Our Industry Advisory Boards meet three times a year to discuss the quality of graduates, the content of our curriculum and its relevance to industrial and societal needs.
The Boards advise on ways to strengthen teaching and research links between the School and Industry.
We are always looking for leaders of industry to contribute through activities such as involvement on the Industry Advisory Boards.
Please contact the Head of School if you are interested in becoming a member.
Meet our Industry Advisory Boards
Architecture Industry Advisory Board
Michael Banney (Chair)
Michael Banney is a founding director of m3architecture with 24 years’ practice experience. m3architecture projects have been awarded the highest architecture prize for Public Buildings, Heritage and Small Projects in Australia. A substantial amount of their work is in the education sector, including significant work for a variety of secondary and tertiary institutions. Michael is an experienced project director with expertise in conceptual thinking and project delivery. He is a graduate of both QUT and RMIT, where he is presently completing a PhD.
Catherine Baudet (Deputy Chair)
Catherine Baudet, director of Catherine Baudet Architects and previously director of Ferrier Baudet Architects for 36 years, has extensive experience in the Queensland building and construction industry., having practiced continuously since she registered in 1983. Through her role in Australian Institute of Architects committees, Catherine has been instrumental in developing policy recommendations for architecture, building, and construction in general. She has been instrumental in gaining recognition and promotion of women architects in the construction industry and founded the Women in Architecture Association in 1983. She was recently awarded the Inaugural Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize. Catherine has experience in the design of aged care, schools, childcare centres and kindergartens, health and community buildings, student accommodation as well as university accommodation and other residential facilities large and small.
Louise Cutler
Louise is an architect, director, healthcare specialist, mentor and advocate for collaboration and inclusion in the construction industry. A director at Phillips Smith Conwell, her career spans 25 years in Australia and abroad. Over the years, Louise has developed a passion for designing healthcare environments. Louise is committed to creating high quality spaces and places that enhance the wellbeing of the entire hospital community. Mindful that hospitals continually evolve to incorporate advances in medicine and community needs, Louise brings hands on experience at all stages of project delivery to her work. She uses her expertise to influence early strategic decision making to maximise value and flexibility through thoughtful design. Career highlights include the award winning JCU Dental and her prominent role in the development of the Greenslopes Private Hospital campus over the past 15 years.
James du Plessis
James du Plessis is an Architect and Senior Practice Director with Australian-based firm, BVN. Prior to this, James was a Senior Associate at Wolff Architects, an award-winning design studio based in South Africa. Since joining BVN he has led many major public projects including the University of Queensland’s own City Campus. The practice has a strong focus on designing a sustainable built environment, and spaces that bring out the best in people. As a senior leader, James has a reputation for delivering complex and ambitious projects with a very collaborative approach and human-centric style. He maintains a strong connection between his architectural work and academic life, enriching both.
Leah Lang
Leah Lang is an experienced Strategic Design Advisor and award-winning registered architect (FRAIA), and is the current Queensland Government Architect in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Notably, she served a four-year tenure as the Gold Coast City Architect. Undaunted by large-scale, complex and ambitious projects, Leah understands site-specific subtleties thanks to her wealth of broader experiences — including but not limited to her work on the Gold Coast Light Rail and the Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery. Leah’s expertise is in high demand — as evidenced by her appointments to multiple high-profile design Boards such as Infrastructure NSW.
Malcolm Middleton
Malcolm Middleton is an urban designer and architect with over 30 years’ practice experience and 10 years as Queensland Government Architect. He is the chair of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel and also sits on a number of industry and institutional committees including the Building and Grounds Committee of UQ and the Design Development Integrity Panel of Brisbane Airport Corporation. Malcolm specialises in concept master planning, design review, establishment of urban design strategies, and design facilitation workshops for complex and sensitive project opportunities.
