Building on my 20-year experience as an urban strategist, practitioner, founder and researcher, this Fellowship examines how methods and practices associated with regenerative cultures and design are reframing the conditions of future critical infrastructure in a climate emergency. The Fellowship will support a series of place-led engagement programs that highlight links between human and more-than-human conditions of vulnerability & care. It also supports evidence-based evaluations of… Show more Building on my 20-year experience as an urban strategist, practitioner, founder and researcher, this Fellowship examines how methods and practices associated with regenerative cultures and design are reframing the conditions of future critical infrastructure in a climate emergency. The Fellowship will support a series of place-led engagement programs that highlight links between human and more-than-human conditions of vulnerability & care. It also supports evidence-based evaluations of public-private partnerships and investment frameworks that integrate regeneration principles into long-term design frameworks, utilising novel data sets, storytelling and engagement methods. I am grateful for the incredible opportunity to dive deep into the futures of regenerative practice and design, and support this expanding profession in the development of appropriate tools, evaluation and impact frameworks. Show less

Studio ESEM (previously Esem Projects) is a multi-disciplinary art & design practice. In this role I lead the creation of experiential art, design and digital storytelling programs for shared spaces and precincts.The practice is known for interweaving the digital and the physical in surprising ways. Through my creative practice, I facilitate community, creative, and digital programs that interweave connections between people, places, and habitat. See esemprojects.com

Over 12 years experience as a strategy consultant working with a range of public and private sector clients small to deliver strategic design frameworks that enable place-based innovation, data curation and creativity around sustainability goals. My clients have included the South Australian Government, HASSELL, the ABC, Arup, Sydney Airport Corporation, CSIRO / Data61, Newcastle City Council, Parramatta City Council, the Arts Centre of Christchurch, Transport for NSW, Inner West… Show more Over 12 years experience as a strategy consultant working with a range of public and private sector clients small to deliver strategic design frameworks that enable place-based innovation, data curation and creativity around sustainability goals. My clients have included the South Australian Government, HASSELL, the ABC, Arup, Sydney Airport Corporation, CSIRO / Data61, Newcastle City Council, Parramatta City Council, the Arts Centre of Christchurch, Transport for NSW, Inner West Council and many more. Recent Reports: SA Arts Plan 2019-2024 (SA Government); IoT for Connected Places (ACOLA 2019), CSIRO Urban Living Labs Strategy (2018). Book: Platform Urbanism, Palgrave, 2020. Show less

Contracted to deliver a series of long term place strategies to support Landcom's contribution to the Sydney Metro Northwest Places Program, enabling community revitalisation around new station precincts. As part of this program I developed a strategic business case for Bella Vista Commons, an integrated program of meanwhile use activations and housing typologies advancing the growth of circular and sustainable businesses associated with Sydney's Northwest. I also led the development of… Show more Contracted to deliver a series of long term place strategies to support Landcom's contribution to the Sydney Metro Northwest Places Program, enabling community revitalisation around new station precincts. As part of this program I developed a strategic business case for Bella Vista Commons, an integrated program of meanwhile use activations and housing typologies advancing the growth of circular and sustainable businesses associated with Sydney's Northwest. I also led the development of a Connecting with Country Wayfinding strategy to support future placemaking, interpretation and wayfinding investments, partnering with First Nations custodians and creative practitioners to facilitate an integrated approach that elevated First Nations knowledge and insights. Show less

Awarded a prestigious international postdoctoral fellowship for my project on Platform Urbanism, which examined smart cities and data governance challenges through industry collaborations with organisations such as UCL City Leadership Lab, NYU's Centre for Urban Science and Progress, Data61 / National ICT Australia, the NSW Department of Environment & Planning and others. My book Platform Urbanism was published by Palgrave in 2019.

As a smart cities consultant to Data61 I provided strategy and project management support to Data61 Future Cities projects. Some of my accomplishments in this role included a data strategy to support the CSIRO Urban Living Labs Program, a data-driven indicator framework for the Greater Sydney Commission's ongoing reporting against the Plan for Growing Sydney, and a set of strategic communications assets for the Future Cities Research Cluster.

In this role I delivered strategic communications and digital design services for Arup clients in the urban informatics field. During 2012 I was involved in the development of digital economy strategies for Regional Development Australia Committees in Hume Vic Moreland, Vic, and have also delivered consulting services on smart infrastructure services. During 2013 I am consulting in the development of digital strategy services for Arup clients involved in large scale urban development projects.

