He is an aerospace engineer by training but Nick Tassigiannakis has dedicated his professional career to being an innovator in the built environment.
The Innovator of the Year Award winner cut his teeth designing multi-million dollar building automation controls upgrades for the $50 million RMIT University Energy Performance Contract (EPC). This included a drastic reduction in emissions for the whole campus, the introduction of a large cogeneration system as well as chilled water and heating hot water precincts.
By the tender age of 24 he was leading other large EPC packages for Museum Victoria and LaTrobe University.
By his mid-20’s Tassigiannakis had co-founded consulting and energy contracting firm FG Advisory which grew to 20 staff within four years. As principal engineer and director, he was responsible for a number of high profile innovations including a whole of government emissions abatement project in partnership with Ernst & Young.
In 2019 Tassigiannakis founded the Bridgeford Group to specifically operate at the intersection of sustainability and building services. It was the same year he was appointed to the Board of the Australian Passive House Association.
“Building services and HVACR professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes, their ingenuity and innovations are often behind plant room doors but are no less impressive,” he said.
Asked what qualities make an award winner, Tassigiannakis said it is someone who looks ahead to address future challenges with a can-do attitude. “Someone who does what is right, not what’s easy,” he said.
Tassigiannakis said one of the biggest challenges facing this industry is adapting to a changing building services landscape.
“The biggest challenges are in reaching net zero while balancing financial pressures, post-COVID normal and healthy buildings,” he said.
“Buildings account for more than a third of emissions that is a big responsibility for our industry to meet but we have the skills, knowledge and technology to rise to the challenge and improve the quality of life for all.”
Not surprisingly this isn’t his first award, Tassigiannakis was awarded Engineers Australia’s prestigious Victorian Young Engineer of the Year in 2017 and for the past two years he has been a judge for the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards. He is also a Fellow of Engineers Australia.