Leading Australian multi-disciplinary architectural and design practice Hayball announces the appointment of Sarah Buckeridge as co-managing director.
Buckeridge will join current managing director, Tom Jordan, who has been in the role since 2008, in the leadership position at the firm. Buckeridge and Jordan will bring together their architectural and urban design expertise, research and business strategy as they share the responsibilities of strengthening Hayball’s ability to critically respond to the transformational challenges of the built environment.
By harnessing cross-sector intelligence across Hayball’s three locations, they aim to further diversify the firm’s service offering and drive its geographical expansion.
“Sarah has demonstrated exemplary leadership and broad influence across the culture of Hayball, as well as being a remarkable architect delivering award-winning projects for the past two decades. The appointment is part of the careful consideration we put into our long-term succession planning; we recognise what she has accomplished to date but also our confidence in her significant contribution into the future,” says Jordan.
Joining Hayball as a graduate architect, Buckeridge was promoted to director in 2007, becoming the youngest and first woman to join the senior leadership team at the time. Her approach to design has been an integral part of Hayball’s success as it grew into a national urban design, architecture and interior design practice with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Buckeridge leads Hayball’s strategic urban design and differentiated housing sector, and has over 25 years of architectural experience. She is the first woman managing director in the firm’s 37-year history.
“Beyond the immediate challenge of overcoming the health crisis, we must also look ahead at our economic recovery and the actions that will help get us there. The past few months reaffirmed the importance of creating a culture that is strategically aligned and intensely valued. Interconnection between our studios and strong engagement has enabled us to innovate, experiment, and quickly take advantage of new opportunities,” says Buckeridge.
“Our new working practices will be further supported by our new Melbourne studio, which has been designed to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration. The variety of different settings embraces flexible and agile ways of working and promotes equality and wellbeing,” she added.
Buckeridge will work with Jordan to foster Hayball’s rich internal culture, building on its inclusive and diverse workplace ethos and implementing industry-leading initiatives, such as the firm’s ongoing commitment to Male Champions of Change and the subsequent roll-out of new company policies aimed at improving equitable practice.
As a signatory of Australian Architects Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency, Hayball has also initiated a series of measures to become carbon-neutral by the end of 2020.
