Meet the Speakers 

Dr. Amit Srivastava is the Director (India) for the Centre of Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture (CAMEA) based at the University of Adelaide, in Australia. Having trained and practiced as an architect in India, Srivastava’s primary work focused on the architectural and construction histories of colonial and postcolonial India. His other current research focuses on the themes of transnational exchange of materials, skills, and construction processes across the Indian Ocean world, from Africa and the Middle East to South East Asia and Australia, with special interest in cases of South-South cooperation. He is also working on a project looking at Australian Architects in Asia and its impact on the material culture in Australia.

Dr. Shilpa Sharma is the HOD at Rachana Sansad’s Academy of Architecture. She holds a Government Diploma, Master’s, and a doctorate from RTM Nagpur University. With 25+ years in practice and 15+ in teaching, she has guided UG and PG research while promoting research-driven education. She has published and presented on temple architecture, vernacular expressions, and urban insertions, and served as a reviewer and jury member. She received the IIA Awards for Excellence in Architecture (2018) in the Research category. A Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects, she has contributed to its Women & Architecture Committee, Brihan Mumbai Centre, and the Journal of the IIA’s Editorial Committee. An avid potter, she believes in nurturing humanitarian awareness alongside professional training.