Design Institute of Australia
DIA is the national membership organisation for designers in Australia, advocating for the profession and its practitioners across disciplines, industries and all stages of a designer’s career.
Through advocacy, leadership, and access to networks and resources, DIA supports designers to thrive creatively and commercially, while strengthening the contribution of design to the systems, services, products and environments that shape the nation.
By bringing together designers with the people, businesses, educators and institutions that commission, employ, educate and promote design, DIA collectively builds Australia’s reputation as a globally recognised design nation.
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Vision: The voice of Australian design.
Purpose: The DIA exists to strengthen the design profession through advocacy for practitioners, professional standards and leadership that amplifies the value of design across society.
Values: DIA is guided by design innovation and creativity, integrity, inclusivity, connectivity and care.
DIA is committed to strong, contemporary governance that fosters trust, accountability and responsive leadership.
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DIA membership brings together a community committed to ensuring design’s relevance and influence across Australia.
Membership unites designers across disciplines and at every stage of practice, from students and early-career designers to established and senior practitioners, alongside people, businesses, educators and institutions who recognise the importance of design to Australia’s cultural identity, society and economy.
Through every DIA membership, the national voice of design is strengthened. Together, we enable designers to explore and realise the beauty, integrity and usefulness of design across society.
Advocacy & RepresentationMembership is the foundation of the Institute’s national advocacy for designers. Collectively, members empower DIA to protect professional standards and influence policy, regulation and public understanding of design at the highest levels of government, education and industry.
Accreditation & Professional StandardsDIA professional members are design practitioners who typically hold, or are undertaking, tertiary design qualifications. Collectively, they represent a broad spectrum of design disciplines — from graphic and visual communication, animation, multimedia, web and UI/UX design, fashion, textiles, jewellery, interior and industrial design, to design education and management, as well as emerging fields such as strategic and service design.
Membership enables designers to pursue nationally recognised Accreditation, affirming their qualifications, experience and commitment to professional standards.
Professional Development & NetworksMembership supports designers ongoing professional development through access to peer networks, continuing professional development, practical resources and authoritative insights on industry news.
Recognition & LeadershipMembers are recognised for their leadership, impact and creativity across disciplines through DIA’s flagship initiatives, including the Hall of Fame, Fellowships, Designer Awards and Graduate of the Year (GOTYA) program.
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DIA was established in 1939 and is Australia’s only institution governed by a constitution representing an associated member body dedicated to the design profession. The DIA has six branches that represent each state and territory. Its National Advisory Council (NAC) provides advice and input to the Board of Directors and is a communication channel between DIA Members and State Councils.
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This Code of Conduct (the Code) is issued by the DIA for the compliance of all its members participating in whatever capacity they work or practise as designers.
DIA members agree to be bound by the Code. To behave ethically and honestly, with integrity in their dealings as a professional designer with clients, the community and their colleagues. Members who do not comply with the Code of Conduct may be expelled from the DIA under the DIA Constitution.
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The Constitution supports DIA’s strategic goal of professional recognition for designers, while the Charter framework provides the flexibility required for effective and responsive operations.
DIA - Board of Directors
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Ryan is a registered architect with more than 20 years of industry experience.
Ryan’s experience as a designer has crossed the fields of architecture and interior design, industrial design, theatre and exhibition design. He has worked on projects as small as the design of a door handle up to the size of skyscrapers, across five continents.
In 2007, he won the National Interior Design Award for Emerging Practice, and in 2010 he merged his business with Byron George, creating Russell & George.
He is most well known for his interior designs, with notable works for Aésop, Ishizuka, Medibank, Society, Yakimono and also for himself with the creation of his on studio space the transformational, “Space & Time,” a design that questions the fundamental use of a space throughout the course of a 24hr period and through its lifetime.
Described as a strategist, futurist and entrepreneur in the industry, he now ventures into the fields of information technology, augmented and virtual reality and software development.
Ryan’s key strengths lie in the rapid assessment and development of innovative design solutions, and a sound understanding of the essential interface between design and commercial viability. He is a registered architect, Member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.
