Architectural practice ARCH has announced a significant expansion of its leadership team, promoting new Studio Leaders, appointing National Sector Leaders, and elevating a number of Senior Associates and Associates as the practice continues to build its national presence.

The appointments are underpinned by the firm's proprietary ‘Pathway to Principal’ framework, which provides a structured roadmap for professional advancement and leadership development across all levels of the practice. Unlike traditional review systems, 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.

While Kelly Lau, Sean Logue, David Carstens and Felipe Strahovsky have been appointed Studio Leaders and will be the primary points of contact for clients and team members in the respective States, Ivana Simkovic and Rebecca Plumsted step into dedicated National Sector Leader roles to expand the practice's footprint in their respective areas of expertise.

The promotions reflect the practice’s commitment to cultivating top-tier talent from within, says ARCH Chief Executive Michael Hegarty.

"We are immensely proud of our ‘Pathway to Principal’ framework because it gives our people a transparent, clear narrative for their career progression," he says.

"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," Hegarty adds.

Kelly Lau – Studio Leader, SA, WA & NT

Lau has delivered major health and community projects, including serving as a principal project architect on the $1.2-billion Ipswich Hospital redevelopment and contributing to the Flinders Medical Centre upgrade in South Australia. She will leverage the studio's expertise to grow specialist capabilities and drive expansion. Her Adelaide team is currently working on the SA State Netball Stadium redevelopment (with DesignInc) and the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre alongside schools, data centres and seniors living developments.

Sean Logue – Studio Leader, QLD & Pacific Region

A Queensland-registered architect with more than a decade at ARCH, Logue has delivered major health, seniors living and education projects, including RDX Gold Coast and the Gold Coast University Hospital Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit. He now leads the team delivering the Cairns Hospital expansion and Ipswich Hospital redevelopment as well as projects in the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands across the hospitality, industrial, and education sectors.

David Carstens – Studio Leader, NSW & ACT

Carstens has been appointed to lead ARCH's NSW and ACT studio, bringing more than 20 years of experience across healthcare, aged care, industrial and commercial projects. His portfolio includes the Cairns Hospital Expansion and numerous Health Infrastructure NSW projects across the state. The NSW team is also recognised for delivering sports and community facilities nationwide, having designed more aquatic centres than any other Australian architecture firm.

Felipe Strahovsky – Studio Leader, VIC & TAS

Since joining ARCH, Strahovsky has built a reputation as a respected leader with expertise in guiding design teams through complex project phases, aligning diverse stakeholder interests and managing multidisciplinary consultant groups. As Studio Leader, he oversees ARCH's operations across Victoria and Tasmania.

Ivana Simkovic – National Sector Leader, Sport & Leisure

Simkovic is a multi-award-winning architect with more than 24 years of Australian and international experience. She leads ARCH's Sport & Leisure sector and chairs the practice's internal design review process. Her portfolio spans community, civic and high-performance sports facilities, all with a strong focus on environmentally sustainable design.

Rebecca Plumsted – National Sector Leader, Seniors Living

Plumsted brings more than 25 years of design and project management experience to her role leading ARCH's national Seniors Living sector. Recognised for her deeply collaborative, socially responsive design approach, she has delivered practical, user-centred projects across the corporate, institutional and non-profit sectors, including seniors living developments in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

Image: Top (L-R) Kelly Lau, Sean Logue, David Carstens; Bottom (L-R) Felipe Strahovsky, Ivana Simkovic, Rebecca Plumsted

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