Ken Maher is a leading Sydney based architect and is executive Chairman of HASSELL, Australia's largest international multidisciplinary design practice involved in major urban projects throughout Australia and Asia. He has postgraduate qualifications in landscape architecture and environmental studies, and has a strong interest in multidisciplinary thinking in the design of our cities.
Ken is active in practice and academia, a Professor at UNSW Built Environment, chair of the Dean's Advisory Group, and a board member of the University Foundation. He was a founding board member of the Green Building Council. He has been influential in setting environmental and urban design policies for the Australian Institute of Architects as NSW President and is a member of the National Executive, and Chair of the NSW Board of Architectural Education, and has initiated high level summits for reviewing city design and urban strategy issues. Ken was inducted as a Fellow of the API in 1998, as a Life fellow of the Institute of Architects in 2007 and as a Fellow of the Green Building Council in 2008.
In 2009 Ken was awarded the Australian Institute of Architecture's highest accolade, the AIA Gold Medal. It recognises distinguished service by Australian architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture, or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner. Ken has also received many awards including two Sulman Medals and the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for projects he has led within HASSELL. He speaks frequently at conferences and public forums on design, sustainability and the future of cities throughout Australia and internationally.
He has been an advisor to government in design and the built environment, including chairing Premier Bob Carr's Urban Design Advisory Committee introducing innovative measures to improve high density housing design.
He is currently chair of the City of Sydney's Design Advisory Panel and a member of the City's Public Art Advisory Committee, and has recently been appointed to the Rudd Government's Built Environment Industry Innovation Council.
Ken has a strong interest in the role of design in contributing to public life and the critical relationship between design and achieving a sustainable future.
Page Last Updated: 29 Jul 2009
Management Group
