Meet the WA Committee
The ACA WA Committee has been working hard on advocacy in recent years, with President Kukame McPierzie and Vice-President Kate Fitzgerald leading the charge. Here we introduce the complete WA team of committed practice owners and directors keen to make a difference. Learn more about their interests and goals with the ACA.
Kukame McPierzie, WA President
Woods Bagot
Kukame is an award-winning architect and Principal of Woods Bagot’s Perth Studio. He was elected to the position of WA President in 2021 and since then has expanded our advocacy efforts, connections with other industry bodies, and voice in the built environment. Kukame nurtures a supportive studio culture and is committed to the development of a healthy and sustainable architectural profession.
“We know that architects play a critical role in shaping the built environment through good design and sustainable practices. We will continue to listen to our members, advocate for better policy and business conditions, and provide relevant support and resources for architectural practices in Western Australia.“
Kate Fitzgerald, WA Vice-President & BoSP founder
Whispering Smith
Kate Fitzgerald is the Director of Whispering Smith and sustainable developer New Resident. She describes her approach to practice as ‘staunchly feminist’ and has developed a hierarchy-free, happy and healthy office culture. She co-founded the Business of Small Practice (BOSP) to build a community of small practices around starting and developing more equitable and profitable businesses. She also co-presents the In Detail podcast with architect friends Warwick Mihaly and Mick Maloney.
Janine Marsh, WA Secretary
Doepel Marsh Architects
Janine is a Director at Doepel Marsh Architects and has been a member of the ACA WA Committee for 12 years. She currently holds the position of Secretary. Janine joined the WA Committee to become a champion for the profession and to raise the profile of architects and the value they bring to the built environment. She is also keen to be involved in providing the foundation for strong advocacy in regulatory planning issues.
Kali Passmore, WA Treasurer
Gresley Abas
Kali has been a member of the WA committee for four years. She joined after completing her MBA, with a desire to be more actively involved in the broader industry, specifically through a business lens. She has a deep interest in mental wellbeing and emotional intelligence.
She writes, “We exist as a profession for and of people. It is through our endeavours to create spaces and places – both physically and psychologically – that should enable people to thrive. The ACA is very active in this regard, in releasing the Australian Architect’s Mental Wellbeing Toolkit, accompanied by a series of webinars, where insights are gained from practices of all sizes. It’s a great resource of continued reference!”
Emily van Eyk, University Engagement Group
Mt Eyk
Emily joined the ACA WA Committee in 2019 with a view to progress issues that were important to her. Topics of interest include:
- Registration of building design practitioners with a hierarchy that reflects the expertise of architects .This relies on strong and healthy relations with policy makers in government and being proactive about advocating the benefits of our expertise.
- Sustained and competitive wage growth with other industries. This involves consistent benchmarking and awareness of competitors in like-industries.
- University engagement to engender mutual research opportunities and promote business learnings at a tertiary level – the MOU with the AASA and the formation of our University Engagement Group is going some way to developing this. Additionally being a contributing stakeholder on ACA matters will assist.
Michel Greenhalgh, Regional Working Group
MCG Architects
MCG Architects have been members of the ACA for about seven years ago. Michel joined the ACA committee because of his belief in the organisation and to help bring the ACA’s service to regional WA. Michel believes “the value of architects and how we value ourselves needs to be clearer, particularly about what we do and how we add value to so many peoples’ lives.”
Michel is interested in the registration and control of those performing architectural functions. He feels we need to initiate a sound and fair solution and guide the government towards it. Fair and equitable fees for services is critical. Michel is very concerned about our self-destruction by under-charging and believes we need to ensure that architects’ fees are fair and sustainable.
Fernando Faugno
Cox
Fernando has joined the ACA WA Committee this year because he feels the ACA provides a platform for all architects to continue to navigate the changing world of our profession. He is keen to promote further awareness, especially around how as a profession we can continue to improve our design quality.
Having experienced large-scale projects in both the commercial and public sector, Fernando believes that clients and government agencies have gravitated to procurement models where risk is too often one-sided. The outcome, unfortunately, is usually a compromised design. He is keen to work with all stakeholders to improve our practices and frameworks where risk is proportionately shared, and design becomes paramount in all our conversations.
Kahla Murphy
Hassell
Kahla is a Senior Associate at Hassell in Perth (WA), where she leads project teams to deliver large mixed-use projects with a focus on health and residential aged care sectors. Kahla has joined the WA Committee for the opportunity to engage with a focused and proactive group of professionals and contribute to a relevant body of work supporting the business of architecture. Kahla is keen to promote the value of the architect through collaborations with allied sectors (engineering, planning, property etc), and to ensure that architects’ voices are heard more broadly.
Felice Burrows
Architects & Co
Felice joined the ACA in 2021. “I joined as a small business owner. I saw the impact of the association, and believed the ACA was a small organisation doing big things. The ACA is a huge advocate for and provides extensive resources to small business. I wanted to be part of the team.”
Felice is the Co-Founder of Architects&Co., a female-led architectural and interior design practice. After a decade of working in a boutique architectural practice, Felice left Perth to climb a mountain in Russia and then design and manage the construction of a preschool in India. The project was part of the Australian NGO ‘The Anganwadi Project’ whose mission is to educate, support and elevate disadvantaged people in impoverished communities. The experience was life-changing and upon returning to Perth, she started Architects&Co. with the vision of creating a values-driven studio. The studio centres around meaningful relationships, creating thoughtful spaces that host diverse voices and cultures, paying it forward to others in the community, and collaborating with other amazing women in the industry – sentiments that inform her contribution to the ACA committee.
Felice has a number of issues she would like to see progressed through the ACA. “The improvement of equality and removing gender bias is critical; and the preservation of the architectural profession within the industry through the National Registration Framework. I believe the way to see these progressed is through collaboration with other industry organisations and through research. Also important are living examples of the impact that great architecture and processes can have as a solution to many issues held within the community and environment.”
Fred Chaney, RAP Working Group
TRCB
Fred Chaney is a Director at TRCB and an advocate for progressive thinking about our cities, communities and architectural business. He is committed to contributing to the profession in meaningful ways outside of practice. He has Chaired the Australian Urban Design Research Centre Committee and is a current member of the City of Perth Design Review Panel, WA Cities and Emerging Precincts, Property Council of Australia Committee and now the ACA, where he has already joined the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.
Julia Armstrong, Executive Officer
ACA
Julia joined the ACA as an Executive Officer in January 2024. Julia believes in the power of the collective to cultivate meaningful change and social impact. She runs Anfisa, a curatorial and creative project management practice dedicated to promoting the work of emerging and established Australian artists and exploring the intricate relationship between art, craft and design. She is currently involved in projects for DesignFreo, Fremantle Design Week and Indian Ocean Craft Triennial.