Independent Design Advisory Panel - current members

Martin has 25 years’ experience in urban planning and program management in QLD, NSW and the UK, including 13 years in senior leadership positions.

He holds a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning from the University of Queensland, a Master of Infrastructure Management from Queensland University of Technology and earned additional qualifications from Oxford Saïd Business School, the NSW Public Service Commission and Australian Institute of Management. He has also been a member of numerous advisory boards and committees relating to planning, infrastructure and urban design.

Catherine is the Director of Catherine Baudet Architect, and a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.  She has 40 years’ experience in the Queensland Building and Construction Industry. Through her active membership of the AIA, Catherine has played an instrumental part in developing policy recommendations for architecture.

Her extensive experience has enabled her to develop a strong rapport with major operators in the building and construction sector and a good understanding of the practicalities involved in designing and managing building and construction projects. Catherine received the Australian Institute of Architects Inaugural Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize in 2017.

Catherine, in her current role as Australian President of Women Chief ‘s of Enterprises International, continues to promote and champion entrepreneurial women in business.

Jayson Blight heads Blight Rayner Architecture with Michael Rayner and has over 25 years’ experience as lead architect on major public and private projects. They have included the National Maritime Museum of China, One One One Eagle Street, Ipswich Justice Precinct and Anna Meares Velodrome (at Cox Rayner). His current and recent projects include the New Performing Arts Venue at South Bank, Jubilee Place in Fortitude Valley, and St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Sports Centre. His projects have won International Awards (World Architecture Festival) and National Awards from the Australian Institute of Architects.

Jayson is particularly interested in how private sector buildings engage with the public realm and how materials come together to enrich human experience.

Jeff is a registered architect in Queensland with over 15 years of professional experience as an architect and urban designer. Jeff brings a broad range of architectural experience from an extensive portfolio of work both nationally and internationally.

His leadership of our Queensland studio is characterised by an emphasis on collaboration and innovation in design across all aspects and stages of the projects the practice undertakes nationally. He is equally proficient designing individual luxury homes as he is mixed-use residential and commercial buildings across all scales.

Sandra Browne, Architect and Director of Cottee Parker Architects has 30 years’ experience specialising in the delivery of thoughtfully designed commercial, multi-residential and master planning projects. She has worked on a variety of significant catalyst projects in Brisbane over the years including The Highgate, Emporium Fortitude Valley and the James St Masterplan.

More recently Sandra has been working on the Portside East and West Masterplan and the delivery of Gallery House at Hamilton. Sandra is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architecture and an examiner for the Board of Architects, for the registration of new architects in Queensland.

Cathryn is an award-winning urban designer and landscape architect, and her contribution to the country’s-built environment spans the nation’s capital, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. With more than 30 years’ experience Cathryn has accumulated dual proficiencies in both policy and practice and is also an active member of several Design Review Panels nationally.

She is a passionate collaborator and highly effective project director and has led the design and delivery of large-scale projects for both public and private sector clients. Her project portfolio includes significant involvement in large-scale urban regeneration and master planning, including town and city centres, airports, and university campuses.

Natasha is an accomplished professional in the design and construction industries with over 15 years of experience in project management and architecture. She has expertise in delivering successful base building projects, commercial fitouts, and development strategies. Currently, Natasha serves as the Design Assurance Manager for the Queens Wharf Brisbane Development, representing the Queensland Government. In this role, she ensures the design quality of the public realm while facilitating the delivery and coordination of associated works.

Paul is the founding Director of Push Architecture, established in 2001. The practice has delivered a variety of mixed use commercial and residential projects throughout Australia that display a consistent pursuit of high-quality architecture. Paul has a belief and commitment to the following key principles that underpin architecture:

• good design is essential in every aspect of a project
• sustainability is fundamental in both the built product and in the social infrastructure of community. Sustainability transcends ‘green stars’ because the real benchmark is measured by both benefit to environment and social benefit to community
• a respect of history and a sensitive understanding of building and urban character leads to more meaningful outcomes.