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Kathy Joyce is a distinguished designer, entrepreneur, and strategic specialist with a passion for social impact and authentic design. With extensive experience in start-ups, digital innovation, and systems thinking, Kathy is known for her intellectual honesty and enquiring mind. She holds an Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and has achieved an Executive MBA specialising in Entrepreneurial Management, where she was included on the Dean's List. Kathy's commitment to sustainability is evident through her work in developing and leading progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the circular economy, greenhouse gas reduction, and women's economic empowerment. She has been a proud member of the Design Institute of Australia for over 14 years and has served as a DIA NSW Branch Councillor for the last two years. Additionally, Kathy is the founder and managing director of Good 4 Business, a B Corp Certified business that specialises in B Corp Certification and helps SMEs measure their social and environmental impact to make positive change.
Kathy is actively involved in community service and volunteer work. She has recently stepped down from her role as an Advisory Board Member for the Greatest Good Group, a for-profit social enterprise. She has also been a member of the Executive Committee (Secretary) at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, is an active member of the Manly Business Chamber, and holds membership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Her dedication to design excellence and sustainability makes her a valuable addition to the Design Institute of Australia.
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Michael has a background in corporate governance, board advisory services, and national risk and compliance. He is currently CEO at Quartomuro, providing fit-outs to retail, commercial, and industrial clients.
With over 30 years business experience, including 23 years in accounting, 5 years in specialist boutique advisory, and running a small family construction business, Michael’s experiences extend across construction, industrial markets, retail, FMCG, financial services, government, private sector, and PE-backed enterprises.
Michael has also worked with many non-profit corporates and is on the board of a leading Australian theatre company. Having led a number of large governance and board reform projects, Michael brings indispensable experience to the DIA Board.
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Dr Natalie Wright is an experienced commercial Interior Designer, Academic, Design Advocate and Facilitator. She commenced teaching design in 1993, and for 17 years was employed by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) School of Architecture and Built Environment. In 2018 she was awarded a PhD for the design and delivery of a place-based informal design immersion program in six regional/rural Queensland high schools, to develop a Design-led Educational Innovation Framework. Prior to this, for 20 years she practiced design in Australia, Japan and the UK, and has served as a Member, Fellow, National Director & Queensland Branch Co-President of the Design Institute of Australia since 2003. She has represented Australia at the 2009 and 2011 International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) General Assemblies and in 2014 undertook a two-year secondment to the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) as the Manager of the Asia Pacific Design Library.
Natalie’s research and engagement explores design-led innovation approaches in K-12, tertiary and professional education contexts for both students and educators, as a framework for inclusion and adaptivity in the 21st century. In 2018 and 2021 respectively, she won Good Design Australia Awards for her involvement in state government collaborations facilitating the development of design thinking expertise and design research for education and health sector transformation. In 2022, she championed the formation of a DIA National Working Group to explore National Accreditation and licencing for interior designers. She endeavours to foster and amplify the public understanding of the value of design and advocate for the evolving and critical role and skills of design professionals to collaboratively tackle ongoing transdisciplinary challenges.
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Ms. O'Hare brings over 25 years of experience in public relations, communications, and marketing within the design, architecture, and lifestyle sectors. As the founder and director of Whispr Communications, she has a proven track record of elevating brands and crafting impactful narratives for a diverse portfolio of clients, including Brickworks Building Products, Laminex, and Gaggenau. Her expertise lies in combining commercial acumen with a design-centric approach, creating campaigns that resonate with targeted audiences and media alike.
Ms. O'Hare's deep appreciation for design goes beyond her professional accomplishments. Her commitment to sustainability and innovative growth aligns seamlessly with the Design Institute of Australia's mission. As a DIA board member, she is eager to contribute her expertise to drive meaningful initiatives and forge stronger connections within the design community and beyond.
DIA - Branches & Councils
DIA operates through seven state and territory branches across Australia, working in collaboration with the National Office. Each branch is led by a council of five to seven elected councillors, chosen by local members to represent their interests. Branch councils shape programs and initiatives that respond to the needs of their local design communities.
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The Australian Capital Territory Branch of the DIA works with communities, government, industry and the education sector to strengthen the role and impact of design in the nation’s capital. Through its programs and advocacy, the Branch supports designers at all career stages, builds professional networks, and promotes Australian design excellence.
The ACT Branch advocates for the value of design and positions the Territory as a recognised centre of design innovation and creativity, where the contributions of local designers are visible and valued.