Christina Na-Heon Cho
Christina Cho studied Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and The University of Queensland graduating as Valedictorian with first class honours. An Associate at Cox Architecture, Christina has 14 years of practice experience. In 2011, she was awarded the Dulux Study Travelling Scholarship. Her work extends to Public Art Installations as co-founder of Rice Cake Mafia, an international design collaborative. Christina has worked with designers in Seoul, Boston and London on public art installations, one being the winning entry in a global competition for Tokyo Designers Week. This work enriches her interest and ability in creating interactive public spaces. She is co-organiser of the PechaKucha program in Brisbane, a committee member of FutureNet, and Past Chair of Young Architects Queensland.
Megan Rodgers
Megan Rodgers is an award-winning architect with more than 20 years of industry experience. As a principal at Fender Katsalidis, she leads the practice’s Brisbane studio and is integral in the delivery of FK’s Queensland based projects. Most notably, this includes 133 Mary Street, 450 Queen Street and Midtown Centre – the subtropical-inspired commercial office building which was recently awarded the prestigious Lord Mayor's Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize. Megan has collaborated on a diverse range of projects throughout Australia and internationally in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Asia and South America. She specialises in architecture with complex briefs, with particular focus in commercial, cultural, multi-residential and aviation sectors, while also having considerable experience in urban design and precinct planning. As a UQ alumni, Megan was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects (QLD Chapter) Memorial Medallion, AE Brooks Travelling Scholarship and Smith McBride Thesis Prize.
Josh Spillane
Josh Spillane is a registered Senior Architect at Archipelego, with experience in hospitality, residential design, and high-density mixed use / urban design projects. He studied at The University of Queensland and often contributes to the school as a Studio Assistant. He sits on the Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network (EmAGN) Committee and is committed to advocating for the role of architects and architectural design in society. Josh nurtures a strong interest in the symbiosis between architecture and our natural environments, embracing Brisbane’s subtropical climate. He believes architecture plays an important role in exploring themes of humanity within an increasingly complex global setting.
Bachelor of Design Industry Advisory Board
Kirsti Simpson (Chair)
Kirsti is an internationally recognised specialist in workplace design who has earned a place on numerous boards – a testament to an impressive career defined by a number of ‘firsts’ in her profession. As a Studio Executive Chair at Woods Bagot, she brings a style and flair to work environments that are also highly practical – places that balance function and innovation to ensure they’re successful on day one and well into the future. Kirsti is a great advocate and ally for her national and international clients, and one of her strengths is her ability to listen wholeheartedly and think strategically to help them achieve their business goals. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Queensland.
Dr Sam Bucolo PhD, MAppSc, GDID, BAppSc (Industrial Design), FDIA, MAICD
Dr Sam Bucolo is an Industrial Designer with 30 years of experience spanning industry and academia. He is the Executive Chair of the Australian Design Council which aims to embed design as a critical enabler for a future diversified economy. Sam has held various executive roles, embedding design practices to transform organisations and sectors, and is currently focused on working within Australia’s agriculture sector. Sam is the author of the book “Are We There Yet? Insights on How to Lead by Design”, is an elected Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia and is a Good Design Australia Ambassador.
Jaclyn Knight
Jaclyn is the founder and director of Frank, a Brisbane-based boutique design consultancy specialising in open innovation and participatory communication with the aim of bringing people together to overcome challenges and to achieve extraordinary outcomes, so that collectively we can create a more equitable and sustainable world. She has more than 20 years’ experience and has worked across the for-profit and for-impact sectors, developing and leading large-scale projects in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Europe for clients including Unilever, UBS, Ford Motor Company and Nesta.
Geraldine Fitzpatrick
Geraldine Fitzpatrick is a Professor of Technology Design and Assessment and leads the Human Computer Interaction group at TU Wien in Austria. She is an ACM Distinguished Scientist, IFIP Fellow, IFIP TC-13 Pioneer and ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award recipient. Geraldine has a diverse background, with a PhD in CS&EE (UQ), an MSc in Applied Positive/Coaching Psychology (UEL), international experience in academia and industry, and a prior career as a nurse/midwife. Her academic research is at the intersection of design, and social and computer sciences, with a particular interest in collaboration, health and well-being, and community building. She hosts the Changing Academic Life podcast series and runs leadership and development programs for academics at all levels. She also sits on various international advisory boards and steering committees.
