Meet the QLD/NT Committee

The ACA QLD/NT Committee includes President Brett Hudson, Vice-President Justine Ebzery, and an enthusiastic, committed team of practice owners and directors keen to make a difference for members in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Learn more about their roles, areas of interest, and goals with the ACA.

Brett Hudson, QLD/NT  President
Peddle Thorp

Brett is the new President of the QLD/NT Committee and the Chief Executive Officer for Peddle Thorp QLD, who have been members of the ACA for over 20 years. Brett decided to join the committee in 2019 after a former director retired and an opportunity presented itself to have a voice in the profession and contribute to addressing the issues faced in architectural practices.

Brett has an interest in regaining and enhancing the important role the architect has in the creation of buildings and places in our communities. He believes that the voices of architects are being diminished at the same time as they are experiencing multiple challenges to run sustainable businesses. These challenges include the contractual and risk environment, the need for continuous education, changing compliance issues, higher cost and lower fees, and shrinking timeframes to undertake the work. All of these have placed enormous personal and business pressures on architects. Brett is looking forward to tackling the issues collectively and supporting each other with solutions.

Justine Ebzery, Vice-President
Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum QLD/NT
Fulton Trotter Architects

Justine is a Director at Fulton Trotter Architects who have been members of the ACA for many years (see member profile). She joined the QLD/NT Committee in 2022 and has been the Queensland Chair of the ACA’s Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum since 2020. Justine became Vice-President of the Committee in 2026.

Justine enjoys the opportunity to advocate for and contribute to the architecture profession and collaborate with other committee members. She is interested in ensuring that the business of architecture remains sustainable and strong so the profession can contribute to making our communities better. Justine is very interested in the wellbeing of those working in the architectural profession and believes that making our businesses strong and sustainable will support our wellbeing. The ACA provides a wealth of resources to support practices with this and advocates for the profession and the value architects can bring to projects via government and other client and industry agencies.

Adam Perrier, QLD/NT Secretary
Bloc Design QLD

Adam is the Secretary of the QLD/NT Committee and Director of Bloc Design. He became an ACA member in 2018, shortly after establishing his practice on the Fraser Coast. Adam joined the committee after receiving a call from Gilda Donegan (then QLD/NT ACA President), asking about the issues facing practices in regional areas and her desire for greater representation from small regional practices. The discussion resonated about the challenges of business in the regions and the opportunity to address the issues from a business viewpoint.

The most important issue for Adam is the future sustainability of our profession. He feels that the ACA has an important role to play in ensuring that our architecture industry can grow, develop and remain a powerful force for the betterment of society. He is keen to explore the possibilities for practices of all sizes and locations to best navigate the future – focusing on the needs of what we must retain, develop and reinvent to grow as business leaders and strengthen our industry.

The advocacy efforts of the QLD/NT Committee are critical. ‘As architects, we must be articulate and continually voice our relevance, demonstrating the value of our contributions within the construction industry and broader society through collective leadership and innovation. Advocacy in architecture lies in promoting sustainability based on professional growth, high industry standards, education and training, economic viability, public awareness, legislative influence, collaboration, and cultural impact. These elements work together to ensure the profession remains relevant, resilient and capable of contributing positively to society.’

Joanna Rees, NT representative, Treasurer
Ajar Architects

Joanna is the owner of Ajar Architects and has been a member of the ACA since 2018. When NT representative Steve Huntingford retired from the Committee after eight years of service, Joanne agreed to take over the important role of NT representative on the QLD/NT Committee. Joanna believes that the ACA is very effective at providing easy to access architectural business resources. ‘To me personally, practising ethically is important. I wish to be involved in creating and improving existing spaces that are inclusive and delightful, while being sensitive to culture and environment.’

Rebecca Caldwell, Business of Small Practice QLD/NT
Maytree Studios

Rebecca is the Director of Maytree Studios. She joined the ACA in 2020 when the ACA was the quickest off the mark to provide a force majeure amendment that could be added to building contracts. Rebecca put her hand up to start the Business of Small Practice event series (BoSP) in QLD/NT and then found out joining the committee was a requirement. She hadn’t been on a committee before so it’s a learning curve! Rebecca is interested in promoting the positive story around how small architectural practices can be successful, sustainable and rewarding. She is keen to help build a community that supports architects to think and act differently to ensure the profession continues to evolve and meet clients where they need us.

