Monthly Archives: June 2016

Josh Byrne to Bring Strength to Wise Earth Board

Wise Earth owns and manages Solar E. and its corresponding website. Apart from being involved in the advancement of innovative solar technology and integrated construction systems, Wise Earth is looking to enhance its expertise by inviting high profile, experienced people to its Board, including its most recent appointment in Josh Byrne.

Josh Byrne

Josh is an environmental scientist best known for his role as the WA presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia program where over the past 13 years he has demonstrated practical ways to create productive and water efficient gardens to a national audience. He is Director of Josh Byrne & Associates, a Fremantle based multi-award winning consulting practice integrating the fields of landscape architecture, built environment sustainability, media and communications, and a Research Fellow with Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), where his research and teaching interests span high performance housing, water sensitive design and low carbon residential precincts. Josh is a recipient of the Australian Water Association’s Water Professional of the Year Award for WA and Murdoch University Distinguished Alumni for Science and Engineering. He is Patron for a number community based environment and sustainability organisations including the Conservation Council of WA.

Josh Byrne outside his office at Fremantle Chamber of Commerce

Josh Byrne outside his office at Fremantle Chamber of Commerce

Fremantle Housing Trust

Josh and Wise Earth are planning to develop sustainable housing projects in the Fremantle area with land owners and other participants forming the Fremantle Housing Trust. The Trust will develop communities of between 4-8 houses in key locations incorporating existing land owners where desirable; in creating affordable solutions to low energy sustainable developments. Wise Earth, together with Josh, see this as an important demonstration opportunity that will not only explore a new community-led residential development model, but also utilise Wise Earth construction systems and solar technologies in addition to established principles solar passive design and sustainable landscaping.

Wise Earth’s Board

Wise Earth’s Board has also been strengthened with further directors bringing with them their wisdom and expertise including Tony Fitzgerald; ex MD of Orbital Engineering; Ray Glickman, former CEO of Fremantle and 15 years as CEO of Amana Living and Steve Gava from NKH Accounting firm. Together with these highly experienced business and community leaders, Josh adds his youth and expertise to balance a very impressive Board overseeing the development and construction of innovative solar energy systems for high performance housing.