Meet the Team.

Ross Gardner

Qualifications

• Registered Architect NSW, 3949 – 42 Years
• Registered Architect QLD, 3949 – 15 Years

Professional Memberships / Committees

• Fellow Australian Institute of Architects Committees –
• Senior Counsellor AIA – 25 Years
• CPD provider for AIA – 20 Years
• Property Council of Australia Executive and Committees –
• Standards Australia Committee on Value Management

Voluntary Positions

• Wenona School Council – 10 Years
• Director Building Science Forum – 12 Years

Personal Statement

“I consider that the design of education facilities and the training / upskilling of staff and practitioners are our professional and social responsibilities.

Landmark and award winning projects have given me a great deal of professional satisfaction. My most satisfying achievement was as the project architect for the award winning redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Building and associated carpark and tunnels.”

Ross has holistic and extensive experience across all facets of architectural practice, from briefing and concept design through to the end of construction. He provides “hands-on” involvement throughout projects and enjoys seeing the fruits of his labour, and gains satisfaction from seeing his client’s objectives and aspirations achieved through great client service and advice. He maintains a very hands on project role with clients, stakeholders, project teams and builders.

Ross has been a principal in 2 Architectural practices for 38 of his 43 years industry experience. A large part of his role has been in the business development, yet he has maintained a leading role in the design of the majority of our projects covering childcare; public schools; private schools; universities; and TAFE colleges. He also undertakes projects for motor vehicle showrooms; industrial projects; NSW Police; aged care; and unique bespoke projects and commissions. Many of these commissions have commenced with master planning.

Ross loves the challenge of unique projects and commissions which rely on very detailed briefing as well as iterative and collaborative design interaction with the client

Practice Role

Ross’s role in the practice commenced with the practice’s inception. Ross developed the Education sector into our practice’s core business.

In addition, Ross has continued to expand the breadth of work undertaken by the practice so that we are seen as general practitioners.

Ross’s professional drive is channelled towards developing creative solutions that optimise development outcomes and fulfil or exceed our client’s expectations and aspirations.  In doing so he has developed a regular stream of repeat business.

In addition to master planning and design, Ross also focuses on the practice’s continuing improvement through the development of our technical solutions, methodologies, processes and use of technology.

He is also passionate about improving the standard and profile of the architectural profession and the property industry. He has provided a lot of time over the last 20 years participating in committee work and in educational activities for young graduates, as well as acting as a senior counsellor in assisting practices and the public with resolution of practice related issues.

Time Out

I have a long standing interest in sport particularly Rugby Union and surfing.

I love spending time with my five (5) grandchildren and helping them to explore their world, challenge themselves, and grow into unique individuals.

I also make time to undertake voluntary work for indigenous Australians and underprivileged children in Africa.

Toby Wetherill

Qualifications/ Professional Associations

Australian Institute of Architects member

Registered Architect in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland

Green Star Accredited Professional

Examiner in Architectural Practice (NSW)

Keynote Conference Speaker

Personal Statement

 “For me, being an architect presents a unique opportunity to work with our Clients to explore and make places that evoke a sense of connectivity and well-being.”

Toby’s role in the practice

Toby is a Founding Director of GW. and whilst he has a diverse and varied role within the business, he has a strong focus on the creative process and the journey of collaboration with Clients to understand their aspirations that, in turn, shape the projects we grow on their behalf.

Bringing excellent design skills from the initial ‘big picture ideas’ right through to the finer detail, Toby is also cognisant of being commercially astute and developing structures that have longevity and sustainability within their context.

Committed to delivering projects with a strong sense of place with a clear narrative which remain true to the core ideas embedded in their foundation, he thoughtfully uses proportion, materiality, colour and light in a space together with embracing other multi-sensory opportunities to produce outstanding results.  Toby takes particular pleasure in working on projects with a community benefit and has taken a leading role in developing our sacred architecture portfolio and evolving the education sector.

Examples of Toby’s architectural (and artwork) have since our inception (2003) been focused in Australia, but he also brings international experience.

Timeout

My ‘timeout’ is predominantly spent actively enjoying family albeit at basketball, ballet or at the gym. My retreat is to be immersed in a seascape or/and making artworks.

Jo Simmons

Qualifications/ Professional Associations

Registered Architect in NSW
Australian Institute of Architects member

Voluntary positions

Chair Elect of Learning Environments Australasia (NSW Chapter)
Board of Directors, Independent Sydney School

Personal Statement

“I am passionate about creating architecture that is engaging, inspiring and that enhances the wellbeing of both people and planet.”

Communication is at the core of my approach; establishing a strong rapport with clients and bringing them on the ‘journey’ for each project, as well as forming a strong team of motivated practitioners who are enthused to work together on achieving a shared vision.

I believe that collaboration, continual improvement and learning are all important ingredients in achieving this.