Rebecca’s residential architecture practice Maytree Studios operates under an ethos of being ‘humans first, architects second’. Rebecca’s approach to ‘build small, build well’ makes architecture accessible to a broader range of clients, while Maytree’s employee co-ownership model shows her team how much they’re valued. Having slowly and sustainably grown Maytree over the last 12+ years, she has learned that building a thriving architecture business requires more than just good design – it also takes good practice management together with customer service that delivers the genuine connection clients are craving.

Also see Rebecca’s Inside Practice profile.

Cara Phillips
BSPN Architecture

Cara is the Brisbane Studio Principal at BSPN Architecture and has been on the QLD/NT Committee since 2024.  She is a strong advocate for articulating the depth of expertise architects bring, built through years of study and hands on practice, and for helping the community and wider industry better understand that value. She is equally invested in architectural education, believing tertiary training and competency standards need to keep pace with the profession’s current demands. Cara sees closer collaboration between universities and practice, potentially through structured on site experience before registration, as key to producing graduates who are genuinely practice ready.

She is committed to the ACA’s role in advancing members’ interests and delivering practical guidance on the business of architecture. “I have always enjoyed the ACA’s formats, information and events. They’ve been engaging, and I value the insight they provide to help practices navigate the business side of architecture, something our profession has traditionally found challenging.”

Also see Cara’s Inside Practice profile.

Aaron Beattie
HHH Architects

Aaron is a Director at HHH Architects and a member of the QLD/NT Committee. His role spans overseeing the practice’s business and strategic direction, including mentoring student and graduate architects, while also maintaining his own client base and leading project delivery with a focus on quality outcomes delivered on time and within budget.

HHH Architects has been an ACA member for close to a decade, and Aaron joined the QLD/NT Committee in 2025. ‘I was foolish, or perhaps brave, enough to put my hand up’, he says. He got involved for two reasons: to help achieve meaningful change in how all three levels of government procure architectural and construction-industry consultancy services, and to help ensure the next generation of architects inherits a profession that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable than the one handed to his own.

Aaron sees the ACA’s central role as strengthening the business of architecture, through advocacy for fair government procurement, appropriate fees and contractual conditions, and greater recognition of the value architects bring to projects and communities. He is equally interested in building healthier, more sustainable practices that educate, support and retain people, rather than contributing to the combative culture too often found across the construction industry.

Having mentored young architects and practice leaders for many years, Aaron is particularly passionate about helping professionals develop a practical understanding of construction, not just design. He also enjoys guiding architects considering starting their own practice, or who have already taken the leap. ‘Practice ownership can be deeply rewarding, but it should not have to be navigated alone.’

Munju Takalkar
GHD Design

Munju Takalkar brings 20+ years local and international experience in architecture and urban design. Regularly contributing as a jury member for the Australian Institute of Architects Regional awards, Munju joined the ACA Committee in 2026. She brings an interest in infrastructure projects requiring the integration of urban design, architecture, transport planning and engineering, with a focus on user experience.

An experienced architect Munju has delivered complex buildings, urban design and transportation projects in Brisbane, and also has a significant portfolio of work for both London Underground and the London Overground Stations Modernisation programs where she was responsible for the timely delivery of design and construction packages for 44 stations. Work ranged from preparation of concept designs, feasibility studies through to construction packages. Munju is driven to achieve design excellence and regularly contributes in sessional tutoring at the University of Queensland.

Rozzy Middleton
QLD/NT Executive Officer

Rozzy joined the QLD/NT Branch of the ACA as Executive Officer in July 2025. As the marketing and programming lead for Brisbane Open House, Rozzy’s strong understanding of architecture and the practices shaping Queensland’s built environment made joining the ACA a natural and complementary fit.

In her role as ACA EO, Rozzy is particularly focused on the advocacy work at the core of the ACA’s mission, and working closely with the committee to deliver impactful, value-driven events that support members and strengthen the architectural profession across the region.