People | Buchan Group

Chris Ball

Chris Ball has extensive experience in the design of education, residential, retail and commercial facilities, covering all aspects of the architectural design and delivery process. His projects include Watergardens Town Centre, the VRC Members’ Grandstand, facilities for Caulfield Grammar School, Victoria Point residential tower, and various facilities for BMW. Chris’ recent projects include the Chatswood Chase retail development in Sydney, and he is currently working on the Emporium retail development in Melbourne.

Peter Bayer

Peter Bayer specialises in retail, residential and mixed use development design, urban design and master planning. A Director in the Brisbane office, he has led projects such as Element on Coolum Beach, Sebel Noosa Resort, Itara Riverway, Arbour Lane at Robina Town Centre, Calamvale Central, Logan MegaCentre, Yeppoon Central, No 1 Airport Drive Brisbane, Mt Ommaney Centre, Fairfield Waters Centres, Edmonton Business & Industry Centre and 420 Flinders Street Townsville. Peter is currently working on Kawana Shoppingworld redevelopment and Orion Springfield master planning.

Grant Beck

Grant Beck is a Director of the Melbourne practice and one of the key designers of the Group, with specialist expertise in master planning for mixed use developments, including retail, bulky goods and markets. He led the Group on Sydney Central Plaza, the VRC commissions, Chadstone Shopping Centre in its many stages, Burnside Adelaide, and Werribee and Epping Plaza projects. Grant has also worked on many regional centres and a wide range of town centre developments.

Ashley Bell

Ashley Bell is Director, Business Systems & Technology, in Melbourne. He is a specialist in systems development and implementation, particularly for major projects, and also in document management and project delivery systems for local, national and international projects. Ashley is also responsible for the Graphics and 3D Visualisation teams, with particular focus on inter-operability for Building Information Management (BIM) systems, and all management systems, data bases and other information resources for the Melbourne, London and Middle East offices.

David Cole

David Cole is a specialist in the design of large-scale and mixed use projects. His projects include the No.1 Martin Place redevelopment of the Sydney GPO, the Melbourne Park Hyatt Hotel, Channel Seven in Melbourne’s Docklands, the Christchurch Art Gallery, LaLaport Shopping Centre in Yokohama, and a number of Melbourne residential apartment towers including Victoria Point Docklands, Quay West and Lucient St Kilda Road. David is currently leading the design team on the commercial office and retail AomiQ project, currently the largest projectunder construction in Tokyo, Japan. Other current projects that David is leading include the new 5-star hotel and residential apartment tower at 27 Little Collins Street Melbourne, and the new Silver Leaf and Richmond Gardens residential developments in Melbourne.

Michael Connolly

Michael Connolly is a specialist in the master planning and delivery of major retail projects. As Project Principal he has taken a leading role on many significant developments across Australia, including Logan Hyperdome and Grand Central Toowoomba in Queensland, Star City Casino & Hotel, Westpoint Blacktown, Roselands, Tuggeranong and Stockland Nowra Shopping Centres in New South Wales, and The Galleria Morley and Kingsway City in Western Australia.

Lou Cotter

Lou Cotter has extensive experience in site and master planning, project feasibility, concept design and design on a range of architectural and interiors projects. His projects include Curtin University Aboriginal Studies Centre, the Drama Centre at PLC, Lake Joondalup Baptist College, Technology and Enterprise Centre, Curtin University Lecture Theatres, Quadrant Office Building, Kings Park Avenue Apartments, Al Fujairah Maternity Hospital, BG+E Perth Office and the Alluvion Tower. Currently, Lou is leading the Group’s team on 226 Adelaide Terrace, the One Brighton Apartments, the refurbishment of 150 St George’s Terrace, and various low rise 4.5 Star office developments.

