The Built World - Single Session (Design Inspired by Nature)

Mazin Bahho is a retired academic formerly affiliated with IDEAschool at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), New Zealand, as a senior lecturer of Design. He completed his PhD Degree in Architecture in 2018 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

His research is grounded in design education, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary pedagogy, practice-led inquiry, and community-engaged learning. Identity and sense of place are also paramount to his process, focusing on the significance of history and culture as a way of exploring patterns that can be expressed in the contemporary.

Following his retirement, he remains actively engaged in research and publication, continuing to contribute to scholarly discourse in design education and sustainability.

Christina is a lifelong learner with a profound passion for exploring diverse cultures and disciplines. Her curiosity has inspired extensive global travel, from teaching English to Buddhist monks in Laos and volunteering at a Thai orphanage to visiting museums across Europe, the UK, and Asia. A highlight of her travels is the Bishop Museum in Hawai'i, which she visits frequently, including during the 2014 World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education.

Her academic journey began with law and politics at Waikato University, where she discovered dispute resolution. She subsequently earned a Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Strathclyde University, UK. This period included an exchange at the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and research in Hong Kong on the ombudsman's role.

Currently a Learning Facilitator for Love Heart Social Learning, Christina also teaches the Restorative Practices microcredential at Victoria University. A fully accredited restorative justice facilitator and assessor, she recently delivered mediation training in Micronesia. Previously, she served as Director of Employee Assistance Resolution Services at Victoria University.

Outside of work, Christina enjoys connecting with loved ones and attending international events, such as the 2025 Restorative Practices conference in Singapore, to continually expand her expertise.