Habitus House of the Year is back – and we’re excited to be working alongside our friends at Winnings as Major Partner again as well as Supporting Partners, Rogerseller and Billi. The 2025 shortlist is set to be released very soon, but first, it’s time to announce this year’s jury.
The 2025 jury is extensive, selected for its wide range of experience, practice size, expertise and area of design. They will come together for the judging day at Winnings’ Richmond showroom in Melbourne, an intensive day of discussions around the table as the full shortlist is reduced down to one winner.
Habitus House of the Year is the single award for which the jury is responsible in 2025. Alongside this, however, there will be a Winnings Award for Emerging Talent, an Editor’s Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award – voting for the latter will open on 15th October.
Read about the 2024 winners here
So, without further ado, here is the full jury for 2025 Winnings x Habitus House of the Year!
Albert Mo, AMoA
Albert is known for his residential projects that push boundaries and explore new modes of design centered around the sensory experience. In 2024, he launched his independent practice, AMoA, after 23 years at his previous firm. His design approach emphasises context, both site and human, celebrating everyday rituals and objects as well as the subtle beauty of everyday moments. Albert is a respected voice within the architectural community, frequently serving as a jury member for prominent national and international awards, and his influential works are extensively published across the world.
Alie Whelan, Breathe
Ali has a reputation for delivering bold, refined and contextually responsive architectural outcomes. Her expertise spans a broad spectrum of typologies, with a particular strength in shaping thoughtful urban responses through housing that balance spatial quality, sustainability and social impact. Ali’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of urban design and development feasibility, enabling her to navigate complexity while preserving design integrity.
Ali’s commitment to design excellence is matched by a firm belief in the role of architecture in creating resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities. Her work reflects a passion for places that uplift communities and tread lightly on the planet.
Amelia Borg, Sibling Architecture
Amelia Borg is a co-founding member and co-director of Sibling Architecture, a collaborative award-winning architectural practice working across residential, civic and commercial projects in urban and regional areas, with a focus on producing socially engaged outcomes. Grounded in a research-driven studio environment, the work of Sibling often extends to self-initiated projects that explore the impact of the built environment on our societies. Sibling is also highly active within the community, initiating and participating in local and international festivals and events including Sydney Design Week, Melbourne Triennial, Istanbul Biennial and Sao Paolo Biennial.
Ben Peake, Carter Williamson Architects
Ben is a Principal at Carter Williamson and, in 2023, was awarded the National Emerging Architect Prize for his outstanding contribution to architectural practice, education, design excellence and community involvement. This is evidenced through his involvement as a founding member of Save Our Sirius and Architecture With Pride. Ben is also a recipient of the 2019 Dulux Study Tour Prize, the 2020 Adrian Ashton Prize for Architectural Culture and Literature.
Bradley Kerr, Winsor Kerr
As Director of Winsor Kerr, Bradley works closely with communities and stakeholders to develop integrated design responses appropriate to place, Country, Peoples and culture. He is a Quandamooka man and an architect living, working and learning on Wurundjeri Country. Bradley notes that they work on unceded sovereign land, and are always on and within Country – “we hold a fundamental responsibility to work with Country and its Custodians,” he says.
Bradley is also an Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney and Monash University, Co-Chair of the Australian Institute of Architects’ First Nations Advisory Committee; he sits on Victoria Chapter Council and various boards and committees to contribute to the industry, using his position to advocate for better outcomes for Country and First Nations Peoples. Bradley is curator for the BLAKitecture series, and a regular contributor to articles through ArchitectureAU. He has been recognised for his contributions to the profession as the 2024 Victorian Emerging Architect Prize recipient and 2023 Dulux Study Prize, as well as being part of the curatorial team for the 2025 Architecture Venice Biennale – titled HOME.
Brahman Perera
Brahman Perera approaches his eponymous Interior Design practice as a pursuit in experiential beauty. Carefully composing natural textures, rich colour pairings and sculptural gestures to produce balanced and compelling interiors layered with personal touches. Empathic by nature, Perera connects with his clients’ identities and harnesses design as an act of storytelling.
Gillian Serisier, Indesign Media
In her role as Editor of Habitus Magazine, Gillian brings a 20-year oeuvre of design writing to the publication. Focusing on architecture, design, art and interior design, her breadth of knowledge is expansive and generous, with all genres and styles regarded for their own merit. For the highly collectable series of Six, Gillian is working with the best designers in the Indo-Pacific region to create content that is engaged and varied. Moreover, by creating each issue through the lens of her Guest Editors, their unique personality is allowed to shape each issue of Habitus. The result is always surprising.
