We believe in the power of smart, thoughtful, passionate people who are driven to achieve better.
Our aim is to remain agile and open-minded to facilitate an environment that enables Our People to pursue relevant and meaningful purpose-driven work.
Liam Wallis
Formal Qualifications
Founder and Managing Director of HIP V. HYPE, Liam is a creative entrepreneur, driven by a desire to use business as a tool to create a better, more resilient, prosperous world for all.
Having studied Science, Japanese, Architecture & Property at the University of Melbourne, and Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, all whilst working on construction sites throughout his years of study, Liam values a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving, value creation and project delivery.
At HIP V. HYPE, on top of his Director duties across the business, Liam is focussed on the creation and curation of more innovative and more sustainable models for property development.
He believes in quality, the value of design, and the importance of an evidenced based approach to designing and delivering projects. Liam's vision is to develop higher quality apartments and townhouses that are more environmentally sustainable and more socially responsible. He views each new project as an opportunity to improve on the last, using new technologies and sustainable construction methods, and is excited and driven by this challenge.
Liam is grateful and humbled to be supported by a passionate, thoughtful, talented and diverse team at HIP V. HYPE who are all driven to achieve better.
E. liam@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Strategy, Governance & Finance
- Development Management
- Design Management
- Project Management
- Risk Management
Professional Affiliations:
- Landcom Design Review Panellist
- Property Council of Australia Victorian Sustainability Committee Member
- Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate
- Australian Institute of Architects Affiliate Member
Katya Crema
Formal Qualifications
Head of Sales & Customer Journey, Katya enjoys working with people. Building genuine relationships and taking people on a journey from first introduction through to handing over the keys to a new HIP V. HYPE home is what she enjoys most.
Having studied Architecture and a Masters of Property at the University of Melbourne, together with spending a significant portion of her teens and 20s in Europe, Katya understands the benefits of good design and is committed to creating exceptional homes and experiences for our customers. Katya is also responsible for the curation and management of HV.Hotel, HIP V. HYPE's sustainable apartment accommodation concept.
Katya was appointed Deputy Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Before beginning her career in the built environment, Katya spent 10 years as an elite athlete on the Australian National Ski Team, and represented Australia twice at the Winter Olympics in Ski Cross (Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014). She remains connected to her previous life in sport, as a current Director on the Snow Australia Board, and a former Board Member of the Victorian Olympic Committee.
Katya is a third-generation member of the 70-year-old Crema property and construction family business. Formerly an Associate Director at Crema Group, Katya worked across a number of significant multi-residential projects.
Prior to joining HIP V. HYPE, Katya was a member of PwC’s Real Estate Advisory team. Actively supporting women in the Property and Construction industry, Katya co-founded the Women of Architecture, Building & Planning (ABP) in 2016, a women’s networking group supported by the University of Melbourne. Katya also supports the Social & Affordable Housing industry as a former Director on the Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) Real Estate Board.
E. katya@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Apartment & Townhouse Off-The-Plan-Sales
- Sales & Leasing Management
- Property Market Analysis
- Customer Relationship Management
Professional Affiliations:
- Deputy Chef de Mission, Australian Olympic Team – Milano Cortina 2026
- Snow Australia, Non-Executive Director
- Open House Melbourne, Program Advisory Group, Member
- Women of ABP, Co-Founder
Sara van der Meer
Formal Qualifications
As Head of Operations with HIP V. HYPE, Sara works across the Group. She develops and implements systems and processes, develops revenue forecasts and manages budgets and supports collaboration across the Group. Sara is also a Director of Sustainability, shaping the direction and vision of HIP V. HYPE's advisory consultancy.
Gaining extensive experience managing several businesses since graduating from university, Sara has an eye for detail and an understanding of what it takes to run a business smoothly and effectively.
Sara’s perspective is shaped by her experience working across business, civil society and local government. This experience has given her clear understanding of the tensions that exist between the three sectors and the importance of collaboration in dealing with the major social, economic and environmental challenges.
