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Professor Amir Ghaffarianhoseini
Professor of Architecture & Urban Transformation, Auckland University of Technology. Founder, AG++ studio.
Amir is New Zealand's most-cited professor of architecture and has been listed among the world's top 2% most-cited scientists by Stanford University every year from 2022 to 2026.
His work asks how architecture and cities shape human health, behaviour and wellbeing, and how digital tools can help us build better places before they are built. Over more than two decades he has led research and academic teams in New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Southeast Asia.
At AUT he leads the research portfolio of the School of Future Environments, chairs its Research Committee, and directs the R+G UBE Lab and the AE Lab. He is Editor-in-Chief of Urbanization, Sustainability and Society and founded AG++ studio, his platform for design, art, education and technology.
Leadership at AUT
- Associate Head of School (Research), School of Future EnvironmentsResearch leadership of around 50 academic staff; Chair, School Research Committee2026–
- Professor of Architecture & Urban TransformationAUT Leading Researcher in Architecture since 20182023–
- Director of Postgraduate & Doctoral Studies, School of Future EnvironmentsPostgraduate research system for up to 100 PhD candidates and several hundred postgraduate students2020–26
- Head of Postgraduate Studies, School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences2018–20
- Chair, Faculty Postgraduate Board of Studies, Design & Creative TechnologiesFormer
- University Programme Approval and Review Committee; Faculty QS Ranking Leaders Board; Faculty ICT Governance Group; Faculty Carbon Budget GroupCurrent
- Contribution to establishing the School of Future Environments2020
National and international advisory
- Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science AdvisorConsultancy memberNZ
- MBIE College of Assessors (Endeavour Fund, Smart Ideas)Expert assessorNZ
- Royal Society Te ApārangiExpert assessorNZ
- Auckland Council Urban Design PanelPanel member advising developers and Council2024–26
- NSERC (Canada), Swiss National Science Foundation, FFG and FWF (Austria), Danish Agency for Higher Education and ScienceExpert assessor for national research funders; also Kuwait, Malaysia and ChileIntl
- University promotion panels in New Zealand and the United KingdomInternational assessor for promotions to Professor and Associate ProfessorIntl
- APRU Future Energy Landscapes ClusterCo-LeaderPacific Rim
- CIBSE Intelligent Buildings GroupBoard member and International Communications LeadUK
Visiting appointments and career
- Visiting Professor, Université de LorraineFrance
- Visiting Professor, KAISTSouth Korea
- Adjunct Research Faculty, University of MalayaMalaysia
- Auckland University of TechnologySenior research and postgraduate leadership; Professor from 20232017–
- Earlier academic appointments in Malaysia and CanadaIncluding Senior Lecturer, University of Malaya2009–17
Education
- PhD in Architectural Studies, Universiti Putra MalaysiaPhD
- Master of Architecture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaMArch
- Bachelor of Architecture (Professional), IAUMBArch
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Advanced Architectural Science, Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University)Postdoc
Values in practice
Amir supports Māori, Pacific, first-generation and international researchers through culturally responsive supervision, and is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to research that delivers economic, environmental, social and cultural impact for Aotearoa.
Not to be confused with Professor Ali GhaffarianHoseini, also of AUT.