Until recently, Steve Trevenar had been at LendLease for as long as Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) has been in practice – that’s 26 years, just to clarify. Suffice it to say that his new appointment as executive delivery lead at BLP, one of Australia’s leading architecture firms, is a significant move for both parties. Not to mention, the wider industry. 

“At BLP we create environments for wellbeing. Designing for a healthy world allows immense scope to influence built outcomes,” says BLP’s managing director, Tara Veldman.

“Through design and innovation, we can shape the future of our communities through social infrastructure for wellbeing, healing, and growth. Our value comes through in prioritising research and translational design, and our inherent ability to understand human connection throughout the design process.”

Trevenar’s appointment is an acknowledgement of delivery’s fundamental role in realising this vision, bringing balance to BLP’s capabilities and expertise across the project timeline. 

The news comes about 9 months since Veldman’s appointment as managing director, in July 2020, marking the completed formation of her newly curated executive team of 6. The executives are tasked to strengthen BLP’s focus on research, translational design, and delivery. Each person brings their particular expertise, including design, delivery, strategy, communications, marketing, business development, finance, and operations.

“With our collaborative and creative group at BLP, the development of the company structure has been evolving for the past several years,” says Veldman. 

“We’ve witnessed change in the industry over the last ten years with ever-increasing complexity working on large scale projects and with industry partners,” she continues, adding context to what’s led up to the new recruit. 

Steve Trevenar joins BLP as executive delivery lead, following a 26-year tenure at LendLease

“We believe it is imperative to provide a ‘whole of life’ approach to buildings and, through the executive team, BLP is planning for the future. When partnering with clients, the knowledge and expertise of the new executive will ensure we provide the most comprehensive, creative and progressive design solutions to secure the best outcomes.” explains Veldman.

Understanding the ever-increasing complexity of project delivery environments and working with industry partners, Trevenar is well-equipped for his new role. Having spent the past 26 years at Lend Lease, his expertise was integral to the development of large infrastructure projects, notably in healthcare, education and public infrastructure. His strength lies in the ability to help create better solutions, solve problems and then work with teams to achieve greater success within an organisation.

“As executive delivery lead, I have initially focussed on working with BLP’s existing project teams across their portfolio to work smarter and more efficiently so that we can deliver better design and architectural solutions for our clients,” says Trevenar. “We are looking to use the latest design technology, to bring innovation and create a new benchmark in the delivery of architectural services for clients and users.”

Working closely with Trevenar will be Tonya Hinde, executive design lead. “With Steve on the executive team there is the opportunity to take design and best practice delivery to another level,” Hinde reflects.

“As architecture is paramount to what we do, so too is the way in which we deliver projects and with Steve’s understanding of process and his experience we can undoubtedly enhance and add value to all our projects.”

Citing the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne as a “shared landmark project for us both,” Trevenar says, “I am hoping to add to this story across projects including the Sydney Children’s Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Children’s Hospital Westmead, the New Footscray Hospital in Melbourne, and many more.”

And we look forward to following that same story as it comes into fruition – stay tuned.