Alex Longley

Alex founded Arcadia in 2011 to establish a landscape firm that is driven to create world-class landscape outcomes. His passion for connecting people with the landscape, and his longstanding industry relationships built on his ability to deliver exceptional projects, have helped Arcadia become one of the leading landscape architecture firms in Sydney. Also key to Arcadia’s success is the way Alex’s belief in nurturing team development has built a talented team within a collaborative workplace environment. Alex has provided the inspiration for a unique studio culture, including Friday BBQs on the deck, the annual ski trip and Arcadia’s famous Christmas parties. 

Michael Barnett

Mike became a Principal of Arcadia in 2014 bringing an ability to create authentic and compelling open spaces. Mike excels at challenging the process and driving the team to deliver rigor and detail in their work. This results in project outcomes that exceed client expectations, strengthening Arcadia’s reputation for delivery of quality projects. Mike’s an adventurer at heart – whether you find him snow-boarding, on his motorbike or exploring Sydney’s newest open spaces with his family, you can be sure he’s finding inspiration for his innovative designs.

Nathan Clausen

Nathan’s love of the outdoors has not only led him to a move to Queensland after growing up in NSW, it’s also shaped his passion for designing outdoor places that activate and invigorate spaces for people to enjoy. Nathan is excited by the opportunities for the Arcadia Brisbane studio to help shape public domain in Brisbane, as it becomes an increasingly urban city. He strongly believes access to open space is critically important for optimum physical, mental and spiritual health.

Nelson Gomes

From Nelson’s early days as a Lego master builder, he’s had a love for creating and design, so it is little surprise he’s shaped a career in urban design and landscape architecture. This Melbourne native has a passion for city-shaping projects, and has used his people-centric, collaborative and innovative design style to lead some of Melbourne’s most high-profile landscape architecture projects in recent years.  His extensive experience across all project delivery stages and working in a range of scenarios, uniquely positions him to lead Arcadia’s Melbourne studio.

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Chris Tidswell

This Adelaide-native always knew he wanted to be a designer. With a passion for designing memorable places, we’re lucky Chris found his way to Sydney, to share his extensive public domain experience with the Arcadia team. While this sports lover may find he’s spending a little less time playing golf, sailing or watching AFL now that he’s a father, we’re sure he’ll have first-hand expertise on what makes a great family-friendly outdoor space.

Duyen Nguyen

Duyen grew up in the sleepy suburbs of Perth, indulging in television favourites, Burke’s Backyard and Backyard Blitz. It didn’t take her long to discover that there was far more to Landscape Architecture than backyard makeovers and she has relished the opportunities this career opened up for her. Duyen’s passion for major infrastructure projects appeals to her strength as a technical coordinator. With an early career spent between Perth and Bangkok, she left sunny Perth behind to move to Melbourne in 2013, continuing her love affair with fast-paced cities. In her spare time, Duyen makes the most of Melbourne’s arts, culture and food scene. Her current obsession is buying plants (mostly ferns!) which are then passed on to her non-landscape architect husband, who’s even more passionate about gardening.

Valerie Ostermann

With Valerie joining us, we have a new contender for best ‘Claim to Fame’. Valerie is the former National Fencing Champion of Germany and we are equal parts impressed and terrified by her super ninja skills! This wannabe sheep farmer is also a certified massage therapist, so it’s fair to say she has magic in her hands. Luckily for us, Val is equally talented as a Landscape Architect!

Andrew Mason

Andrew is one of the core members of the Arcadia team and our original Kiwi. While not a morning person, this ice hockey player is renowned for his appetite and a natural design flair that seeks elegant design solutions, often inspired by the richness and diversity of the local landscape environs. As the undefeated Arcadia champion, his karaoke skills are a thing of beauty as well…

Jason Taylor

This Brisbane native is passionate about creating great spaces in the city he loves, with a particular interest in designing urban open spaces and active parks. No doubt all the time he’s spent playing and watching cricket has given him a unique perspective on how to make these spaces work! Weekends will find Jason watching or playing cricket, fishing, camping or entertaining friends.

Michael Schönbas

Michael’s experience working on projects with team members across many locations was a huge positive for Arcadia, with our cross disciplinary teams working in studios in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. And with many of our team now working remotely, this experience has become invaluable.

With over 12 years of experience, Michael is experienced in strategising to create faster systems by utilising BIM and facilitating project management. His awareness of the growing industry of robotics and facility management provides insight into the future of construction.

Georgia Alexander

When Georgia joined Arcadia from a regional landscape architecture practice, she brought her natural design style and love of gardens to the studio. Her claim to fame is one of the best we’ve heard yet – her grandfather wrote the Slim Dusty hit song “I’d Love to Have a Beer with Duncan.” Georgia’s motto is “do what you love and love what you do.” We hope this is more fitting now she’s a Landscape Architect at Arcadia than when she worked in an abattoir or as a rouseabout in a stinking hot shearing shed!

Kaylie Salvatori

Painting, drawing and sculpture are Kaylie’s passions and her love of art, combined with her love of nature, have led her to a career in landscape architecture. Despite strong family ties to the Rabbitohs, Kaylie is not sporty at all – unless you count her stint as a horse riding instructor.  We’re thrilled Kaylie has become Arcadia’s first Indigenous Landscape Strategist and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead, as Kaylie shares her passion and knowledge of Indigenous culture and native foods and how we can weave these into our designs.

Timothy Ivers

A former graphic designer, Tim has a passion for great design, a strong eye for detail and a goal to produce livable and sustainable communities, now and into the future. His enthusiasm and positive outlook are a perfect fit for Arcadia’s collaborative working style – and also for provoking some “friendly rivalry” come State Of Origin time.

