Q: What “day to day” type activities that you do?
Most of my day-to-day work involves analysing fire behaviour data, simulation modelling, and coding. Depending on the project stage, my work can range from reviewing research papers and processing experimental data to running large-scale computer simulations and interpreting the results. There is also plenty of discussion with my supervisors and other researchers, which is one of the parts I enjoy most about research.
Q: What pathway did you take to get into the research?
Before beginning my PhD, I spent nearly nine years working in building fire research and engineering, focusing on areas such as fire safety design and fire risk assessment. When my family and I moved to Australia, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to return to study and explore a new research direction. Australia is at the forefront of wildland fire research, and I realised that WUI fires provided a unique opportunity to combine my background in building fires with the challenges of wildfire behaviour. Looking back, it feels like a natural progression that brought together everything I had worked on previously.
Q: What is the most interesting thing that you have done during your studies?
One of the most interesting things I did during my Master’s degree was working on fire risk assessments for nearly ten historic building complexes in China. Many of these buildings were centuries old and built mainly from timber, which makes them highly vulnerable to fire. What I found most rewarding was that the work wasn’t just about calculations and reports—it could help protect important pieces of cultural heritage for future generations. It was probably the first time I felt genuinely proud of the impact that fire safety engineering could have on society. That experience stayed with me and was one of the reasons I decided to continue working in the fire safety field after graduation.
Q: How will your work impact real world management decisions?
I hope my research helps people make better decisions about living with wildfire risk. Whether it’s helping planners design safer communities, supporting fire agencies in preparing for future fire seasons, or improving how communities respond during emergencies, the aim is to provide information that can lead to practical actions and better outcomes. If the work can contribute, even in a small way, to reducing the number of houses lost and improving community resilience during major wildfire events, I would consider that a meaningful impact.
