Keywords
Biography
I am a sessional academic in the Landscape Architecture Program, School of the Built Environment, UNSW. My research and practice focus on healthy built environments and climate change impacts - particularly built environment design responses to mitigating and adapting to heat. My work focuses on heat-vulnerability, behaviour and comfort in public spaces, aging populations, and disadvantaged urban areas. Community development and...view more
I am a sessional academic in the Landscape Architecture Program, School of the Built Environment, UNSW. My research and practice focus on healthy built environments and climate change impacts - particularly built environment design responses to mitigating and adapting to heat. My work focuses on heat-vulnerability, behaviour and comfort in public spaces, aging populations, and disadvantaged urban areas. Community development and community-cultural based processes are central to my study and practice.
My expertise is interdisciplinary, bridging health and built environment sectors. I initially trained and worked as a registered nurse. As a landscape architect, I have worked in a senior role in local government on capital works, openspace planning and community development programs, including greenspace and recreation corridors, towncentres, community and recreation facilities. I advised on healthy built environments for the Health, Arts and Research Centre (HARC), implementing arts and culture programs for the redevelopment of Blacktown and Westmead Health Precincts. I was a research assistant on the UNSW team for the ‘Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct Living Infrastructure Strategy’ and worked as a project assistant for the Landscape Foundation of Australia on the ‘Keep Uralla Summers Cool’ project.
My PhD research examines the influence of hot weather and heatwaves on everyday outdoor behaviour and comfort, and designing health-supportive environments in warming cities. My case study is a disadvantaged area in Western Sydney, Australia.
I am a member of the 'APRU Vulnerable Communities and Climate Justice' Working Group. I was also a member of the Built Environment team for the 'UNSW-Yuwaya Ngarra-Li Partnership' with the Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) in Walgett, western NSW. Led by the DEG, I have assisted with projects related to heat/ walkability and public health, potable water kiosks, community garden initiatives, and recreation spaces for children and young people.
My Qualifications
2017 PhD, Faculty of Built Environment, UNSW, Sydney
2003 Master of the Built Environment (Sustainable Development), UNSW, Sydney
1993 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Hons), UNSW, Sydney
1983 General Nursing Certificate, Sydney Hospital, Sydney
My Research Activities
My PhD research examines the influence of hot weather and heatwaves on everyday outdoor behaviour and comfort, and designing health-supportive environments in warming cities. My case study is a disadvantaged area in Western Sydney, Australia.
Following my PhD, research and community development projects focus on the thermal environment of public spaces, designing cooling interventions, and living infrastructure initiatives. Projects include:
- Bishop, K., Osmond, P., Corkery, L., McKenzie, L. and Robinson, C. 2023, 'Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct Living Infrastructure Strategy', UNSW and Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, Jan 2023
- ZNet, Uralla Shire and Landscape Foundation of Australia, 2023, ‘Improving Health & Liveability for a Resilient Uralla’, funded by NAB Foundation Community Grant Program
- McKenzie, L., Rahmat, H., Corkery, L., Marshall N., Bishop, K., Thompson, S., Steinmetz, C, Park, M. and Tiez, C. 2020, 'Heat Study for ChillOUT Hubs: Implications for Design and Use' in the ChillOUT Smart Social Spaces - Creating Connected Greenspaces report, funded by the Smart Cities and Suburbs Grant program (Round 2), Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (unpublished report for heat study)
Publications
- McKenzie L., Osmond P. and Mechelli, A. 2022, Air quality, heat and health: the role of green infrastructure planning and design in K. Bishop and L. Corkery (ed.), ‘The Routledge Handbook of Urban Landscape Research’, Routledge, NY
- Cheng, C., Pincetl, S. and McKenzie L. 2022, 'Understanding Vulnerability in Cities: Perspectives from APRU Vulnerable Communities Working Group Participants', in Yang Y. and Taufen A. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook for Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Pacific Rim, Routledge, London. Chapter 5
- McKenzie, L. 2022, 'Remaking Public Space for Cooler, Greener Outcomes - a Case Study from Western Sydney', in Yang, Y. and Taufen A. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook for Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Pacific Rim, Routledge, London, Chapter 44
- McKenzie, L. and Thompson, S. 2019, ‘Resilience in a Warming Climate: Public Place‐making for Health and Well‐being in Hot Cities’, in Bishop K. and Marshall N. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of People and Place in the 21st Century City, ed. Routledge Handbook series, Routledge, New York. pp.282-293 – Chapter 25
- McKenzie, L. 2015, ‘Hotter Cities - Climate change and Planning for Resilient, Healthy Urban Environments’, in Barton, H., Thompson, S., Burgess, S. and Grant, M. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Planning for Health and Well-Being, ed. 2015. Routledge, UK. pp. 254-270 – Chapter 18
Location
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3263-2075