Jean Graham, Winter Architecture
Jean is the Founding Director and Principal Architect of Winter Architecture, a distinguished, award-winning practice located in Melbourne and the Surf Coast on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Renowned for a calm, refined architectural approach, Jean and her team of skilled designers create bespoke residences and developments that embody timeless elegance, meticulous craftsmanship and a deep connection to place.
Holding honours degrees in Architecture and Construction Management, Jean is a registered architect across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. Winter Architecture has earned national and international acclaim, notably for the multi-award-winning Bermagui Beach House, a thoughtfully crafted home situated on the beautiful coastline of the Sapphire Coast in New South Wales, exemplifying the practice’s commitment to considered design and material refinement. Jean also serves as an Associate Teaching Fellow at Deakin University and contributes to the profession through design juries, panels, and mentoring.
Lachlan Seegers, Lachlan Seegers Architect
Sydney-based Lachlan founded his practice in 2018 out of a commitment to delivering innovative and authentic work, with a focus on contextual responsiveness, spatial clarity and enduring material expression. His ability to navigate complex urban site conditions whilst balancing design excellence and practical constraints has gained his practice numerous prestigious accolades and a suite of recent project commissions, ranging from single residential houses through to several ambitious, large-scale public and mixed-use projects. Lachlan’s background also includes senior roles in internationally recognised practices and ongoing service on Government and Council advisory panels.
Mardi Doherty, Studio Doherty
Mardi is the founder and principal of Studio Doherty, a Melbourne-based interior design studio known for creating vibrant, thoughtfully crafted interiors that blend character, creativity and contemporary flair. With over 20 years of experience across residential, retail and hospitality design, Mardi combines a deep appreciation for Australia’s architectural heritage with a distinctive approach that celebrates colour, texture and detail.
Before founding Studio Doherty in 2014, Mardi worked on high-profile retail projects for brands such as Hugo Boss, Paul & Joe and the Conran Group, as well as the interiors of the National Gallery of Victoria. She remains an active voice in the design community, regularly speaking at industry events, judging national design awards, and mentoring emerging talent through her involvement with RMIT University’s INDEX graduate exhibition.
Mark Austin, Austin Maynard Architects
Mark is a proud Tasmanian. He joined Andrew Maynard Architects in 2007 and become a director of the practice in 2009. In 2016 the name was changed to Austin Maynard Architects to officially recognise his contribution. Mark has enjoyed a diverse career since graduating from the University of Tasmania in 1993 and Melbourne University in 1996. He spent six years working in London, as Production Designer for the English National Opera and for a number of commercial firms specialising in a variety of building types and project scales.
Phillip Withers
Phillip is the director of the Melbourne-based landscape architecture and horticulture studio, creating gardens with a respect for and celebration of nature. He has led the Phillip Withers team to achieve recognition for award-winning show gardens at both Australian and international events. Highlights include Best in Show for ‘I See Wild’ in 2017 and Gold for ‘SaltBush’ in 2024 at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, as well as Master Garden for ‘It’s Our Time’ at the 2021 China Flower Expo.
With a background in art and sustainability, Phillip Withers’ work thoughtfully curates landscapes to include diverse plant life, versatile spaces and prioritise the use of sustainable materials that harmoniously reflect the local environment, whilst serving a practical purpose. Together with A.B. Bishop, their book ‘Naturescapes’ was released in 2023 and provides readers with a practical guide on how to create their own natural Australian garden.
Sally Knibbs, Sally Caroline
Sally Caroline is an Australian interior design practice led by Founder and Director Sally Knibbs. Since 2014, the studio has crafted a distinctive portfolio of private residences that reflect each client’s unique lifestyle and daily rituals. Known for its emotive and artful approach, the studio blends curiosity, warmth and cultural insight into every project. Sally’s experience living and working across Sydney, Milan, Hamburg, London and Copenhagen informs a design ethos shaped by locale, culture and human connection. In 2024, she launched the SC Collection – her first furniture series – marking a bold new chapter in the studio’s evolving practice.
Timothy Alouani-Roby, Indesign Media
Timothy is the Editor of Indesignlive and Habitusliving. Having worked in elite professional sport for over a decade, he retrained in architecture at the University of Sydney, adding to previous degrees in philosophy, politics and English literature. Timothy is based in Gadigal-Sydney, but spends much of his time among the moors of both Northern England and Marrakech.
Tim Jackson, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
As a founding partner and director of JCB, Tim has an impressive portfolio of award-winning commissions and is committed to the ongoing evolution of multi-residential and domestic scale housing as well as projects in the public, infrastructure, commercial and education sectors. An active contributor within the profession, he sits on the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Victorian Awards Committee and regularly participates as a juror for the AIA awards program. He’s an advocate for innovative design in the built environment and participates in guest critiques at major tertiary institutions across Australia, including an ongoing relationship with the University of Melbourne as a tutor in architectural design.
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