MsNimasha Hulathdoowage

From an early age, Ms. Nimasha Hulathdoowage exhibited a keen interest in mathematical subjects, demonstrating a natural aptitude for understanding complex concepts and a strong desire to solve real-world problems. This passion for mathematics led her to pursue higher education at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying in 2020. Her undergraduate dissertation focused on the applicability of drywall partitioning for disaster reconstruction in Sri Lanka, a novel topic within the context. During her undergraduate years, she engaged in various research projects, including studying conflicts with external stakeholders in irrigation construction projects in Sri Lanka. She also worked on an industry-funded research project titled “Investigating the Cost of Construction, Materials, and Labour for Residential Construction Projects in Sri Lanka” for approximately one year, gaining valuable experience in actively collaborating with industry partners.

In 2022, Ms. Nimasha embarked on her PhD journey at Deakin University, Australia. The primary aim of her research is to model the timing of retrofitting cycles to maximize long-term emission reductions, which has significant implications for defining policy compliance cycles in assessing the performance of buildings. During her PhD, Ms. Nimasha secured school research funding to support the development of an energy efficiency disclosure policy framework in Australia, under the guidance of Dr. Gayani Karunasena. She has been deeply involved in this research from its inception to its final outcomes, further collaborating with industry partners to ensure its practical application.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Ms. Nimasha is committed to giving back to the community. She has served as a mentor for undergraduate students in Sri Lanka and school students in Australia, helping them define their future career paths. She also works as a reviewer for several prestigious journals, including ECAM and IJPM, and was recognized as the Best Reviewer of 2022 by the International Journal of Construction Management. Additionally, she has voluntarily participated in lab sessions to help Master's students in Construction Management at Deakin University learn the CostX software.

In addition to her roles in quantity surveying in Sri Lanka, which enhanced her cost planning and analysis skills, Ms. Nimasha also served as a general manager for a dynamic company in Sri Lanka, where she honed her leadership abilities.

Looking ahead, Ms. Nimasha aspires to pursue a role in academia or policy development, focusing on the advancement of energy retrofitting in residential buildings. She believes that this work will significantly contribute to national emission reduction goals.

Outside of her professional life, Ms. Nimasha enjoys reading, running, hiking, and swimming. She believes in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and finds that these activities help her stay creative and motivated in her research.

Ms. Nimasha can be reached at n.hulathdoowage@research.deakin.edu.au and is open to collaborations related to energy retrofitting and policy development concerning energy efficiency in existing residential buildings. She also maintains a professional presence on LinkedIn and Google Scholar, where her latest work and updates can be followed.