Green Star Team

The Green Star Team contains 3 sub-groups:

• Green Star Tool Development Team
• Green Star Certification Team
• Green Star Operations Team

Director, Green Star Certification - Shay Singh

Shay is responsible for the management of all registered projects through the Green Star Certification process including appointing and overseeing the Assessment Panel. As well as implementing the current case management model for servicing Green Star projects, Shay has also helped create the new online registration system. With previous roles in the banking, health and finance sectors in Australia and New Zealand, Shay has enforced a strong customer service focus to the Green Star Certification process. Since Shay began with the GBCA in October 2007, the number of registered projects has grown 100 % to over 400 projects with and the number of certified projects have increased from 30 to over 190.

National Technical Manager - Hal Dobbins

Hal is the National Technical Manager of the Certification Division of the Green Star Technical Team at the Green Building Council of Australia. His current roles involve up-scaling the capacity of the certification process to meet the rapidly growing demand for Green Star assessment and certifications. He leads a dynamic team of enthusiastic Technical Coordinator case managers dedicated to providing high quality support to GBCA Members and Green Star project teams on all technical matters pertaining to Green Star. Hal also manages an ongoing comprehensive revision project focused on the Material Category credits of Green Star rating tools. He brings to the GBCA a broad perspective and knowledge in diverse areas of ESD ranging from sustainable community development in developing countries to environmental consulting for the Australian Building Materials Industry. He joined the GBCA in May 2007 following several years as National Manager of Ecospecifier.

Technical Manager - Jorge Chapa

Jorge joined the GBCA in July 2007 as a Technical Manager working within the Green Star Tool Operations team.

Technical Manager - Orjan Lundberg

Orjan is originally from the island Orust off the Swedish west coast. He completed a Master of Civil engineering with sustainability focus from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2004. He then worked as a researcher and tutor at the same university, his research was inter-disciplinary and combined environmental assessment and organisational theory. Orjan has been involved in postgraduate teaching and course development since 2004 and has supervised four Masters thesis projects. Orjan has participated in three study and research exchanges to Australian universities.

Orjan joined the GBCA in October 2007 as a Technical Manager, working with tool integrity and tool development.

Technical Coordinator - Briana Thompson

Briana graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Ecology & Environmental Science) degree from the University of Canberra in 2003. While travelling throughout the UK and Europe, she worked in recruitment for the built environment. After relocating to Sydney, Briana worked for the Ministry of Transport using Geographic Information Systems prior to taking a role with the Green Building Council of Australia in September 2006.

Her role as Technical Coordinator involves coordinating the certification of Green Star Projects and assisting with the development of Green Star rating tools. Briana is currently undertaking a Masters of Built Environment (Sustainable Development) at UNSW.

Technical Coordinator - Joe Karten

Joe comes from rainy Portland, Oregon and has a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Following college, he spent 9 months on a fellowship research of sustainable buildings in Mexico and Western Europe.

Joe coordinates the certification of Green Star projects, answers technical queries, and assists in rating tool development.
Read an interview with Joe Karten.

Technical Coordinator - Sonia De Almada

Sonia has completed a Diploma in Architectural Technology (Distinction) from St George TAFE in 2002. In mid-2007, she graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree, with First Class Honours, from the Univeristy of New South Wales. Sonia has been working at the Green Building Council since November 2006, whilst in her final year of study. Since graduating, Sonia has become a Technical Coordinator.

Sonia coordinates the certification of Green Star Projects, assists in rating tool development and answers technical queries.

Technical Coordinator - Toufik Refki

Toufik Refki is joining us as a Technical Coordinator - Certification. He holds a BA in International Relations and Human Ecology and has been working as a Verification Officer for Good Environmental Choice Services (GECS) conducting environmental audits for goods and services in the Australian market.

Technical Coordinator - Adrienne Burega

Adrienne is from Canada and holds a BA Honours in Geography from the University of Western Ontario. She came to Australia in 2006 and completed a Masters of Sustainable Development from the University of New South Wales. Following her Masters Adrienne worked as an Energy Auditor on contract with the plan to head back to Canada. After living in Australia for over 2 years, she decided Sydney was not a place she was ready to leave and therefore joined the Green Building Council as a Technical Coordinator - Certification in March 2008.

Adrienne coordinates the certification of Green Star projects, answers technical queries, and assists in rating tool development.