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The New South Wales Branch of the DIA supports designers across the State through a year-round program of professional development, events and gatherings that strengthen practice, business capability and professional networks. The Branch brings together designers, clients, educators and industry peers, fostering collaboration and supporting sustainable careers at all stages.
Through its activities and advocacy, the NSW Branch works to elevate the profile of the design profession, champion Australian design excellence, and represent designers to government, industry and the wider community.
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The Queensland Branch of the DIA works with designers, industry, government and the education sector to strengthen the impact of design across the built environment, communications, fashion, industrial design and related fields. The Branch is particularly active in education and socially responsible design, supporting emerging practitioners while fostering strong connections with local, national and international design leaders.
The Queensland Branch advocates for the value of design and positions Queensland as a leading centre for design innovation and creativity, where the contributions of local designers are recognised and valued.
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The South Australia / Northern Territory Branch of the DIA connects designers across the State and Territory, fostering professional networks that support practice, business growth and collaboration. Through its programs and initiatives, the Branch supports designers at all career stages while championing design excellence across the region.
The Branch is committed to elevating the profile of the design profession and advocating for South Australia and the Northern Territory as nationally significant centres of design innovation and creativity — where the contributions of local designers are visible, valued and celebrated.
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Victoria has a dynamic and diverse design sector, spanning large multidisciplinary practices and independent creative studios across disciplines. The Victorian Branch of the DIA supports this breadth through a program of events that connect members, strengthen links with industry and the design education sector, and foster a strong professional community.
Through its events and relationships with State Government, the Victorian Branch advocates for the value of design, increasing awareness of the vital role designers play in contributing to the economy, society and culture.
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The Tasmania Branch of the DIA champions the design profession across Australia’s design island. Rooted in place and driven by design innovation and creativity, the branch supports designers whose work makes a vital contribution to the nation’s cultural, social and economic life. Through important advocacy and engagement, the Tasmania Branch celebrates the State's distinctive design culture and its enduring impact across Australia.
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The Western Australia Branch of the DIA advocates for the value of design and works to strengthen the profile of the profession across the State. Through collaboration with communities, government, business, industry and the education sector, the Branch supports design excellence and its impact across Western Australia.
With a strong focus on design education, the Branch delivers initiatives such as the Student Mixer and Student Portfolio Review, supporting emerging designers to build professional networks and connect with leading practitioners.
DIA - National Advisory Council
The National Advisory Council comprises of two representatives from all DIA Branch Councils and is the representative body for the DIA membership. It provides strategic guidance, input and advice to the DIA Board.
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Ryan is a registered architect with more than 20 years of industry experience.
Ryan’s experience as a designer has crossed the fields of architecture and interior design, industrial design, theatre and exhibition design. He has worked on projects as small as the design of a door handle up to the size of skyscrapers, across five continents.
In 2007, he won the National Interior Design Award for Emerging Practice, and in 2010 he merged his business with Byron George, creating Russell & George.
He is most well known for his interior designs, with notable works for Aésop, Ishizuka, Medibank, Society, Yakimono and also for himself with the creation of his on studio space the transformational, “Space & Time,” a design that questions the fundamental use of a space throughout the course of a 24hr period and through its lifetime.
Described as a strategist, futurist and entrepreneur in the industry, he now ventures into the fields of information technology, augmented and virtual reality and software development.
Ryan’s key strengths lie in the rapid assessment and development of innovative design solutions, and a sound understanding of the essential interface between design and commercial viability. He is a registered architect, Member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.
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Simone LeAmon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), where she leads the national membership organisation for designers in Australia, advocating for the profession and its practitioners across disciplines, industries and all stages of a designer’s career. Appointed in 2026, Simone is focused on advancing design advocacy and policy, strengthening member value and positioning Australian design as a critical driver of cultural, social and economic impact.
A respected design leader with three decades of experience spanning the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Simone’s expertise in cultural leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and sector advocacy has been shaped through roles in museums, academia, design practice and professional advisory. As the inaugural Hugh D.T. Williamson Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria (2015-2025), she co-led Australia’s first dedicated curatorial department for contemporary design and architecture for more than a decade. As a designer, she has founded two studios and produced award-winning works across furniture, lighting, jewellery, interiors, and product design. LeAmon is also an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University.
