about zara

Zara D’Cotta | Building Biology New Build Consultant
Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist (in-training) | Keynote Speaker
Founder, The Healthy Home

Specialising in healthy building materials, healthy home design and electromagnetic radiation, Zara discovered her passion for environmental health after going through cancer and environmental illness.

These transformative experiences led her to a profound realisation: our homes, the very places meant to shelter and nurture us, are inadvertently contributing to many illnesses we see today.

Zara’s personal journey ignited a mission: to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world building practices, empowering industry professionals to create homes that truly support health, longevity, and planetary wellbeing.

GLOBAL EXPERTISE AND CONTINUOUS RESEARCH

As a certified Building Biology New Build Consultant and Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist (in-training) Zara’s commitment to this emerging field is unparalleled. Since 2020, she has pursued advanced studies and mentorship in Australia and the USA, under global leaders in:

  • Building Biology & Building Science

  • Natural building & Architecture

  • Electromagnetic Radiation assessment and mitigation

📡 Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist Training (USA, 2023 & 2024)

Zara has completed both Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist (EMRS) Training and Advanced EMRS Training in North Carolina, USA, under world-leading experts,

Her ongoing training, research and global network of industry peers ensure that The Healthy Home delivers the most evidence-based, cutting-edge insights available—helping industry professionals stay ahead in health-conscious building practices.

industry impact & leadership

Zara’s passion for transforming the building industry isn’t just professional — it’s personal. After experiencing firsthand the effects of mould illness, EMF sensitivity, and reactions to common building materials, she saw how overlooked these issues are in standard construction practices. She now works alongside builders, designers, and industry pioneers to help them bridge the gap between health and construction - because no one should have to choose between a beautiful home and a healthy one.

Zara’s Healthy Building Materials Mastermind is the go-to program for Australia’s leading builders, equipping them with:

✔ Advanced expertise in health & environmentally conscious material selection
✔ The ability to add value in pre-construction without endless research
✔ Tools to mitigate business risks & elevate industry standards

📡 Radiofrequency Radiation Course for Home Designers & Builders
With wireless technology and smart homes on the rise, Zara’s RF Radiation Course helps home designers, builders, and architects understand and reduce RF exposure, making low-EMF design a practical reality.

📐 The Healthy Home Building Blueprint™
Zara developed The Healthy Home Building Blueprint™ as a structured framework, refined through years of research, and experience consulting to homeowners, to help designers and builders integrate health-first principles into every stage of construction.

At the heart of Zara’s endeavours is a clear and compelling vision: a world in which every home is designed and constructed with health in mind, using materials that will enable us to thrive, while minimising our impact on the environment.

Click here to see Zara’s credentials.

To read more about Zara’s studies, click here to read the blog post: Why I studied in two countries.

SPEAKING & MEDIA

Zara’s commitment to raising awareness of the least understood health challenges of our time has led her to deliver keynotes and presentations for:

  • Australian Institute of Architects

  • Association of Professional Builders

  • Building Designers Association of Australia

  • Sustainable Builders Alliance

  • Surfers for Climate

  • National Breast Cancer Foundation

She has been interviewed and featured in:

  • Industry leading podcasts: Undercover Architect, Level Up with Duayne, Professional Builder’s Secrets, Builders Business Blackbelt

  • TV & Radio: Ten News, The Project, Today, ABC Radio (Hobart)

  • Print: Domain (Sydney Morning Herald), Herald Sun, and The Examiner

To find out more about Zara’s speaking work click here.
To listen to Zara’s podcast interviews, click here

"I believe that Zara is an absolute gift to the construction industry. With such a genuine passion for healthy homes, it's evident that her own personal health journey has played a significant part in driving this pursuit.

“Zara has completely opened my eyes to the numbers things that can be detrimental to my health when it comes to the homes we build and live in. I'm so grateful she tirelessly commits herself to continual learning in this space, and is willing to bring this invaluable knowledge to the rest of us.

“Whether you're a builder, designer, home owner or even a tenant, I strongly encourage you not to glance by these learnings."

- Dan Purdie-Smith, Builder, DPS Projects