Three members of Hames Sharley’s national team have been given new senior positions within the practice. From our Melbourne studio, Retail & Town Centre Portfolio Leader Harold Perks has been promoted to the position of Director, while in Perth, a second new directorship has been given to National Design Forum Leader, Derek Hays. Meanwhile, in our Adelaide studio, South Australian Studio Leader Leon Gouws has been made Senior Associate.

“In the last decade, Harold Perks has gained considerable experience by working in the practice’s largest studio before moving on to the senior leadership role in Victoria,” says Hames Sharley Managing Director, Caillin Howard. “He has fostered a tremendous studio culture that has seen his team grow rapidly into a formidable local practice backed by the group’s depth of knowledge and collective experience.

“Derek Hays is approaching 20 years of service with Hames Sharley and his personal ascension to directorship is unique in the practice’s history. The traditional route to becoming a Director is through leading one of the company’s studios or portfolios. Derek, however, has been rewarded for his development and leadership of the National Design Forum, a body that has consistently put in place systems and inspiration to create better design outcomes for clients and the communities we serve.

“Leon Gouws’ promotion to the position of Senior Associate comes after only a year of service to the practice. In that short time, he has shown exemplary leadership skills as the South Australian Studio Leader.”

We wish to congratulate Harold, Derek and Leon on these well-deserved promotions and look forward to their future contributions to growing our national practice.