Dr Rosemary Kennedy FRAIA is a practicing architect whose passions lie in place-based climate-responsive architecture and urban design particularly in tropical and subtropical cities. Her research and practice take in the social, economic and environmental impacts of inner urban high density living, particularly high-rise apartment dwellings, planning for sea level rise, informal settlements, post disaster reconstruction, and inclusive environments.

Her activities are characterised by diversity and ‘reach’ across diverse disciplines, and impact in contributing relevant solutions to global issues through research with a local perspective. She leads transdisciplinary collaborations with practical outcomes for government and industry and is involved in numerous design advisory roles.

She established the SubTropical Cities Consultancy in 2017 to collaborate with planning, architecture and urban development organisations to complement their climate-responsive approaches to city design and architecture. Formerly she led research and community engagement at the QUT Centre for Subtropical Design where she also taught in the architecture program.

She has authored over 80 articles, books and book chapters and influential urban design and architecture guidelines, including Subtropical Design in South East Queensland, a Handbook for Planners, Developers and Decision Makers (BCC, Qld Govt, and QUT, 2010).