The BLP Managing Director & Principal has been named recipient of the very first Australian Health Design Council (AHDC) Gold Medal Award.

Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) has announced that Tara Veldman has been named the inaugural recipient of the AHDC Gold Medal Award. The announcement was made at the AHDC Annual General Meeting, with the formal presentation taking place at the recent AHDC Conference October.

The AHDC Gold Medal recognises exemplary leadership and impactful contribution in healthcare design in Australia. Tara has been honoured for her visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, and transformative contributions to healthcare environments across Australia and internationally.

“I’m deeply honoured to receive this inaugural award,” says Tara Veldman. “This recognition reflects the incredible work of our entire BLP team and our valued collaborators – the clinicians, patients, stakeholders and communities who partner with us to reimagine what healthcare environments can be. Together, we’re proving that thoughtful, evidence-based design has the power to heal.”

The AHDC judging committee members advised that “Tara has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to healthcare design through her visionary leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Her leadership on major projects in Australia has set new benchmarks for care. While her influence is strongest at the facility level, she also contributes as a thought leader and mentor, sharing knowledge and inspiring emerging designers, thereby shaping the future of healthcare design through both practice and professional development”.

With over 20 years in healthcare design, Tara has been instrumental in establishing BLP’s reputation as a leader in evidencebased healthcare architecture. She launched BLP’s Sydney office in 2011, growing it from a solo operation to a team of 70 professionals, and became Managing Director of the national business in 2020.

Under her leadership, BLP has pioneered ‘translational design’ – a collaborative methodology that brings together architects, researchers, clinicians, and patients to create healing environments grounded in rigorous evidence and deep empathy. This approach integrates environmental psychology, patient feedback and cutting-edge research into every stage of the design process.

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Tara has led some of Australia’s most significant healthcare projects, including:

Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre; The Children’s Hospital, Westmead Stage 2; and Campbelltown Hospital, the $632 million redevelopment pioneered the integration of mental health services with mainstream care across six floors.

Tara is a regular presenter at the European Healthcare Design Conference in London and has contributed to the Government Architect NSW’s Design Guide for Health. She also actively collaborates with academic researchers to advance evidence-based healthcare design practice.

As one of few female CEOs in the construction industry, Tara is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. In 2025, she participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 69th Session in New York with the Champions of Change Coalition, representing and advocating for women in leadership roles.

At BLP, Tara mentors emerging designers, leads vision workshops and supports research partnerships. She is an active member of the UIA Public Health Group, Champions of Coalition, AHDC and the Australian Institute of Architects.

BLP
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