Hello from DIA’s new Chief Executive Officer
I’m delighted to be writing to you as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Design Institute of Australia.
DIA plays a vital role in championing design and advocating for designers across the country, and it is a privilege to join the Institute at this moment. With a career spanning design practice, education and cultural leadership, I strongly believe in the power of design to shape culture, industry and everyday life, and in the importance of working collectively to ensure its value is recognised across society.
The year ahead presents an exciting opportunity to foster a strong and generous culture across DIA, while reinvigorating the Institute’s path to purpose and prosperity. I see design as a fundamentally creative discipline and as foundational infrastructure, shaping the systems, services, products and environments that define daily life, while opening space for imagination, joy and new possibilities. Design must sit at the heart of decision-making across government, industry and society.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank outgoing CEO Jo-Ann Kellock for her remarkable dedication to the Design Institute of Australia, and to wish her every success in the next chapter.
In the months ahead, I look forward to working with the Board and listening to members, to designers not yet engaged with DIA, and to partners across business, education, government and the community sector, while deepening connections across disciplines, states and industries.
Together, we can strengthen DIA for the profession, connecting people and ideas and advancing a confident, ambitious future for Australian design. We are grateful to DIA members and partners for their support, which makes this work possible. If you would like to learn more about how you can support DIA or be involved, we welcome you to get in touch.
With best wishes for a fulfilling and inspiring 2026.
Simone LeAmon
Chief Executive Officer
Design Institute of Australia