I think the big thing really is this idea around social and community impact – it’s a fundamental part of what we’re trying to work out through the Agency. How to measure the work we do and be able to assess the work that we’ve done in terms of its long-term impacts in communities. It would be interesting to know if the way we work could change or not if developed through the lens of social impact, it might change the design process itself – the kind of spatial response might be different – the way in which we engage with clients might be different – or the way in which we collaborate might be different. So, the difference I think is that we’re trying to leverage something else out of the architecture – to open up an opportunity within the realms of work that we do, to make a greater impact. That might be not doing a building at all but doing something else.

Kieran is a co-founder and Director at The Fulcrum Agency and uses his skills in design, research and advocacy to deliver positive outcomes for communities.

Kieran is committed to advancing social justice in Australia across housing, infrastructure, and community planning. He invests 50% of company profits back into projects that empower communities. 

Kieran has worked with communities from many First Nations including Warnindilyakwa, Martu, Nyoongar, Yawaru, Miriwoong Gajerrong, Kardu Yek Diminin, Warlpiri and Kuku Yalanji and understands the complexities of remote project delivery. 

TFA’s work has received national and international awards for its design quality, community engagement processes and social impact. 

Kieran is the current Chair at Shelter WA, the peak body for housing and homelessness in WA; a Director at Communicare and White Ribbon Australia; an Adjunct Professor at Monash University; and Industry Partner for the University of Sydney’s Health Habitat Incubator.

If we are fortunate, each of us will stand before a building or in a public park or at a train station and we will be moved by the beauty and comfort of the space. We will marvel at the effect it has on our bodies and our souls, and on those around us. We will feel as if this place was made for our benefit; that someone was concerned with our well being, with our humanity. The joys of architecture and landscape can be felt in many places: at home, in our neighbourhoods, in our towns and cities. It can help to soothe our health, and allow us to thrive in socially cohesive and culturally mindful communities. My desire is that this experience is open to us all.

Andrew is a Principal at TF.A and leads our Sydney agency, reinforcing our national presence and ability to deliver projects in diverse locations. For fourteen years, Andrew was Managing Director at Tangentyere Design Architects in Alice Springs, one of Australia’s most respected Aboriginal owned, not-for-profit architectural businesses.

To us he brings considerable experience in cross-cultural engagement, strategy, policy making and advocacy. He has a reputation for excellence in client management and brokering positive relationships with all levels of government and bureaucracy. Andrew always works for the benefit of community – sustaining culture first and foremost – whilst delivering award-winning projects.

What do I like most about the work that I do? The opportunity it’s providing to work with communities to help them become more self-sufficient. We’re trying to find a way to change the path so that there is an impact where there might not otherwise be one with a standard outcome.

Heather is a Principal and Registered Architect at The Fulcrum Agency, where she brings considerable experience in community-led projects in remote locations across WA and the NT.

Heather believes in the potential of participatory design to enhance lives and empower communities. She led a series of award-winning housing and community infrastructure projects on Groote Eylandt, where she formed meaningful relationships with young women and female Elders across the Archipelago. This approach proved equally valuable in Wadeye, NT, where she guided Traditional Owners through a complex community planning process, helping them articulate and map out their vision for the township’s future.

As well as her commitment to delivering excellent projects, Heather oversees the financial wellbeing of the practice, ensuring that our work is delivered on budget and according to client expectations. Her focus on design excellence and operational rigour has been instrumental in building lasting relationships with remote communities while maintaining the practice’s sustainability.

I am particularly interested in how tFA seeks to advocate for self determination in remote communities. Through rigorous engagement and design process for housing and community facilities, our intent is to improve existing conditions and support future growth.

Akira is an Associate and Registered Architect who focuses on creating positive change through collaborative design with First Nations communities across WA and the NT. Her diverse portfolio includes housing, educational, cultural and community projects and she enjoys working on projects that deliver social value as one of their key objectives.

In the Western Desert, Akira has played a pivotal role in implementing the Ngurra Palyamaniny housing upgrade program for Martu communities. She is also a core member of Healthabitat’s Survey/Fix team, where she works to improve health hardware in remote houses.

Currently, Akira is helping shape the future of the Tiwi Islands through collaborative masterplanning that balances community aspirations with sustainable growth. This work exemplifies her approach to creating culturally responsive solutions that support long-term prosperity.

What I enjoy most about life is learning about people; their histories, cultures, and perspectives. What I enjoy most about design are the conversations to flesh out ideas, problem-solve, and spatially plan for a well-functioning space. It is special for me to find these qualities in The Fulcrum Agency and to pursue collaborative work with the communities we have the good fortune of working with.

Christina brings 12 years of interior design expertise to our practice, specialising in healthcare and community-focused spaces. Her portfolio includes vital social housing projects in remote Northern Territory communities. 

Christina’s design approach is deeply informed by her work with First Nations communities in Central Australia and The Anganwadi Project in India, where she designed and built a kindergarten in Ahmedabad’s slum communities. These experiences cultivated her understanding of culturally responsive design and commitment to creating spaces that serve diverse populations with dignity.

Christina’s friendly and professional approach enables her to effectively collaborate with all project team members, including technical consultants, while maintaining design integrity from concept through to completion.

Using design thinking for advocacy in everything that we do, communicating across different ways of thinking, and being a part of deepening our collective knowledge and compassion for the place we live, and the people we live with.

I’m really interested in the concept of agency, both as a model of practice and sociological tool. We seek to embody both definitions. Our structure is more akin to an advertising agency in that we are comfortable looking to experts outside the practice for input into our projects. I love that the work we are pursuing seeks to empower and build capacity.

In February 2024, Emma was appointed as Western Australia’s Government Architect and relinquished her role at TFA. Read more about this appointment here.