Levitch Design Associates | Staff Profiles

Directors

Anne Levitch

Genna Levitch

Interior Design Team

Nicky Baruch

Jeremy Edghill

Sashikha Hinton

Phoebe Morrison

Todd O'Donnell

Antony Poate

Victoria Stiles

Architecture Team

Joanne Kim

Richard Lyon

Thom Wright

Salman Zadeh

Graphic Design Team

Victoria Bell

Rachel Levitch

Shona Nuttall

Marketing & Business Development

Summer Thompson

Administration & IT Team

Stephen Clark

Sammy Collins

Kirk Davis

Annette Vains


Anne Levitch_Creative Director
	As Founding Director, Anne Levitch has over 30 years experience in providing design services and design management. She established LDA in 1988 after being offered a number of commissions in the retail, healthcare, and commercial sectors. With a degree in Industrial Design and prior experience operating a Graphic Design consultancy, it was the commencement of a multi-disciplinary design practice. Anne has built the consultancy from a solid base through constant referrals. She has ensured the core success of the company by establishing strong communication and following through by confirming the specific parameters of the project links with the client’s understanding from the outset. Each project through the company receives her personal attention. Her natural ability to satisfy individual client’s needs directly and indirectly has ensured a continual stream of commissions. Clients continue to return as their business needs develop – whether they expand‚ relocate‚ restructure‚ or refurbish. Anne has a strong vision in mind for the continual development of Levitch Design Associates in refining approach‚ broadening the scope and constantly redefining systems to support improvement of service to clients. Anne was invited to lecture on Environment Design in the Faculty of the Built Environment at University of NSW, which she did over a 5–year period. In 2002, The Design Institute of Australia made her an Honorary Fellow for service to the design industry. With an undergraduate thesis on Ergonomics in the Dental Surgery, and a solid knowledge of Retail Design parameters, she has combined the two to support the growing client base in providing healthcare environments that work extremely well and contribute to higher treatment plan acceptance rates. Passionately committed to the continuing research and study of the best possible healthcare environment for patients and practitioners, she continues to offer these skills to LDA clients.


Genna Levitch_Director
	Dr Genna Levitch brings 30 years of management skills to LDA. He has owned and managed a number of diverse businesses including dental practices, a publishing company, a chain of hot bread retail outlets and a property development company. He is a dentist by profession and has an intimate working knowledge of healthcare needs. He has personally established several dental practices including a 'greenfield' site, and continues to consult in this area. He provides in-house expertise to assist the designers in their healthcare solutions. With his background experience in property development, he is also the person who provides invaluable support for clients who wish to establish a practice, assisting in site sourcing and selection, as well as the preparation of Feasibility Reports to assist in the decision making process. His role in LDA has expanded with the growth of the company. He oversees the smooth operation of the office as Manager for Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Marketing. Genna’s wide range of business, management and strategic planning skills continue to ensure the stable growth of LDA.


Nicky Baruch_Interior Designer
	Nicky Baruch joined the LDA creative team in January 2007. With an arts-based background, which includes qualifications in Fine Art from Alexander Mackie College, and a Diploma of Teaching (Art) from Sydney Teacher’s College, Nicky’s varied work history comprises many years of work in the decorative arts field, both as an artist and a project manager. The experience of working on private residences, hospitality and commercial projects throughout Australia, Asia and Europe has fueled her passion and appreciation for architecture, interior design and art. Nicky lived in Barcelona, Spain for several years before returning to Sydney where she later studied Interior Design at Enmore Design Centre. Since then, she has pursued her career as an Interior Designer and is delighted to be part of the team at LDA, where the majority of her work to date has been on high-end residential projects.


Jeremy Edghill_Senior Project Designer
	Jeremy Edghill qualified in the UK, studying architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. He previously designed for Nightingale Associates, a leading UK architectural practice at the forefront of European healthcare design where he worked on London’s Healthcare Trusts and redesigning St Bernard’s Hospital. More recently, after a foray into commercial interiors including work for Taylor Woodrow, Jeremy has focused on hospitality & hotel design, working with Richmond International in London and Chhada Siembieda, Australia, on diverse projects in London, Dubai, and Budapest. Jeremy has also worked locally, renovating Sydney’s Sheraton on the Park and designing for the Westin brand in Fiji and Jakarta.


Sashikha Hinton_Interior Designer
	Since joining the design team at LDA in 2003, Sashikha Hinton has made the leap from a background in residential design to the highly specialised field of dental surgery design. After completing a Bachelor of Interior Architecture with Honors at the University of New South Wales, Sashikha worked on a wide range of residential projects throughout Sydney and Queensland before joining LDA. Since then she has worked closely with LDA’s Senior Project Designer for Healthcare, Antony Poate, to gain an understanding of what makes great surgery design. To date, she has worked on numerous healthcare projects, including a number of Orthodontic, General and Cosmetic practices throughout Australia.


Phoebe Morrison_Interior Designer
	Phoebe Morrison graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Design in Interior Design. Her previous experience includes assistant roles with Architects Johannsen & Associates and Split Watermelon Design. Phoebe ensures that everyone in the LDA office is happy come Friday afternoon!


