Structure and Leadership
Structure and Leadership
Overview
Welcome from the Dean

Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
Welcome to the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, home to our Graduate School, the Melbourne School of Design.
In addition to teaching across the built environment disciplines at Masters and PhD level, the Faculty also administers and teaches into the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Design.
Academic expertise within the Faculty is pushing the boundaries of knowledge in seven key disciplines – Architecture, Construction, Landscape Architecture, Property, Urban and Cultural Heritage, Urban Design and Urban Planning.
Our research hubs, centres and institutes produce excellent research, leading the nation in built environment fields, as evidenced by our Excellence in Research Australia ratings.
We are committed to our multidisciplinary approach to knowledge generation and the imperative to prepare our students and staff to advance into the world, and to adapt and design solutions for a future we cannot yet predict.
Our community is a vibrant and passionate one, and inspires the Faculty leadership. Our students, staff, alumni, research collaborators, partners and friends in industry all have the motivation and vision to improve how we live, and are working towards that worthy goal every day.
Here you will find information about the Faculty leadership, our structure, decision-making bodies and academic leads for our teaching programs.
Professor Julie Willis
Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
Professor Julie Willis is an authority on the history of Australian architecture 1890-1950 and is a leading researcher in the development of modern hospital architecture in Australia.
She is currently involved in major projects examining the development of innovative school architecture in Australia; and equity and diversity in the Australian architectural profession. With Professor Philip Goad, she is Editor of the Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture (Cambridge University Press, 2012, 832pp). Julie is past editor of the refereed journal Fabrications and now a Chair of its editorial board, a member of the advisory board of Architectural Theory Review and an editorial board member of The Conversation. She is a co-founder for Parlour, Australia’s leading organisation for women in architecture.
Professor Willis commenced in the role as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning in November 2016. Prior to this, Professor Willis was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Melbourne from June 2013. In this role she worked with senior members of the University’s research community and with Associate Deans (Research) across all faculties to support and enhance research performance, and to recruit and support outstanding researchers at all levels.
Our leadership
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Dean
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Deputy Dean
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Faculty Executive Director
Professor Julie Willis (Dean) is supported by two key staff members:
- Alan Pert (Deputy Dean) who oversees the academic administration of the Faculty
- Angela Brown (Faculty Executive Director) oversees the provision of professional services.
Together they are supported by the following group of senior academics and managers who form the Faculty Executive and Leadership Team.
Faculty Executive
Name | Role |
---|---|
Dean | |
Deputy Dean | |
Faculty Executive Director | |
Director, Bachelor of Design | |
Director, Melbourne School of Design | |
Associate Dean (Research) | |
Associate Dean (Engagement) | |
Associate Dean (International) | |
Associate Dean (Academic Resources) | |
Associate Dean (Teaching Quality) |
Academic Leadership Team
Name | Role |
---|---|
Assistant Dean (Graduate Research) | |
Assistant Dean (Technology) | |
Assistant Dean (Diversity and Inclusion) | |
VACANT | Assistant Dean (Indigenous) |
Assistant Dean (Sustainability) | |
Assistant Dean (Student Experience) |
Professional Leadership Team
Name | Role |
---|---|
Manager, Research | |
Manager, Fabrication, Innovation and Technology | |
Manager, Strategic Research Initiatives | |
Manager, Academic Support Office | |
Manager, Strategy, Planning and Resources | |
Manager, Engagement and Partnerships |
Governance and Advisory Boards
Governance
The Faculty has in place a governance structure which articulates the Faculty’s system of committees and advisory bodies. This structure was reviewed during 2017 and approved by the University Council. Our revised structure has been implemented to ensure effective decision-making and information sharing within the Faculty.
Download the governance structure
Advisory Boards
As part of our Faculty’s Governance Structure, we have a number of Program Advisory Boards which play an important function within the Faculty by providing strategic advice on professional matters and future directions, and assist the Faculty in strengthening its profile and the industry relevance of its programs.
The Boards provide a forum for discussion and collaboration in which key members from business and community sectors can share high-level information and provide advice to the Faculty on teaching programs and potential research and engagement directions. Program Advisory Boards are established for each of the graduate programs within the Melbourne School of Design and meet at least three times each year.
Program Coordination
Each of our academic programs are overseen by either a Program or Pathway Coordinator.
- Pathway Coordinators oversee our majors in the Bachelor of Design and report to our Director, Bachelor of Design, Professor Hélène Frichot.
- Program Coordinators manage our Graduate programs and report to the Director, Melbourne School of Design, Professor Dan Hill.
Program Coordinators
Undergraduate | |
---|---|
Dr Amanda Achmadi | Architecture |
James Helal | Construction |
Dr Sidh Sintusingha | Landscape Architecture |
Dr Raghu Dharmapuri Tirumala | Property |
Dr Hyung Min Kim | Urban Design and Planning |
Graduate | |
Dr Djordje Stojanovic | Architecture |
Robert Crawford | Construction Management |
Professor Alex Felson | Landscape Architecture |
Dr Georgia Warren-Myers | Property |
Stuart King | Urban and Cultural Heritage |
Dr Elek Pafka | Urban Design |
A/Prof Crystal Legacy | Urban Planning |
Business Partners
Business partnering describes the way expanded shared services works to support the Faculty towards its operational and strategic goals. Business partners will remain embedded within divisions however operate across a cluster, shared with ABP and Faculty of Engineering and IT (FEIT); or the STEM faculties more broadly (for the functions of Advancement & RIC).
Business Partners | |
---|---|
Leeyin Chuah | Associate Director, Finance and Reporting |
Danny Donbavand | HR Director |
Amanda McMahon | Senior Development Manager, Advancement |
Danielle Roller | Associate Director, Future Students |
Rachel Sheldon | Associate Director, University Communication and Marketing |
Equal Opportunity
At the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, we are committed to supporting excellence in the built environment sector and empowering the future generation of built environment professionals. To accomplish this, we create space for diversity, in all its forms, to thrive; deepen our engagement with inclusive practices, and embed diversity and inclusion in all we do.
In helping us fulfil this mission we have created the role of Assistant Dean, Diversity and Inclusion. As our Assistant Dean (Diversity and Inclusion), Associate Professor Iderlina Mateo-Babiano, with support from the Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DIAC ), will provide advice, leadership, and partnership to proactively address issues of social equity and diversity within the Faculty, creating opportunities for diversity and inclusion to thrive.
We will achieve diversity and inclusion through the development, implementation and evaluation of the D&I Action Plan. The Action Plan is our commitment to advance diversity and inclusion goals in the Faculty. It will introduce ways to refresh our faculty as a community post COVID, building on ABP’s already strong social fabric and to continue to build a workplace and learning culture which enables social inclusion and full participation of all staff and students.
If you are interested to be part of the ABP D&I Reference Group, please contact us at Abp-diversity@unimelb.edu.au
For further information: