Graham operates from the sincere belief that architecture can improve peoples’ lives and by extension, make cities more liveable and vibrant. He is a compelling communicator and has the innate ability to turn challenges into opportunities, creating designs of enormous clarity. His approach is consistently positive, inclusive and self-critical, bringing clients and collaborators closer to a vision of a sustainable and humanistic urban life.

A tireless and energetic leader, Graham honours the creativity of individuals, inspiring and empowering them to bring their best to each project. As part of the design process, he embraces collaborative working with clients, stakeholders and consultants.

As a founding partner and director of JCB, Graham has overseen the design and delivery of numerous projects in the public, residential, commercial, education and hospitality sectors. He is highly experienced in leading complex major projects, planning approval processes, and multi-stakeholder consultation and has acted as an expert witness in VCAT hearings and given presentations to VCAT in relation to good design, context and design response strategies.

With a deep desire to further the profession, Graham is an active member of various architectural committees, has served as jury chair for Australian Institute of Architects awards programs in the commercial and residential sectors, and participated as a jury member on many industry awards programs. He maintains an ongoing relationship with The University of Melbourne as a tutor and guest critic in architectural design and has given design presentations at both Melbourne and Deakin Universities.

Stephen Varady is an innovative and respected Australian architect, designer, writer and educator. Born in Sydney, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree with honours from the University of New South Wales in 1987, and a Masters of Architecture degree from RMIT University in Melbourne in 2002. He is a registered architect in NSW and a member of the Australian Institute of Architects and was appointed Creative Director of 2006 RAIA National Conference.

Stephen has been a lecturer and design teacher since 1985 in architecture and design schools at Sydney University, University of NSW, UTS, Newcastle University and at RMIT University in Melbourne, and has lectured extensively around the world. Stephen is also an architecture critic, writer and photographer, with writings published in Architecture Australia, Monument, ar, inside and the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, as well as AD and World Architecture in the UK.

Stephen has been principal of Stephen Varady Architecture since 1987.

Between 2008 and 2013 he also worked with Kann Finch, first in the UAE and then in Sydney as Senior Design Architect.

Stephen Varady is a practicing registered architect with over 30 years of experience, and is now also Director of Stephen Varady Associates, a practice for Architecture, Design, Consulting and Special Projects.

Stephen Varady has received a number of awards from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, the Belle House of the Year Award, a number of Dulux Colour Awards including the 2006 Dulux Colour Award Grand Prix, and 2nd Prize in the NSW Government sponsored Circular Quay Urban Design Ideas Competition.

Stephen’s projects have been published in books and magazines in Australia, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Spain, South Korea, China and the USA. His work has been exhibited in a number of exhibitions including ‘Living the Modern_Australian Architecture’ at the DAZ in Berlin in 2007, and in the ‘Abundant’ exhibition in the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008.

Stephen Varady also has success as a competition advisor, registrar and organiser, having prepared and run the Frankston Station Design Competition for the Victorian Government, the Green Square Aquatic Centre Competition and the Green Square Library & Plaza Competition for the City of Sydney, and the Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Competition for Wagga Wagga City Council.