Growing up in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania, Sara was exposed to extreme poverty from an early age. Witnessing the destruction of beautiful and vital natural habitats, she is acutely aware of the complexity that exists between economic development and environmental stewardship. These early experiences drive Sara to take a balanced approach to people, planet and prosperity in her role.
When not in the studio, Sara enjoys camping away from the crowds and exploring the trails and cities of the beautiful country she now calls home.
E. sara@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- System & Process Optimisation
- Budget & Forecast Development
- Business Compliance
- Reporting & Analysis
Alice Mulleeney
Formal Qualifications
Alice sees brand as an absolute imperative of business. As Head of Marketing & Communications at HIP V. HYPE, Alice's diversified background across strategy, design and writing enables her to develop complete and considered marketing and communication strategies.
A practicing designer, Alice brings an intimate knowledge of the art and design landscape to her role. Shaped by her experience working in boutique scale creative agencies, Alice has used brand-led thinking to grow businesses big and small across a range of industries. From the built environment to hospitality and retail, Alice exhibits a genuine commitment to authentic storytelling.
Alice is a firm believer in the positive impact of good design and communications. She sees it as central to how we experience the world, and finds reward in the role it can play in improving the future of our planet.
In her spare time, you'll find Alice at a gallery, rolling out her pilates mat, or — true to being a born and bred Melburnian (Woiwurrung Country) — donning a beanie to watch the AFL. For Alice, all of them are made better with a glass of Pinot in hand.
E. alice@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Brand Management
- Brand Strategy
- Communications Strategy
- Content Creation & Production
- Art Direction
Harry Crothers-Bade
Formal Qualifications
As Project Management Lead, Harry takes pride in enabling buildings that bring HIP V. HYPE's Better Apartment Living framework to life.
Harry's interests lie at the junction of urbanism and development, using big-picture thinking to shape better outcomes for the city. With a background spanning construction sites and studies in urban policy, he appreciates the value of a multi-disciplinary approach and seeks to embed this expertise deeply in his project teams.
Currently completing his Master of Urban Planning, Harry is focused on new approaches to drive sustainable and socially just practices — critical shifts the property industry must embrace to leave our cities better than we found them. He is also a member of The Wattle Fellowship, the University of Melbourne’s program fostering student leadership in global sustainability.
At HIP V. HYPE, Harry is focused on how innovative design and delivery strategies can create socially and environmentally responsible projects. He is a firm believer in teamwork, strong relationships and the power of shared values to achieve great things while enjoying the ride.
A lifelong lover of Melbourne's music scene, when he's not in the studio, you might find Harry in the thick of it: at a local gig or digging through a record store.
E. harry@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Development Management
- Project Management
- Contractor Procurement & Management
- Content Creation & Production
- Design Management
Gavin Ashley
Formal Qualifications
As Head of Better Cities & Regions and a Director of Sustainability, Gavin provides project leadership across a range of projects with a key focus on the integration between sustainability and climate response with strategic planning processes. He leads the technical delivery of climate mitigation and adaptation planning for a range of clients including education providers and local government.
Gavin brings over 18 years of experience in urban development and sustainability across the private, non-profit and public sectors, with an extensive stakeholder network.
Gavin is passionate about working with partners that embed principles and commitment to sustainability at the outset. He acutely understands that the key to this is clearly communicating value, including financial and social benefit.
Growing up in rural Western Australia (South West Boojarah Country), Gavin developed a deep appreciation for the natural environment. His early career as a town planner, along with roles at the Australian Energy Foundation and City of Melbourne, refined his thinking about how urban development can be used to drive sustainability outcomes.
Outside of work Gavin enjoys an escape from the city to reconnect with nature and his family camping in the bush. Gavin spends time building community gardens and running social sports—the planner in him just can’t resist the temptation to organise space and activity in the pursuit of community!
