Plus scales up with senior appointments across Australasia

We’ve appointed three senior leaders across Australia and New Zealand as we continue to grow our footprint in complex, large-scale urban projects.

The appointments come in response to increasing demand for innovative urban development across the region’s major cities. With 27 years of experience behind us, we’re expanding our capability to match the scale and complexity of current projects.

Sydney: Strengthening design leadership

John Walsh has joined our Sydney studio as Principal.

With global experience across five continents, John brings a sharp design sensibility and a strong portfolio across education, commercial and mixed-use work. His approach centres on stretching a brief to create more ambitious outcomes.

He’s led projects like 50 Hudson Yards in New York and the MOL Headquarters in Budapest. At Plus, he’s contributing to The Lighthouse Mount Druitt, a new arts and community centre for the Salvation Army, and the Inner City School in Waterloo.

“John's appointment strengthens our ability to grow in the right direction. His international experience with billion-dollar developments and innovative educational facilities directly aligns with our studio's growth trajectory and we anticipate his expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of urban design in Sydney”.

Queensland: Expanding capacity across sectors

Edward Armstrong has joined as Senior Associate, working across our Brisbane and Gold Coast studios.

With more than 22 years of experience, Edward brings a track record of leading projects at scale. His background spans multi-residential, health, cultural and commercial work. He’s also a dedicated mentor and team leader.

Recent work includes a six-tower development in Brisbane’s West End (valued at over $2.1B), Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and the Rockhampton Museum of Art.

“Edward’s leadership arrives at a pivotal time as our Brisbane and Gold Coast studios expand across multi-residential, commercial and health sectors. With 75 active projects in Queensland, Edward’s masterplanning expertise and proven delivery capability will be instrumental as we continue to scale our operations, driving our continued pursuit of design excellence and market leadership in these strategic growth areas”.

New Zealand: Growing our local presence

In New Zealand, Elke Vermeulen has been promoted to Senior Associate.

Based in Auckland, Elke brings 15 years of experience delivering complex projects across the multi-residential, justice and hospitality sectors. She’s known for staying across the detail and building strong client relationships.

Her portfolio includes the Pacifica Penthouses and major work for the Ministry of Justice, NZ Police and St Cuthbert’s College.

“Elke’s promotion comes at a pivotal time as we continue to expand our trans-Tasman operations. Her deep understanding of the New Zealand market, combined with her proven delivery capability, will be instrumental in driving our continued growth and pursuing new opportunities across our target sectors. We see Elke as fundamental to our continued work in positioning Plus Architecture as a market leader in New Zealand”.