Todd Crighton

Todd Crighton is a Director and Lead Designer for The Buchan Group in Brisbane, working on a diverse range of landmark projects. He has comprehensive knowledge and experience in master planning and design specialising in mixed use, retail and multi-residential projects. Todd’s portfolio features a range of international projects in Malaysia, Jakarta, Milan, Qingdao and Shanghai as well as projects throughout Australia. Recent projects include Element on Coolum Beach, Vision Tower, Surfers Paradise Hilton, ANA Tower, Marina Mirage redevelopment, Lunchoo and Ipswich Riverlink.

David Forbes

David Forbes has specialist expertise in the design and master planning of mixed use hotel, entertainment, residential, and retail projects, with lead roles on projects such as No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney; Quay West Apartments, Melbourne, Conrad Jupiters Casino master plan, St Philip’s Church, Melbourne and Christchurch Art Gallery. He has led the practice on the Northland Shopping Centre redevelopment and the Stockland Tooronga retail project, both in Melbourne. He is currently Project Director for the Star City Casino Redevelopment project.

Joe Genovesi

Joe Genovesi is a specialist in design development, contract documentation, site services, contract administration and major project delivery. He is currently Project Director for a major redevelopment of a large existing retail centre in Melbourne’s West. He was Project Director of the Westfield London development. Joe also undertook the role of Delivery Director for the Victoria Point development in Melbourne’s Docklands, and played a leading role on Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre and Offices, Airport West Shoppingtown and other major retail, hotel and mixed use developments in Melbourne.

Chris Gillman

Chris Gillman is CEO of the Melbourne office and was appointed early in 2011. He has broad industry experience, including leading roles in professional services, as well as legal, credit and information services, retailing, franchising and the petroleum industry. His international experience covers the USA, the Americas, UK, Europe, China and the Far East. He joined The Buchan Group Melbourne after a period of advisory work in business strategy, risk and governance, prior to which he was CEO of lawyers Griffith Hack.

Gerry Holmes

Gerry Holmes is one of the Group’s key Design Directors. He has taken a lead role on a broad range of significant projects, including mixed use, residential, retail, commercial and master planning. These include the Surfers Paradise Hilton on the Gold Coast, The Palms in Christchurch, Kawana Home Central and Element on Coolum, both on the Sunshine Coast, and a major mixed use project in Qingdao, China.

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is the Chairman of The Buchan Group (Melbourne). The former Chief Executive, then Managing Director, of Essendon Football Club, is a leading consultant in strategic planning, organisational reviews, leadership development and structures and has been associated with The Buchan Group (Melbourne) for many years. He took up his appointment in December 2010.

Mike Jakobi

Mike Jakobi is Managing Principal of The Buchan Group’s Auckland and Christchurch offices and has specialist knowledge in medical research facilities and industrial/commercial developments. He is working on projects across New Zealand, including a master plan for Hornby Mall and the Richmond Mall, Centre City New Plymouth and Coastlands Mall expansions. He is also Project Principal on the new BMW/Mini showroom in Christchurch.

Alpar Kocis

Alpar Kocis has specialist expertise in the architectural management of large scale, complex projects. These include, as Documentation Director, the Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City developments in the UK; and as Project Architect for LaLaport Shopping Centre in Yokohama, Japan, Christchurch Art Gallery in New Zealand, Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Centre redevelopment in Sydney and, in Melbourne, two stages of expansion at Highpoint Shopping Centre, the Park Hyatt Hotel and Sheraton Towers Southgate. Alpar is currently involved as Project Director on the Emporium Melbourne Redevelopment project and the retail component of a major development at Docklands, Melbourne.

Peter Lourey

Peter Lourey is a specialist in major project delivery, site management, retail design and master planning. He has led projects in Sydney such as the Myer Grace Bros CBD refurbishment, and Auburn Power Centre and has had a key role in the Star City Casino. Peter has also led Darwin Airport Axis Master Plan, Werribee Plaza Stages 2 to 6, Essendon Football Club gymnasium, office and training facilities, Frankston Bulky Goods, Epping Plaza Stage 3, Tooronga Retail and South Melbourne Central office and retail development for the Spotlight group. He is currently working on Burwood One retail development and Myer’s major CBD store refurbishment in Melbourne.

