Dr Fredelino Lijauco

Fred joined the School of Architecture and Built Environment as an Industry Educator in 2021.  Currently, he is a Lecturer in Construction Management and is the ARBE3308 Building Information Modelling (BIM) Course Coordinator.  He is also involved in ARBE4323 Work Integrated Learning BIM Course in Singapore, Honours research supervision, and digital technology initiatives.

Fred has more than 25 years’ experience as a Research and Workforce Development Manager mainly with the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (the TBCITB is the legislated industry body for construction workforce development) where he completed more than 40 industry research and training projects.  Those projects were mainly collaborative in nature and involved funding partnerships through government grants as well as cash and in-kind contributions from industry and training partners.  

Over the 12 years to 2020, his industry research experience significantly involved BIM demonstration on actual construction projects, precinct information models, BIM applications in building and civil construction – digital engineering, BIM project management, BIM for prefabrication and modular construction, BIM for public works and asset management, BIM policy and mandates in cooperation with the Australasian BIM Advisory Board, national BIM competencies through the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, construction management course development with the University of Tasmania, and specific BIM projects with the University of Newcastle and TasTAFE.

Fred was also the secretariat and main contact for BIMHub - a joint taskforce led by the Australian Institute of Building responsible for preparing the industry for the adoption of high-level information and communication technologies through government policy, promotion, education, and training; and was the Chair, Australian Forum of Construction Industry Training Funds Research Committee.

Further to his professional experience, Fred completed a PhD in Construction Management from the University of Newcastle (2020).  His research focused on innovation (mainly high-level information and communication technologies), organisational culture, and SMEs which make up 99 percent of the building and construction industry.  The research outcomes have been incorporated into the TBCITB’s Industry Innovation and Information Technology Training Program and Business Skills Training Program.  Both programs make up about 12% of its Annual Training Plan budget for the whole state.  They have also informed the development of a Construction Technology Policy for the Tasmanian Government and have been included in the Tasmanian industry input into the first BIM competencies in the Australian Construction and Property Services Training Package.

For 13 years, Fred was also a founding Director and Secretary of OzHelp Tasmania (a mental health and wellbeing service for the construction industry with success showing 80% reduction in suicide deaths over those years).

Earlier in his career, he worked for six years in various roles in universities including the University of South Australia (technology transfer), Asian Institute of Technology (energy technology research), and the University of the Philippines (engineering education).