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Our Staff

2019 National Commendation for Heritage | Flinders Street Station Façade Strengthening & Conservation | Lovell Chen | Victoria | Photographer: Martin Leitch

Our Staff

Striving to optimise member value in all we do, your Institute is supported by a dedicated team that manages operational, business and program activities at regional, metropolitan, national and international levels. 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Cameron Bruhn Hon. FRAIA

Cameron joined the Institute in April 2023 and was formerly the Dean and Head of School at The University of Queensland’s School of Architecture. He was previously the editorial director of Architecture Media, where his role included the custodianship of the centenarian magazine Architecture Australia.

He is a respected leader and communicator in Australia’s architecture community and an advocate for the value of the built environment in shaping communities, cities, and regions.

Cameron completed his practice-based PhD at RMIT University, and holds a Bachelor of Design Studies and Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Queensland.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, and an Honorary Professor at The University of Queensland.

Deputy CEO and Company Secretary

BARRY WHITMORE

Barry joined the Institute as Chief Financial Officer in January 2019 and was Interim CEO from November 2021 to April 2023.

Barry brings to the Institute over 20 years’ experience in the finance sector. Most recently, he was General Manager, Corporate Services at the Australian Psychological Society, the peak body for psychologists in Australia representing over 24,000 members. He has worked throughout Australia and the USA at an international financial consulting firm and as an accountant at a large communication company in the UK.

Barry holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant, Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Chief Financial Officer

David Thompson

David joined the Institute as Chief Financial Officer in February 2023.

Leveraging an early leadership career with KPMG, David has over 30 years’ experience leading the finance functions of diverse organisations including early childhood education, professional services, healthcare, emergency services, ambitious dot.com start-ups and thought leaders in the not-for-profit sector.

With key strengths in strategy, providing commercial insights, governance, risk management, financial integrity, and process/control rigour, David provides the foundational frameworks to drive improvements across a range of organisational metrics including budget, quality, and compliance.

David holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma in Heath Services Management from Monash University. He is also a Fellow Chartered Accountant and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

GENERAL MANAGER, POLICY, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

LEANNE HARDWICKE

Leanne is the Institute’s General Manager Policy, Advocacy and Education, leading the organisation’s public policy, research, advocacy and education efforts to promote the value of the architecture profession.

Leanne commenced in this role in March 2019 after joining the Institute in October 2015.

Having worked for over 22 years in the built environment sector, Leanne brings to the role a comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges facing the profession. She worked for 18 years at Engineers Australia, 14 of them as National and International Policy Executive Director. Prior to this, Leanne worked in a variety of roles with the Queensland Government, both within the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office and the Department of Public Works and Housing.

Leanne has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Canberra.

Leanne is a Board member of the Australian Construction Industry Forum.

GENERAL MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP & COMMERCIAL

MICHAEL LINKE

Michael joined the Institute in July 2018, bringing extensive experience in membership organisations. In this role, Michael is responsible for strategic engagement with members and our commercial partners.  Michael leads the Chapter management teams around Australia, the National Membership team and the National Corporate Partnership division, responsible for the effective engagement with the Institute’s major corporate partners and sponsors.

Prior to joining the Institute, Michael worked at the Institute of Public Accountants in Melbourne as Executive General Manager of Membership Services. Before this, he spent fifteen years overseas, where he was based in London and New York in senior leadership roles at organisations including Deloitte, JPMorgan and the Washington Post.

Michael is an Educational Advisory Board Member at Open Colleges, an Advisory Board Member at the Victorian Skills Commission and an Academic Board Member at Holmesglen Institute.

Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Business Administration from Coventry University’s London Business School (UK).

Staff

Heads and National Managers:
Head of Major Events and Engagement – Nikki Massadi
National Membership Services Manager – Claudia McCarthy
National Finance Manager – Mira Mitrasevic
National Property and Procurement Manager – Ken Young
National Manager People and Culture – Mark Brown

Chapter Managers/Executive Directors:
Executive Director, South Australia – Nicolette Di Lernia
Interim Operations Lead – Western Australia – Samuel French
Executive Director, ACT – Rob Henry
Interim State Manager, New South Wales – Peter Fry
State Manager, Victoria – Daniel Moore
Executive Director, Tasmanian and International Chapters – Jennifer Nichols
Executive Director, Northern Territory – Raquel Nicholls-Skene
State Manager, Queensland – Dr Anna Svensdotter

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The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.

We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.

We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.

Read our Statement of Support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Constitutional Recognition and the Voice to Parliament.

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