I am a systems thinker working at the intersection of building physics, sustainability, and human experience, combining practice and research to inform better decisions in the built environment.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, I work at the intersection of consultancy, applied research, and academic inquiry. I practise as both a professional engineering manager and a doctoral researcher in architecture, with engineering work focused on building physics and sustainable design, and research exploring human–nature connection, biophilia, and biophilic design.

This page contains information and links to both my professional and academic work.

My surname has recently changed - I'm currently in the process of updating my various online identities. Much of my work was published under my previous name, Jason Gaekwad.

Selected Thinking

My perspectives an opinions on selected topics are provided below.

Why Upfront Carbon Should Drive Early Decisions

Professional Activities

I’m a design consultant specialising in Building Physics and Sustainability. I thrive on challenging conventions and pushing project performance beyond standard practice.

I’m particularly interested in work where engineering decisions have consequences beyond compliance, influencing how people experience buildings and how projects contribute to environmental and social outcomes. I see engineering as a tool not just for optimisation, but for shaping a better long-term future.

Much of my work involves helping clients navigate complex decisions where there is no single “right” answer. Rather than focusing on individual metrics in isolation, I take a systems view to understand how design choices interact across a range of technical and non-technical domains, generally at the intersection of sustainability, building physics, and human experience.

I generally have a 'low-tech' approach to design; my experience indicated that meaningful performance gains come from early, low-cost design decisions rather than add-on technologies later in the project lifecycle.

My knowledge spans a wide range of topics, including energy, heat, light, wind, carbon, and comfort, drawing on global project experience and leadership of multidisciplinary teams. Alongside traditional design and construction roles, I’ve contributed to regulation development, R&D, and expert witness work, bringing a systems-level perspective to complex challenges. Beyond my technical capabilites, I am also an experienced manager and principal, with a track record of strategic growth, business development, financial performance, and team leadership.

I currently practice as a Technical Director at Inhabit, based in Melbourne, Australia. My work spans a range of geographies and project types, however I particularly enjoy projects which improve quality of life for a wide range of users, such as public buildings, and utilise high-performance construction techniques, such as the ultra low energy Passivhaus standard.

Some of my most memorable and iconic projects are listed below, along with some of my professional publications.

Key Projects

Metro Tunnel Project, Melbourne, Australia

Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia

New Performing Arts Venue, Brisbane, Australia

Woodside Building for Technology and Design, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre, Victoria, Australia

Clifton Hill Primary School, Melbourne, Australia

Adelaide Oval Redevelopment, Adelaide, Australia

Professional Publications

Passivhaus (Passive House) in Australian Climates

Ecolibrium, 2019

Carbon Monoxide Dispersion in Enclosed Car Parks: Pollutant Source Modelling Methods

Proceedings of the 15th Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association, San Francisco, 2017

Footfall vibration analysis of a high precision manufacturing facility

Proceedings of the 143rd International Congress on Noise Control Engineering, Melbourne, 2014

Dynamic assessment of wind sensitive stadium structures

Proceedings of the 13th Australian Acoustical Society Conference, Victor Harbour, 2013

LinkedIn Articles

Net Zero Series

Condensation & Mould Series

Academic Activities

In addition to my consulting work, I am also a PhD candidate within the School of Architecture and Built Environment at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia. My research investigates how different people experience natural and built environments, with implications for human well-being, built environment design practice, and policy frameworks. Further information on my research is available here.

Please have a look at my GitHub for work-in-progress Python projects related to my academic work, including packages for conducting meta-analyses and analysing data from the Tobii Pro Glasses 3 eye tracking headset.

Academic Publications

A meta-analysis of physiological stress responses to natural environments: Biophilia and Stress Recovery Theory perspectives

Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2023

Potential risks and beneficial impacts of using indoor plants in the biophilic design of healthcare facilities: A scoping review

Building and Environment, 2023

A Meta-Analysis of Emotional Evidence for the Biophilia Hypothesis and Implications for Biophilic Design

Frontiers in Psychology, 2022

Personal Interests

Outside of my professional and academic commitments, I spend as much time as I can outdoors, hiking, rock climbing, and SCUBA diving — both exploring new places and increasing my understanding of the familiar. I also play guitar and love going to live music events, especially when they bring diverse individuals together in vibrant, creative spaces.