Kate Phillips

Kate is a strong believer that a great design outcome is the product of a strong vision, hard work, and a dedicated multidisciplinary team. No stranger to hard work, Kate is almost constantly in training for different triathlon events. She’s also a great example that landscape architects aren’t landscape gardeners – her bathroom plant is the first plant she’s managed to keep alive!

Daniel Spicer

Always entertaining, Daniel’s up for anything, whether it’s jumping off the end of Jones Bay Wharf for a lunch-time swim or trekking through the jungles of Malaysia. His passion for travel has helped shape his organic, non-conventional design style and his ability to translate abstract issues into practical and unique solutions.

Annabel Spillane

Let’s get the obvious out of the way – Annabel’s amazing hair! The hair that was voted runner up in Schwarzkopf’s Most Beautiful Hair competition in 2013 is the first thing we all notice about Annabel. Beyond the mane is a former rural resident who cares deeply about creating drought tolerant, sustainable landscapes. She’s also strongly drawn to education-based projects and loves to draw on the experience of her teacher parents to gain insights for her designs. Annabel’s weekends are filled with bushwalks, country visits and sharing food and wine with friends.

Stacey Edwards

Stacey – she’s All Blacks and not Wallabies. She’s Halloween and never Christmas. She’s books over TV and she’s coffee, not tea. And best of all she’s “Hell yes, I’ll give it a go” and we love her for it! Since joining us as a Landscape Architect, Stacey’s innovative ideas around WSUD infrastructures, as well as her love of trees and fauna, have helped to create her unique landscape design style which are an asset to any project.

Chang Liu

Coming from Xinxiang, a small city in China, Chang has brought a simple, fresh and contemporary design approach to Arcadia, combining her modern Asian influences with an enthusiasm to embrace and experience the outdoor lifestyle of Sydney. Her favourite outdoor space is a table tennis court – but while she plays to relax, she’s happiest when she’s winning. That’s the competitive spirit that makes Chang perfect for Arcadia!

Kelsy Pearce

Kelsy’s emerging design style and strong knowledge of plant composition are integral to the Brisbane team. Kelsy was originally drawn to landscape architecture through her personal experiences with outdoor meditation and how nature has the power to help you reconnect and revive. Kelsy’s involvement with the AILA Connection to Country network, along with Arcadia’s focus on Indigenous design, has led to a keen interest in  in learning about Country and its deeply rooted connection to the Landscape Architecture profession.

Ben Michel

With a childhood surrounded by the Royal National Park, it’s little wonder that Ben grew up with a passion for landscape and the outdoors. Ben has a design style that is explorative, immersive and structured, no doubt influenced by the travel he’s done over the years to visit family in Holland and around the world. He’s passionate about environmental conservation and has an expert understanding of Vietnamese cuisine – we need to capitalise on that! – from his former life working in a Vietnamese restaurant. Weekends can find him exploring Sydney’s beaches and National Parks, running or indulging in his passion for photography.

Ellie Winstanley

Ellie didn’t get the name “Rookie’ from us! She gained the name from her coach when she started Surf Boat Rowing in 2016 and she never lost it, even after proving herself with two days in a Surf Boat at the NSW Masters Rowing Championships. Aside from her love for the ocean and water sports, Elllie’s also passionate about her dogs, photography, making sauces and gin (yes please!). We’re loving watching Ellie’s practical, creative and fun design style evolve in the studio.  

Michelle Thomas Zacharias

Michelle Thomas Zacharias brings more than her design skills and strong architecture background to Arcadia – she’s also a talented Bollywood dancer! We can’t wait for her to give us some lessons at our next all-staff Study Tour. Arcadia is thrilled to have Michelle on board with her passion, enthusiasm and master skills in doodling. Michelle is the winner of the 2020 Hassell Travelling Scholarship Robin Edmund Award and a the AILA Victoria Future Leader Student Award.

Olga Kletskaya

Thomas MacDonald

Vivian Deng

Wei Zhou

Liz Lester

Liam Maccan

Since spending his childhood weekends house-hunting with his mum, Liam has always had a love for architecture and design. His style is all about the 70’s, with a passion for everything from that decade – if you don’t believe me, you just need to see Liam star in this episode of The Living Room! Weekends will find Liam cruising down the coast in his beloved original Beetle, coaching netball or on the golf course.

Pip Meachin

Pip joined Arcadia to help spread the word about the amazing work the team is doing. The studio is her happy place – instead of spending the day trying to whip her family, dog and messy house into shape, she gets to work on content for our website, social media, newsletters, awards and media. With our incredible view and fun team, what’s not to love about coming to work?

Ruth Bartlet-Pullen

Saskia Ruting

Our graphic design genius, Saskia, hails from the northern beaches – Home & Away fans may even have seen her childhood home in the background of some scenes. If she’s not at the beach, weekends will find her hiking, camping or making ceramics. It’s not surprising Saskia is able to respond with detailed, beautiful work in any situation. One of her first jobs was selling balloons at a Wiggles concert. Anyone able to deal with savage parents when the Dorothy balloons run out, is able to handle anything!

Julia Delaney

Sadly our studio manager can’t be with us every day, but it’s obvious the days when Julia is in the studio. Things work, timesheets get done and her positive, motivational energy is felt throughout Arcadia. And when this organisational genius isn’t here, she makes sure there is a bowl of sweet treats to remember her by. It’s a shame she can’t ditch her kids and look after us every day!

Amy Colgan

There’s a very unfair misconception around that people who work in finance are predictable. That couldn’t be further from the truth with Amy! Her latest purchase was a pair of leopard print roller skates – need we say more? That’s Amy – dependable with a side of  sparkles. A winning combination that we bet her three kids appreciate too!

Kimberley Commerford

Charlotte Hazzard