Inter-disciplinary design practice Hames Sharley is proud to announce a series of internal promotions, championing the next generation of innovative thinkers that will play a role in shaping the future of the practice.
Managing Director Caillin Howard said that the promotions are indicative of the diverse scope of talent found nationally across Hames Sharley’s studios.
“Our greatest asset is our people – we understand the importance of continuing to invest in our team and provide pathways for people to grow throughout their careers.
“We’re proud to acknowledge the dedication and contribution of these leaders, mentors, and strategic thinkers in this cohort. Beyond setting up Hames Sharley for continued growth and success, they are assets to the wider industry and the communities they serve through the work they do.”
Directors
Jessika Hames
A multi-award winning design architect, Jessika has been an outstanding ambassador for Hames Sharley for over twenty years, personifying our values in a genuine and authentic manner. She champions quality design across several portfolios, and advocates for the practice to exceed expectations and challenge preconceived ideas. Jessika is a natural leader who organically mentors those around her, lifting all to the best they can be.
While her commitment and loyalty to Hames Sharley is unrivalled, she is also dedicated to the broader design industry beyond, as a member of NAWIC WA, the Wesley College Board, and most recently as part of the AIA Parlour series.
Karl De Beer
As the leader of Hames Sharley’s Brisbane Studio, Karl continues to exemplify the highest of ethics, care and nurture for his people, clients and projects. A highly experienced architect, he has extensive expertise in leading several complex hospital and healthcare projects across Australia and South Africa.
Karl has also progressively grown within the practice. Beyond cementing his broader understanding of the Queensland market and projects, he has been proactive in expanding inter-studio processes. His continuing resilience, positivity and holistic care have been well documented amongst his peers, as well as developing a collegiate view that marks him as a natural leader.
Associate Directors
Mason Harrison
Mason is an incredibly well-respected and valued member of Hames Sharley. As the 2IC of our Retail & Town Centres portfolio, he has an intimate knowledge of retail-focused mixed-use design, enabling him to engage with projects at all stages; master planning through to delivery. He is business-minded and understands the importance of projects meeting their productivity, program and profit goals, and as a result, has become a trusted partner for clients, project managers and consultants.
Following a decade in China in large design practices and now based in Western Australia, Mason has an excellent work ethic and a high level of focus and organisational rigour to manage teams effectively. He intuitively mentors and trains those around him; team members seek him out for guidance on how to deal with complex situations and he always makes time for them.
Madeleine Steele
Maddie brings her natural leadership skills and fresh perspective to her work and approach. She is wonderful with clients and possesses the unique ability to provide reason with balance, and continues to thrive as Adelaide Studio Leader and national Sport & Recreation Portfolio Leader. Wise beyond her years, she has an excellent outlook and cultivates a positive environment for the Adelaide studio to thrive.
Maddie is an excellent problem solver, valued for her maturity and kindness. A true enabler, she is generous and has a caring mindset, enjoying seeing others succeed by identifying opportunities for her fellow team members and turning them into reality.
Andy Ong
Andy has continued to support the Brisbane studio – and wider practice – in winning new work, managing concurrent work, leading the project teams to successful outcomes and mentoring team members. He is always willing to assist other studios in their projects and has contributed greatly to business development in the Northern Territory and across the east coast. He never hesitates to offer support, embracing an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to drive the best outcome for the wider team.
Andy actively participates in several portfolios including Retail & Town Centres, Health, and Residential. Outside of work, Andy is a brilliant ambassador for Hames Sharley, representing the practice at the University of Queensland’s School of Architecture, the Property Council of Australia, and other externally driven industry events and activities.
Alex Quin
Since relocating to the Darwin studio from Perth, Alex has thrived, taking proud responsibility for delivering multiple large-scale projects and nurturing internal and external relationships.
As the Acting Studio Leader, Alex works tirelessly with the Darwin team to deliver elevated design outcomes, while maintaining the highest level of approachability to his peers. He shows deep care for each project and person and is a nurturing leader with boundless levels of empathy, equality, and fairness. He is also the co-chair of Hames Sharley’s Reconciliation Working Group, facilitating the creation and delivery of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Grace Stokes
As Hames Sharley’s Head of Operations, Grace has an ethical and progressive mindset, with a strategic approach to inspire and steer the business in fresh and exciting ways. She embodies the philosophies and values of Hames Sharley in everything she turns her hand to, from wanting the best for the brand to unlocking commercial opportunities in ideas and initiatives. She sets high standards for herself, too, currently studying for an MBA through Monash University.
Her real strength is the way she works and connects with people. She’s highly empathetic, an enabler and a doer who listens carefully to her team members and, in turn, they respect her and talk highly of her. Most of all, she’s passionate about Hames Sharley and excited for its future.
Senior Associates
Gaye McKean
Gaye is highly respected by clients and peers for her knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to achieving excellent outcomes. She strives for consistency and quality of delivered projects through improved training, supervision, and systems development. Her ability to manage projects effectively has led to several award-winning outcomes, including the recent Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital upgrades.
With a background in interior design, Gaye has initiated and run workshops with the wider interior team to help them better understand finishes and furniture selections appropriate for health projects. The depth of her experience positions her as an exceptional mentor to junior team members, who seek her out for valuable guidance.
Naden Scarfone
Naden‘s ingenuity is evident in his approach to work. His advocacy to improve our planning and mapping processes has increased our productivity and set new industry standards, particularly in the preparation of Precinct Structure Plans. His genuine concern for creating positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes within the planning process is evident in his work; he handles community, regional and cultural matters with respect and care.