Antony Poate_Senior Project Designer
	Antony Poate joined LDA as an Interior Designer in 2002. Since then he has gained considerable experience in the specialised area of healthcare. His successes in this field have ensured his progression into the role of Senior Project Designer for Healthcare Interiors. With over 20 years design experience, Antony has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the design, documentation and construction process. Having worked with a number of high-profile architectural and interior design firms, Antony has completed a broad range of projects across a variety of disciplines, including commercial office fit outs and building refurbishments, hospitality, residential, retail and landscape design. His initial training included Graphic Design and Interior Design and he has recently completed the Certificate IV in Building Studies. With his broad range of experience, Antony is well qualified to assist clients in all areas of their project from concept to completion.


Victoria Stiles_Interior Designer
	Victoria Stiles has practiced as a designer since 2000. In 2007 Victoria became an Accredited Green Star Professional and is passionate about raising awareness in environmentally sustainable design. Victoria's professional skills range across Airport Design & Planning, Commercial Design and Retail Design. Victoria enjoys all aspects of the design experience and is excited to start in the area of Healthcare Design with LDA.


Joanne Kim_Architectural Assistant
	Joanne’s varied work history includes advertisement design/editing in a magazine firm, bar/restaurant interior design in an interior design studio, and as a draftsperson under a structural engineer, all of which contributed to her strength and knowledge in the vicinity of architecture. As an Architectural Assistant, Joanne has worked within diverse disciplines incorporating residential, commercial offices, childcare centre projects and now healthcare projects with LDA.


Salman Zadeh_Senior Project Architect
	Salman Zadeh is a highly experienced architect and builder, bringing expertise in sustainable building design to LDA. His excellent creative skills, complimented by his extensive technical knowledge both in sustainable design and construction, are employed to create functional and environmental friendly buildings. Salman is in the final stages of completing a PhD in Architecture, in which he has written a series of computer programs as design tools to assist designers with climate sensitive building design. His recent experience includes residential projects in Sydney, an educational project in the Middle East and health care developments in Western Australia.


Victoria Bell_Graphic Department Art Director
	Victoria has been a part of LDA since 2008. She holds a BA. Design (Visual Communication) Hons and has been in the industry in both full time and freelance for the last 6 years. Victoria is well experienced in account management, creative work, Costing, Invoicing, Scheduling and finished art and production. She loves being challenged and challenging her team on projects, and commits to her work. Victoria has also been invited repeatedly to guest lecture at the university of Newcastle on the business of Graphic design. You can find Victoria out and about on weekends passionately shooting away on her camera, or enjoying a nice glass of wine at the local.


Rachel Levitch_Web Designer
	Rachel Levitch has been studying in different fields of design for 7 years. With a Diploma of Furniture Design already under her belt she has experience in Product Design, 3D Modeling & Animation, Digital & Analogue Photography, Digital Image Manipulation, Film Editing, Post Production Film Compositing, Sound Editing & Pre Press Design. Rachel is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Digital Media at UNSW CoFA majoring in Web Design & Photography. Rachel balances her digital world with a black and white darkroom where no computers exist and she can get her hands dirty, where photographs emerge from the darkness.


Summer Thompson_Marketing & Business Development Manager
	Summer Thompson joined the creative team of LDA as the Marketing & Business Development Manager in early 2006. Summer, who holds a B.A. in Art History & Critical Theory, has extensive experience in design, public relations and communications having launched her own Internet & Multimedia production company where she managed multi-disciplinary design projects for clients including: The University of Sydney, Bloom Cosmetics, Mambo and The United Nations. Summer later joined The Schiavello Group as the National Marketing, PR & Communications Consultant where she designed and implemented marketing campaigns, brand strategy development and corporate identity rollout. Summer manages LDA’s Graphics & Marketing Department, leading her team in the overall vision, design and development of brand identity creation, advertising campaigns and strategic marketing directions. With over 8 years commercial experience in design, marketing and PR consultation, Summer holds a thorough understanding of client needs and is well qualified to interpret, conceptualise and visually realise each clients individual requirements.


Sammy Collins_Studio Assistant
	Sammy has taken a huge leap into the visual arena of life, having spent almost three decades previously, living and breathing the aural side of the arts. Radio Announcer, Live Concert organiser/promoter and Music Director for the ABC’s Double & Triple J, Marching band drummer, Dancer with the Sydney Dance Company, amongst many other things ‘sound’. A dedicated advocate for the learning curve of life, she brings to LDA a love for all things creative and artistic as well as an eclectic mix of the offbeat and unusual. Sammy is in training to become the oldest office ‘junior’ on permanent life’s work experience and hopes the talented good souls she works with will be enriched, enlightened, even bemused. In her role as studio assistant Sammy relishes this opportunity to work with the team to plum the depths and breadth of all that is the good ship LDA.


Kirk Davis_Financial Controller
	Kirk graduated from Wollongong University in 2004 with a Bachelors Degree in Commerce with Honors in Accounting and Economics. After two years of servitude within a conservative Chartered Accounting firm in North Sydney, an opportunity arose to join Levitch Design Associates and start having some fun. Kirk brings creative accounting skills into this dynamic and creative working environment, while developing his commercial acumen and sporting the latest crocodile skin boots.


Annette Vains_Librarian
	Annette Vains is our Library Manager. Annette has worked within the architectural and interior design industry for over 20 years and brings with her a wealth of experience. She holds a Diploma of Interior Design and a Diploma of Colour Theory. Over the years Annette has worked with architectural and commerical design practices and also the specialised area of expatriates living in Australia. She has much experience managing architectural libraries and textile wholesaling. Annette is passionate about all the facets of design, especially colour and textile design.