Catherine Ciavarella
RMIT
Catherine has over 40 years’ experience in the Building Design Industry. Catherine has been the coordinator of the Advanced Diploma of Building Design(architectural) with RMIT, for 9 years. In her building design practice, she has been involved with Architectural services for new works, additions and alterations, heritage. Both for public and private sector clients since 1981. Catherine has a broad range of experience in residential, education, special needs, commercial and civic projects.
Jason Holmes
TRG Aus
With over 25 years’ experience working as a building designer, Jason has continued further higher education studies whilst being lucky enough to have progressed his professional career in becoming a director of a design practice in the last 15 years employing over ninety people across 3 countries. Focused on overseeing our commercial and retail design, he provides design services from concept through to onsite completion.
With a passion for design, building client relationships and the built environment being part of a peak body board allows Jason to give back to an industry he is passionate about. As a designer it is not a job it is a livelihood and being able to inform and influence our built environment and urban surround comes with great responsibility but a higher reward. Jason looks forward to sharing his experience and learnings to members and the industry.
Luke Middleton
Emedesign.com.au
For over two decades Luke has been committed to creating beautiful and super-efficient architecture. Luke’s approach combines design with research and education. Driven by a passion to deliver positive architectural outcomes he has received 50 + awards for both design and research including: Building Design of the Year 2017, Best of the Best 2018 - Sustainability Awards, Best Industry Paper - SASBE 2018.
Luke’s experience in design, sustainability, education, and advocacy will complement and enhance the growth of Design Matters National’s leadership and influence throughout Australia.
Tim Veurink
Timeless Home Designs
With over a decade of comprehensive industry experience, Tim possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of building design. His diverse career path has equipped him with valuable insights into various aspects of the industry, making him a well-rounded and adaptable professional. Tim's commitment to professional development is evident through his accreditation with Design Matters National and active contributions to our organisation. His dedication to promoting excellence and innovation in building design aligns perfectly with the values and goals of Design Matters National. As a board director candidate, Tim's experience, commitment, and industry knowledge make him a valuable asset to the organisation's leadership team.
Victoria Walker
Bera
Victoria (Tori) Walker is and accredited NatHERS Assessor, and the Principal Consultant at BERA - Building Energy Ratings & Advice (www.bera.com.au). She has been involved in the design & renovation of homes for over 15 years and has worked with Building Designers, Architects, Builders and Energy Assessors both professionally and personally during this time. Tori has experience with AccuRate Sustainability Software, HERO Software and DTS Assessments (both commercial and residential). She has been accredited with Design Matters National for 8 years, and has been an active member of the Technical Advisory Sub-Committee for NatHERS Assessors for the last 3 years. She has extensive experience rating homes and commercial buildings around Australia, but predominantly in Queensland, Northern Territory and Northern NSW. She enjoys working with the legislation to help clients understand and maximise the energy efficiency of their homes. She is nominating for a position on the DMN Board in order to contribute to the organisation, and specifically to represent the thermal performance assessor (TPA) members at the Board level.”
Christina Zigouras
Design Plan Document
Christina joined the Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV) as a student and founded her own practice inspired by the organisation's network. Specialising in commercial projects, particularly Change of Use applications, she is well-versed in navigating compliance challenges, exemplified by her involvement in the notable Melbourne project, The Timber Yard. With 15 years at her own practice, she transitioned to teaching at Box Hill Institute from 2019, focusing on equipping students with industry-relevant skills and understanding of regulations. Her part-time role includes updating assessments to better mirror real-world scenarios. Eager to bridge the gap between academic training and industry standards, Christina is committed to maintaining her professional knowledge. A DMN member since 2005, she also has affiliations with Women on Boards and National Precast, which underpin her dedication to enhancing industry-education integration, thereby benefiting both students and professionals.