E. gavin@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Net Zero Emissions Strategy
- Climate Resilience Planning
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Precinct Sustainability Integration
- Built Environment Policy Analysis & Development
- Technical Communication
Professional Affiliations:
- Green Building Council of Australia Sustainable Precincts Expert Reference Panel
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Communities)
David Mahony
Formal Qualifications
As Head of Better Buildings and a Director of Sustainability, Dave leads the technical delivery of environmental and health-based outcomes across buildings and infrastructure. He brings 10 years of technical expertise and deep passion to his role.
Dave takes a design-led, evidence based approach to his work, combining his practical and commercial mindset to meet client expectations while elevating project outcomes. He takes pride in working together with clients and collaborators to create innovative and truly impactful solutions.
Spending 9 years at the Reece Group managing several building services divisions throughout Australia and establishing the technical area of the business, Dave gained both a technical and practical understanding of the building industry, business management and project delivery.
While at AECOM, Dave established his deep technical knowledge in building physics, climate and carbon while working on highly complex buildings and precinct developments and frameworks in the university, public and private sectors.
Dave previously led a team of 9 at ADP Consulting, establishing a high-performing, technically proficient sustainability team. Working on precinct defining developments with international architects and developers, Dave’s team led the net zero carbon agenda across Australian developments.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys seeing live music and supporting local bands. He also enjoys playing records to his daughter Margaux, who has an early penchant for Tom Waits. As often as possible, Dave likes to be near the ocean, spending time with his family on the Bellarine Peninsula.
E. david@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Strategic Building & Infrastructure Technical Analysis
- Energy & Zero-Carbon Strategy & Assessment
- Bioclimatic Design Assessment
- Climate, Community & Infrastructure Resilience Planning
Professional Affiliations:
- Green Building Council of Australia Expert Reference Panellist, Energy & Carbon
- Green Star Technical Advisory Group
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Buildings)
Paul Himberger
Formal Qualifications
A scientist and planner by training, Paul blends sustainability, resilience and environmental planning into his role as Technical Director with the Better Business Team.
Based in the Hunter Valley (Wonnarua Country), Paul has worked extensively both domestically and internationally across a range of sectors for nearly 20 years. His unique global perspective coupled with Australian context provides a practical, yet ambitious lens on sustainability.
Through engaging on industry committees and expert reference panels, Paul is able to influence programmatic and systemic change, while grounding ambition with practical solutions to deliver outcomes. This is further evident through his meaningful case study contributions to Government, Green Building Council and other organisational publications.
To deliver quality sustainability outcomes, Paul firmly believes that aligning with international frameworks and benchmarks helps provide a clear direction for organisations. Metrics and targets resulting from this alignment can further push performance and draw linkages, in particular, across climate, nature and human rights.
Beyond HIP V. HYPE, Paul is an admitted climate tech podcasting nerd and can be found out in nature with his family exploring trails or searching for marine life.
E. paul@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills
- Climate Risk & Resilience Assessments
- Environmental Planning & Policy Integration
- Ecologically Sustainable Design
- Climate & Nature Accounting & Reporting Standards
- Sustainability Modelling
Professional Affiliations
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Buildings)
- Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional (former)
- Green Star, Resilience Expert Reference Panellist
- Resilience, Net Zero & Sustainability Sub-Committee Member, Property Council of Australia: NSW Division
- Green Star Technical Assessor
Roberto Petruzzi
Formal Qualifications
With a background in energy efficiency modelling and implementation, Roberto is passionate about delivering high-performance buildings. He takes a holistic approach to project delivery, working collaboratively with the design team to ensure sustainability initiatives are accurately designed and documented.
Roberto has a particular interest in building science, focusing on building envelopes. For Roberto, a successful building must be designed and constructed to effectively control air, water, heat, light and noise transfer between the outdoor environment and the indoor spaces of a building, while also maximising occupants’ comfort and health.
Over the past 14+ years in the industry, Roberto has worked for building services engineering firms, specialist Environmentally Sustainable Design consultancies and local government authorities advising on and delivering projects across the private, government, health care and education sectors. Roberto is also active within academia, lecturing on complex building energy modelling and assisting with research activities on a casual basis.
