Dr Suhair Zaid Alkilani is a Senior Lecturer in Construction Management in the Faculty of Design and Society at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She completed her Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Mutah University in Jordan, a Master of Engineering Management at the University of Technology Sydney, and a PhD in Construction Management at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.

Suhair has more than 15 years of academic and leadership experience across the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and Asia Pacific International College (APIC). Before joining UTS, she served as Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Programs in Project Management at The University of Sydney. She also held the position of Head of Discipline – Project Management at Asia Pacific International College. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a site engineer on a range of infrastructure and building projects.

Her teaching and research focus on construction and project management, with particular expertise in construction industry performance and improvement, productivity, social innovation, social value creation, social procurement, workforce inclusion, and sustainable development in construction and infrastructure. Her research has been widely published in leading Q1-ranked international journals and has attracted significant industry and government engagement.

Suhair has established strong research partnerships with construction firms, industry bodies, government agencies, and community organisations, working collaboratively on a range of industry-focused research and capacity-building initiatives. She collaborates closely with national and international academics, researchers, and organisations across the private, public, and civil society sectors, including on Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage and Discovery projects.

She is the Coordinator of CIB TG127 (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction – Task Group 127: Social Value in the Built Environment), leading an international network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to advancing social value outcomes across the construction and infrastructure sectors. She is also the Co-founder of the UTS- Social Procurement Community of Practice for the Construction Industry, a cross-sector initiative that brings together industry, government, and research partners to promote knowledge sharing, capability development, and the implementation of social procurement and social value practices.

Suhair has demonstrated strong educational leadership capabilities through her previous appointments as Head of Discipline – Project Management at APIC and Director of Postgraduate Programs at The University of Sydney. In these roles, she played a central role in the strategic leadership of program quality, viability, and industry relevance. She has led curriculum development and innovation, supported the implementation of effective learning and teaching strategies, mentored academic staff, and developed strong partnerships with industry, business, and professional organisations to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, research impact, and graduate employability.