Greening cities and urban environments through an emphasis on quality landscape outcomes.

Katherine is the Studio Director of Aspect Studios in Brisbane.  She has consistently delivered projects which contribute to public space, education, tourism and mixed use within the fabric of the city and region. Notable projects include Brisbane’s first high rise school, Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, Anna Meares Velodrome as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the award winning Flinders Street Revitalisation in Townsville. These projects demonstrate Katherine’s ability to collaborate effectively to deliver complex landscape outcomes which intrinsically support built form.

Andrew is a registered landscape architect and Manager at RPS Australia East. With 25 years in practice, his experience covers the master planning, design and documentation across many sectors including public realm mixed use precincts, residential and senior living, education and green spaces. His experience includes some of SEQ’s most awarded sub-tropical places including the Gasworks Plaza precinct, the SW1 Mixed Use Precinct SBC and the Epicurious Gardens at South Bank Parklands. Andrew's practice seeks to blur the boundaries between architecture and landscape to create truly inclusive places for people. 

John Gaskell has over 30 years planning experience in the public and private sector and is currently a Director of GPC, who have a range of government, private sector and not for profit clients.  He has wide experience in strategic planning, planning scheme preparation, major development applications and as an expert witness.

John's standing in the planning profession has been recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia's elevation of John's membership to fellow in 2015. A consortium led by JGPC (in conjunction with DSDMIP) was recently awarded the overall winner of the 2019 PIA Queensland awards of excellence for the Southport Spit project. 

Kelly is a Partner and Project Director at Brisbane firm bureau^proberts. During her 20+ year career Kelly has delivered award-winning architecture in mixed-use, commercial, luxury-residential, and public infrastructure sectors to local and global markets. Kelly is a design leader with the ability to quickly formulate design responses supported by coordinated analysis and research. Her strengths are client engagement, creative problem solving and navigating complex sites and briefs whilst achieving highly creative and innovative outcomes.

Owner and director of WILD Studio, Andrew is a passionate landscape architect, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and avid traveller. Andrew concentrates his energy on improving open space in our built environment and contributing to the vitality of urban life. This has been demonstrated throughout his career on many award-winning projects in Australia and abroad. Working in design studios in Tokyo, Vienna and Brisbane over the past two decades, Andrew is deeply committed to helping create some of Australia’s most resilient and memorable urban environments.

As Principal at Arkhefield, Andrew drives the design direction of the practice. His extensive skills and experience in providing strategic direction and managing the design process ensures a keen vision and strong leadership for the studio. An advocate for the architecture profession and construction industry, Andrew is committed to innovative work practices that embrace collaboration and integration in how we design and deliver the built environment.

He has been an active member of numerous government and industry steering committees and is a regular speaker at conventions and forums nationwide. Andrew is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Natalie Hoitz is an urban designer with a background in architecture, planning and urban geography. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked on urban design and built-form projects around the world. Over many years she has helped provide strategic and practical design, master planning and placemaking advice for major urban renewal precincts, new cities, airports, university and health campuses and public spaces.

Natalie is a keen advocate for elevating the design agenda in our city and promoting human-centric outcomes in the built environment. She is involved in several industry bodies and organisations including the Property Council of Australia and the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Her most recent project work includes leading the Victoria Park Master Plan for Brisbane City Council, the Future South Bank Master Plan and The Dunwich (Goompi) Master Plan for the Queensland Government.

Dr Kennedy is passionate about liveable, sustainable, climate-responsive urban design and architecture, and has long channelled her passion into academic design research with practical outcomes for government and industry. She has led over 30 research projects investigating major urban sustainability issues including high density living typologies, sun-safe public realm, design for long life, flood resilience and climatic responsibility. As leader of the former collaborative QUT Centre for Subtropical Design, she authored the influential publication Subtropical Design in South East Queensland, a Handbook for Planners, Developers and Decision Makers.

A Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and the inaugural Dunbar Fellow, Rosemary contributes to the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee, is a former Chapter Councillor, and has served on numerous awards juries including as Queensland Chair of the AIA National Awards program. She is a partner in Mulder + Kennedy Architects and leads the SubTropical Cities consultancy.

Anne is a Technical Director leading Sustainable Buildings and Precincts in Queensland and New South Wales at Mott MacDonald. Anne has 25 years’ experience in building physics and sustainability advisory including strategy, workshops, digital analysis and ratings tools.

Anne is a Green Star assessor, a Green Building Champion (2022) and is on the Expert Reference Panel for the Green Building Council of Australia for People and Wellbeing. Anne is also on the WELL cities Advisory Panel for the International Well Building Institute and is on the WELL Faculty.

Anne’s project experience includes the multi-award-winning Global Change Institute, where she was the Green Star Accredited Professional. This project was the most sustainable education building in Australia of it’s time, designed in alignment with the Living Building Challenge. Anne also has extensive experience with commercial buildings, including 123 Albert Street, 480 Queen Street and public infrastructure such as the Townsville Stadium, the Anna Meares Velodrome and The Gabba.

Anne also works on site-wide sustainability strategies such as the Southbank masterplan and the Northshore Hamilton development.

Bevan was a founding partner of McKerrell Lynch Architects and has 46 years practicing in Australia, the Pacific region, Asia and the Middle East. He was the first Chair of IDAP established in 2006 and continues to serve on this panel, is Specialist Advisor to Council on Urban Renewal and Design, and a Director of Oxley Creek Transformation Pty Ltd.

Ben is a respected town planning consultant with over 20 years of experience. His strategic advice, professional opinion and project leadership skills are highly sought after by both the private sector and government.  Ben is a Director of Planning at Urbis and is a past-President of the Committee for Brisbane. 

Ben is passionate about shaping cities and has contributed to the success of a wide variety of projects, from master planning and drafting planning instruments and policy, through to guiding development projects and appearing as an expert in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court. 

Gerard is the co-owner and director of 8LA Landscape Architecture and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Gerard is passionate about community, urban design, landscape values, public art and active transport. He has successfully co-ordinated a range of projects with a focus on landscape planning, authority liaison and problem solving. Significant projects include the Currumbin Ecovillage, Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 1 and the Gold Coast Landscape Character Study, Gold Coast Active Transport Network Plan, Active Transport to Schools and Green Bridges Review. Gerard is an experienced representative in multi-disciplinary design teams and has an environmentally responsive design approach and keen attention to detail.

Ivan McDonald is a registered architect in private practice with over 30 years’ specialised experience in the conservation of heritage buildings, places and areas. He completed post-graduate study in urban design majoring in urban conservation and has been heritage adviser to Ipswich City Council, Toowoomba Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Noosa Shire Council. He has served on the Queensland Heritage Council and the National Trust of Queensland Council and is currently a member of the Brisbane City Council Heritage Advisory Committee.

Graham has been a registered architect in Queensland since 2007 with significant experience in all types of residential projects. In addition, he has contributed to a variety of commercial and mixed-use projects. He balances pragmatism with the desire to create places that are unique, uplifting and enhance the everyday lives of clients. Graham brings a collaborative approach to deliver great design outcomes and success for all stakeholders.

Monika is co-founder and principal of REFRESH, with a big heart. Complimenting her Masters degree in Architecture from TU Graz, Austria, Monika has multi-disciplinary skills gained through visual communication practice as well as living and working in various cities throughout Europe, South America and Australia.

Monika is involved in research at project inception and collaboration on all project stages. She is passionate about building strong relationships with both clients and consultants, as well as maintaining strong connections with Australian and European experts working within the fields of co-design, psychology, human-centred design, affordable housing and anthropology.