In 2021, LeAmon was awarded the Good Design Australia, Women in Design Award, in recognition of her life-long contribution to Australian design.
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Nila is a Sydney based designer focused on developing systems, products and objects that are delightful and intuitive to use. She has worked on a wide range of projects from award-winning consumer goods to internationally recognized public art installations, from design research and ideation through to prototyping, iterative refinement, testing and implementation. At the forefront of her practice she always focuses on a question: "Living in a world where people make thousands of product decisions per day and skim over millions of objects and platforms, How do we (designers) create products that are not only satisfying functional and aesthetic requirements, but uncover a meaningful experience. I believe by placing the honest human need at the core reasoning of a product we can create simple but more sustainable outcomes that last for a very long time; we design future proof solutions."
Nila has graduated from UNSW Art & Design, with a first class honours degree in object design. She has worked as a designer at one of Sydney’s leading product design consultancies, Vert Design Studio, with Clients ranging from entrepreneurs, start-ups, boutique brands and multinational organisations. After years of working at Australia’s best design consultancy, Nila has moved to the Australian micro-mobility start up, ZOOMO, as a Design Lead, to pursue her passion for sustainability in our urban environments, and to define and create mobility systems and solutions that are necessary for how we move in future. Nila is also currently lecturing at an undergraduate and postgraduate level at UNSW Art and Design, following her passion for sharing knowledge and fostering future designers.
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Eloise embarked on her industrial design journey after graduating from the University of Technology Sydney with Honours in Product Design in 2018. Her journey was marked by winning the Design Institute Australia’s Product Design NSW/ACT Graduate of the Year in 2019. Eloise’s Honours thesis revealed a passion for inclusive design practices within a product context. Through her collaboration with marginalised groups, Eloise realised the transformative power of design in improving accessibility for all.
As a DIA NSW council member since 2021, Eloise collaborates with interdisciplinary design leaders to drive initiatives promoting sustainable design practices and educational workshops. Eloise’s commitment to education extends to tutoring students from first year to honours at UTS, as well as serving as a guest lecturer and member of an external advisory board for Western Sydney Uni.
Presently at Vert Design, Eloise champions tailored design processes, guiding clients from project conception to completion while advocating for design outcomes that foster positive societal and environmental impacts.
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Liam Georgeson is an Industrial Designer at the Herston Biofabrication Institute, where he utilises advanced 3D printing technologies to develop innovative products that enhance healthcare delivery within Queensland Hospitals. With a passion for impactful design, Liam combines technical expertise and creativity to address complex challenges in the healthcare sector. As a member of the Design Institute of Australia’s Queensland Council, Liam is committed to fostering a vibrant design community, championing innovation, and advocating for design professionals across Queensland and Australia.
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Paul entered the design industry three years ago with a passion and drive for achieving client satisfaction. He is passionate about design education and mentoring the next generation of designers.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Microbiology & Biochemistry), a Master of Social Science (Political Economy), and a Bachelor of Interior Architecture (Commercial/Interior Design) from Torrens University (Billy Blue College of Design).
With a background in medical research, Paul embraces a multidisciplinary approach to design thinking, and values the combination of scientific and creative approaches to projects.
He currently works as an interior design academic with Griffith University and as an interior designer and design communicator. He has served on the DIA Queensland Branch Council since 2017.
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Karen Webster loves to make a difference! She is the Dean and Principal of the Melbourne campus of internationally acclaimed Design Institute ‘LCI’. Karen has been a design advocate and leading academic in Australian’s creative industries for over four decades. Before starting with the LCI network she held senior positions at RMIT University for over twenty years. Karen returned to an industry role as Design Director of globally awarded design company Buzz Products in 2017 before returning to her true love of fostering innovative and progressive design education at LCI Melbourne in June 2019. From 2005 to 2010 she was the Festival Director of the Melbourne Fashion Festival. She has served on numerous government and industry advisory boards across the creative industries including appointed as the first female Board Director of the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia in its 70 year history and was Chair of the Australian Fashion Council. In 2012 Karen was inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame in Melbourne.
