Brooks Road , Newnham Campus
+61 03 6324 4487 (phone)
Dr Kyra Wood is an experienced design academic and research project manager with a professional background in architecture and design. Her current research focusses on timber design and production for regenerative architecture at the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood. She works regularly with partners in the Australian timber and construction industries as well as several interstate and overseas research institutions.
Kyra supervises post-graduate students at the University of Tasmania and as an adjunct at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is passionate about supporting early career researchers and postgraduate students to thrive in their chosen fields of research.
Biography
Prior to commencing work as a timber researcher, Kyra worked as a registered architect in Adelaide (not currently practicing). She completed a PhD in architecture at the University of South Australia in 2018 titled: ‘Collaborative urban design for stakeholder engagement in world cultural heritage conservation: a practical study in the context of the citadel wall in Hue, Vietnam’. She is highly experienced in and dedicated to bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders to collaborate on complex or ‘wicked’ problems in relation to sustainable building and urban development challenges, having coordinated projects in multiple contexts including in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Although her research focus is currently on timber design and production, she maintains an ongoing interest in critical design ethnography and applies her background experience in collaborative design engagement in cross-cultural contexts to her current role managing various research projects that straddle the needs of the timber and design communities, where similarly complex challenges and diverse stakeholder groups exist.
Kyra joined the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood in 2019, and was quickly recruited as the principal researcher and team leader for two Launceston-based National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) projects focusing on timber durability. These pilot NIFPI projects were jointly funded by the Federal Government, state governments and industry to support small-scale, short-term collaborative research, and in 2022, the Australian Federal Government committed a further $100 million to a major NIFPI centre in Australia for ongoing research over the next 4-5 years that directly builds on the successes of three pilot NIFPI centres – in Launceston, Mount Gambier and Gippsland.
In 2022, Kyra was nominated and selected as the inaugural Australian Ambassador for Women in Wood Science by the International Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), and is currently serving as a member of the SWST Emerging and Critical Issues Committee. She was recently invited to join the University of Queensland’s Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment as a chief investigator.
Career summary
Qualifications
Degree | Thesis Title | University | Country | Date Awarded |
Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture) | Collaborative urban design for stakeholder engagement in world cultural heritage conservation: a case study of the citadel wall in Hue, Vietnam | University of South Australia | Australia | 2018 |
Bachelor of Architecture | - | University of Adelaide | Australia | 2007 |
Bachelor of Design Studies Sustainable Urban Design (First Class Honours) | Off the beaten track: pathways to sustainable urban design | University of Adelaide (Waseda University Tokyo) | Australia (Japan) | 2005 |
Bachelor of Design Studies | - | University of Adelaide | Australia | 2003 |
Japanese Language Studies, 1a – 2b | - | University of Adelaide | Australia | 2003 |
Memberships
Committee associations
- Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) Emerging and Critical Issues Committee member, 2023 - ongoing
- Inaugural Australian Ambassador for SWST Women in Wood Science, 2022-2023
Administrative expertise
- Principal researcher and project leader, NIFPI research projects/National University Wood Challenge
- Project manager and liaison, T40 Building Renovation and CSAW Relocation
- Contract administration and project management, various built works at Kilpatrick Architecture.
View more on Dr Kyra Wood in WARP
Expertise
Dr Kyra Wood has broad range of research interests and expertise, encompassing multidisciplinary quantitative, qualitative and creative research methodologies. Her research interest spans wood science (specifically timber durability and preservation), design for durability, innovation in timber production and manufacturing, architectural and urban design, critical design ethnography, sustainable urban design, digital and vernacular heritage conservation, and emerging approaches to collaborative community engagement.
Collaboration
Kyra collaborates closely on a regular basis with a broad range of local Tasmanian, Australian and international timber and design industry partners. She also collaborates with partners at various national and international research institutions, including the Danish Technological Institute, Oregon State University, University of British Columbia, University of Gottingen, Bern University, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Melbourne, University of South Australia, and University of Queensland.
Awards
- Australian Women’s Ambassador Creating the Future of Wood Science, 2022-2023
- National University Wood Challenge finalist, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 2021
- CoSE Research Grant Application Incentive Scheme recipient, University of Tasmania, 2020
- School of Art, Architecture and Design HDR International Travel Award, University of South Australia, 2012
- Asian Women’s Consultative Council Travel Award, Adelaide, South Australia, 2012
- Research Training Program PhD Scholarship (formerly APA), Australian Government, 2011
- PhD Top-up Scholarship, University of South Australia, 2011
- Hiijas Kasturi Architecture Prize, University of Adelaide, 2007
- Mawson Lakes Fellowship University of Adelaide/Waseda University Tokyo, 2003 - 2005
- Alan Correy Landscape Design Award, University of Adelaide, 2003
Fields of Research
- Architectural science and technology (330105)
- Public participation and community engagement (330405)
- Architectural heritage and conservation (330103)
Research Objectives
- Timber materials (120306)
- Social ethics (130304)
Publications
Total publications
11
Journal Article
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2020 | Nichols J, Wood K, Fong D, Avey S, Dewi C, et al., 'The Aceh Method': archiving the endangered languages of vernacular architecture', International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 15 pp. 42-59. ISSN 1975-3586 (2020) [Refereed Article] |
Conference Publication
