Kirstine Wallis an artist and Landscape Architect and hopes to lead many more into a profession that can help heal Country through deep listening, good design and meaningful collaborations.
Born in Birrarung-ga on the lands of the Boon Wurrung (Melbourne’s South-East), her mother’s ancestry has connection to Bangarang community on Yorta Yorta Country, along with Irish/ Scottish/ First Nations Canadian, and ancestry traced back to Palawa milaythina (Tasmania). Her father’s ancestry were British colonial settlers.
Being a member of IADA (formally IADV) for over a decade has helped Kirstine position her mixed heritage, increase her cultural capability and collaborate with other like-minded professionals.
Kirstine works on Wadawurrung and Boon Wurrung Country for Wyndham City Council as a Landscape Architect. She is also a teaching fellow for the School of Design at University of Melbourne and runs the Design with Country: Resilience Studio for Master’s level Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designers in a co-education model with the Wurundjeri Traditional Owners.
Kirstine is member of several professional boards and committees, including a role as Co-Chair and Director of IADA (Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia), AILA’s Connection to Country Committee and UoM’s Landscape Industry Advisory Board.
Co-Chair/Director
Allen Kong LFRAIA B.Arch (Hons Melb) ACAA
Allen Kong is the Director of Allen Kong Architect. (AKA) and Co-Chair of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia (IADA).
Allen’s cultural background of Palawa, Chinese, Scottish and English has influenced his conceptual framework for his holistic view of architecture. He blends evidence-based design with the cultural understanding of the living spirit relationship.
AKA work has been recognised with many international awards including UN World Habitat Award and UN Scroll of Honour for Human Settlements, UIA Architecture for All Friendly and Inclusive Spaces; World Congress of Health and Design for Salutogenic Design. World Architecture News and Banksia Foundation Design for Sustainability.
Allen has further roles as Director of International Union of Architecture (UIA) Architecture for All Work programme, Convenor of RAIA National Enabling Architecture Committee, Member of Building Appeals Board Victoria (BAB) and Sustainable Architecture Forum Victoria. And member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia.
Allen was awarded a life fellowship of the RAIA in 2019 for his significant contribution to the architecture profession beyond architecture practice.
Treasurer/Director
Jefa Greenaway RAIA MDIA (Wailwan | Kamilaroi + Dharawal)
Jefa is a founding Director of Greenaway Architects, an Honorary Fellow of Design at Deakin University and an AILA National Cultural Ambassador. He’s championed Indigenous led design thinking for 3 decades as a registered architect in NSW/VIC/ACT, as founding Director of Indigenous Architecture + Design Australia and was as co-author of the International Indigenous Design Charter, with a particular interest in design equity and Country-centered design. Jefa was also co-founder, with Rueben Berg, of Indigenous Architecture Victoria (IAV) in 2010, which later became Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV) in 2014.
His current projects include the $11B North East Link Project, the Marvel Stadium Upgrade and Stage II of the Koorie Heritage Trust. He was a 2020 Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee, signifying an outstanding contribution to Australian design and was recently named in the Qantas 100 Inspiring Australians, celebrating their centenary and was included within the INDE.Awards 2023 ‘The Luminary’ (special prize) recognising an individual whose entire portfolio represents a lifetime of design finesse and distinction. Jefa joined the Homes Victoria and Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) Boards in 2021 and was a co-creative director for ‘Inbetween’, the Australian Exhibition for the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale.
Director
Erin McDonald (Mandandanji), B(Int)Des(Hons)
Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in [Interior] Design with a second major in Architecture from QUT. As a proud Aboriginal woman, Erin seamlessly integrates her cultural heritage throughout the design process, pushing boundaries with a holistic approach that incorporates Indigenous technologies and embeds cultural identity within the built environment. Her passion lies in educating designers to think innovatively and foster economic growth within communities.
Principal of Design & Interiors, at Blaklash, Erin works closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure their cultural values and traditions are reflected in the built environment. Guided by a deep understanding of cultural protocols and the historical and spiritual significance of the land, Erin prioritises respectful and inclusive engagement by amplifying First Nation voices at every stage of the design process.
Erin is also the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Elements of Country, a former DIA councillor, and DIA student president. She has played a crucial role in mentoring design students across diverse disciplines and actively involved in educating emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Designers. Additionally, she has participated as a panellist in various discussions on Indigenous design and its impact on the built environment, effectively influencing the perspectives of non-Indigenous practitioners.