Outside of the Collective, Roberto loves spending time with his family, focusing on creating positive memories of place, heritage and culture for his two kids. This often revolves around food, with weekly market trips and by tending to the backyard veggie garden, fruit trees and chickens. With his deep appreciation for good food, Roberto also enjoys cooking for family and friends—sourdough and pastries are a favourite.
E. roberto@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Complex Energy Modelling
- Thermal Comfort Modelling
- Building Enclosure Analysis/Consulting (Thermal Bridge & Hygrothermal Modelling)
- ESD Policy & Assessment
- Systems Thinking
Professional Affiliations:
- NatHERS Assessor, Design Matters National
- Certified Passivhaus Designer, Australian & International Passivhaus Association
- Certified Passive House Construction Verifier, Passivhaus Institute, Germany
- Australasian Society of Building Biologists
- Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning & Heating
- Green Building Council of Australia
Marcus Strang (PhD)
Formal Qualifications
Marcus seeks to develop the potential positive impacts in each project that he undertakes at HIP V. HYPE. He does this by augmenting the technical capabilities of the Better Buildings team, through his specialisation in ultra-low energy building design, which he sees as a fundamental step for progressing towards net-zero carbon emission society.
His approach when providing sustainability advice and technical analysis is to first start with the client: to understand the client's main sustainability drivers for their project. This stems from Marcus strong sense of stewardship for the natural environment.
After spending his childhood years in his parents permaculture garden, Marcus' time in Europe saw him WWOOF on a farm in Denmark, partake in a Solar Decathlon competition, assist in an Earthship construction and tour a number of sustainable housing model districts in Germany.
These interests led to Marcus becoming a Passivhaus Certifier and in 2023, completing his thesis; "Moisture safety for energy-efficient CLT envelopes: pathways to net-zero operational energy for engineered wood multi-storey buildings in Australian tropical and subtropical climates".
Marcus has presented his thesis findings at a number of conferences, including Australia's national Passivhaus conference Thrive, and the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Oslo, the world's most prestigious biennial scientific forum for the presentation of the latest technical and architectural innovations in timber construction.
When not at the desk, Marcus enjoys getting out of the city hiking and cycling. Over the weekends, you might spot him at a rock-climbing gym or barrelling down a mountain bike trail.
E. marcus@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Heat Flow Modelling for Thermal Envelope Design
- Whole Building Energy Performance & Compliance
- Hygrothermal Modelling for Interstitial & Surface Condensation
- Specialist Modelling for Thermal Comfort, Daylighting & Environmental Analysis
Professional Affiliations:
- Passive House Designer, Building Certifier & Accredited Trainer
- Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning & Heating
- Technical Working Group Member, Living Future Institute of Australia
Simon Blackwell
Formal Qualifications
A passionate urbanist, Simon brings extensive knowledge of sustainable development, urban design and planning to his role as an Associate with the Better Cities and Regions Team.
Based in Perth (Whadjuk Noongar Country), Simon has built a strong network in the built environment sector across Western Australia and Victoria. His experience both locally and internationally in consulting and government roles ensues a broad skill set covering the design, planning and development process, with a focus on the creation of liveable communities that don’t cost the earth.
Simon has built on undergraduate training in sustainable development and a Master's of Urban Design with over fifteen years in the development industry. A systems thinking and regenerative design approach is central to his practice, informed by formal training in regenerative development. Simon's focus on place-based approaches to sustainable urban development unearths the unique potential of each project and it's wider community.
In a field as broad as sustainability, Simon believes that planners have a vital role to play as ‘conductors of the orchestra’, setting the design direction early in a project and collaborating across disciplines to lock in climate- and nature-positive outcomes.
Beyond HIP V. HYPE, Simon undertakes his own sustainable infill development projects and delivers training programs with Perth-based sustainability education provider, Green Gurus. Simon is happiest when exploring new cities or when he's out surfing off the southwest coast of Western Australia (Noongar Country).