(4 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2022 | Hassan B, Morrell JJ, Wiesner F, Wu W, Belleville B, et al., 'Effect of densification of Eucalyptus nitens and E. obliqua on moisture uptake, swelling, decay resistance, and fire performance', Proceedings the 2022 IRG Annual Meeting, 29 May - 02 June 2022, Bled, Slovenia, pp. 1-9. (2022) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] | |
2020 | Hassan B, Morrell JJ, Wood K, 'Effect of a water repellent treatment on moisture behavior of three Australian hardwoods: A preliminary report', Proceedings IRG Annual Meeting 2021, 01-02 November 2021, online, pp. 1-16. ISSN 2000-8953 (2020) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] | |
2020 | Wood KC, Morrell JJ, Leggate W, 'Enhancing the durability of low durability Eucalyptus plantation species: A review of strategies', Proceedings IRG Annual Meeting 2020, 10 - 11 June 2020, online, pp. 1-19. ISSN 2000-8953 (2020) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] | |
2012 | Wood KC, 'Displacement for conservation: one of the adverse impacts of cultural world heritage management in Hue, Vietnam', 2012 (2012) [Refereed Conference Paper] |
Thesis
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2017 | Wood KC, 'Collaborative urban design for stakeholder engagement in World Cultural Heritage conservation: a practical study in the context of the citadel wall in Huế, Vietnam' (2017) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(5 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2022 | Wood K, Leggate W, Robinson R, Meldrum SI, Belleville B, et al., 'Increasing the Durability, and Other Material Characteristics of Tasmanian Hardwoods', Final Report, National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, Australia, NIF078-1819, pp. 1-88. (2022) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Leggate W; Meldrum SI | |
2022 | Wood K, Morrell JJ, Hassan B, Meldrum SI, Leggate W, et al., 'New Methods of Reliably Demonstrating Species Durability in Commercially Relevant Time Frames', Final Report, National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, Australia, NIF108-1819, pp. 1-73. (2022) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Meldrum SI; Leggate W | |
2021 | Wood K, 'The Tasmanian women making waves in the built environment', Tasmanian Timber, Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board, Australia, 5 March 2021 (2021) [Magazine Article] | |
2021 | Wood K, Ettelaei A, Hou J, 'Optimising the Adhesive Performance of Engineered Wood Products Made from Tasmanian Plantation Hardwood', Executive Summary, National University Wood Challenge, University of Tasmania, Australia, 05 December 2021, pp. 1-10. (2021) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Ettelaei A; Hou J | |
2020 | Wood K, 'Timber durability study', Tasmanian Country Hour, ABC Radio, Australia, 08 July 2020 (2020) [Media Interview] |
Grants & Funding
Funding Summary
Number of grants
7
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- The primary aim of this study is to optimize the adhesive performance of glued laminated timber (GLT) and cross laminated timber (CLT) made from fibre-managed Eucalyptus nitens. The research will use a mixed methods approach, including literature review, sample prototyping with various processing parameters, testing and data analysis. The output is required to be a two-minute video which will be judged by the competition sponsors against three other selected finalists in the competition.
- Funding
- Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited ($20,000)
- Scheme
- National University Wood Challenge
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wood K; Ettelaei A; Hou J; Meldrum SI; Taoum A
- Year
- 2021
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($7,680)
- Scheme
- null
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wood K
- Year
- 2020
- Description
- A Tasmanian based project aiming to develop and validate a timber drying technology suite with an accompanying decision support tool 'app', for higher value product recovery across the wider timber industry in Australia and overseas.
- Funding
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation ($315,000)
- Collaborators
- Britton Timbers ($20,000); McKay Investments Pty Ltd ($3,750); Porta Mouldings Pty Ltd ($5,000); Sustainable Timber Tasmania ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Nolan G; Lee MW; Vega Rivero MH; Williams DR; Wood K
- Period
- 2019 - 2021
- Description
- This project will develop the grading, jointing and gluing expertise and results necessary for the productionof structurally reliable glue laminated elements from boards from a fibre-managed plantation hardwoodresource.
- Funding
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation ($200,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Nolan G; Taoum A; Sigrist C; Wood K
- Period
- 2019 - 2022
- Description
- This project explores ways in which to demonstrate acceptable durability of natural and modified Tasmanian hardwood species in commercially relevant timeframes, tests material not covered by current durability standards, and establishes longer duration comparative trials of testing processes and material performance.
- Funding
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation ($275,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation
- Research Team
- Wood K; Morrell J; Nolan G
- Period
- 2019 - 2021
- Description
- This project focuses on increasing the desirable material characteristics of Tasmanian hardwood species: Tasmanian oak and plantation hardwoods, for use in several product groups: sawn appearance board, cladding, veneer-based products and glue assembled products: glulam and cross laminated timber (CLT).
- Funding
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation ($320,000)
- Collaborators
- Neville Smith Forest Products ($5,000); Sustainable Timber Tasmania ($5,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wood K; Kotlarewski NJ; Lee MW; Vega Rivero MH; Ozarska B; Belleville B; Nolan G
- Period
- 2018 - 2021
- Description
- This project will develop a new generation of hardwood appearance products for manufacture in-state using current and new technologies from the available native, reclaimed, and plantation resources.
- Funding
- FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation ($270,000)
- Collaborators
- Britton Timbers ($10,000); Forico Pty Ltd ($10,000); McKay Investments Pty Ltd ($10,000); SFM Environmental Solutions Pty Ltd ($10,000); Ta Ann Tasmania ($6,500); Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board ($20,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wallis LH; Kotlarewski NJ; Nolan G; Wood K; Lee MW; Ozarska B; Belleville B; Power J
- Period
- 2018 - 2022
Research Supervision
Current
2
Current
Degree | Title | Commenced |
---|---|---|
PhD | Increasing the Durability and Other Material Characteristics of Tasmanian Hardwoods | 2020 |
PhD | Identifying and Modelling the Causes of Process-induced Discolouration of Hardwood Timber to Prevent its Occurrence During Drying: A case study using Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) | 2021 |