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The new year is well and truly under way – as we hit February and the industry gets moving, we track career changes and promotions across the board.
(L-R): Dan Liddy, Nathan Lane, Terry McQuillan, Kelly Geldard, Liam Proberts and Andrew Bell, bureau^proberts, photograph by Wildkinds Studio.
February 1st, 2024
Brisbane-based architecture practice bureau^proberts has announced a series of new appointments, including a promotion of three new Partners and a Senior Partner (pictured above). The three new Partners are Dan Liddy, Nathan Lane and Andrew Bell, while Kelly Geldard has been promoted to Senior Partner from her role as Partner.
“I’m excited to step up to the role of Senior Partner and I look forward to a strong future of bureau^proberts,” says Geldard. “We have a great team with amazing clients, so I’m excited to see what the coming years bring.”
Managing and Creative Director, Liam Proberts, adds: “Andrew, Nathan and Dan are talented individuals and strong contributors to bureau^proberts’ projects and culture, and it’s great to see their important roles in the practice recognised in this way. I’m excited to see what other new ideas and thinking they bring.”
HDR has appointed two new principals to steer its health and major projects capability. New Health Principal Conor Larkins (formerly BVN) and Major Projects Principal Zig Peshos (formerly BVN and Woods Bagot) will focus on major health projects and complex, city-shaping social infrastructure programs.
With 18 years of experience working across health, science, education and research projects at BVN, Larkins will head up HDR’s health sector.. He comments: “With HDR as the number one healthcare design practice in the US, I’m looking forward to leveraging the company’s global impact to expand our local footprint and deliver community-driven healthcare infrastructure across Australia’s eastern seaboard and beyond.”
Peshos’ 30 years of transdisciplinary experience will similarly inform the trajectory of large scale, complex projects across HDR’s health, science, education, civic, transport and defence portfolio. “Today, we have an opportunity to deliver major projects with varying procurement methods, which embody unique sustainability agendas and solve complex problems in even more innovative and integrated ways,” says Peshos.
Gray Puksand has appointed Naomi Mackenzie as General Manager to oversee the effective management of the business and implement company growth strategies, as directed by the Board and National Managing Partner. A chartered accountant, Mackenzie is highly recognised in the health and retail fields and brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic programming and project governance to the position.
“I look forward to working alongside Nik Tabain [who previously appeared in On The Move here] driving strategy delivery and supporting the day-to-day operations of Gray Puksand to contribute to the business’ national growth aspirations,” says Mackenzie. “Unlike other industries, architectural design has a certain creative process that requires our teams to work both collaboratively and independently depending on the stage of the project.”
Dean Symington has been named as Infrastructure Principal, bringing over 15 years of experience specialising in industrial and commercial projects. Working across a diverse portfolio, he has led the design and delivery of national data centres and large-scale logistics and distribution facilities for technology, retail and manufacturing clients.
“It’s an exciting time to be joining Architectus as it diversifies its infrastructure offer and expands its pipeline of projects,” says Symington. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to help grow our portfolio and meet client demand in the rapidly expanding data centre market.”
Architectus CEO Ray Brown adds: “This increasing demand for data centres requires specialist expertise to holistically integrate energy, spatial, and user considerations that improve facility safety, functionality and efficiency. Dean’s technical nous and methodical approach will strengthen our capability and enable us to deliver mission critical facilities that provide the best performance outcomes for clients.”
Buchan’s global health team has further expanded with the appointment of Elisa Nakano as a Senior Associate. Nakano is an architect and creative design thinker with over 15 years of experience, specialising in the delivery of large-scale healthcare projects with a focus on clinical planning. She also brings varied experience across education, civic and mixed-use sectors.
“With our greater understanding of how public spaces, retail and amenity can contribute to community health, a new wave of energy is taking traditional hospital design beyond clinical requirements,” says Nakano.
Buchan Principal and Health Sector Lead, Sandra Stewart, adds: “Health facilities are becoming ‘town centres’ in themselves and the campus model presents boundless opportunities to serve local communities. In addition, the new health hubs are looking for niches in the market where they can supplement the public and private offer. Elisa’s expertise in health planning brings another layer to our health, precinct and life science discussions, supported by her wider experience in relevant sectors.”
ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects has announced the promotion of Lauren Bell to Associate in its growing Sydney studio. An accomplished innovator in mixed-use and retail developments, seniors living and care facilities, urban design, residential and commercial architecture, and adventure sports and active health, Bell is also part of the design team behind Urbnsurf’s western Sydney surf park and Woodward Castle Hill.
“My design process is very collaborative – testing ideas as they are discussed and adopting an integrated approach, ensuring clarity in design intent and community benefits,” she says. “This is very much in harmony with the CHC approach. As community architects, we don’t just concentrate on physical structure but also what happens within and around built form and how people interact with space. Engaging with communities we look for optimal outcomes for both the site and the client.”
Engineering firm Ashburner Francis has promoted two of its long-term employees to take on the dual management of its Brisbane HQ. The newly appointed Senior Associates are Toby Murdoch, Electrical Engineering Manager, and Lara Bailey, Mechanical Engineer/ESD Manager. Together, they will jointly lead Ashburner Francis’ Brisbane office following the departure of Brisbane Director, Darren Cardy, who is leaving the building services industry.
Bailey joined Ashburner Francis more than ten years ago and notes approvingly the higher number of women entering the engineering profession: “I always encourage young women to pursue careers in engineering. My advice is never to be fearful of being the only woman in the office, or on-site, because that is changing and there is now a lot more support available for female engineers.”
Meanwhile, Murdoch began his career as an apprentice electrician before embarking on further studies and moving on to roles in estimating and project management. “Having trade and on-site experience equips me with the practical skills required to trouble-shoot designs in the documentation phase — always looking for where improvements and/or efficiencies can be made.”
The very end of 2023 saw the announcement that Chief Executive Officer Ainsley Simpson will be moving on to take on a new role as inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Seamless in March 2024.
“After eight years with the IS Council, nearly six years of those at the helm, Ainsley has made a lasting impact on the infrastructure industry on both sides of the Tasman,” says IS Council Chair, Deb Spring. “Under Ainsley’s inspirational leadership, the IS Council has grown to become a recognised beacon for sustainable infrastructure globally. Our membership has grown four-fold, industry capability has broadened and the number of IS ratings has tripled.”
In 2019, the IS Council was presented with the highest honour at the Banksia Sustainability Awards for its work to align the IS rating scheme with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Board, meanwhile, has appointed Patrick Hastings, Chief Delivery and Capability Officer, as the Acting CEO from 19 February 2024.
In some commercial news, Australian-born global rug business has appointed Mark Haysman in the newly created position of Global Chief Executive Officer. Haysman has extensive experience in consumer goods, including at Mighty Craft Limited, Carlton & United Breweries, and Lion Nathan.
“This role will oversee Armadillo’s expansion efforts in the US and Europe while being based in Australia, where our global functions and brand roots lie,” says co-founder, Sally Pottharst. Co-founder, Jodie Fried, also adds: “With his passion for nurturing and scaling Australian brands locally and internationally, and his reputation for being a dynamic, inspiring, and authentic leader, Mark is perfectly suited to steward Armadillo on a trajectory of continued growth.”
We think you might also enjoy reading about last month’s On The Move, careers in design column, here.
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