Carabiner eyes exciting growth as it reflects on 30-year journey

From left: Steve McDonald, David Karotkin, Peter Giangiulio

Media Release
30.09.2024

One of Perth’s leading architecture firms, Carabiner, has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, Steve McDonald, to drive business growth and development as one of its long-time directors, Peter Giangiulio, calls time on a stellar career.

Mr McDonald joins Carabiner on 1 October 2024.

Carabiner was formerly known as Sandover Pinder from 1 January 1995, with the company rebranding in 2018 to better reflect its relationship-based service offering.

Carabiner Principal David Karotkin said: “Steve’s appointment is hugely significant for the business, bringing with him more than 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, with project leadership and advisory service expertise across all major sectors, including sport and recreation, education, health and retail.

“Steve has been responsible for delivering several iconic WA projects during his career, notably the multi award-winning Boola Katitjin at Murdoch University (the largest timber framed building in WA), the East Fremantle Oval redevelopment, the new WA Institute of Sport (WAIS), both the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles new training centres, the Cockburn ARC (City of Cockburn’s leading-edge recreation and aquatic centre) and the Scarborough Beach Pool development.”

“He has worked with Carabiner on several of our premium projects such as WAIS, Cockburn ARC, and the East Fremantle Oval redevelopment, so he knows our business well. We believe it will be a seamless transition for him to move from a ‘client-side’ focus to one of a ‘delivery-side’ focus for Carabiner”.

Mr McDonald said: “It is a privilege to accept such an important role with Carabiner, having successfully collaborated with the firm on many landmark projects for more than a decade. While I am hanging up my project management hardhat, I’m looking forward to applying the same skills to help David and the team deliver Carabiner’s vision into the future.”

Mr Karotkin said: “Peter Giangiulio is an amazing architect and business partner who has guided Carabiner’s growth for almost 25 years and contributed to a vast portfolio of notable buildings across WA and internationally.”

“Peter’s decision to hang up his ‘T-Square’ at the end of this year will be a massive change for our business, but he is retiring at a time when Carabiner has an experienced leadership team in place and excellent growth opportunities on the horizon.

“Peter has driven our practice’s prolific professional legacy, both within the built environment and internally, as well as our strong in-house culture and cultivating meaningful relationships with colleagues and clients.”

“He leaves with our deepest gratitude and respect for what he and our practice has achieved in 30 years, but also for its future direction and amazing growth opportunities that lie ahead.”

Mr Giangiulio was an inaugural employee of Sandover Pinder when Pat Pinder and Grayam Sandover founded the practice in Perth on 1 January 1995.

Mr Karotkin joined Sandover Pinder a few weeks later and Peter and David became joint owners of the business, along with Bob Murray, Michael Henderson and Mr Sandover, in early 2000. The pair have exclusively owned and managed the business together since the beginning of 2021.

Mr Giangiulio cited the diversity of projects he has led as a feature of his 30-year career with Carabiner, ranging from Nanjing Underwater World in China to 10 new primary schools in the Perth metropolitan area; Drill Core Library facilities in Perth, Kalgoorlie and India; six fire stations around Perth; the Gold Netball Centre in Jolimont and the Swan Active Midland redevelopment project, to name a few.

“I have been with Carabiner for almost half of my life,” Mr Giangiulio said.

“It has been an absolute privilege to work with some amazing mentors in Pat Pinder and Grayam Sandover, and then to be involved with managing and developing the business.”

“But my greatest privilege has been sharing my architectural career with my colleague and good friend David Karotkin. David is one of Perth’s most trusted, esteemed and accomplished architects, who will continue to provide the visionary leadership that has made Carabiner what it is today.”

“We have achieved so much together. Our culture is strong, our business model works. Our people most certainly have the skill and experience to reach new heights of architectural excellence, but their role is always about getting our clients to where they want to be, in one piece.”

“We work so hard to guide them on every step of their journey, to anticipate the problems that inevitably arise, and to react to the unexpected in ways that are creative, helpful and ego-free so, that in the end, we achieve something extraordinary, together.”

“I now look forward to the next chapter in my work life. I don’t exactly know what that looks like at the minute but I’m excited for the challenge that presents.”

For further information, please contact David Karotkin on 9225 0600