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Hames Sharley Senior Associate Alex Quin has been appointed to the role of Northern Territory Studio Leader, bringing his passion for creating meaningful connections to place through his empathetic leadership style.

Alex first joined Hames Sharley in 2018, working from the WA Studio before relocating to our Northern Territory Studio in 2022. He has been involved in the delivery of several significant Hames Sharley projects, including the recently award-winning One Subiaco and Katherine Sportsground Pavilion.

As co-chair of Hames Sharley’s Reconciliation Committee, Alex played a significant role in delivering the practice’s ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). While he is deeply committed to social justice, he is also a tireless advocate for mental health.

Hames Sharley Managing Director, Caillin Howard, said the key appointment is a perfect fit for Darwin and the broader Northern Territory community.

“At a time when so many Australians are focused on building a better-connected and brighter future across our country, Alex is well-positioned to drive transformative change for our clients and the communities they serve,” he said.

“With his broad personal and professional experience working closely with Aboriginal communities, he understands local sensitivities and leads collaborative solutions that are to the benefit of all involved.

“Alex imbues a combination of exceptional architectural expertise with a finely-tuned radar towards social issues, and we are excited to see his continued growth.”

Alex said that the new role presented a great opportunity to lead the team well and create meaningful contributions.

“The Darwin team is incredibly passionate; we have the opportunity to build on the strong relationships we have within the construction and project management industry, and leverage them to deliver projects with great social impact,” he said.

“What really excites me is increasing our work in the Defence, Health, and Education sectors, harnessing our capability to deliver diverse spaces due to our national, interdisciplinary approach.

“We have the skills and expertise to deliver rare and significant opportunities, such as the redevelopment of the Bundilla Beach waterfront in the CBD, for the City of Darwin.”

This role enables Alex to draw deeply on his personal story, which helps him not only to shape meaningful design outcomes, but also to encourage positive wellbeing and mental health outcomes for his team members.

“My father grew up on a sheep station in Marble Bar, Australia’s hottest town, and we were very close to the Aboriginal community who also lived there. Many are still friends and I enjoy visiting them and learning from them when I can,” he said.

“The issues that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face are very evident here in the NT, but through our RAP and the passion of our team, we can provide more meaningful engagement that results in empowering outcomes.”