E. simon@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Precinct & Masterplanned Community Sustainability Strategies
- Planning Framework Sustainability Integration
- Built Environment Policy Development
- Sustainable Urban Design & Masterplanning
- Stakeholder Engagement & Facilitation
- Project Coordination & Management
- Regenerative Design & Development
Professional Affiliations:
- General Member, Property Council of Australia
Will Hone
Formal Qualifications
Will is an Associate within the Better Cities & Regions Team. With a particular focus on the education sector, Will assists institutions at all levels to undertake sustainability planning, improve operational sustainability practice and communicate sustainable progress to staff, students and the broader community.
With over 25 years of independent education sector experience, Will is passionate about linking our response to the climate crisis with student learning. Most recently, Will has held the role of Sustainability Co-ordinator at Camberwell Grammar School in Victoria.
Over the past 10 years, Will has established several of the school's sustainability programs, commencing with a move towards a more sustainable operational model which in 2022 culminated in a commitment to achieve Net Zero operational emissions by 2030.
This experience has taught Will that education stretches far beyond the classroom walls. Will sees schools as community hub, drawing hundreds of families on a regular basis. He sees students at the centre of that hub, meaning events, projects, curriculum and communicable data bring whole school communities on a transformative, sustainable journey. Will is experienced in using the Schoolbox learning management system, alongside publication departments, to communicate progress and achievements.
Will is fascinated by the opportunities of the education sector to meet environmental challenges whilst educating and inspiring the next generation. When away from the desk or the classroom, Will loves spending time in the bush camping with family, riding his bike across regional Victoria and heading to the football to watch the mighty Dees.
E. will@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Communications & Learning Management Systems
- Community Engagement & Cultural Change
- Sustainability Project & Program Development
- Resource Usage & Tracking
- Waste Management & Behavioural Change
Nick Chester
Formal Qualifications
As a Senior Consultant, Nick is driven by his desire to balance the preservation of the natural environment with the needs of a growing population. Nick brings a unique skillset to his work, having studied ecology, and sustainable building design and environmental policy.
From working and volunteering across local government, the private sector and not-for-profit organisations, Nick has been exposed to a range of organisational structures, gaining insight into their unique processes and priorities. Nick aims to use this experience to facilitate better outcomes across a diverse range of stakeholders.
Nick has developed a broad knowledge base relating to sustainability. Combining his passion for environmental sustainability with his experience in community engagement, policy development and ESD assessment, Nick understands what it takes to put theory into practice.
Feeling most refreshed after time outdoors, Nick loves to explore Victoria’s hiking trails, seeking a change of pace away from the city. Closer to home in Melbourne (Bunurong Country), Nick can be found swimming or settling in with a good book.
E. nick@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Built Environment Policy Analysis & Development
- Sustainability Opportunities Assessment
- Strategy & Action Plan Development
- Communication, Engagement & Group Facilitation
- Project Coordination & Management
Agata Starkiewicz
Formal Qualifications
Agata is a Senior Sustainable Building Engineer at HIP V. HYPE, working with both the Better Buildings and Better Cities & Regions teams. A global thinker, Agata is passionate about driving for a sustainable future. She believes empowering cities and corporations to shift to more sustainable designs and processes is essential towards creating meaningful change in our communities.
Agata’s previous experience as a Building Science Consultant in Toronto, Canada saw her apply engineering and technology solutions to improve the buildings we live and work in. Prior, she gained end-to-end project management and engineering experience working on construction sites for a multitude of residential, commercial, civil and transport projects. Whilst in Canada, Agata volunteered her skills as a web designer for the Community Climate Council, a nonprofit advocating for local climate action in the Region of Peel.
During her exchange semester at EPFL in Switzerland, Agata furthered her interest in the highly-efficient Passivhaus standard, and regenerative architecture utilising local timber. Agata brings this well-rounded, global perspective from Europe and North America to Australian design and policy.
In her spare time, Agata enjoys anything art and design-related, running her own art business specialising in pen and ink, pencil and watercolour. She splits her weekends between exercising outdoors, reading and spending several hours in her kitchen making a meal from scratch.
