HDR has strengthened its Defence capability with key leadership appointments and promotions that will propel the sector forward at a critical time for Australia’s national security. The newly appointed senior leadership team comprises Directors Stuart Aslett, Maurice Valentinuzzi and Alex Wessling, supported by Michelle Addley, Michael Shelley, Huey Moo, Brendan Grayson and Design Director Simon Fleet. Collectively, they will leverage their combined 100+ years of experience and deep industry knowledge to deliver complex projects and programs for the Department of Defence – setting the coordinates for its future.
“HDR has been delivering Defence projects for over 30 years,” said Stuart Aslett, HDR’s director of defence. “We were the first practice to deliver a project under the Managing Contractor model, introduced in 1993, and were part of a design consortium that delivered the first ever Defence Public-Private Partnership project in 2004. With this depth of experience comes a deeply nuanced understanding of the shifting challenges and complexities of the sector, and the capability to deliver base redevelopments, capability facilities and operational and training environments that can sustain military capabilities for the next decade.”
HDR is working in partnership with GroupGSA to design the Riverina Redevelopment Program, a $1.8 billion project that stretches across three Defence establishments and delivers a variety of building typologies to meet the demand for recruits and trainees.
“In an increasingly complex geopolitical climate, building highly technical, agile and resilient Defence infrastructure requires significant industry collaboration, innovation and international engagement,” Aslett said. “At HDR, we are uniquely positioned to tap into our global defence, science and technology exchange across the U.S, U.K and Europe to deliver these kinds of programs at speed.”
HDR is developing data-driven design tools that can expedite processes and future-proof Australia’s Defence Estate and facilities. Using computational and generative design, manipulated parameters can now be rapidly evaluated in real-time to test the specific programmatic needs of Defence projects.
“Past Defence facility data analytics, such as meal pass data used to validate mess capacities, is helping us to simulate how new buildings can be best utilised,” Aslett said. “Not only does this assist us in organising a Defence facility’s operation, but it ensures the space is highly adaptable and can be reconfigured for future use or expansion.”
This, coupled with design for manufacturing and assembly, can reduce embodied carbons on projects, produce climate resilient infrastructure, and deliver highly flexible Defence precincts where science, technology and innovation intersect.
“Our multilateral approach to Defence design means that the growth and development of the sector is being continually shaped by the breadth and deep expertise of our national and local resources,” said HDR Managing Principal Cate Cowlishaw. “With a strengthened and diversified leadership team, we are well-positioned to build on our capability edge and operate in a digitally charged and increasingly complex geopolitical climate.”
HDR has over 30 years of experience in the design and delivery of projects for the Department of Defence. Key projects include the Riverina Redevelopment Program; Robertson Barracks Base Improvement Program; RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment Stage 6 and U.S. Force Posture Initiatives, Airfield Works and Associated Infrastructure Project; AIR5428 Pilot Training System Program; AIR 9000 Phase 8 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo Facilities Project; Defence Logistics Transformation Program Package 1; and the Australian Defence Force Academy Redevelopment.
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