Bower’s leadership team demonstrates diverse and complementary skill sets. Most are ex-Bower graduates who excel at building community relationships and mentoring new student groups.
Dr David O’Brien
BPD, BArch (hons), PhD
Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design and Technology
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne
David has twenty-five years experience in the construction field designing and building for both commercial and community based clients. He has project managed the construction of community development projects in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Thailand and Papua New Guinea. David initiated the Bower Studio in 2007 and has more recently co-developed the HomesPLUS initiative.
George Stavrias
B.A (hons), B.Sc, BPD, MArch
George Stavrias is a registered architect and a director of the HomesPLUS program. George has worked as a designer and project manager on six Bower Studio projects in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. His role includes community liaison, project design and documentation, site management and post-occupancy evaluation.
James Neil
James Neil is a registered builder with thirty years experience in sustainable design and construction. James has led HomesPLUS projects in Central Australia and the Cox Peninsular. He designed the Bower composting toilet system and has coordinated projects to install facilities in Papua New Guinea.
Zoe Diacolabrianos
Interior Design, BArts , MArch
Zoe has participated in Bower Studio projects working at the Belyuen community on the Cox Peninsular in 2013. Zoe also works on the Bower Farm projects at Dookie.
Lyndon Ormond-Parker
BA, Grad Dip, PhD
Lyndon was born in Darwin and is of Alyawarr decent from the Barkly tablelands region of the Northern Territory. He is involved in advocacy, policy development, research and negotiations focused on Indigenous communities.
Nicky Henderson
BA, MArch
Nicky has worked at the Titjikala community in the Northern Territory and has helped coordinate and design Bower projects at Wadeye.
Trevor Galgal
BSc. Forestry, PGDip. Agric.
Trevor Galgal works as a project manager for Bower Studio projects located within Papua New Guinea. Trevor, supported by an extended family, is the perfect ‘Mr Fix it’ solving the most challenging situations.
Ilari Lehtonen
BPD, MArch
Ilari Lehtonen is a graduate of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Melbourne and has built and undertaken post-occupancy work at the Sipaia Community. He manages materials procurement and accounts for Bower projects in PNG and has an Australian Government funded placement administering aid projects in Bangladesh.
Deane Woruba
BSc. Agriculture, MPhil
Deane is a sustainable development advocate and has helped coordinate projects in Sipaia and Suanum. He is renowned for knowing the right people in PNG and we call him our ‘aspiring politician’!!
Mia Hutson
BArch Studies, MArch, BLArch
Mia has worked on Bower projects in the Northern Territory and was on the design team for the Wave Hill Walk-off Trail project.
Kat Kopietz
BPD, MArch
Kat has worked at the Titjikala and Suanum communities as a graduate student and at the Sipaia community as a studio leader.
Matt Breen
BPD, MArch
Matt Breen is a graduate of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Melbourne and has worked at the Bellery Springs, Belyuen and Titjikala Indigenous communities in Australia. He has built and undertaken post-occupancy work at the Sipaia Community in PNG.
Fiona Lew
BPD, MArch
Fiona Lew is a registered architect working with the HomesPLUS program and the designer of the catalogue. As part of the Bower 09 team at the Gudorrka Community Fiona won the 2010 BlueScope Steel Glenn Murcutt Prize for Indigenous Design.
Xavier Cadorel
B. Civil Eng., Grad. Dip. Civil Eng.
Xavier Cadorel is a civil engineer with fifteen years experience and is a leader for the Bower Studio projects in Papua New Guinea. He likes to mention that he is from Brittany in France and enjoys drinking cider.
Jack Hinkson
BEnv, MArch
Jack has worked with communities in the Northern Territory and helps prefabricate much of our steel work.
Key Industry Partners
Brendon McNiven and
Laura Cantwell.
Arup Consulting Engineers,
Melbourne, Australia