Kenny Kwok

Professor Kenny Kwok is a Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, specializing in wind engineering. He earned his PhD in wind engineering from Monash University in 1978. Over a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, Kwok has held key leadership roles, including Professor of Wind Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney from 1977 to 2002, where he also served as Associate Dean of Engineering, Director of Wind Engineering Services, and Director of the Graduate School of Engineering. Following this, he was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Professor of Engineering at Western Sydney University. In 2017, he returned to the University of Sydney to join the School of Civil Engineering, contributing to the Centre for Wind, Waves and Water Research with its advanced boundary layer wind tunnel facilities.

Kwok's research focuses on wind engineering and structural dynamics, encompassing wind effects on buildings and structures, wind tunnel testing, environmental fluid mechanics, vibration control, and occupant comfort assessment. His innovative studies on wind-induced structural dynamics and human responses to building motion, including the use of building motion simulators to explore psychological and neuro-physiological reactions, have significantly advanced the field. Key publications include 'Optimization of tuned liquid column dampers' (Engineering Structures, 1997), 'Physical and numerical modelling of thunderstorm downbursts' (Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 2001), 'A longitudinal investigation of work environment stressors on the performance and wellbeing of office workers' (Applied Ergonomics, 2016), and the book 'Wind-Induced Motion of Tall Buildings: Designing for Habitability'. His scholarly impact is evidenced by over 7,000 citations. Awards and honors include the 2019 Jack E. Cermak Medal from the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute for 40 years of contributions to wind engineering, Fellowship of the Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust), and Fellowship of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (FHKIE). In 2022, he was ranked among the global top 2% of researchers in his field by Stanford University and Elsevier.

Professional Email: kenny.kwok@sydney.edu.au