Our growing practice is made up of skilled and capable people who share our aspiration to improve lives through our work and are passionate about our relationship-based approach to client service.
Directors David and Peter provide leadership, continuity and stability to our projects, guiding project teams to bring about successful outcomes for our clients.
We continue to expand our team taking on seasoned project leaders, senior architects and talented graduates as we service increasingly larger and more complex projects.
DAVID KAROTKIN
Principal
David brings a world of experience to Carabiner. The last 30 years of his career have seen him work in the United Kingdom, Israel, USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He is an awarded architect who believes that well-designed environments improve people’s lives. Specialising in public building, David understands how a building can create community. He was elected WA State President of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2011 and elected as National President in 2014.
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PETER GIANGIULIO
Director
Peter thrives on the nitty gritty of day-to-day practice. He works closely with his staff and clients to resolve all challenges and complete projects. Keen attention to detail, careful listening and honest communication make Peter a fantastic part of Carabiner. In recent years, Peter has led many large, complex projects and his involvement has meant that they were completed to the clients’ total satisfaction.
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STEVE MCDONALD
Chief Executive Officer
Steve McDonald joins the Carabiner team as CEO, and further enhances our process by providing his in excess of 34 years of Project Management experience for large scale publicly funded projects. Steve ensures a cohesive relationship between all stakeholders for a smooth project delivery.
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PAOLO BASINI
Associate
No matter who you are, Paolo will enjoy working with you. He can deeply engage with projects and people alike, and has been doing so throughout his 19-year construction career. As a father to a young family, he has extraordinary patience, which everyone finds invaluable. Paolo’s knack for all things digital helps Carabiner provide the very best for clients.
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PETE SPENCE
Associate
Pete is a skilled designer and project lead with a decade of experience in world-class projects. He has worked across a variety of sectors including sport, transport, infrastructure, retail, education and master planning. Pete is passionate about the benefits of good design and strives for incredible social and environmental outcomes in his projects. For Pete, architecture is a mix of rigorous design process and unexpected, joyful design solutions
DARREN MILLER
Senior Project Architect
Darren joins Carabiner as a Senior Project Architect, offering his expertise in urban design, community planning, multi-residential, medical, hospitality and sporting projects. His 37 years of accumulated industry experience in business operations, and successful relationships with clients, authorities, business groups and government at local and state level make him an asset to the Carabiner team. Darren’s approach ensures delivery of well-considered design solutions that meet the client’s environmental, sustainability, budgetary and functionality expectations.
AHMAD SALAM
Senior Architect
Ahmad has built a portfolio of project experience that has its roots in cultural and architectural diversity. He has experience working on projects around the globe and has spent the last fifteen years focused on his new-found passion, health architecture. By applying his wealth of practical knowledge to projects, Ahmad always finds the best solutions for the space in which a building exists and the people in it.
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PETER STACEY
Senior Architect
Peter is a design architect whose gift is to listen and absorb aspirations of clients with a focus in gathering as much relevant information as possible and translating it into meaningful and beautiful works of architecture.Peter brings with him over 25 years of experience working as an architect in the UK and Ireland and has spent the last ten years in Australia, designing and detailing contemporary and progressive learning spaces for state and private schools. This work has been recognised through exhibition, publication, and award.Despite his experience and accomplishments, Peter looks at each new project as a learning opportunity, keeping an open mind so that all possibilities are considered.
SIOBHÁN PAGE
Architect
After 10 years of practical experience in Perth, regional WA, and the UK, Siobhán has proven her ability to work on projects of all sizes and complexities. More importantly, she has developed her love and hunger for a challenge. Siobhán’s creative and analytical approach to design, matched with an ability to communicate, makes her a perfect fit for Carabiner.
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STEPHEN NG
Architect
Stephen has 10 years of experience in architecture and construction for commercial and residential projects. His commitment to growth, precision, collaboration and leadership within this field is core to his work. Having engaged with a variety of clients and consultants, he recognises the importance of listening and communicating effectively to achieve well-designed and functional project outcomes.
CHRISTINA GELDENHUYS
Senior Architect
With a career of 25 years in both South Africa and Australia, Christina has experience in a broad range of projects including residential, commercial, industrial, education, health, sport and aged car. Christina is challenged by the complexities and interaction of leading documentation teams. She is well organised and has a systematic approach to her work with attention to detail. Christina believes that a successful outcome for a project starts with excellent documentation and is supported by fostering kind and thoughtful relationship with peers, clients, design teams and contractors alike.
