Meet the VIC/TAS Committee
The VIC/TAS Committee welcomed two new members in 2026 – Redmond Hamlett and Debbie Thomson. Issues of interest to the group include fair and sustainable fees, procurement, strong regulation, communicating the value of architecture, and maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing industry.
Paul Viney, VIC/TAS President
FPPV
Paul Viney joined the ACA Committee in 2013 and took over as President of the VIC/TAS Committee in 2015 after Simon Hanger stepped down. Paul has worked tirelessly during that time for both the local architecture community and nationally, trying to achieve a singular voice around the industry to ensure that the profession and the industry is sustainable. Paul says, ‘We need to put down any differences as architects, contractors and engineers. There is a current issue in consumer confidence and unless we address this, the industry will go downwards. A centralised voice is needed with government and we are currently working with the University of Melbourne to identify central themes and opportunities to achieve this.
We need to identify where architects need to be in 5–10 years’ time and how the profession is going to progress towards that. We need to focus on how we are going to establish the right skills base that’s needed to retain relevance; how to retain the best students in the profession and ensure that they’re adequately rewarded for their years at university and HECS debts incurred; and how to ensure we’re in front of the narrative for the profession and broader industry.’
Daniel Haskell, VIC/TAS Vice-President
Haskell Architects
Daniel Haskell started Haskell Architects over 20 years ago and recognised good financial management and the use of effective systems as being just as important to success as high quality design. Daniel joined the ACA VIC/TAS Committee in 2014 and became Vice-President in 2021. He has always believed that the use of good current technologies is as fundamental to achieving successful financial management for a small practice as it is for a large one. Daniel has been a guest presenter for the ACA at local events and represented the ACA with the University of Melbourne.
Kirby Roper, VIC/TAS Secretary
Kirby Architects
Kirby Roper is the founder and director of Kirby Architects and has been practising since the 1990s. Kirby became a member of the ACA in 2016 and soon joined the VIC/TAS Branch Committee to help foster new ideas to help everyone meet the new challenges ahead. Kirby is keen to share more knowledge and experiences within the profession and to mentor the next generation. Kirby has been an enthusiastic contributor to the Committee, with her personal philosophy of giving back to the profession and making a broader contribution to the built environment. In return, Kirby has gained more than she ever expected. “If you’re thinking of getting involved, I encourage you to give it a go!”
Kirby took on the role of VIC/TAS Branch Secretary in 2022. Complementing her ACA involvement, Kirby chairs the AIA Sustainability Action Forum for the Victorian Chapter of the Institute and is an examiner for the Architects Registration Board of Victoria. She has also been involved in initiatives like the Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum and advocates for greater diversity and support within our industry.
Kirby says, ‘Looking ahead, I hope to see the ACA continue to prioritise mental health initiatives, supporting Indigenous participation in architecture, and enhancing succession planning pathways for practitioners. Additionally, I believe that ensuring resources like the Building Code of Australia are accessible at a low cost or no cost is crucial for the health and integrity of our profession and Australia’s built environment. Together, through thoughtful practice and community engagement, we continue to strive to create lasting, positive impacts in architecture and beyond.’
Matthew Tence, VIC/TAS Treasurer
Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Matthew Tence has been a member of the ACA across three practices for about 10 years and has been on the VIC/TAS Committee since 2018. Matthew has shared his practice management insights as a speaker at several annual ACA/Deltek webinars and is a long term member of AAAG. Matthew says, ‘I joined the committee to give back to our industry and contribute to the growth and development of our practices. I am interested in practice management (i.e. HR, Systems, IT, Finance, Succession planning, Project Management). I am interested in helping our profession develop and improve, being the best version that we can be.’
George Theodoridis
Law Architects
Law Architects has been a member of the ACA for over a decade and George joined the VIC/TAS Committee in 2021. George has been the Chair of the Industrial Relations Subcommittee for several years and is a valuable contributor to the ACA’s IR work. He works closely with our IR legal advisor Fair Work Lawyers to ensure members are kept up-to-date about new, relevant legislation and case law that impacts employers, and to maintain our existing suite of IR resources for members. The ACA values George’s thoughtful advice and eagle eye.
George is interested in the business processes and systems side of an architectural practice, and the understanding by others of what architects do and how they add value. He says, ‘It’s important to address these issues through connecting with others, understanding and exploring change, and assisting in identifying and making representations to decision makers.’
Emily Gilfillan
Group GSA
Emily officially joined the VIC/TAS Committee in 2024 because she thought that her experience in working across both large and small practices could provide a level of insight and support to other architects and firms. She felt that the ACA could provide her with the framework to advocate for others and give back to the profession to which Emily continues to enjoy playing a part.
‘I would like to find ways to better support our future workforce and bridge the gap between student and employer. There needs to be better ways to engage with the universities and provide a work environment that best supports students/graduates. In turn, a work integrated learning approach results in students/graduates contributing in more meaningful ways to architectural practices that doesn’t create a huge time or cost impost on the businesses. We need to speak not only to the universities, but government also in order to progress this as policy.’
