Professor Yan Zhuge is a structural engineer with an impressive track record developing innovative green materials. 

In particular, she converts industrial waste into high-value construction products. She has repurposed old tyres into safe and sustainable concrete and developed world-first self-healing concrete from water treatment sludge. She has also led research investigating how sawmill waste can be transformed into steel-timber beams. Commercialisation of these inventions is underway.

Professor Zhuge has forged impactful industry collaborations both in Australia and internationally. She is also an active advocate for women in STEM, and a mentor for young engineers from diverse backgrounds. 

Professor Zhuge is an internationally recognised (Top 2% Scholar worldwide in Civil engineering) and award-winning (Winnovation, 2018) trailblazer in converting industrial waste into high-value green building materials contributing to net zero emissions. In her 28-year long career in innovative technologies, she is recognised for pioneering the development of innovative and practical sustainable construction materials and structures, significantly impacting industrial waste management and construction sectors with scalable commercial benefits. As a Professorial leads in research education (UniSA STEM), she has made a significant contribution to reshaping the direction of PhD training, along with mentoring young engineers from diverse backgrounds.