Teresa Serrao is the Founder, CEO, and Head of School at Built Form Design Academy, Australia’s first private building design college. With nearly 30 years of professional experience as a registered architect, educator, and entrepreneur, Teresa is a leading authority in building design education and practice. 

Education

A graduate with Honours from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with a Bachelor of Architecture, Teresa also holds multiple qualifications in training, assessment, project management and engineering, ensuring that her expertise bridges both professional practice and effective education delivery. 

Career

Throughout her career, Teresa has designed everything from individual homes to medium-density and high-rise developments, commercial interiors, and industrial projects. She brings real-world, practical knowledge to the classroom, having operated her own architectural practice, Teresa Serrao Architect, for over two decades, where she specialised in low-energy housing and full project lifecycle management—from concept design to contract administration. 

Teresa’s teaching experience spans institutions such as the University of Western Sydney, Nirimba TAFE, OTEN, and the CATC Design College, where she taught building design, interior design, construction management, and BIM CAD software. She has developed course materials, assessments, and specialist workshops to meet the needs of both face-to-face and distance learning students. 

Built Form Design Academy

At Built Form Design Academy, Teresa’s vision was to create an accessible, industry-focused educational platform that prepares students not only to enter the building design profession but to excel within it. She has personally developed the Academy’s accredited courses, including the Certificate IV and Diploma of Building Design, ensuring they are grounded in real-world industry standards and cutting-edge technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modelling) using ArchiCAD and Revit. 

A strong advocate for professional development, Teresa is a Member of the Board of Architects, AIA (Australian Institute of Architects), BDAA (Building Designers Association of Australia), VELG Training, ITECA and the Inner West Architects Network. Her leadership ensures Built Form Design Academy’s programs remain current with regulatory changes, sustainability practices, and emerging industry trends. 

Through her leadership, students at BFDA gain access to an education shaped by an architect who has not only practiced at the highest levels but is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of design professionals. 

Start Your Building Design Journey with BFDA!

You can begin with the Certificate IV in Residential Drafting and move into the Diploma of Building Design.  

Ready to start your own drafting journey? 

Explore the Certificate IV at BFDA

Explore the Diploma of Building Design at BFDA

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