Meet the NSW/ACT Committee
The NSW/ACT Committee has several new members adding to the existing team of committed, enthusiastic volunteers. Issues of interest to the group include fees and tendering, architectural education, communicating the value of architecture, and solving the profession’s big challenges.
Ivana Simkovic, NSW/ACT Branch President
ARCH
Ivana is a Principal Architect and Studio Director for ARCH and has been on the ACA NSW/ACT Committee for three years. Ivana joined the ACA Committee, as she was interested in getting more involved in discussions with peers on topics related to employment, business and what is important to a small, medium and large practice. The issue of particular interest to Ivana is procurement, especially government procurement. With fees not published and very little or no feedback provided to unsuccessful tenderers, there is a perception that successful tenderers are going lower than “benchmark fees”. The increased number of tenders with a design competition component is also a concern, as it increases the tenderers’ time and cost spent on a bid without any financial subsidies.
Greg Isaac, NSW/ACT Secretary
Fulton Trotter Architects
Fulton Trotter Architects has been an ACA member for over 15 years and Greg has been involved with the ACA NSW/ACT Committee since 2012, and secretary since 2014.
Greg and Fulton Trotter Architects believe it is important to be involved in discussions about the Business of Architecture with other architects to hopefully assist in improving the business side of the profession. Greg’s desire to join the committee was mostly about having conversations with architects about their business. “In these discussions, there are often things that are learned, times when we compare notes, and situations where we find out new things that can assist each other. As we are tasked with representing our members, I want to be part of the conversation of the normal day to day things that affect our business and what things can improve architectural business.”
The issues of concern to Greg include fairness in dealings with clients, insurers and regulators; managing risks; improving fees and business profitability; and assisting younger architects to be good in business. Whether online or face-to-face, any opportunity to get architects together to discuss these issues in an open and supportive way helps assist the business side of the profession.
Harry Hamor, NSW/ACT Treasurer
Gibbon Hamor & Associates
Harry has been a member of the ACA for nine years. Harry has found that his firm, and the profession at large, has been under considerable pressure to manage its business activities adequately and profitably. He shares, “We are typically under-resourced. We appear to be in a race to the bottom, undertaking bigger more complex and demanding projects, with more liability and responsibility, with lesser return for those services, often unnecessarily competing with our colleagues. While we understand that all clients want value for money, we are offended by the fee-bidding circumstances in which many of the profession find ourselves.”
Harry joined the ACA committee as a positive step towards changing these conditions. “In many instances we find ourselves informing, even teaching our clients what it is that we do, other than ‘designing buildings’. While this is very simplistic, it is a reflection of a surprising lack of knowledge of the profession’s activities. An aim I have is to improve our clients’ understanding of the fees that we ought to charge and to have the profession achieve at least some steps to that improvement. And last but not least to improve student’s understanding of the importance of practice and business management, at least starting this knowledge base before they graduate. Experience so far indicates there is much to do in this field.”
Brent Dunn
Takt Studio for Architecture
Brent founded Takt Studio for Architecture over 10 years ago and has been a member of the ACA since 2015. Having utilised the helpful resources produced by the ACA in his business for many years, Brent was interested in supporting the creation of better business resources and improving business skills for architects. He believes this can only lead to a stronger and more effective design industry in this country.
As a founding member of the Regional Architecture Association, he is particularly interested in building connections between practitioners, and collectively advocating for architecture in the regions, right across Australia.
Steve Pearse, RAP Working Group
Steve Pearse Architect
Steve became involved with the ACA over 15 years ago as a member in large practice and then as director of his own practice. Steve joined the committee to work with Steve Kennedy in negotiating better contract conditions with NSW government for procuring architects’ services while a director of large practice. Steve is looking for better recognition for the complete role and skills offered to society by architects through their training and experience.
Steve is an enthusiastic Chair of the ACA’s National Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. The group includes contributors from states and territories around Australia. It aims to identify actions and a potential education plan, informed by member feedback. The RAP Working Group is currently planning a survey seeking feedback from members, which will assist us in shaping a program of events and information/education for CPD, as well as social awareness programs with each branch.
David Springett
Paragrid Architecture
David has been a member of the ACA since before 2000. He was teaching Professional Practice at UTS and was a member of the RAIA Practice Committee when he joined the NSW/ACT committee to ensure he had a complete picture of the profession that could be presented to the graduating students.
David felt that at the ACA there were like-minded architects who wanted to get things done. He likes the fact that the ACA is active and prompt in getting ‘stuff’ done. “When we have an idea then we get on with it. At the moment we are actively supporting Tools, which is a vital part of understanding the NCC and Australian Standards and how they apply to designs.” David wants to make sure the ACA remains a lean keen machine that delivers to the profession now and into the future.
Fabricio Siqueira
Fab Siqueira Architect
Fabricio is an independent architect with more than 18 years of industry experience. Fabricio became an ACA member in October 2020 and a member of the NSW/ACT committee shortly after.
Fabricio joined the committee to improve working conditions and recognition of the value of architects in Australia, especially small practices that do not work in glamorous projects. Fabricio highlights the fact that in most professions in Australia it is illegal to practise them without a license or registration; however, for architects only the title is protected. “Any person can do any architecture tasks as long as they don’t call themselves an ‘architect’. While there are exceptions, these can be easily overcome by paying an architect to sign a design compliance declaration, or design verification statement – a few do that and there is no punishment for them, even though they bring the whole category down in exchange for a few dollars.”
Christopher Lal
Christopher Lal Architect
Christopher has been a member of the ACA since 2020 and joined the committee initially for CPD points on subject matter not available through other memberships. He found that over time the developing content is both relevant and engaging. The main issue faced in the ACT is accountability of the planning system, development application process and timing. Progression through a united front could aid in system transparency.
Rozzy Middleton, NSW/ACT Executive Officer
ACA NSW/ACT
Rozzy joined the ACA NSW/ACT Branch in February 2026, as the Executive Officer. Her role includes managing membership, arranging informative events, which include presentations either online or face to face.