Susie Pearn
Susie is the Managing Director at Redleap Consulting Pty Ltd, where she manages all aspects of relationships with a select portfolio of clients in the education and research sector. With 27 years of experience, her current responsibilities include strategy development, business growth, client engagement team lead, new products and services development, and hands-on project involvement.
Urban Development and Design Industry Advisory Board
Catherin Bull (Chair)
Dr Catherin Bull AM FAILA MAICD is Emeritus Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Professor at QUT. Catherin is an advocate for the better planning, design and development of Australian cities and environments and serves as a consultant on expert panels and juries nationally advising on strategy, project procurement and delivery. She received her Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Melbourne and her doctorate from Harvard University, researching urban open space systems and infrastructure planning and delivery for sustainable tourism. Catherin has served on the boards of the National Capital Authority, Abbotsford Covent Foundation, Phillip Island Nature Parks and South Bank Corporation, and currently serves on the board of Building Queensland.
Catherine Simpson
Catherine is a Senior Urban Designer at Circ Design with a passion for health and urban design, walkable and tactical urbanism, placemaking and green cities. She has worked for the past ten years in international, multidisciplinary studios in Copenhagen, London, Brisbane and New Zealand. Committed to regeneration and climate change adaptation, she is also the Co-founder of Green the Street and speaks internationally on health, urban design and adaptation.
Dr Michael Lavery FAIA
As a director of m3architecture Michael’s focus is on cultural work, including public buildings, education facilities and special projects. Michael’s core skills include conceptual and strategic thinking, design, regional (Western Queensland) and tropical architecture (North Queensland, Malaysia, Indonesia), urban design, master planning, project documentation, delivery and remote working practices. Michael is the current President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Queensland Chapter (2020-22).
Michelle Fitzgerald
Michelle Fitzgerald is a Development Manager at Cbus Property, one of Australia’s most awarded national developers. A UQ Architecture alumnus, Michelle started her career in architectural practice leading project teams for Queensland’s first 5- and 6-star GreenStar accredited buildings including One One One Eagle Street. At Cbus Property, she is responsible for delivering 443 Queen Street, a unique residential project that is set be a new benchmark in environmentally driven high-rise architecture and is currently working on 205 North Quay, the $600 million development planned to become the first commercial building in Australia to offer tenants a holistic work-life approach, bringing office health and well-being to the fore. Michelle has a passion for environmentally catalytic developments and her work both in architectural practice and development demonstrates her continued commitment to shaping cities for the better.
David Uhlmann
David is an Urban Designer, Registered Landscape Architect, and Precinct Sustainability Consultant with over 28 years experience. After 10 years at Wolter Consulting Group, David is now the Principal Design Integrator at Aurecon, where he's tasked with embedding design-led thinking and design leadership approaches across all Aurecon projects and markets to deliver better design, and better people-focused outcomes. He is a Green Star Accredited Professional (GSAP) for both Design/As-Built and Communities Rating Tools, and is a Certified EcoDistricts Professional. David is a recognized industry leader, including current roles as the Queensland Chapter Vice-President for The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, an advisory board member for the Australian Green Development Forum, and a Design review panel member for the Brisbane City Council.
Natalie Hoitz
Natalie Hoitz has worked on urban design and built-form projects around Australia as well as globally in the Caribbean, China, Germany, New Zealand, Canada and Singapore. As the Director - Design at Urbis, she has helped design and master plan new cities and town squares, tourist resorts, airports, university campuses and public spaces. Natalie has degrees in architecture, urban geography and urban planning and design, and is renowned for her ability to visualise great urban places and work with others to design and deliver them. Often overseeing large multidisciplinary teams, since 1999 she’s worked on countless projects from concept, through design, to approval and delivery. Among her career highlights are leading a number of high-profile projects that have, and are still, transforming the urban landscape such as the Future South Bank Master Plan, Brisbane’s City Reach Waterfront Master Plan, the Rockhampton CBD Redevelopment Framework, the Mater South Brisbane Campus Master Plan, the QUT 2033 Master Plan, the Singapore Marina Bay Master Plan, and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.