JULIAN SHAW
Quality Manager
Julian has nearly forty years’ experience in the architectural & construction industry and has fulfilled a variety of roles over a wide range of project types and size. Julian understands that the end goal of architecture is the completed building. His strengths are documentation and contract administration. He has extensive knowledge of building construction and a keen attention to detail and applies the same rigour to all projects whether small or large. Julian believes the construction process should be collaborative, and forms strong working relationships with contractors, while maintaining the integrity of the building contract.
LAURA HEJLAH
Graduate Architect
Throughout her studies in Melbourne, Laura gained valuable lessons in how to design with critical intent. She is motivated by how good design can engage with our futures and cultivate positive cultural outcomes to transform communities. Laura wishes to further her skills in adapting, testing and refining designs for various modes of operation and visually communicating them to clients through clear and accessible media. Laura has worked in conceptual design for a range of public projects and prides herself in paying attention to the place, culture and users’ needs through careful observation and informed analysis. Materiality and landscape are often key variables when she responds to place.
MAKI MANEZE
Graduate Architect
Maki is a Graduate Architect with an enthusiasm for architecture and he has an inquiring mind. In particular, he has a growing interest in the architecture of the public realm, especially with the preservation, maintenance and adaptive reuse of heritage within a world that is ever changing. Maki has worked in the design and construction industry locally and internationally. He has been immersed in the design of various residential, commercial, industrial, civic and mixed-use projects.
MARIA BARRETO
Graduate Architect
Maria is a graduate from Chile, where she has been involved in some fabulous projects. She is passionate about architecture and design, is a committed and hard-working member of the Carabiner family. Her flexibility and thirst for knowledge is a key component to her success. Maria truly enjoys working across varying parts of the architecture and construction industry from conceptual design to detailed documentation and ultimately assisting in the construction phase to learn more about the final product and how it comes to fruition.
COLBY BAYLISS
Graduate Architect
Colby has many years of experience working in a wide variety of projects including single and multi-residential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare facilities. He has a positive and calm demeanour that resonates with those he works with. He thrives in a collaborative team environment and strives to guide all stakeholders on a project. He enjoys the process of developing creative design solutions to produce the most effective and desired outcome.
MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN
Architectural Technologist
Regardless of duration or scale, Michael has a knack for seeing the big picture. In recent years, he has worked on large and complex sporting and hospital projects where his breadth of skill has proven invaluable. More than an experienced Architectural Technologist, Michael is dedicated, skilled in construction detailing techniques and has exceptional organisational skills.
HERVE KELLY
Senior Architectural Technician
Herve has over 30 years of experience within the construction industry with varied experiences in the documenting of high-end residences, multi-storey and high-rise residential buildings as well as commercial & retail.As a Senior Architectural Technician, Herve revels in the design and documentation of new projects and being engaged in a dynamic team to assist in the successful delivery of these projects for clients.Herve’s passion is to work through challenges to assist in developing well-considered, well designed and well documented examples of architecture for the client, that reflects their needs and is something they can be proud of.
LIBBY RYAN
Office Administration
You've probably heard Libby's friendly voice when calling through to Carabiner. Libby handles Carabiner's day to day office administration and customer service. Professional and diligent, Libby is adept at welcoming clients and making them feel at ease, while handling enquiries and supporting the Carabiner team.
ANABELA DE ABREU
Business Manager
Anabela has served extensively in professional environments, both in public and private practice, mainly driven by numbers, business and people. She enjoys being part of something bigger, while remaining true to her authentic self, growing in her career and still having time to do life. Anabela has a keen sense of organisation and a great sense of humour.
ALITA NGO
Interior Designer
Alita is a very creative interior designer with excellent technical documentation skills and a keen eye. Alita has a broad range of experience in many sectors including Education, Recreation, Community, Health and Sports, Hospitality, Retail and Commercial and has been involved from design through construction on most projects.
EMMA BAIRD
Marketing and Submissions Manager
Emma’s passion for problem solving and elegant design result in accessible and professional marketing outcomes, and timely and accurate tender submissions. Emma joins the Carabiner team with 19 years of experience in brand management, graphic design, copywriting, strategy and digital marketing. Her focus is supporting Carabiner across traditional and digital customer touchpoints, working toward a seamless experience for the client that meets Carabiner’s high standards.