The Australian Institute of Architects International Chapter is delighted to unveil the jury for the 2024 International Chapter Architecture Awards. The awards offer an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the extraordinary depth and breadth of Australian architects working overseas.
Samantha Cotterell FRAIA - Jury Chair
Samantha is a professional architect, urbanist and masterplanner with 28 years experience on large scale international projects including 23 years in design leadership roles for the development and delivery of major projects and events worldwide.
Samantha received a Bachelor Degree in Architecture with Honours from Melbourne University and moved to Milan to work in the high-profile architectural practices of Gregotti Associati and subsequently Mario Bellini Associati.
In 2001, Samantha moved to Greece as Senior Architect for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In 2005, she was offered the role of Head of Design for the Doha 2006 Asian Games and subsequently Design Director for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Doha 2020 Olympic Bid, Expo 2020 Dubai. In 2009 Samantha established the sport design consultancy DESIGNSPORT, which has won major architectural design competitions and contracts in India, Ethiopia, Qatar, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. In 2019 Samantha moved to Saudi Arabia as Executive Director of Design for the Royal Commission for AlUla. Samantha is currently leading the design, development and delivery of the UAE Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka.
Samantha is the immediate past-chair of the International Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Tim Bradley RAIA | Kerry Hill Architects
Tim Bradley is an associate in the Perth studio of Kerry Hill Architects (KHA).
Educated in the UK, Tim received the Sir Leslie Martin Prize for Architecture from Cambridge University. He spent his formative years in the London offices of RIBA gold-medalist Edward Cullinan, Whitbybird Engineers (where he led the architectural team) and Design Engine, with whom he designed and delivered the British Embassy in Yemen. As an Associate Director with Aedas (Central & Eastern Europe) he has led projects throughout Russia, Ukraine and other countries in the CEE region.
Tim joined Kerry Hill Architects in Singapore in 2012 where his notable projects include the award-winning Amanyangyun resort in Shanghai. He now calls WA home and works on KHA’s projects across Australia.
Kate McMahon RAIA | McMahon and Nerlich
Kate established mcmahon and nerlich architects with Rob Nerlich in 2013, with a focus on finely crafted residential, interiors and commercial projects. She graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture with Honours from the University of Melbourne in 1997 and began her career at Gray Puksand, Swaney Draper Architects and SJB Architects before moving to London where she was an Associate at Curl La Tourelle Head Architects (CLTH). During her time at CLTH she led the design and delivery of a range of award-winning education projects and worked closely assisting founding director Sarah Curl as Client Design Advisor, a RIBA-accredited advisory role for public sector client groups including the NHS, local authorities, CABE and Office for Government Commerce, and worked extensively on Building Schools for the Future as part of a Partnerships for Schools delivery partner. Upon returning to Melbourne she worked at John Wardle Architects on the nationally-awarded Victoria University ESSPLC Building and other smaller projects.
Since 2013, mcmahon and nerlich has established itself as an award-winning practice with recognition across a range of awards programmes and print publications. Their work sits at the intersection of the suburban and urban, and champions client collaboration, sustainability, place, meaning and memory.
In addition to her practice role Kate has taught extensively since 2010 in a sessional role in the Masters of Architecture programme at the University of Melbourne, and is a registered architects in both the UK and Victoria.
Peter Kirkness RAIA
Peter began his architectural career in Perth, graduating from the University of Western Australia in 1988. Following his formal education Peter worked for the BMA (the former Public Works Dept) and a number of local practices gaining a good early grounding and experience in a wide range of building projects.
Following an extended period of travel, Peter moved to Singapore where he immediately found himself at Kerry Hill Architects. For the next five years Peter worked with KHA on a number of projects in South East Asia, (primarily in residential and hospitality) including executive Residences for the Hongkong Bank in Jakarta and the Chedi Lalu Hotel in Taiwan.
Peter moved to work in London and the UK in 1999, working with Nicholas Hare Architects, SOM, Dyer Associates and Harper Downie. Peter also attended the AA School of Architecture in London.
In addition to local and regional buildings, including large scale infrastructure, commercial and tertiary education buildings, Peter also had the opportunity to work on a number of international projects – including work in the Caribbean for the Mustique Company in conjunction with Philippe Starck.
Peter briefly returned to Western Australia working for Willcox Architects, in Margaret River (and their associate Bali office) on projects in Indonesia, the Pilbara, and in the south-west of WA, in particular the new Bridgetown Regional Library.
Peter now practices as a sole practitioner, returning to more domestic work, including work on heritage and listed buildings, and in the world of interiors,
Peter has recently become a Councilor on the International Chapter for the RAIA.
Antonia Syme AM
Antonia Syme AM has extensive experience in the cultural sector including a decade as Director of Artbank, and more recently, the Director of the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW), a role which she held for 14 years prior to her retirement in 2023.
In 2020, Antonia was awarded the International Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects William J. Mitchell Prize, in recognition of her work in establishing the prestigious Tapestry Design Prize for Architects (TDPA). Antonia has successfully developed and promoted the prize throughout the architecture community, both nationally and internationally.
Her encouragement of and clear enthusiasm for architects to enter the competition, or to include a commissioned tapestry in their work, not only promoted the now rare and meticulous art of tapestry weaving, but also enriched the work of Australian architecture on the world stage, though international promotion and exhibitions.
In 2020 Antonia was awarded an Order of Australia for significant service to visual arts administration, and to maritime archaeology.