E. agata@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Sustainable Framework Implementation & Delivery
- Climate resilience & Adaptation Planning
- ESD Policy & Assessment (SDAPP)
- Urban Decarbonisation Strategy
- Building Science & Restoration
Professional Affiliations:
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Buildings)
Bhargavi Mysore
Formal Qualifications
With a background in both architecture and sustainability, Bhargavi brings a balanced approach to design and performance in the built environment. Her work seeks to balance form and function—creating spaces that are not only high-performing,but also healthy, resilient and deeply connected to their context.
Bhargavi specialises in strategic guidance and forward-thinking solutions aimed at enhancing the environmental performance of building projects. With an approach grounded in building physics principles, she is particularly passionate about advancing regenerative design, circular economy practices, adaptive reuse and passive design strategies—methods that significantly influence the social and environmental impact of architecture.
Bhargavi brings a thoughtful, experienced approach to sustainability consulting, supporting project teams by bridging gaps between design intent and sustainability frameworks. Over recent years, she has contributed to a wide range of projects across the commercial, residential, healthcare and public sectors.
Beyond her professional work, Bhargavi enjoys cooking, reading, and exploring the city—especially its markets, local bars, and live gigs. She is deeply spiritual, taking time and space to connect to nature, place(Woiwurrung) and its culture. She also spends lots of time travelling, where she captures natural landscapes through her watercolour paintings, combining her artistic sensibility with a love for restoring the environment.
E. bhargavi@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Sustainable Framework Implementation & Delivery
- Green Star Project Delivery
- Climate resilience & Adaptation Planning
- Living Building Challenge Advocacy
- ESD Policy & Assessment (SDAPP)
- Energy, Thermal & Daylight Modelling
Professional Affiliations:
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Buildings)
Amy Nuccio
Formal Qualifications
With a keen interest in data-driven design, Amy brings strong digital capabilities to a broad range of computational models and assessments including daylight, solar radiation and thermal analysis.
She enjoys the challenge of conducting parametric studies, assessing multiple design combinations and criteria to thoroughly compare design options and help inform decision making.
Amy works closely with design teams to manage competing project priorities, ensuring optimal outcomes. Whether balancing daylight access and glare mitigation, shading efficiency and material use, or view access and solar gain, she carefully navigates these considerations to achieve the best possible results.
Prior to joining HIP V. HYPE, Amy spent over 3 years working as a Computational Design Consultant in the Integrated Sustainability team at Aurecon.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys all things crafty, from sewing and crochet to screen printing and scrapbooking. She also enjoys reading, gaming and renovation planning.
E. amy.nuccio@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
Parametric Modelling
ESD Policy & Assessment (SDAPP)
NatHERS Assessment
Daylight, Energy & Thermal Modelling
Sujan Dev
Formal Qualifications
Sujan is a Sustainable Building Designer at HIP V. HYPE, working within the Better Buildings team. With a background in architecture, Sujan is passionate about creating sustainable and healthy built environments.
A strong focus on achieving a net-zero carbon emission society motivated Sujan to participate in various post-graduate research projects with RMIT University, providing in-depth understanding of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) applications and their benefits.
His recent work includes improving the energy performance of a building using a Kinetic PV façade, conducting PV energy yield assessments of an office building to optimise energy production, and exploring the potential benefits of a Heat Recovery System in residential buildings to reduce energy consumption.
In addition to his research projects, Sujan is an active member of the built environment industry. He views opportunities to connect and collaborate with other professionals as integral to furthering the creation of a sustainable and healthy future.
In his spare time, Sujan enjoys travelling and exploring new destinations, experimenting with diverse cooking recipes and pursuing photography as a hobby. Whether it's bungee jumping or skydiving, Sujan is also a thrill-seeker—always ready for the next challenge.
