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On the move: shifts made in leadership teams across industry

As June bumps into July, in 2021, GroupGSA’s founding director moves on; meanwhile, Architectus, Bates Smart and more ordain newly appointed leaders.

On the move: shifts made in leadership teams across industry

Architectus

Architectus is pleased to welcome four new senior associates to the leadership team.

“Felicity Hurling, Jana Somasundaram, Jonathan Archibald, and Steven Wisker add considerable expertise to our practice and our capacity to deliver innovative and resilient design across multiple sectors, nationally,” says the firm’s chief executive officer, Ray Brown.

Felicity Hurling

Felicity Hurling has 10 years of experience covering all stages of design, construction, delivery, and handover. She has worked across Australia, Europe and South America delivering transport infrastructure. Prior to joining Architectus, Felicity led a number of aviation projects and teams across the Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania regions.

Jana Somasundaram

Jana Somasundaram is a highly skilled architect with 25 years of professional experience. His extensive portfolio encompasses mixed-use supertall skyscrapers, large-scale commercial, education, multi-residential and hotel developments located in Australia, the UK, Asia, and the Middle East.

Jonathan Archibald

Jonathan Archibald has re-joined Architectus after working in the UK. He is an experienced planner with detailed knowledge of the NSW planning framework, and local and state government approvals processes.

Steven Wisker

Steven Wisker is a Registered Architect with an international career that spans 15 years, starting in New Zealand and continuing in the United Kingdom and Australia – where he has spent the past 12 years. His project experience encompasses luxury hospitality, mixed-use residential and retail, healthcare, and education.

 

Bates Smart

Karen Chan has joined Bates Smart as business development and marketing lead in Sydney. She brings to the firm diverse and extensive experience in property business development and management, as well as strategic marketing and communications.

Karen Chan

From 2004 to 2017, Karen worked in Hong Kong and Shanghai for international design practices including Aedas, HBA and B+H Architects. She has also worked in workplace strategy, and in 2017, returned to Sydney with CBRE to lead change communications for IAG’s Darling Park office consolidation and relocation.

 

Great Dane

Great Dane is delighted to announce the appointment of Jon Holland as its general manager of A&D. Based in Melbourne, Jon’s role will see him working with the national team of consultants to oversee the engagement with the A&D community and growth of the Great Dane business across Australia.

Jon Holland

After studying furniture design and beginning his career in London, Jon has spent the last 20 years in Australia and throughout his career has been an active contributor within the industry. Jon brings with him a wealth of experience and success in the management of both sales teams and business operations.

“I’m excited to be joining the team and look forward bringing my passion for furniture and design in representing the incredible collection offered by Great Dane.”

 

GroupGSA

After more than 40 years since founding GroupGSA, managing director Mark Sheldon is handing the reins to his team of four long-serving directors who are well supported by eight principals located across Australia and two principals based in Asia.

Sheldon describes the move as not a changing of the guard but rather a natural evolution and transition. After all, he developed the team over many years to take the practice forward. “When clients entrusted me with their work, I needed the confidence and courage to know I had the right directors in place to design and deliver their projects, understand their commercial drivers and design excellence imperatives,” Sheldon explains.

The formidable foursome taking over the leadership of GroupGSA all hold significant tenure as directors. From July, Lisa Maree Carrigan, Peter McCamley, John Holland and Nancy Piazzolla will continue the legacy left by Mark. Together, this leadership collective will now draw upon a great depth of multi-disciplinary skills and experience to deliver the market valuable insights and future-focused design solutions.

 

Herman Miller

Herman Miller is pleased to welcome Gigi Davidge as market manager for the brand, working across New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand.

Gigi Davidge

Davidge is an experienced sales professional with a lifelong career focused on promoting design related products to both commercial and residential sectors. Most notably, Gigi led Herman Miller’s ergonomic portfolio of products across Western Canada with Contemporary Office Interiors before immigrating to Australia in 2013 where she’s quickly embraced the Sydney A&D community through roles at TCW furniture and, most recently, Tongue n Groove flooring.

Now, an Australian citizen, Gigi is excited to return to a brand she’s grown to love in a role that will permit her to further flex her design influence across Australia and New Zealand. She’s passionate about leading growth strategies for world-class companies and to improving the daily lives of others through innovative products and spaces.

 

Neolith

Neolith is thrilled to announce that Ross Cameron has joined the upper echelons of its team, as vice president across APAC.

Ross Cameron

Ross has been in the surface industry for 10 years working in senior roles in London and Asia. In Asia he was responsible for both direct markets and distribution markets which is perfect for Oceania as Neolith have adopted a hybrid approach. Previous to the surface industry he was in the KBB sector for a further 10 years. The move to Neolith now exposes Ross to an even greater territory including Oceania.

Ross prides himself on his ability to build and develop high performing teams and strong customer relationships. “I hope when people talk about Neolith in 2022 they associate us with service and innovation,” says Cameron. “Then I will know we are doing things correctly.”

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