Defence team expands
as new leaders join
our ranks

The Defence sector at Architectus is going from strength to strength, with a new structure and new faces joining our team – all outstanding designers and project leaders with years of experience in this important specialist sector. 

Our most recent arrivals round out a strong national lineup, which will see design leaders focusing on specific regions of the country.   

Several of our new appointees are senior staff from Conrad Gargett, which merged with Architectus earlier this year. Their practice has a reputation for design excellence in Defence, Health, and Heritage along with a range of other sectors.  

The growth of our team comes as the Australian military undergoes its most significant shift in decades, with the Federal Government investing heavily in a workforce and infrastructure for the ‘missile age’.  

Our national and regional leaders in Defence

At Architectus, the Defence sector is part of a portfolio overseen by Lawrence Toaldo, Group Director, Health, Defence, and Heritage and Conrad Gargett’s Managing Director. He stepped into the role last month, joining Sector Leader Ralph Williams. Both bring in-depth knowledge of the Defence Forces and a roster of successful projects across Australia.   

New Principal Peter McGregor, who has focused exclusively on Defence projects for the past decade, is based in Adelaide, where he’ll oversee the southeast region for Architectus.  

Working out of Sydney, Principal Laura Cockburn will lead projects in New South Wales. A design and project director from Conrad Gargett, she comes with an impressive portfolio of work for the Royal Australian Air Force, among other clients. Recent arrival Michelle Addley – an Associate Principal who has worked on large, complex projects such as the Riverina Redevelopment Program – will also be heavily involved with work in the region.  

A Principal located in Townsville, Conrad Gargett’s Greg Sexton will lead our northern region after successfully delivering a number of Defence projects in Far North Queensland. He’ll work closely with Brisbane-based Brent Sanders, another Principal from Conrad Gargett and an experienced Defence designer who will set our direction across Queensland. 

Senior Associate Mark Bredmeyer from Architectus will oversee projects in Western Australia from his base in our Perth studio. A strong technical designer, his portfolio features Defence infrastructure projects as well as education and commercial buildings.  

A team with deep expertise across sectors

Our new leaders all have extensive experience beyond Defence, including education and training, residential, workplace, and transport projects. Together they bring valuable skills and insight to multi-layered Defence work, which often spans multiple sectors and comes with complex challenges and long horizons.  

“By fully integrating our Defence design teams and creating a clear regional structure, we’re offering clients seamless service and the opportunity to draw on diverse perspectives and expertise,” says Ralph Williams. “Working together, we’re looking forward to co-creating the next generation of Defence facilities.” 

Stay tuned this week for our in-depth interview with Ralph, Peter and Michelle, who will take us behind the scenes of this critical, compelling sector.