Liz Westgarth Appointed as Hassell's First Female Managing Director

Global Architecture firm, Hassell has announced its first ever female Managing Director in Australia’s Liz Westgarth. She will will oversee the practice’s worldwide operation from 1 July 2023.

Touted to be a generational shift for Hassell, Liz will lead the practice into a new chapter. The firm intends to set a precedent for gender equity through this appointment and showcase its commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Liz has worked with Hassell for a decade now. She has held various leadership positions including her current roles as a Head of Design and Board Director. She is also a Member of the AIA’s Climate Action Sustainability Taskforce and is also a part of the NSW’s State Design Review Panel. Liz recently won the 2022 Business Women of the Year Award at the NSW National Association of Women in Construction Awards for Excellence.

Speaking about the appointment Liz expressed her delight to assume her new role in the coming weeks.

“I’m looking forward to taking on the role of Managing Director at a moment where there’s a real opportunity to build on our current success and momentum,” she says.

“We're working in a fast-moving global context where big issues – social inequality, climate change, urbanisation and digitisation – are presenting new challenges and opportunities for design.

“High-quality design can contribute to a better world, solving some of the complex challenges that our clients are facing. Our clients want us to help them navigate change, find regenerative design opportunities, identify more inclusive ways to connect people, and make positive impacts now – and well into the future.

“These are challenges and opportunities I find very motivating as a designer and as a business leader, and I know that’s a view shared by my colleagues at Hassell. They, like me, want to be part of creating a better future by designing places people love.”

Rob Backhouse, Board Chair, Hassell commended Liz’s leadership qualities.

“Liz is a passionate advocate for design excellence, sustainability and innovation and is genuinely committed to increasing diversity and inclusion across the industry,” he says. 

“She is an active mentor and an admired role model to the next generation of leaders across the Hassell practice and within the broader industry.”