During my many years in practice (20+), I have evolved a particular passion for projects in the education sector working with clients on a range of Architectural and Master planning projects.

Jo’s role in the practice

Jo is a relatively new Director at GW. and she has certainly made an impact!  Her strong interpersonal and communication skills have proven to be a key asset in inspiring and motivating the team to strive for excellence and work together towards a shared company vision, “…to diligently deliver creative designs that promote wellbeing and a sense of place.”

Jo provides an exceptional level of professional service to her clients and her passion for Educational Architecture is contagious. She maintains her knowledge of current and emerging pedagogies through her involvement as Chair Elect of Learning Environments Australasia (NSW Chapter) also through her involvement on the Board of Directors of an Independent Sydney School.

Jo has a wealth of project experience from inception to completion.  She maintains involvement in Architectural projects as Project Director and focuses on project strategy, key stakeholder consultation and making sure that the project is tightly managed to achieve the clients’ key business objectives.

Timeout

Connecting with nature energises me and my young family inspires me – I like to say that I wear 2 hats, one professional and one personal where, “work is inspired by life”.

Rick Butler

Rick was a founding partner of Butler & Sky Architects in 1979, becoming  Butler & Co Architects in 1985. The practice merged with Gardner Wetherill Architects in September 2019, to ensure that longstanding clients continue to receive an exceptional level of architectural service into the future.

The 40 years of work include private & state schools, commercial/industrial buildings, fire stations, commercial fit outs , residential & many one off unique projects.

Rick is a designer /manager of the architectural process and is keen on simple direct solutions within budget that include creative ideas for quality of life and a better environment.

Timeout

He lives in the bush on acreage and enjoys that environment and all it takes.

Martin Cumming

Architectural values
To engage in regenerative design practices that balance sustainability of current and future users.

Key professional strengths
Care, consideration, & craftmanship

What you enjoy about architecture
Being able to create spaces for human habitation

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lego aficionado

Cameron Burbidge

Architectural Values,

• Integrity / honesty
• Environmental responsibility

Key professional strengths

• Attention to detail
• Building rapport with clients
• Documentation and problem solving

What you enjoy about architecture

• Seeing a project from start/ concept through to practical completion
• Seeing how a new blood donor centre has a positive impact on both donors and staff. Donors having a nice relaxing environment to spend some time in and donate. The staff enjoy coming to work in a pleasant and efficient environment with an increase in donations due to a more efficient centre.
• Working on environments that make learning and education more enjoyable and more productive for the students and teachers.

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• I enjoy bouldering (rock climbing) and bushwalking

Carolyn Meddick

Architectural values:

• All-rounder with a diverse range of experience from low density residential to multi-storey school buildings;
• Creating places of learning including implementing future focussed learning pedagogies;
• Developing ideas of ‘community’ within learning environments, most notably in ‘vertical schools’ often in high density built environments;
• Collaborative;
• Commitment to high quality built outcomes.

Key professional strengths

• Coordination of teams with complex stakeholder and procurement methods through all stages from masterplanning to project handover;
• Close relationships with Clients and project team;
• Commitment to projects;
• Enjoy challenges;
• Strong interest in contributing to healthy work culture.

What you enjoy about architecture

• Lifelong learning;
• Good balance of artistic and technical opportunities;
• Seeing people inhabiting the built outcome;

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• Listening to podcasts;
• Hiking and being in nature

Driekus Vorster

My Architectural Values:
Restraint budgets and preconceptions do not stifle my creativity. It challenges me to leave inspiring creations in its wake.

My Key Professional Strengths:
I am a Senior Project Architect (B.Arch) at Gardner Wetherill and Associates. My natural design flair coupled with strong technical skills and 22 years of experience across various disciplines within the fields of architecture and interior design have earned me both international and highly acclaimed South African recognition.

What I enjoy about Architecture:
Architecture forever changes the environment in which it exists and, if permitted, it will last for generations as a reminder of ideas that became tangible.

Something personal to share:
I admire everything Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mid-Century design and enjoy visiting Art Galleries, going to Opera, exploring Antique Fairs and Auctions, travelling, cooking and watching Cinema/TV. My passion is motor vehicle design and I am an enthusiastic collector of die-cast models.

Habib Hayek

Architectural values

• Visual Beauty
• Functionality
• Efficiency
• Sustainability
• Wellbeing of end users

Key professional strengths

• Project Management
• Coordination
• Management of Consultants and relationship building client, council and the like
• Delivering projects on time and within budget

What you enjoy about architecture

• Design process
• The way good architectural design can complement and enhance the natural environment

Timeout

• Walking
• Listening to music
• Writing

Hyun Kim

Architectural values:
Honesty in project delivery, design, materiality, functionality and the aesthetics. In more detail, I guess what I’m trying to say is I value honesty and a genuine approach;

• In relation to Client liaison
• Visual design – Materiality, Structure and functionality of the built product
• Meeting the brief and Project delivery – On time and budget – I value these…
• Overall I enjoy the game of architecture and the building process

Key Professional Strengths

• 15 years of continuous practical experience
• Wide range of architectural design, documentation and delivery experience including public, educational, aged care and commercial sector buildings.
• Involvement in award winning projects in national and state level.