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Catriona Gregg is a recognised Australian designer-maker specialising in contemporary bespoke furniture, interiors and limited edition products. She has a BA in Design, with further furniture studies at John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood, Dorset, UK. Whilst working in London at the David Linley Furniture Co., in addition to significant exemplary furniture projects for private clients, her work included the 16.5m-long English Oak boardroom table for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. During her six years in London, whilst with Andrew Winch Designs and Dubois Naval Architects, she designed the interior fitouts of luxury yachts in New Zealand, Turkey and the UK. More recently, for Australia’s Oceanfast, her work included the fit out of Greg Norman’s 69.5m superyacht ‘MY Aussie Rules’. Recent projects have included luxury interiors, both architectural and superyacht, for Silverling UK, marine interior design management for Austal Shipbuilding and design coordination for GHDWoodhead.
Catriona’s bespoke furniture work is represented in public and private furniture collections and exhibitions in Australia and the UK. The ‘Chaise Longue’, was purchased in 1992 for the permanent collection by the Art Gallery of Western Australia. The pursuit of excellence, inherent in the ethos of the Makepeace School, continues to be the guiding principle of Catriona’s work as a designer/maker and mentor.
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Founder and co-captain of IN-TERIA, Karryn is obsessed with materials, how things are put together and management systems. Her approach to projects fuses her learning and experience across both architecture and interior design.
With 30 years of experience in New South Wales and Tasmania, Karryn has completed a diverse portfolio of work, including single and multi-residential, interpretation and tourism projects, corporate office fit outs, retail stores, and public and education projects.
Ironically, Karryn is now most well-known for what started as a side project for the studio ~ an initiative to allow for pure creative exploration ~ a range of architectural hardware known as IN-TERIA.Goods.
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Lisa is a seasoned interior designer based in Western Australia with nearly 20 years industry experience. With a steadfast commitment to best practice contemporary design principles and profound project knowledge, Lisa expertise shines especially in health, mental health and aged care design.
A Director and owner in SPH architecture + interiors, Lisa is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and enjoys developing professional by way of her understanding of advocacy, strategy and governance.
Characterised by a fervent blend of passion, creativity and meticulous attention to detail, Lisa’s collaborative spirit shines through with a ‘listen first and then respond’ mentality, fostering dynamic partnerships with the SPH design teams, clients and stakeholders to deliver innovative and functional design solutions.
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Jane Valentine has over 28 years of experience in the design industry. She takes a multidisciplinary approach and has a background in graphic design, interior design and teaching.
Jane founded Valentine Interiors & Design in 2015 with a team specialising in Hospitality and Home. She works hard to support the design community through the studio judging national awards, mentoring students, and ensuring she contributes to something more significant than her practice. Jane has taught the Swinburne University of Technology associate degree for commercial and residential Interior Design.
DIA - National Office
DIA operates with a lean, highly capable team, led by the Chief Executive Officer.
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Simone LeAmon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), where she leads the national membership organisation for designers in Australia, advocating for the profession and its practitioners across disciplines, industries and all stages of a designer’s career. Appointed in 2026, Simone is focused on advancing design advocacy and policy, strengthening member value and positioning Australian design as a critical driver of cultural, social and economic impact.
A respected design leader with three decades of experience spanning the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Simone’s expertise in cultural leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and sector advocacy has been shaped through roles in museums, academia, design practice and professional advisory. As the inaugural Hugh D.T. Williamson Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria (2015-2025), she co-led Australia’s first dedicated curatorial department for contemporary design and architecture for more than a decade. As a designer, she has founded two studios and produced award-winning works across furniture, lighting, jewellery, interiors, and product design. LeAmon is also an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University.
In 2021, LeAmon was awarded the Good Design Australia, Women in Design Award, in recognition of her life-long contribution to Australian design.
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As the Executive Assistant to the CEO, Karen is a highly organised professional with exemplary communication and interpersonal skills. She has had the opportunity to support MD’s, CEO’s, boards and teams to support and drive a culture of creativity, flexibility and success. Karen’s diverse range of experience spanning over 20 years, across array of industries has provided her with the insight into giving leaders the support they need.
Karen thrives on challenges, is an independent thinker for positive problem solving and prides herself on always pursuing her best by supporting others to chase theirs.
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community@design.org.au
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