About us

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Nick founded Constructive Dialogue in 2000, after working with community-based organisations in Southeast Asia. Nick has been involved in a wide range of strategic projects. Nick is an engaging speaker, skilled at working with many stakeholders, running design workshops and helping to support change throughout the life of the project. Nick also leads the Environments Team at Dementia Training Australia.

ASSOCIATE; STRATEGIC LEAD

Liz is a UK-registered architect who prior to moving to Sydney worked for ten years for dementia design specialists BPA Architecture. Her design of CareUK’s Edinburgh home was nominated in the 2014 Pinder’s awards for ‘Best Large Dementia Home’. As an Associate with Stirling University’s DSDC she conducted audits and delivered design training to architects and care providers. Liz spent six years at HammondCare, designing and delivering buildings and delivering design training dementia specialists through their Dementia Centre. She has been recently involved in writing the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines for the University of Wollongong.

DESIGN LEAD

Jana has over 20 years professional experience in the architecture and design industry, with a focus on a wide range of residential architecture in Australia and Europe, whilst also exploring retail, exhibition and urban design. As a founding member of the Paul Pholeros Foundation, Jana is involved in developing, assessing and interviewing and mentoring for the Paul Pholeros Scholarship, which is awarded to recently graduated Architects in Australia to enable them to explore an issue or topic related to the social purpose of Architecture.

ARCHITECT; DOCUMENTATION LEAD

Phyllis is a NSW-registered architect and is passionate about creating inclusive and sustainable living environments. Phyllis has worked in companies in both Sydney and Hong Kong on projects ranging from small-scale residential buildings to university and transport hubs. Phyllis has had a focus in her career on creating high-performance, sustainable buildings and finding innovative ways to limit the environmental impact of construction.

ARCHITECT; CONSTRUCTION LEAD

Aoiffe is a NSW registered architect with extensive experience in the community sector. She spent eight years with Constructive Dialogue, where she led the design of the Aldersgate RAC redevelopment and oversaw the construction of multiple projects, including Currambena School and various supported accommodation initiatives. Aoiffe later earned a diploma in project management, underscoring her commitment to successful project delivery, and most recently delivered a public library and community centre for Lake Macquarie City Council.

Aoiffe has also worked on residential projects across Ireland and Australia, and has led a team of volunteers building a regional school in Central America.

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Richard Briggs is a UK-registered Architect and artist based in Sydney, Australia. He graduated from the Manchester School of Architecture in 1999 and has experience working with practices like SOM in London. Richard is passionate about social and community-based projects, having worked on rehabilitation programs in the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. He has taught at UNSW and Sydney University for eight years, focusing on public spaces and social housing projects. Richard runs drawing workshops locally and internationally and collaborates with communities to create large-scale public artworks. Richard’s experience spans architecture, art, and community-focused projects, with a strong focus on collaboration and creating delight.

See more at https://www.richardbriggs.com.au/
Instagram @richardbriggs_artist

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Kate has a broad training in architecture and the arts and is committed to design that enhances quality of life and community wellbeing. After completing her Masters at the Melbourne School of Design in 2016, Kate worked on a range of residential, educational and ecclesiastical projects. Prior to this, Kate had eight years in the aged care sector developing an extensive knowledge of design for dementia and new service planning and commissioning. She is an experienced project manager, design consultant and writer. As a student, Kate worked with Bower Studio in designing and building in regional and remote Aboriginal communities and her past research explored the possibilities of NDIS-funded accomodation for these contexts.

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE

Sahil joined Constructive Dialogue upon completion of his Masters in Architecture at the University of New South Wales in 2022. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture at the Chandigarh College of Architecture in India. During his studies, Sahil travelled to Munich to expand his understanding and collaborative process of the stages of design. His time spent working internationally helped him fortify his skills and knowledge in creating responsible architecture in a meaningful way. Sahil enjoys graphic design and architectural photography.

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE

Jade completed her Masters of Architecture at the University of Sydney in 2023 and is a recent addition to Constructive Dialogue Architects. Originally from Mtunzini in South Africa, she moved to Sydney in 2022. While living in South Africa, Jade completed her Bachelor of Architecture at The University of the Free State and spent extensive time within the rural coastal areas of Southern Africa. During this time she developed a unique understanding of development within isolated/off-grid environments. Her interests include sustainable design, vernacular architecture, energy analysis and passive systems.

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE

Edit joined Constructive Dialogue Architects after completing her Masters in Architecture at the University of Sydney in 2023. She moved to Australia two years ago after earning her undergraduate degree in architectural engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary. Edit has a strong interest in disaster architecture research and projects, gaining insights into the needs of those with diverse cultural backgrounds and other specialist needs. Her passion is for shaping responsible and impactful architectural solutions specifically in the areas of sustainability, heritage conservation, and user-centric design.

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE

Zoe joined Constructive Dialogue after relocating from Tasmania to Sydney in 2024. She completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Tasmania in 2023. During her studies Zoe explored community centred design, with a focus on alternative affordable housing models. Zoe is passionate about addressing social and environmental challenges through design, promoting inclusivity and accessibility within the built environment.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE

Charlie joined Constructive Dialogue upon completion of her Bachelor of Interior Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney. She is passionate about thoughtful design that goes beyond aesthetics, believing in the transformative power of spaces to positively impact individual lives. Throughout her studies Charlie worked on a project for the Hobart Women's Shelter in Tasmania which deepened her commitment to designing spaces that foster safety, empowerment and healing.

STUDENT OF ARCHITECTURE

Sophie is working for Constructive Dialogue while also completing a Bachelor of Architecture and Building Design Management (Honours) at Western Sydney University. She is set to complete her Masters at the end of 2026. Both sides of her degree give her knowledge in design, construction and project management, which she is putting into practice supporting a variety of projects in the firm. Throughout her studies, Sophie has taken part in many architectural exhibits, which have honed her presentation and model-making skills.

CONSULTANT CONSTRUCTION

Andrew Garlick, founder of Tetebala, has over 35 years of experience in commercial and contractual management for major infrastructure projects in Australia and abroad. He specialises in construction procurement, tender management, and dispute resolution.

Andrew began his career as a Site Engineer and advanced through various roles, holding Masters degrees in Engineering Management and Construction Law. Formerly the CEO of MIEngineers, he founded Tetebala to offer expert consultancy services in procurement and contract management.

See more at https://tetebala.com.au

CONSULTANT STRATEGY

David brings over 40 years of experience in architecture and infrastructure for social development to Constructive Dialogue, both in Australia and internationally. Since 2000, David has worked as an adviser to large international development projects that engage local communities and local enterprises in the development of their own built and natural environments, using a systematic integration of expert and local knowledge.

CONSULTANT ARTIST

As well as a talented artist, Sam collaborates with Constructive Dialogue on the design of women’s accommodation services. Sam is a Scholarly Teaching Fellow, University of Technology Sydney. She is a PhD candidate at the Monash University XYX Lab. Her research focuses on the importance of safe, affordable accommodation for women and children leaving domestic violence. As part of an emerging design guide for women’s refuge accommodation, this research explores the benefits of bespoke architectural design in an Australian context as well as tailored design for women over 45. As a lecturer in the school of Architecture at University of Technology Sydney, her teaching focuses on social impact and sustainable projects.

See more at https://archiparlour.org/safe-as-houses

For Sam’s university work see https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Samantha.Donnelly/about