What you enjoy about architecture

• Designing concepts, and realising the concepts to built form
• The beauty in the detailing
• The collaborative teamwork with the client and the consultants’ team

Kalyan Raju

Architectural values
Simplicity and minimalist design

Key professional strengths
A vast experience in different sectors like educational, hospitality, industrial, commercial and multi residential.

What you enjoy about architecture
New challenges every day!

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I enjoy playing cricket on weekends

Lindsay Henry

Architectural values:
Functional planning approach.
Clear, practical designs that adhere to the project budget.
Honest design (structure and materials)
Sustainability and bringing nature into the design

Key professional strengths:
Responsiveness, project planning, and organisation
Client liaison
Agility is being able to ‘think on his feet’ replanning in workshop sessions
Perspective rendering and sketch images

What you enjoy about architecture
The ability to visualise the project and then see it come to fruition.
The pleasure in acquiring gratitude from the end-users, after project completion and occupation.
The challenges of a new project.

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Regular overseas European and North American travel, visiting great architectural masterpieces of past and present. Whilst overseas, I really enjoy freehand felt pen sketching of local cultural life and vernacular architecture.

Michael Lau

Architectural Values
Nature, organic and sustainability design value

Key Professional Strengths
Adaptability, Critical thinking, goal orientated, honesty and integrity

What you enjoy about architecture
Being able to see a building come to life from a blank sheet of paper

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Spending time with the family. Exploring the urban jungle to discover a new eatery.

Michael McGrath

Interior Design / Architectural values:
Good Architecture adds value.  Both to the product and to the process.

Key professional strengths:
Considerable experience in steering projects through all stages of the process to realize better outcomes

What you enjoy about Interior Design:
Better outcomes,  (every day, everywhere, everyone). Projects with ambitions.

Something personal you want to share:
Scottish born, Mackintosh trained; London practiced; Singapore ventured; Sydney settled.

Miyo Stanton

Architectural Values and what I enjoy about architecture:
I recognise the influence of our surroundings on our wellbeing & thus I believe it is our responsibility to gather what information we can, and translate it into a positive and enduring contribution to the end-users and the broader community.

During this process, we must consider our futures, our natural resources, sustainability and the impact of every decision we make. This is what I enjoy about architecture and design- we have choices, and we also provide choices. Nothing is ever the same, I can never get bored with that.

Key Professional Strengths
I am a curious and conscientious individual who wants to get to know you and what you are really after in your project. Approachable & open minded I’m ready to work with you to the finish line.  The success of a project all hangs in the happiness of the client and end users.

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Despite a strong love affair with interior design, I’m happiest outdoors with my chickens and populating my backyard arboretum.

Phil Davis

Architectural values
To develop the designs, in consultation, to include functional honesty, simplicity of detailing, safety in design and a sustainable approach.

Key Professional Strengths
Problem Solving.
Project Coordination liaising with Project Managers and Consultants.
Design Development & Documentation with CAD including Specification Writing.
Providing advice during construction.

What you enjoy about Architecture
The challenge of developing the Integrity of the Design to a constructional solution that will not compromise any of our core values.

Samantha King

Interior Design / Architectural values:
Individual and innovative approach (constantly evolving)
Sustainable design
Aesthetics
Function

Key professional strengths:
Creativity
Communication & relationships
Computer skills
Problem solving

Simon Taylor

Architectural Values
Providing the client with the best outcome and producing great looking spaces/buildings that will be enjoyed

Key professional Strengths
Archicad / IT;
Deliverables – bringing it all together
Keeping an office running smoothly

What you enjoy about architecture
To see a concept come to reality
To watch the user enjoy what you have helped produce

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AFL, a single trail and my mountain bike

Warren Fletcher

Architectural values

The importance of production of ‘Fit for Purpose’ quality architecture that fulfills the client’s requirements within the available budget whilst being architecturally responsible to its environment.

Key professional strengths

Strong design and detail Architect

What you enjoy about architecture

Forming new client relationships

Problem-solving and budget control through design

Timeout

Outdoors environment…walking, kayaking, camping

Undertaking small building projects as an Owner Builder

Wojciech Grencer

Architectural values

Simplicity, boldness, clarity, purpose

Key professional strengths

Understand the importance of information flow beyond drawings realm, BIM and construction expert

What you enjoy about architecture

Architecture has many aspects, interfaces with many different areas of human life, there is always something interesting about any project

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Photographer, mountaineer