Open House Melbourne
Building Council

Steve Stefanopolous OAM (Chair)

Architectural Historian

Steve was awarded an Order of Australia in 2022 for services to the community in a range of roles, including his time as a member of the OHM Volunteer Council and the OHM Building Council. Steve is the Archivist at Newman College, University of Melbourne; Archivist and Historical Collections Manager for the Victorian Bar, and the Heritage Collection and Records Manager at Loreto Toorak girls’ school. Steve was the only Mayor of Stonnington to hold office for 3 consecutive years.

Steve undertakes public tours, walks and talks about history and architecture, especially in the City of Stonnington, and is the author and co-author of several books. Steve is passionate about the built environment and has been, and is currently a member of several committees, including the PMI Victorian History Library, Public Record Office Victoria Advisory Council and The Pride Fund. Steve is on the national board of his professional association and runs workshops and speaks at conferences on archives and record keeping.

Favourite building, place or space: I cannot go past the internationally significant Toorak mansion – Mandeville Hall, which I have been working in for over twenty-five years and manage its continued restoration. I am passionate about excellence in design from the historic to the contemporary.

Adriano Zarosinski (Deputy Chair)

Associate Town Planner, Tract

Adriano is an Associate Town Planner at Tract with expertise in both statutory and strategic planning. His passion lies in exploring the intersection of policy and design, particularly in fostering social cohesion. In completing his Master of Landscape Architecture, Adriano’s research delved into how public open spaces in suburban environments can strengthen community identity, and how policy informs the designs which shape these spaces. His diverse project experience spans medium- to high-density residential, commercial, public realm and infrastructure, and complex rural developments. He serves as an Open House Melbourne Building Council member and is on the Naarm/Victoria committee for Queers in Property.

Favourite building, place or space: Merri Creek Trail

Naomi Barun

Director, Loom Studio

Intrigued by the stories that shape our cities Naomi sees her role as a curator of dynamic systems that support our collective experience. Her practice is based on tactical approaches to strategic challenges which has underpinned her leadership and influence across large projects including city shaping projects, local revitalisation, and small-scale high impact community projects. She is passionate about design advocacy, landscape led urban design and the huge potential of campuses as living laboratories for students and communities alike. A common thread through her practice is a focus on strategic storytelling, design-based research and utilising data to evidence need and measure success.  Collaborating with clients and colleagues she believes that shared stewardship is critical to establishing and delivering on bold visions.

Favourite building, place or space: It is impossible to have just one favourite when many are entwined with memories of a time and place, so I will start with places from my childhood, places that supported creative communities like Montsalvat, Dromkeen, and Heide.

Alice Blackwood

Director, AB Strategic Storytelling

Alice Blackwood is a strategic storyteller and experienced public speaker. For 20 years she’s passionately advocated for the Australian architecture and design industry, her roles spanning that of design editor, journalist, communications strategist, and program director. She served as Editor on Indesign magazine and Indesignlive.com until 2023; and currently serves as Editorial Director for Artedomus. She has been integral in establishing numerous major platforms that recognise and celebrate the region’s most exciting architecture and design, elevating its industry leaders into the global spotlight. She has contributed in a programming and strategic communications capacity on major international design festivals, the INDE.Awards, and The (Emerging) Designer Awards presented by Artedomus and The Local Project. In 2024 she was MC for the ULI Australian Conference and, in 2023, an MC and Host for the INDE.Awards. Alice continues to play an active role within the Australian design and media landscape as a moderator, MC, judge, commentator, mentor and advisor.

Favourite building, place or space: Heide Museum of Modern Art!

Sophie Cleland

Principal, Architectus

Melbourne is on the lands of the Kulin Nation. I love the connectedness of the city and how the Birrarung (the Yarra River) shapes my Melbourne landscape. I have a passion for public space and place, how it is valued and integrated within architecture and the broader built environment. I also believe in diversity and inclusion in architecture and making our built environment more accessible for the community. Melbourne is an exciting city with immense architectural history. Open House Melbourne provides an opportunity to connect and share our buildings and environments inviting the broader community to immerse themselves in our city’s design, innovation, and history.

Favourite building, place or space: That’s like asking which is your favourite child…I have always loved Heide II, also love Fed Square and the amazing Myer Music Bowl!

Heath Gledhill

Group Capability Lead People, Movement & Place, Aurecon

A connector and integrator, Heath draws on his background in Landscape Architecture and design management to challenge, lead and connect people, projects and places. Naturally curious, Heath is known as an out-of-the-box thinker with the ability to see and leverage connections across an ecosystem. Having worked on projects across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Middle East and South Africa, specialising in strategy development, integration, business leadership and growth, Heath is passionate about facilitating human-centredprojects, fostering collaboration for successful outcomes.

Favourite building, place or space: The Victorian Desalination Plant and Ecological Reserve.

Mitchell Gow

Urban Designer & Architect, City of Melbourne

Mitch Gow is an Urban Designer and Architect at the City Design branch of the City of Melbourne. With a commitment to place-based design, he strives to deliver projects that respond to their local context and bring joy to occupants, the public realm and surrounding natural ecosystems. His diverse experience, gained through studies and work in Melbourne and Europe, enriches his approach to design. Mitch has contributed to award-winning projects of various scales and typologies, and particularly enjoys working with existing buildings and structures in adaptive retrofit projects.

Favourite building, place or space: A recent favourite is the New Student Precinct at University of Melbourne. It’s a great example of collaboration between designers fostering innovation. I love how typography has been embraced to establish easy navigation of the site and create social spaces framed by new and historic buildings.

Paul Roser

Senior Manager Statewide Heritage, Parks Victoria

Paul has 25 years’ experience in the management and celebration of Victoria’s cultural heritage. He works to bring the community of Victoria to diverse heritage places and to stimulate thinking about what heritage places mean in today’s world.

Paul has been with Parks Victoria since 2017 leading a team working across a large and highly diverse estate of heritage places and stakeholders. He previously worked at Heritage Victoria for 10 years and at the National Trust for 7 years. Paul is highly experienced in heritage place management, legislation, governance, policy, advocacy, media, volunteers and community.

Favourite building, place or space: Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Elsternwick