Ongoing support for ABC Digital Strategy and Production Initiatives. This work included a contract to deliver the ABC's Integrated Online and Mobile Strategy across all Divisions between June and September 2013. I was also contracted to design and deliver the ABC’s first digital emergencies strategy, working across the divisions of ABC News, ABC Radio and ABC Innovation to address the opportunities of location-based services for emergencies management. The role involved upgrading the… Show more Ongoing support for ABC Digital Strategy and Production Initiatives. This work included a contract to deliver the ABC's Integrated Online and Mobile Strategy across all Divisions between June and September 2013. I was also contracted to design and deliver the ABC’s first digital emergencies strategy, working across the divisions of ABC News, ABC Radio and ABC Innovation to address the opportunities of location-based services for emergencies management. The role involved upgrading the ABC’s online emergencies coverage (for national bushfires, floods and other natural emergencies) and trialling use of maps and other geo-RSS services during the ABC’s 2011-12 emergencies coverage. Included industry liaison, management of staff across Australia and extensive internal liaison and stakeholder management. Other ABC roles include development of the first ABC location based service in 2008 Sydney Sidetracks, development of ABC Past Forward for Pool / RN and previous roles as a New Media Researcher & Producer. Show less

I worked as part of a core team to lead the start up of the UTS-Enterprise Connect Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC), following the award of $17m over 3 years for a national consortium of university and industry partners I helped to establish with Lisa Colley and Sue Rowley. As CIIC Manager Strategic Initiatives I was responsible for the design and delivery of key initiatives including:-Creative Innovation digital strategy: Editorial development of a national platform for… Show more I worked as part of a core team to lead the start up of the UTS-Enterprise Connect Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC), following the award of $17m over 3 years for a national consortium of university and industry partners I helped to establish with Lisa Colley and Sue Rowley. As CIIC Manager Strategic Initiatives I was responsible for the design and delivery of key initiatives including:-Creative Innovation digital strategy: Editorial development of a national platform for creative entrepreneurs, including all branding, editorial and digital strategy;-Shapeshifters innovation profiles. Established Shapeshifters program examining the influence of creative entrepreneurs across diverse Australian industries;-Design Integration pilot. Developed successful pitch for a design integration pilot within the Australian Government's Enterprise Connect SME program through the Manufacturing Centres Network;-Establishment of Industry Research Program managing data collection programs across creative sector business services; -Ongoing strategy and policy advice to Director; and-Recruitment and management of key staff across research, communications and industry engagement. Show less

The Death and Life of the Real Time City - Re-imagining the City of Digital Urbanism. The PhD focused on contemporary and historical responses to information and communications (ICT) in the city, including initiatives to promote urban engagement using real-time communications technologies. A critical engagement with this field and its current application to digital archives also resulted production of the cross-platform project for the ABC, Sydney Sidetracks (abc.net.au/sidetracks). You… Show more The Death and Life of the Real Time City - Re-imagining the City of Digital Urbanism. The PhD focused on contemporary and historical responses to information and communications (ICT) in the city, including initiatives to promote urban engagement using real-time communications technologies. A critical engagement with this field and its current application to digital archives also resulted production of the cross-platform project for the ABC, Sydney Sidetracks (abc.net.au/sidetracks). You can read this and other research outputs at my website http://sarahbarns.me/research Show less

Part time role in the development of national digital media literacy research frameworks, children's television production research and legislative review. Quantitative and qualitative research undertaken to support ACMA's work on Media and Communications in Australian Families.

Established first national creative industries strategy, created mobile content seed funding initiative, undertook quantitative analysis of artist employment and income data over 20 years, reports to boards and executives, represented arts and creative industries policy at national and international fora.

Part of the ABC New Media research team. Responsible for audience analysis and research, user interface testing and focus groups management, established digital R&D projects for ABC News and Childrens including broadband and iTV services.

Network Insight is an industry funded media and telecommunications think tank. I was responsible for drafting issues papers relating to broadcasting and telecommunications policy issues, resulting in a number of Network Insight discussion papers and industry publications

Employed as a Graduate policy officer in the National Office of the Information Economy, where I gained experience in policy briefings and advice and preparation of legislative responses around future and emerging communications and their impact on Australian communities and regions.