The appointments are a direct result of ARCH’s proprietary “Pathway to Principal” framework, a comprehensive performance coaching and development roadmap believed to be a first for the Australian architectural industry. Moving away from traditional, static annual reviews, the framework provides a dynamic, year-round engagement process that transparently details the milestones required to progress from entry-level positions to the highest tiers of senior leadership within the practice. ARCH Chief Executive Michael Hegarty said the promotions reflect the practice’s commitment to cultivating top-tier talent from within.
"We are immensely proud of our ‘Pathway to Principal’ framework because it gives our people a transparent, clear narrative for their career progression," said Hegarty. "We have outstanding team retention levels. The promotions of Kelly, Sean and David are a testament to the depth of talent we have nurtured over many years. Through our collegiate national leadership model and single-practice approach, our new studio leaders will step into their roles backed by the mentorship and support of our broader leadership team, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained success."
Studio Leadership appointments
The newly appointed Studio Leaders are the primary points of contact for clients and team members in each State, driving local business while continuing to promote the ARCH culture of innovation and professional growth across the practice.
Kelly Lau – Studio Leader, SA, WA & NT
Kelly has delivered a number of complex projects, creating high-quality design outcomes across the health and community sectors. She was recently one of the principal project architects on the $1.2billion Ipswich Hospital redevelopment. She has also worked on components of the South Australia Flinders Medical Centre upgrade (Margaret Tobin Centre Mental Health). Kelly will leverage the studio's expertise to grow specialist capabilities and drive expansion. Currently, Kelly’s Adelaide team is working on the SA State Netball Stadium redevelopment (with DesignInc), the widely celebrated Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre, multiple schools, major data centres and significant seniors living developments.
"For me, leadership is about two things: deep client connections and mentoring," said Kelly. "I’m excited to shape the future direction of the Adelaide studio and to expand from our current work in SA, WA and NT. We build meaningful relationships with our clients and cultivate a collaborative environment where our local teams can genuinely thrive."
Sean Logue – Studio Leader, QLD & Pacific Region
A QLD Registered Architect with over a decade of experience at ARCH, Sean has been appointed Studio Leader. Known for navigating complex stakeholder needs and tight site constraints, Sean has delivered intelligent, adaptable solutions across the health, seniors living, and education sectors, including recent standout projects such as RDX, Gold Coast and the Gold Coast University Hospital Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit. Sean now leads the ARCH team that is delivering two of the largest health projects in Australia, the Cairns Hospital expansion and Ipswich Hospital redevelopment. The team also delivers work in NT, PNG, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands across the hospitality, industrial, and education sectors.
"I'm incredibly honoured to step up to the ARCH Studio Leader role and to support our team across Queensland and the Pacific. We have an exceptional group of people at ARCH, and my role is to help create the conditions for them to thrive. By working closely with our clients and each other, we'll continue delivering projects that have a lasting positive impact on the communities we serve."
David Carstens – Studio Leader, NSW & ACT
With over 20 years of experience, David now takes on the NSW and ACT studio. A specialist in healthcare, aged care, industrial, and commercial sectors, David’s portfolio includes the landmark Cairns Hospital Expansion and extensive collaboration with Health Infrastructure NSW on recent projects across the state. The NSW ARCH team has delivered sports and community projects from coast to coast across Australia and has designed more aquatic centres than any other Australian architecture firm.
"It is a remarkable privilege to step into the NSW & ACT Studio Leader position and further refine my understanding of architectural business operations," David remarked. "With our Newcastle origins dating back 67 years, our presence spans the state, from the coast to the regions. I am eager to collaborate with our exceptionally driven team as we challenge our creative limits, grow our NSW Health portfolio, and enhance our collective national expertise."
Felipe Strahovsky – Studio Leader, VIC & TAS
Since joining ARCH, Felipe has established a reputation as a highly respected, dynamic leader with a natural talent for guiding design teams through complex project phases. He specialises in aligning diverse stakeholder interests and managing multidisciplinary consultant groups. As Studio Leader, Felipe is pivotal to ARCH’s studio operations across Victoria and Tasmania.
"Leading ARCH's growth across Victoria and Tasmania is an incredibly exciting opportunity," said Felipe. "My passion lies in connecting people and building collaborative teams to deliver better facilities and resources for local communities. To anyone interested in learning more about our capabilities, reach out, and let’s catch up for a coffee."
Unlocking national sector growth
The local studio leadership appointments mark a significant milestone for ARCH, freeing up long-standing regional leaders to spearhead key growth portfolios nationally. Having successfully led the Sydney and Newcastle studios for the past five years, Ivana Simkovic and Rebecca Plumsted will now step into dedicated National Sector Leader roles to expand the practice's footprint in their respective areas of expertise. As senior leaders, both will also take a leading role in mentoring the next generation of talent navigating the firm's “Pathway to Principal” framework.
Ivana Simkovic – National Sector Leader, Sport & Leisure
Ivana is a multi-award-winning architect with over 24 years of international and domestic experience. Ivana leads ARCH’s Sport & Leisure sector alongside her responsibilities as chair of the practice's internal Design Review processes. Ivana’s career is defined by an impressive track record of outstanding community, civic, and high-performance sports facilities, all embedded in environmentally sustainable design.
“I've spent my career believing that great spaces change lives. Sport and leisure is where you feel that most viscerally, and where that belief truly comes alive," said Simkovic. "This role gives me the platform to shape socially sustainable, world-class hubs that communities actually want to gather in, and we can do this at a national scale. What excites me just as much is bringing the next generation of architects along for that journey, and proving that ARCH is a place where ambition has a real future."
Rebecca Plumsted – National Sector Leader, Seniors Living
Bringing over 25 years of design and project management expertise, Rebecca leads ARCH’s national growth in the Seniors Living sector. Known for her deeply collaborative, socially responsive design approach, Rebecca has built a trusted reputation for delivering highly practical, user-centred spaces that improve everyday life across corporate, institutional, and non-profit environments. She has designed Seniors Living facilities across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and SA.
"Architecture and Interior design have a real impact on how people experience ageing, how care is given, how enabled and supported people feel, and how it supports wellness generally. I'm looking forward to putting more energy and time into delivering great solutions and outcomes for our Seniors Living clients across Australia. I am also excited to assist the next generation as they build their own paths to leadership within the practice."
With a refreshed leadership and a clear, internal career progression trajectory for all of our team, ARCH enters a new era, uniquely positioned to scale its market presence while keeping people at the heart of everything it does. The practice is actively supporting each of these leaders to flourish in their new roles, confident that their personal growth will inspire and elevate the entire team.
Backed by a genuinely collaborative national network, ARCH remains dedicated to ensuring that as the firm expands, there is a deep, continuous circle of mentorship and encouragement supporting every team member along their own professional journey.
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