AJC ARCHITECTS ANNOUNCES NEW STUDIO LEADERSHIP TEAM

Vera Batalha and Lee Collard have been appointed as Studio Directors, reflecting their significant contributions to the architectural landscape and their ongoing leadership within AJC. Vera has been with AJC for 11 years, and Lee for 13 years, demonstrating their long-term commitment to the practice and its growth.

• Vera Batalha brings over 30 years of experience, blending architecture with an interior sensibility that creates award-winning spaces across residential, educational, and civic sectors. Her deep understanding of both design and project management has made her a trusted leader in projects ranging from bespoke private homes to commercial venues. Vera’s promotion to Studio Director solidifies her role in shaping the future of sports and community architecture at AJC.
• Lee Collard has led complex urban projects for over 25 years, with expertise spanning multi-residential, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse developments. With a focus on enhancing public spaces and creating meaningful environments, Lee’s appointment as Studio Director reinforces AJC’s commitment to delivering large-scale, impactful projects across the multi-residential and mixed-use sectors.

Additionally, Fabiano Salmi, who has been with AJC for 12 years, has been promoted to Studio Lead, reflecting his outstanding leadership and design skills. Fabiano’s experience ranges from sporting facilities to residential developments, with a proven track record in delivering high-quality projects from concept through to completion. His promotion will further strengthen our sport and community architecture portfolio.

In recognition of the continued excellence within our design team, we are also proud to announce a series of promotions across various project roles:

• Zhenhua Qiu (Daniel) and Alex Hoang have been promoted to Senior Project Leads in Urban and Multi-residential/Mixed-use sectors, respectively.
• Maria Andrade Molina (Cristina), Dustin Huynh and Sarah Veas have stepped into Project Lead roles, contributing to our Education and Sport/Community sectors.

Additionally, the following designers have been promoted in recognition of their growing leadership and contributions to AJC’s diverse portfolio:

• Panthea Tremayne – Designer to Senior Designer (Multi-residential)
• Aswin Pious Missier – Designer to Senior Designer (Multi-residential / Mixed-use)
• Sophie Corr – Designer to Senior Designer (Education)
• Tamara Watson – Designer to Senior Designer (Interiors)
• Karoline Hoisel – Designer to Senior Designer (Interiors)
• Justine Rudock – Graduate Designer to Designer (Sport/Community)
• Kathy Burgess – Graduate Designer to Designer (Interiors)
• Simone Carmody – Graduate Designer to Designer (Education)
• Yasaman Akhlaghirad – Graduate Designer to Designer (Education)
• Thomas Rogers – Graduate Designer to Designer (Education)
• Mehwish Khan (Mav) -– Graduate Designer to Designer (Multi-residential / Mixed-use)

We are also pleased to announce the promotion of Cara Lobry from Executive & Administrative Assistant to Operations Coordinator. Cara’s advancement reflects her dedication and pivotal role in supporting AJC’s operations, helping to ensure the smooth functioning of our growing practice.

Quotes from Leadership:

“The appointments of Vera and Lee as Studio Directors highlight AJC’s commitment to nurturing talent and promoting leaders who are passionate about architecture and community,” said Brian Mariotti, AJC Director. “With Lee’s extensive experience in residential projects, I am confident that his leadership will greatly enhance our capabilities in this sector.”

“We warmly welcome Vera to her new role as Studio Director,” stated John Whittingham, AJC Director. “Her expertise and vision will be instrumental in advancing our mission, and I look forward to collaborating with her.”

“I am thrilled to see our talented individuals recognised for their contributions,” stated Lynette Apostolou, Chief Operating Officer at AJC. “These promotions not only celebrate their hard work but also strengthen our community of leaders as we continue to design, innovate and deliver exceptional projects.”

These promotions underscore AJC’s ongoing dedication to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and delivering exceptional architecture across a broad range of projects.