Queen Victoria Gardens

The push for sustainable design outcomes that work with and enhance our natural systems has never been more critical for our health.

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect works to ensure that Victoria’s buildings, infrastructure, and public places are functional, durable, efficient, sustainable, inspiring, and enjoyable, now and into the future.

The Office will host a discussion with leading thinkers, researchers and design practitioners exploring the topic of holistic architecture and urban planning, with a focus on natural systems and environments.

Panellists:

Stefan Preuss I Associate Government Architect and Sustainability expert
Mark Jacques | Landscape Architect & Urban Designer, Director of Openwork, Professor of Architecture, RMIT University
Dr Judy Bush | Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning
Paul Paton | Proud Gunnai, Monaro and Gunditjmara man, CEO of The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations
Stefano Scalzo | Public sector design expert for contemporary healthcare projects

CollaboratorS:

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect provides leadership and strategic advice to government about architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design, and promotes awareness about how good design can make great living places and urban environments.

Dr Judy Bush is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on urban environmental policy and governance, including governance and policy approaches for nature-based solutions, biodiversity, urban ecology and climate change perspectives.

Mark Jacques is an Urban Designer and Landscape Architect. In 2016, he founded Openwork as an office undertaking projects in public space, landscape architecture, urban design, research and speculation. In 2015, Mark was appointed Professor of Architecture (Urbanism) Industry Fellow within RMIT’s School of Architecture and Urban Design. His projects have won significant awards, including the Australia Award for Urban Design, The Melbourne Prize and the Premier’s Design Award. In 2021 Mark was appointed to the inaugural Melbourne Design Review Panel, part of the City of Melbourne’s Design Excellence Program.

Sophie Patitsas brings significant expertise to her role as a respected advocate and adviser on urban design and architecture with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect. Sophie led the development of OVGA’s publication Good Design + Health, informed by her extensive experience in the procurement and delivery of several major health projects including the new Bendigo Hospital and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Sophie regularly chairs and serves on design panels and is a passionate advocate for design excellence in education.

Paul Paton is a Gunnai and Monaro man and is the CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations. His purpose is to advocate for Traditional Owner rights and interests to government, provide leadership and deliver outcomes that will ultimately restore health to Country and communities. Paul’s previous roles include fourteen years as the CEO at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages and on the Board of First Nations Legal & Research Services. Paul is currently a member of the Yuma Yirramboi Economic Council.