E. sujan@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Energy, Thermal & Daylight Modelling
- Renewable Energy
- ESD Policy & Assessment (SDAPP)
- Health & Wellbeing Building Strategy
- Sustainability Compliance Reporting
Professional Affiliations:
- WELL Accredited Professional
- Green Star Accredited Professional, (Green Star Buildings)
Connor Vaux
Formal Qualifications
As a Graduate Sustainable Building Engineer, Connor seeks to elevate the performance of every project with a focus on outcomes that are gentle on the earth and facilitate community connection.
Applying emerging technologies for real-world impact is what Connor does best. Spending time in AI research and development as well as geotechnical engineering, Connor understands the realities of construction and the opportunities for new technologies to assist in delivering high quality solutions.
Connor's experience in mechatronics includes his role as a High Performance Computing (HPC) consultant at the Monash eResearch Centre (MeRC), its capabilities supporting the research efforts of over 2,000 researchers at Monash University and across Australia.
During his studies, Connor was an active contributor within the student community. He volunteered at several not-for-profit student clubs, organised professional networking events and founded a high school outreach program for Victorian public schools to educate students about AI and its potential effects on our collective future.
Outside of the Collective, Connor spends his time rock climbing at the Grampians (Djaburung country) or planning his next ski trip. When he's not thrill-seeking, you'll find Connor producing music, experimenting with a new recipe or spending time with friends.
E. connor@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Energy Modelling
- Water Sensitive Urban Design
- ESD Policy & Assessment (SDAPP)
- Process Automation
- Machine Learning Predictive Modelling
Professional Affiliations:
- Engineers Australia Graduate Member
Kirstyn Tate
Formal Qualifications
At HIP V. HYPE, Kirstyn works as a Sales Assistant, supporting through every stage of the customer journey. With a background in sales and delivering exceptional customer service, she ensures customers feel confident and cared for, from first enquiry through to settlement.
Based in Merri-bek (Wurundjeri Country) for over 20 years, she is proud to contribute to projects that connect people with homes designed for sustainable living and stronger community outcomes. Kirstyn has a strong and long-standing connection to Brunswick, having owned and operated Small Axe for nine years. Well known and acclaimed in the local hospitality scene, Small Axe became a community favourite, recognised for both its quality and its commitment to sustainability.
Kirstyn championed environmentally conscious practices across all aspects of the business, embedding a culture of care and responsibility. Alongside this, raising her children in Brunswick — with schools and local sports clubs forming part of daily life — has deepened her ties to the neighbourhood. The skills she developed through small business ownership and hospitality, particularly in sales, customer experience and building trust, now underpin her role at HIP V. HYPE. She is proud to be part of a team that shares her values of sustainability and community.
Outside of work, Kirstyn loves being by the ocean, cooking (and eating) good food, travelling and going on adventures with her kids, husband and dog. These experiences continue to inspire her belief in living thoughtfully, sustainably and with community at the heart.
E. kirstyn@hipvhype.com
Technical Skills:
- Sales & Client Relationships
- Event Management & Styling
- Hospitality Operations
- Sustainability Implementation
- Communication & Organisation
Kirra Symons
Formal Qualifications
Kirra is the Collective Assistant at HIP V. HYPE, supporting the seamless operation of HIP V. HYPE’s Collective spaces. From assisting with delivery of HIP V. HYPE events to ensuring smooth guest experiences at HV.Hotel, Kirra is dedicated to supporting meaningful interactions with our clients and customers.
A strong passion for sustainability and the built environment has led Kirra to pursue formal studies in climate science and architecture. She has completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Antarctic and Climate Science and an Undergraduate Certificate in Climate Change Awareness and Action at the University of Tasmania. Currently, she is expanding her expertise through a Bachelor of Design (Architecture) at Swinburne University.
Kirra thrives in dynamic environments, whether coordinating event logistics, creating welcoming spaces or contributing to impactful sustainability conversations.
Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, Kirra finds balance by the ocean—whether lost in a book or simply soaking in the rhythm of the waves. She loves reading, playing sports, walking her dog and spending quality time with family and friends.
E. kirra@hipvhype.com