Director
José A. Alfano FRAIA, AIA, RIBA, ARKITEKT MAA
José Alfano has over 30 years of experience in International Architecture, Planning Policy and Environmental Design. Jose has throughout his practice been championing the Working with Indigenous Groups on the Pro Bono Basis throughout Australia, South East Asia and The Americas. José was in 2002 appointed the Honorary Architect to the Board Of Jirrawun Arts a Gidja Organisation in the Kimberly, Western Australia and served for 5 years. José was the elected Chapter Councilor Initiator and Chair of the Victorian Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group Culminating in the Architecture Industries First Peak Body RAP.
José Has been a Director of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria since its establishment and a Director of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia.
José continues to provide leadership to the development of Indigenous Engagement Policy and offer significant Pro Bono Professional Services to First Nations Peoples throughout Australia and The Americas.
Director
Paul Herzich [Kaurma]
Paul is a multi-award-winning Kaurna & Ngarrindjeri Landscape Architect and Public Artist who has a strong focus on First Nations people, art, culture, and Country. Paul has over 35 years’ experience in the landscape industry and over 18 years’ in the public art industry. For almost two decades, he worked on a diverse range of Department of Infrastructure & Transport road and rail corridor projects in South Australia from concept design to construction delivery. Paul has considerable experience in designing and delivering public realm landscape architectural and public art projects for state and local government agencies and for local and interstate architectural companies. Paul is currently the Principal of Mantirri Design – an Aboriginal owned and operated landscape and art design practice based in Tarntanya on Kaurna Country, Adelaide South Australia.
Over the years, Paul has made a notable representation across the South Australian landscape for his work in place making for local, regional, and remote Aboriginal communities. He is an experienced consultant and team player with an exceptional ability to conceptualise landscape, urban design, public art projects.
Paul has been a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) for 25 years and he was an AILA SA Executive Committee Member for 12 years. He was recently Co-Chair of the AILA National Connection to Country Committee and he is currently a Cultural Advisor for the AILA National Connection to Country Committee and for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) National First Nations Aboriginal Working Group. Paul has also been on other committees with a reconciliation focus over the years.
Director
Shay McMahon [Eora and Yuin]
Shay is an Eora and Yuin women, she holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Newcastle, a post graduate degree in Planning and Urban Design from Deakin University and is currently undertaking a postgraduate in Architecture at Deakin University.
Shay currently works as an Urban Designer, and her practice, advisory and design interests are geared towards an aim of Indigenising design. Shay speaks regularly at architecture and design conferences and panels and contributes to design publications.
Director
Theo Gouskos
Theo is a specialist Strategy and Engagement consultant working with clients across a broad range of industries including commercial, government, the not-for-profit and tertiary education sectors. Theo draws on a history of working at senior executive levels to support clients in vision and mission setting, strategy development, strategy activation and evaluation, stakeholder engagement and partnership development to enable social impact at scale. This work is underpinned by creating the space and time to draw on a diversity of community voices and perspectives to achieving organisational objectives in socially complex environments.
A Director on the Board of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia (IADA), Theo also has extensive experience in working with Traditional Owners to implement community led aspirations on transformational projects, coupled with extensive experience working in remote communities. Theo is Managing Director of Greenshoot Consulting, and in conjunction with Victoria’s only Indigenous registered architect, Jefa Greenaway, has developed a unique fusion of creative, urban and architectural design and Indigenous engagement. This work includes the ability to develop strong cross-cultural project aspirations. The Greenshoot team has strong architectural and creative design qualifications and experience and brings a comprehensive track record in supporting project teams to foreground Indigenous knowledge and culture into the heart of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Director
Dr. Heather Threadgold
Heather grew up living on Wilsons Promontory National Park which has inspired and enriched her process of academic research, creativity, and deep understanding of layers of place and people.
Heather is an anthropologist, historian, heritage advisor, principal planner of cultural heritage and consultant in landscape architecture and urban design projects.
Heather has facilitated forums, Indigenous author talks, is an advisor for authors and architects and has presented at panels and conferences across Australia. She has lectured Master of Architecture Indigenous Narratives and Protocols for 6 years at Deakin University and guest lectures at Melbourne University. For over 20 years Heather has developed an understanding and ability to visually interpret Aboriginal and post-colonial manipulated landscapes and waterways throughout Victoria by working with Traditional Owners – listening, learning and conducting extensive research and fieldwork.
Through her PhD research in landscape architecture, Heather utilised multidisciplinary skills to develop a living space and cultural mapping model system that highlights Aboriginal architectural
place and spaces across the Victorian Volcanic Plains which face ever-changing expansion of contemporary living that engulfs cultural heritage. Heather is dedicated to protect cultural heritage and recognises that Aboriginal knowledge is crucial to a better place of living for everyone.