Andrew Mackenzie

Andrew Mackenzie is a retail and mixed use specialist, with more than 20 years of experience in the planning and design of retail, entertainment and mixed use facilities. Andrew’s projects include the Elizabeth Shopping Centre in South Australia, and in Victoria, the Broadmeadows Shopping Centre, Bayside Entertainment, the Colonial First State Melbourne head office and many stages of Chadstone Shopping Centre. His recent projects include the West Mall at Chadstone Shopping Centre, and redevelopments of the Rockingham and Northland shopping centres. Andrew is currently working on the new Emporium development in Melbourne.

David MacLeod

David MacLeod is Managing Director of The Buchan Group Shanghai office. He is a specialist in the master planning and design of large-scale, mixed use developments. David has extensive international experience as lead designer, most recently on the AomiQ mixed use development now under construction in Tokyo, a number of significant retail projects around China, the Taichung convention, exhibition and mixed use development in Taiwan and the redevelopment of the newly completed Burnside Village Shopping Centre in Adelaide.

Harvey Male

Harvey Male is a specialist in design whose projects include The VRC Grandstand at Flemington Racecourse, the Christchurch Art Gallery, and the Victoria Point development at Melbourne Docklands. He also made a significant contribution to the design of LaLaport Shopping Centre, Yokohama, the expansion of Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, and the new VRC Corporate Headquarters at Flemington Racecourse. Harvey’s current projects include development of a 20-year master plan of Flemington Racecourse for the VRC, a major retail expansion with special focus on sustainability, a high-rise residential development in Melbourne’s inner south, as well as commercial and residential projects in regional Victoria.

Craig McLeod

Craig McLeod has extensive experience as Project and Design Architect on complex, large and smaller scale retail and entertainment developments, including both the Level1 and the Southern Extension developments at Highpoint Shopping Centre Melbourne, the Boardwalk at Point Cook Victoria, the development of Moorabbin Airport, Watergardens Supercentre 2 in Victoria, and Westfield’s Bondi Junction redevelopment. Craig has recently returned from London after completing his role as the Design Delivery Director on the Westfield Stratford City project for Westfield and is currently the Design Director for two mixed use developments in the Melbourne region.

Ken Musto

Ken Musto is the Managing Director of the Perth office and is a skilled retail planner and designer, and also has specialist expertise in marketing and job management. His projects include Galleria Morley, Cockburn Gateway, Rockingham City, Cable Beach Resort, St Georges Square, and many more. He is taking a leading role on Cockburn Gateway Stage 3, Lakelands and Wellard Town Centre Master planning and Secret Harbour Shopping Centre expansions. Ken is also in charge of Centro Properties’ Shopping Centre Portfolio in WA, which include; Galleria, Maddington, Mandurah, Halls Head, Warnbro, Chapman Way, Warwick, Dianella, Melville, Flinders, Altone Park and Karratha.

Nick Nigro

Nick Nigro has extensive experience in the design of residential, commercial & retail facilities, as well as expertise in all aspects of project delivery. He is currently the Project Architect for the significant Vogue South Yarra project, a mixed use retail and residential development, and the major Stage 7 refurbishment works at Werribee Plaza Shopping Centre. Nick’s other recent projects include Lucient, a luxury residential development in St Kilda Road Melbourne and the award winning Intercontinental Hotel Melbourne at the Rialto.

Brett Saville

Brett Saville leads the Group’s Gold Coast office and is a specialist in hotel, resort, residential and mixed use developments. His projects include developments for Conrad Jupiters, Q1 Tower, Aria, Nexus Towers, Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, Magnetic Island and Viridian Noosa. Brett is Project Director currently working on Rosslyn Bay Inn at Yeppoon, Broadbeach Lifestyle Centre and Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast and Itara at Riverway, Townsville in North Queensland.

