People on the Move – 21 June 2016

Property stalwart named as Western Australian of the Year; Tanya Cox joins WGBC board; Property Council appoints deputy ED in Perth; Urbis establishes business to service international clients; Board changes at Wood Bagot; WMK Architecture hires design and delivery specialist.

Prominent property developer Adrian Fini has been named as the 2016 Western Australian of the Year. Fini has been involved in the property industry for more than 30 years and is currently managing director of the Fini Group and director of FJM Property Ltd, a WA-based private property and investment company. He was awarded an OAM for his contributions to the arts in 2014 and is a current Board member of the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), the University of Western Australia Business School Board and its New Century Campaign and is also Chair of the Art Gallery of WA Foundation.

Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Tanya Cox has been appointed to the board of the World Green Building Council (WGBS). Cox has more than 20 years’ experience on a wide range of boards and was the chief operating officer of the DEXUS Property Group for more than a decade.

Alix Rhodes has joined the Property Council of Australia in Western Australia as deputy executive director. Rhodes was most recently manager Housing Policy in the Strategy and Policy Division of the WA Department of Housing and also led the team that prepared Perth’s new strategic planning framework in the Department of Planning. Her experience also includes a stint as director of the Darwin Festival.

Urban planning consultancy Urbis has announced that it will establish a new business to service its international clients in Asia and the Middle East. Cistra will open its first office in Singapore in July with Peter Hyland taking on the role of regional director. He will be joined in the new business by Peter Holland and Jack Backen.

Architecture firm Woods Bagot has appointed Sir Philip Dilley as non-executive chairman and Joanna Lohkamp as non-executive director of the Board. Current executive chairman Ross Donaldson is stepping down after 10 years at the helm, including nine years as group managing director and one year as executive chairman. However, Donaldson will still remain with the practice to lead its Urban Systems Research as well as maintain his Adjunct Professorship at the University of Western Australia.

Former Mirvac design director, Julian Venning has moved to WMK Architecture as its director – Design & Delivery. Venning had been with Mirvac since 2000.

Savills Australia has appointed Emma Schmutzer as project manager in its Victorian Project Management team. She previously worked with Monash College, DCA Design and Flannery Shaw Architects.