Stephen Pate is a founding director of CUSP and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects with over 30 years of experience in the design coordination of multi-disciplinary teams for the delivery of successful public realm. He has been recognised for his significant contribution to landscape architecture and urban design through numerous awards. His most notable works include the James Street precinct, River Quay at South Bank and the Outdoor Stage HOTA at the Gold Coast cultural precinct.  He is currently the lead designer of the riverfront Queens Wharf public realm.

Dominic is a highly experienced landscape architect and urban design leader with an award-winning proven track record in the planning, design, and delivery of complex social infrastructure. Dominic is skilled in collaborating with and leading multi-disciplinary teams, developing and evolving urban spaces into community focused places for people as they grow, work, learn and live. With experience across Australia, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and China, Dominic offers a formidable mix of design flair and construction pragmatics keenly tailored to client and community aspirations, site context, and core environmental values.

Erhard is the lead architect and director of REFRESH and has become known for developing well-considered, simple architecture with sophisticated detailing based upon a rigorous design process. Studying and working internationally, he established Refresh with Monika Obrist in 2010. Erhard is passionate about creating architecture that shapes a better society and aims to do this with each project. He is hands-on and involved in every project, whether a house, renovation, or boutique multi-residential complex.

Erhard has served several times on AIA Awards Juries and is also a member of the Design Excellence Panel of the Office of the Queensland Government Architect. 

Ingrid Richards co-founded Richards and Spence Architects with Adrian Spence in 2008 with the aim of creating vibrant public spaces from private commissions. She is a University of Queensland graduate of Architecture and has practiced in her home town of Brisbane for over 20 years. Over the last decade Richards and Spence has created loved retail environments including the Brickworks Centre (Southport), Cornerstone Stores (Tugan) and Fish Lane Town Square. Significantly the practice has been instrumental in the development of the James Street Precinct in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley including the Calile Hotel.

Peter Richards is an architect and urbanist with over 40 years’ experience working on projects from small buildings to large cities. He is well-known and sought after for his collaborative design abilities and has contributed to more than 150 design workshops in Australia and internationally over the last 20 years. Peter is an Adjunct Professor at the QUT School of Design and a former chair of the Centre for Subtropical Design.

Dr Janice Rieger has been designing for inclusion across Australia, Canada and Europe for 25 years, and her work has won international universal design awards, three national awards, a Mayor’s Access Recognition Award, and a State-level disability award for her leadership in promoting access and inclusion. Janice has held appointments to international design juries, disability congress committees, international scientific advisory boards for inclusive design, and national council board positions.

Dr Rieger is a Fellow of The Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences (QAAS), a Lifetime Member of the Centre for Universal Design Australia (CUDA), and the first non-European invited to join the European Institute for Design and Disability-Design for All (EIDD-DfA). Janice co-founded the National Certificate Program in Accessible Housing Design (CSAHD) in Canada and is an international member of the European Society for Disability Research (ALTER). Dr Rieger continues to practice as a designer to advocate for access, inclusion and design for all in Australia and globally.  

Deb has over 25 years experience working as a Landscape Architect and Urban Designer, growing teams and collaborating to create beautiful places. Over her career she has worked across many landscape typologies from infrastructure, education, health and wellbeing, public realm, master planning, parklands, recreation and wetlands, retail, commercial and residential towers, community consultation, streetscapes and villages, visual assessments, and last but not least - play.

Deb’s legacy of projects include the Cross River Rail Bid – where she led the Urban Design and Landscape Team across four Inner city precincts and solidified strategic partnerships. Deb is passionate about ensuring city shaping projects create a legacy beyond the hard infrastructure by creating sustainable benefits for the health and well-being of the community through public realm and open space opportunities.

Noel Robinson is the founder and CEO of Noel Robinson Architects, an eminent Australian Architectural practice with over 45 years of experience in innovative Architecture and Urban Design. 

During his distinguished career in private practice, he has been the recipient of over 80 architectural and industry awards as well as being a recipient of the Prime Minister Centenary Medal in 2003 (Australian Honours System).  Noel Robinson is also an Associate Professor at QUT as well as Honorary Doctor of the University (QUT).