Naden actively seeks advice from his peers and offers his expertise in return, which has broadened our team’s capabilities and understanding of the planning system. His natural inclination towards collaboration has fostered an environment of open sharing of ideas. Naden’s efficient and casual collaborative style aligns perfectly with our consulting work, making him an invaluable asset to our team.
Roberto Garcia
Roberto is an exceptionally skilled designer who cares deeply about his craft. Growing up in Peru, he displayed an incredible aptitude for drawing and sketching, which he took with him when moving to Australia 18 years ago. Today, his enduring ability to translate ideas quickly onto paper remains a core part of his design ethos, and he brings immense value to every project.
Roberto is a collegiate and supportive team member, and his communication is respected equally internally and externally. As a result, he’s an integral part of the practice’s growth, spreading his value to many studios, portfolios, and project leaders. He now turns his hand to 3D technical brilliance, and his intuitive creativity means he crafts meaningful and special outcomes that partner well with Hames Sharley’s design methodology.
Damien Bate
Since joining Hames Sharley as a Project Leader in 2017, Damien has demonstrated his natural leadership ability, playing key roles in site offices for the Karrinyup Shopping Centre Redevelopment and the Byford Rail Extension. He has developed unrivalled contract, construction and site expertise, particularly in the high-pressure environments of Tier 1 Managing Contractors. He is skilled at navigating external pressures and distilling challenges into actionable tasks.
Damien has been an outstanding ambassador for Hames Sharley throughout long tenures on joint venture projects. He is very warm and welcoming to project teams, embodying Hames Sharley’s values of trust, communication and collaboration, and is highly respected as an unsurpassed source of knowledge, expertise and experience.
Associates
Martin Bradbury
Martin is a calm, effective, and well-organised leader who represents Hames Sharley with the utmost integrity. With 15 years of industry experience primarily in commercial, retail, and educational architecture, he has overseen the delivery of substantial projects within the practice with strong design rationale and focus on innovation. As an active member of Hames Sharley’s Education, Science & Research thought leadership group, he has taken responsibility for the development of the Schools sub-portfolio.
As a project leader in our Perth studio, Martin works hard to foster a collaborative team environment. He ensures everyone feels valued and heard, and is always receptive to feedback. As a result, he is much liked by his teams, consultants and clients, promoting and contributing to every aspect of work and culture inside and outside Hames Sharley.
Todd Oliver
Todd is a positive member of Hames Sharley’s Adelaide Studio, helping to steer the studio through a period of significant change. He’s a natural leader with a can-do attitude – always happy to raise his hand to take on more responsibility while continuing to mentor younger staff. His warm and trustworthy demeanour enables him to build strong relationships with clients; there’s no doubt this will continue as he takes on further responsibility in this space.
As a member of the Adelaide Studio’s Social Committee and previously part of Champions for Change, Todd actively promotes the culture of the studio while championing a strong sense of social responsibility. He has taken ownership of the practice-wide footy tipping competition and Push-Up Challenge, both raising money and awareness for mental health.
Kathy Kralj
Based in the Adelaide Studio, Kathy is a well-respected, hands-on member of the Hames Sharley team. She has exceptional organisational and communication skills and works in partnership with studio leaders to oversee and manage a tight programme of current redevelopments, work deliveries, successful tenders, and project finances.
Kathy’s influence on the practice extends beyond exceptional project work. As a member of our Residential thought leadership group, she leads the multi-residential sub-portfolio, and advocates for the Yellow Book Review process in the Adelaide Studio. Kathy is a popular mentor, always going above and beyond to ensure graduates of all levels of experience receive excellent site and contract administration experience.
Lisa Azhar
Lisa is a creative thinker and leader with highly developed graphics skills. She’s an exceptional illustrator and brings to the team her invaluable experience working in Selangor, Maylasia as an assistant architect. She imbues her work with diligence, imagination, and warmth, for which she is well-known among colleagues and clients.
Since joining Hames Sharley as a graduate in 2016, Lisa has continued to grow in experience and responsibility, completing her architectural registration and leading several projects as a Senior Architect within the Retail & Town Centres portfolio. Her responsibility within the portfolio has evolved too, where she not only manages numerous projects concurrently but also manages teams successfully, creating exceptional outcomes for all.
Georgia Young
Georgia transitioned successfully from government to the private sector, commencing with Hames Sharley in June 2022. Since then, she’s demonstrated strong planning and policy knowledge that has played a vital role in shaping development outcomes that benefit the communities we serve. She has an exceptional ability to collaborate calmly and effectively – she is a good listener, who can digest and understand the perspectives of her colleagues and clients before offering solutions.
Beyond Hames Sharley, Georgia is an active member of the Women in Planning Network and participates in training initiatives such as the Planning Institute of Australia’s Precinct Structure Planning, hosted regularly in our Perth Studio. She has a rare quality of bridging the relationships between planning and design, which translates into project wins and high-quality feedback for herself, our wider Urban Development portfolio, and Hames Sharley as a trusted brand.
Yna Yin
A member of our Sydney Studio, Yna predominantly works in the Public & Culture and Office & Industrial portfolios, and is an active member of our Residential Thought Leadership Group. She brings to her work a persistent and fearless approach; not afraid to challenge ideas, champion diverse thinking, and be an active contributor.
Yna has a real desire to grow rapidly, learn, and succeed with the practice. She has worked hard to understand and leverage the efficiencies of working across state lines, and to embody Hames Sharley’s values. She shares her knowledge and vast experience with other team members and always strives for best practice.