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 award winning, innovative and respected Australian architect, writer competition advisor and educator. He has designed projects in Australia and overseas, and run some of the most successful architecture competitions in Australia.

Stephen is an architecture writer, photographer and advocate for design excellence, with his writings published extensively in Australia and overseas. Stephen’s projects have also been published in Australia and overseas and included in exhibitions in Berlin in 2007 and the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008. Stephen has received a number of RAIA awards, the Dulux Colour Award Grand Prix and the Belle House of the Year Award. He was also Creative Director for the 2006 RAIA National Architecture Conference.

Stephen has been an inspiring and enthusiastic lecturer and tutor in architecture, interior design and professional practice since 1985 in architecture and design schools at Sydney University, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, University of Newcastle and RMIT, and has lectured extensively around the world. Stephen has also been the curator of the Australian and International Brickworks Architecture Speaker Series since 2015.