Kirsti Simpson is the Studio Chair of global architecture practice Woods Bagot. Kirsti is an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland (UQ) School of Architecture and Chair of the UQ School of Architecture Industry Advisory Board. She is a Member of the Economic Development Queensland advisory panel and a member of the Division Council of the Property Council of Queensland.

Kirsti is an internationally recognised design specialist with significant expertise in the design and management of major complex projects, drawn from over 30 years’ experience across the design and construction industry.

Caroline is an architect and urbanist with 34 years’ experience, 20 of these as a Director or Principal of top-tier national and international design practices. She is an award-winning designer, bringing strong design and communication skills, strategic thinking and a collaborative ethos to projects.

She has led major projects around Australia, South East Asia and London, including integration of new infrastructure into urban settings, master planning new communities, transport hubs, centres regeneration, universities, designing public spaces, community buildings, station architecture, and social and affordable housing.

Caroline recently established ‘Pilot Places’, a project strategy and design practice helping clients to innovate in the design and procurement of community places and spaces.

She is an Adjunct Professor of Design in Creative Industries at QUT, and a member of the Queensland Board for Urban Design and Urban Places. She has served as a board member of the Southbank Corporation, and is an AIA Fellow and Chapter Councillor. She is a regular invited keynote speaker at conferences and workshops, and a strong design advocate.

Dr Emily Steel is an occupational therapist and Fulbright Future Scholar who has worked as a clinician, manager and academic in Australia, Europe and America. She actively promotes inclusion in her roles as a Director of the Centre for Universal Design Australia (CUDA) and member of the inaugural Queensland Accessible Transport Advisory Council (QATAC). Emily contributes to national and international research and standards on cognitive accessibility, assistive technology, disability policy and inclusive community development as an author, technical expert, mentor, and peer reviewer.

Shy Tay is an architect and urbanist with a proven track record of leading projects in urban renewal, mixed-use precincts and transportation. He is committed to contributing to strategic design policy and has co-authored several design guidelines for local governments including Brisbane City Council’s New World City Buildings that Breathe Design Guide and Design-led City Traditional Housing: Alterations and Extensions Design Guide. Through his work in practice, involvement on Design Advisory boards, and serving as chair of the AIA QLD Architecture Awards, Shy has provided design stewardship, project leadership and strategic advice for a range of major development schemes, key pieces of infrastructure and policy.

Mark Tendys is a registered architect in private practice in Brisbane, Australia. Mark’s experience spans a diverse scale of residential, community and institutional projects across urban, regional and international contexts. Through extensive experience partnering with educational and community infrastructure clients, Mark has fostered a deep interest in pre-project community engagement and visioning. Mark’s international experience includes a diverse range of projects, in varied and often remote environments and contexts, where community resilience and project resources are challenged. Mark brings significant experience in working in post-disaster situations in both first response and delivering improved reconstruction solutions.

Damian is co-owner and director at LatStudios and has spent over 30 years designing public and private environments along Australia’s eastern coastline, including stints in the UK and Asia. His work spans across urban design and landscape architecture and he has enjoyed a long association lecturing and tutoring at Queensland University of Technology. He has led and contributed to multidisciplinary teams that deliver award-winning projects ranging in scale from intimate laneways through to major public parklands and urban renewal projects. Damian is passionate about site-specific, community-driven design outcomes and is one of the founding members of the Flood of Ideas project.

James is a visionary designer and established commentator on the competitiveness of Australian cities. His background is across planning, urban design and the public realm – diverse perspectives he draws on while leading major city shaping projects on behalf of both government and private clients. Since joining Urbis in 2005, he has worked on significant national and international integrated developments in Australia, Asia and Europe – from planning for new towns to delivering revitalised city centres and major public spaces. James sits on several boards advising on urban issues and is an Adjunct Professor of Design at the Queensland University of Technology.