Brad Hooper, Regional Working Group
Brad Hooper Architect
Brad Hooper is a sole practitioner who for many years had a shopfront in the main street of Maldon in regional Victoria. In a town where everyone knows everyone, he was the go-to person for anything from new residential builds to professional advice on heritage overlays and building approvals and even single screen doors. Full of anecdotes and stories peppered with good advice, Brad loved his time as a regional architect and being so embedded in the local community, but has recently transitioned to a base in Melbourne.
Brad joined the VIC/TAS Committee in 2022. He is an enthusiastic member of the ACA’s Regional Working Group and a regular contributor to newspapers and radio on issues related to planning, the construction industry and the architecture profession. Brad is of the firm belief that the profession needs to change its priorities to be successful and remain relevant. He believes that architects need to spend less time on awards entry preparation and more on community engagement and making an impact within local communities.
Redmond Hamlett
WHDA Design & Architecture
Redmond is a Director (Projects) at WHDA Design & Architecture, which has been an ACA member since 2020. He is a strong supporter of the ACA’s advocacy at a state and national level, and runs the Small & Emerging Architectural Practice Coffee Club (SEAPCC), a monthly catch-up in the Melbourne CBD. Redmond writes: ‘Before being nominated and elected, I’ve been working with Brad Hooper and Paul Viney on a campaign to save the ARBV as well as release an FAQ document to help architects navigate the recent Architects Regulations 2026 so they can be on a pathway towards compliance. I’d like to help 1) dispel the myths about the ARBV’s role and 2) help architects uplift their professional practices to meet these changes and improve the services the public benefits from.’
Redmond is interested in working with other professional bodies to develop a consistent language and expectations of the project life cycle of architectural services. He’s also keen to help advocate for structural change on how State and Local Governments procure professional services. ‘Addressing procurement to me is the most important issue facing our profession, for practices large and small – the benefits of doing this would include improving innovation and the quality of the built environment, creating employment, skill building for graduates, keeping acumen alive in the profession and having a healthy industry that can pay itself.’
Brendan Shannon
Biuro Ailtiri
Brendan is director of Biuro Ailtiri, which became a member of the ACA in 2022. Brendan joined the Committee as an unelected member in 2023 and jumped into an active role, joining fellow committee members to represent the ACA for ARBV/ARB NSW focus group research for the Deep Dive on Systemic Risks Report released in 2024. Since officially joining the Committee in this year’s elections, Brendan has nominated to represent the branch on our nationally coordinated Advocacy and PR working group. Brendan considers the ACA to be instrumental to representing architects across the industry and to the broader public to educate about the great contribution that architects can make to better outcomes for consumers and for the built environment that we live in.
Richard Bryant
Bryant Alsop Architects
Richard joined the Committee in 2011. One of Richard’s past projects was working with the team to develop the ACA website. Richard has represented the ACA on the VBA-coordinated minimum documentation standards working group, which engaged across the industry to release the Design Documentation Practice Guide for Class 2 residential buildings.
Richard was a dedicated member of the VIC/TAS Branch Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum (AMWF), which met frequently when the pandemic was at its height. Through Bryant Alsop Architects and personally, Richard works with and supports the suicide prevention education organisation PukaUp. Read more about Richard and Bryant Alsop Architects in our member profile.
Debbie Thomson
ARCH
Debbie Thomson is a senior architect with ARCH and the new Tasmanian representative on the ACA VIC/TAS Committee. She has over 35 years of experience in every aspect of the design and procurement process. Her interests and expertise span architectural, urban design, and feasibility projects large and small. She worked and studied in Melbourne before moving to London and working on institutional, commercial and housing projects across Europe. After returning to Melbourne, Debbie taught Design & Technology to architecture students at RMIT and Architectural Communication to interior architecture students at Monash University while working on CBD projects.
Driven by the potential of the state, Debbie relocated to Tasmania in 2004, settling in the North West. Debbie joined ARCH as a consultant in 2022. She is now an integral part of the ARCH team, a senior associate and senior architect, working nationally with a mandate to re-build the design base in the state.
Katherine Ygosse
ACA Executive Officer
Katherine became the VIC/TAS Branch Executive Officer in 2019, building on the strong foundation laid by founding EO Michelle Eades. Her close work with the Committee and members has deepened her understanding of the architecture profession, complementing her national roles managing the ACA’s CPD webinar program and partnership relationships. As EO, she particularly values engaging with advocacy and practice management issues, including through the AAAG.
Katherine joined the ACA in 2016, bringing experience in relationship management, training and events (via a Japanese government agency), professional services marketing in the UK, and CPA exam marking. She enjoys working with the ACA’s talented team and appreciates the organisation’s flexible, remote model, which supports both productivity and work-life balance.