Dr Mike Harris | UNSW Research

Fields of Research (FoR)

Landscape architecture, Urban design, Urban and regional planning

Biography

Mike is Associate Director of Mobility with the City Futures Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at UNSW’s School of Built Environment. With a professional background in public domain and urban design practice, and over a decade in academia, he brings a pragmatic, applied perspective to research and teaching. His work focuses on policy, governance, network planning, and streetscape design to help normalise micromobility as a safe, convenient, and enjoyable everyday mode of travel. He also investigates precinct- and neighbourhood-scale urban projects, examining how large-scale initiatives are reconciled with strategic infrastructure delivery, liveability objectives, and equitable urban access. Alongside his academic research, Mike advises government and private sector clients on micromobility planning and infrastructure design.

My Grants

2026-2029 Project Delivery Harmonisation for Urban Micromobility Infrastructure
Project Partners: Australian Research Council, Vivendi Cities, Committee for Sydney, Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand (CWANZ), Transport for NSW
UNSW CIs: Mike Harris
Grant value: $365,100

2021-2023 Interactively Visualising Street Design Scenarios for Communicating Bike Infrastructure Options to Communities and Policymakers
Project Partners: Transport for NSW, iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre
UNSW CIs: Mike Harris (lead), Chris Pettit, Brian Lee, Vinayak Dixit
Grant value: $300,000

2019-2020 Hornsby Quarry Park Sustainable Access and Circulation Investigation
Project Partner: Hornsby Shire Council
UNSW CI: Mike Harris
Grant value: $49,800

2019 Guide to Low Carbon Landscapes
Project Partner: Collaborative research Centre (CRC) for Low Carbon Landscapes
UNSW CIs: Sara Padget-Kjearsgaard (lead), Mike Harris, Catherine Evans
Grant value: $10,000

2018 Kunshan West Slow Movement Strategy
Project Partner: Collaborative research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities & Realm Studios
UNSW CI: Mike Harris
Grant value: $5,200

My Awards

AWARDS & HONOURS

2021 - Cycling advisor on one of three teams shortlisted for the Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Cycleway Ramp design competition, with Realm Studios.

2020 - Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Award for Research, Policy and Communication: CRC For Low Carbon Living: Guide to Low Carbon Landscapes

2014-2015 - Waverley Council Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee

2014 - Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Postgraduate Scholarship

2014 - Urban and Regional Planning Research Scholarship “Awarded every alternate year to a commencing Doctor of Philosophy student of exceptional research promise, with a focus on city form and urban infrastructure.”

2014 - Lindsay Robertson Memorial Award “Awarded every alternate year to encourage a UNSW graduate in Landscape Architecture to undertake postgraduate study or research in Australia or overseas.”

2013 - Marjory and Lloyd Rees Prize for Urban Design

2013 - Invited as keynote speaker at UK national conference 'Cycle City' in Birmingham

2012 - Invited speaker and facilitator on urban mobility at the BMW Guggenheim Lab in Berlin: "A mobile laboratory travelling around the world to inspire innovative ideas for urban design and urban life."

2009 - Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Future Leaders Awards

2007 - Hassell Travelling Scholarship “Awarded by HASSELL panel of directors for best graduating Landscape Architecture design project in Australia.”