David is an Urban Designer, Registered Landscape Architect, and Precinct Sustainability Consultant with over 29 years’ experience. David has extensive experience in large to small scale landscape design, master planning projects and public realm projects including sustainable development and resilience advisory and is one of only a few Green Star Accredited Landscape Architects in Australia. David is an advocate for good design outcomes and passionate about the sustainability, design and community dividend benefits that good development can bring to our cities. David is an AILA Fellow, current AILA Queensland Chapter Vice President and immediate past President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

Stuart Vokes lives, teaches and practices architecture in Brisbane and has over 30 years of industry experience. In 2015 Stuart co-founded the architectural practice Vokes and Peters with long-time collaborator Aaron Peters to focus on projects that respond to prevailing settings, cultural narratives, human occupation and the presence of nature. Vokes and Peters is recognised for its private houses and sustained research into suburban Brisbane, however the practice also works across a range of cultural and commercial projects, as well as heritage work. Stuart has served as a juror on the AIA national awards program and the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel. He currently sits on the Design Excellence Panel: Queensland Social and Affordable Housing and the Abedian School of Architecture Industry Panel.

Nathalie is deeply concerned about the future of our planet and the legacy we leave future generations, bringing this focus to her influence on projects. Working in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Australia for 30+ years, she has collaboratively engaged with multidisciplinary teams to produce award-winning outcomes on projects in the realms of urban design, infrastructure, park design, residential design, site rehabilitation and visual impact assessment. Nathalie is a panel member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel and the NSW State Design Review Panel and was awarded a Fellowship from AILA for her contributions to the Landscape Architecture profession in 2017.

Simon White graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 1998 and has over 25 years’ experience as the owner and Design Principal of a national architectural practice. He is also the internal Head of Design for one of Australia’s most awarded high-density residential developers and most recently Owner of a design focussed development consultancy called DVLP.

His notable projects include Southport Broadwater Parklands, Oxley + Stirling Residences and South Brisbane’s Fish Lane redevelopment.

Brooke Williams is the Founder and Director of Brisbane based placemaking and community engagement consultancy Fourfold Studio. She is an experienced urban designer, event manager, and trusted placemaking advisor who, through her years of experience, has co-founded the not-for-profit organisation U.R{BNE} Collective, delivered internationally acclaimed activations and championed the placemaking movement in Queensland. Brooke has experience working on urban renewal and place-based economic regeneration strategies throughout Australia. She applies a highly participatory and evidence-based approach to designing places and delivering activation strategies that leave a legacy of more vibrant places with proud and connected communities.

Heath has over 30 years of experience in lighting, film and television. He worked on thousands of television commercials for Australia and worldwide, as well as some feature films. Heath made the move into architectural lighting and has not looked back, encompassing his expertise and passion for lighting within every project. These projects now include an impressive list of lounge bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, homes, hotels, offices, fountains, shopping centres, high rise buildings, city malls and streets, service stations, and casinos. He is passionate about the role creative lighting outcomes play in enhancing the identity of a city and extending economic activity and vibrancy into the night for our inner-city places and spaces.

Bruce Wolfe, former Managing Director and Company Chair of Conrad Gargett, is a highly respected architect and recognised leader within the industry. Bruce is renowned for his inspirational work on some of the most prominent, innovative projects in Queensland, including the internationally awarded Queensland Children’s Hospital. Guided by his astute design sensibility, appetite for idea exploration and commitment to collaboration, Bruce facilitates shared vision through design. He places people and sustainability at the centre of all his work, and is inspired by his ability to make a difference to the way people live, now, and in the future.

Ruth Woods is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, a practicing architect working in heritage for nearly 30 years and was a member of the Queensland Heritage Council for eight years from 2002 to 2009. Ruth is also a Member of Australia ICOMOS and the heritage sub-committee for the Queensland Chapter of the AIA. In 2005, Ruth started her own practice which specialises in the adaptive re-use and conservation of heritage listed buildings.