Phil Schoutrop

Phil Schoutrop is a Director and manages The Buchan Group’s Sydney office. He has extensive experience in the design of retail, entertainment, mixed use and hospitality projects. His completed projects include The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, Rhodes Waterside and the Apple Store Sydney. He leads the management of projects in Asia with clients including Ayalaland, CapitaLand, CITIC and DLF, and in Australia he undertakes developments with Stockland, Dexus and Apple.

Bruce Shaw

Bruce Shaw is the Managing Director of The Buchan Group in Melbourne and plays a key role in the strategic direction and leadership of the Firm. In addition, in his role as a key designer Bruce has particular expertise in the design and master planning of major retail and mixed use developments and town centres. He has led the practice on many major developments, including Westfield London, the recently completed Chatswood Chase development in Sydney and, in Victoria, Watergardens Town Centre, Point Cook Town Centre, all stages of Highpoint Shopping Centre since 1993, and Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre. He is currently leading the teams on the expansion of Werribee Plaza, the Emporium project and the Vogue on Chapel Street developments, in Victoria, and has a number of projects underway in Asia.

Greg Sheehan

Greg Sheehan is the Managing Director of the Buchan Group’s Brisbane practice and has significant expertise in retail planning and delivery, and a variety of hospitality, transport and mixed-use project types. He led the delivery of Conrad Treasury Casino and Hotel, The Myer Centre and McWhirters mixed-use in Brisbane, Riverside Casino in Hamilton NZ, the refurbishment of Fortitude Valley Railway Station as well as numerous sub-regional and neighbourhood shopping centres. He is currently leading teams on the expansion of Grand Plaza Browns Plains, Noosa Civic, Ipswich Riverlink, Forest Lake shopping centres as well as a number of prominent Brisbane railway station refurbishments.

John Vardis

John Vardis is highly experienced in design development and project management, making a significant contribution to projects such as Duty Free stores in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and various developments for Spotlight. He has worked on the Rockingham City Shopping Centre development in Western Australia, three Spotlight developments, Dandenong Market, an office building at Wheelers Hill and the redevelopment of Northland Shopping Centre for CFSPM. He has recently returned from the Dubai office, where he has had a significant role on current work in the UAE.

Grant Withers

Grant Withers is a specialist in concept design and master planning of mixed use, retail, entertainment and leisure developments. He led the Melbourne team on the expansion of Watergardens Town Centre, and also played a leading role on the Victoria Gardens development. Grant’s other projects include Bendigo Marketplace, Woodgrove Shopping Centre, a mixed use commercial, retail and residential development at Knox, and the redevelopment of Preston Market. He is currently based in Dubai, as MENA Regional Director and is involved as Project Director of several large, mixed use projects in the Middle East.

Victor Zarnowski

Victor Zarnowski has a depth of expertise in conceptual design and urban planning. His projects include Century Oriental Plaza retail centre in Ningbo, China, Tianjin Modern City, mixed use commercial development in China, Zhengzhou Union Square, mixed use project in China, Breeze Centre retail development in Taipei, and master planning and design of residential and commercial developments in International City, Dubai. His other projects include Melbourne Park Hyatt Hotel, Channel 7 at Docklands, restructuring of a Shopping centre in Bundoora and master planning for a large scale, commercial/residential Port Adelaide development.

Peter Zillman

Peter Zillman has had many years of experience in the master planning, design and delivery of major retail and entertainment developments throughout Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand. As Project Principal he has led the architectural teams on the Piazza Entertainment and Leisure Precinct at Logan Hyperdome, The Palms Shopping Centre in Christchurch and Home Central, Kawana. He is currently leading projects including the Northern Malls redevelopment at Robina Town Centre, Tweed City redevelopment and key retail developments in New Zealand.

The Buchan Group - Architecture + Master Planning + Interiors + Graphics