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Celebrating New Elevations in our Sydney Studio

Big news out of our Sydney Studio! We’re thrilled to announce ten well-deserved elevations.

Joining the leadership team are three new Associate Directors, four new Senior Associates, and three new Associates. These leaders bring fresh vision, energy, and commitment to our clients, projects, and studio culture.

Congratulations to Barnaby Hartford-Davis, Samantha Ellinson, Chris Collignon, Milan Kalapis, Lydia Vegas, Anthony Kim, Chris Tran, Dominique Hill, Matt Trilsbeck and Karin Ke.

L-R – Barnaby Hartford-Davis, Samantha Ellinson, Chris Collignon 

Barnaby Hartford-DavisAssociate Director
Barnaby has experience in a range of sectors, including health, education, sports, commercial, residential, hospitality and justice projects for both public and private clients. Barnaby is a storyteller with an abiding passion for designing for people and place.  Known for his articulate, personable approach, Barnaby is an efficient and effective project leader.

Samantha Ellinson – Associate Director
Sam specialises in hospitality, workplace, and residential interiors for top-tier clients, including King & Wood Mallesons, Etymon Projects, and Frasers. In her approach to design at COX, she leverages her extensive hospitality experience gained in Europe, having worked on complex projects for many prestigious international brands. Renowned for her skill in distilling clients’ core values and business strategies into compelling and timeless designs, Sam ensures each project aligns seamlessly with a brand’s identity. 

Chris Collignon – Associate Director
Chris Collignon is an integral member of the transport team in the COX Sydney studio, renowned for his passion for large-scale civic, rail and infrastructure projects. With extensive experience working on major rail projects for Transport for NSW, including Sydney Metro Northwest, City & Southwest, Western Express and City Relief Express – Chris has led the design and development of stations from inception to completion. His role as a design lead for the Sydney Metro Victoria Cross Station has equipped him with expert knowledge in metro systems and complex rail projects, making him an invaluable resource for transformative infrastructure projects. 

L-R – Milan Kalapis, Lydia Vegas, Anthony Kim, Chris Tran 

Milan Kalapis – Senior Associate
Milan joined COX Architecture in 2019, bringing a wealth of experience acquired from esteemed multidisciplinary firms in Australia and China. Milan demonstrates effective leadership in delivering significant projects, including the successful completion of a multi-unit residential development on Caddies Boulevard in Rouse Hill. Milan excels in crafting solutions that not only align with the client’s requirements but also address the constraints posed by the existing building fabric. 

Lydia Vegas – Senior Associate
Lydia has experience across various sectors and building typologies, guiding projects from conception to completion. She completed her Master’s in Architecture at San Sebastián School of Architecture and has gained valuable international experience in both Spain and Australia, giving her a strong understanding of diverse design and construction systems. Passionate about the design of sporting venues, Lydia was instrumental in the completion of the recently redeveloped Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, leading on the construction and delivery phase of the project.  

Anthony Kim – Senior Associate
Anthony brings global experience in designing and delivering complex projects across sectors such as transport, mixed-use, office, residential, Build-To-Rent, sports, and education. Before joining COX, he worked at Kohn Pedersen Fox in New York and at Gensler, where he led major projects in Hudson Yards, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Miami. With a deep expertise in office and workplace design, Build-To-Rent developments, Anthony excels in leading multi-disciplinary teams. His collaborative approach and commitment to creative, client-centered solutions have contributed to award-winning architectural developments. 

Chris Tran – Senior Associate
Chris is a technical architect with experience across a wide range of projects, including master planning, education, commercial, residential, and large-scale convention and exhibition centres. He has also worked extensively on sports and leisure projects, delivering community and club facilities across Australia, as well as highly technical facilities for NSW Police.

L-R – Dominique Hill, Matt Trilsbeck, Karin Ke 

Dominique Hill – Associate
Since joining COX in 2016, Dominique has applied her passion for urban design, transport integration, and public spaces to create vibrant, sustainable city spaces. Specialising in urban design and transport planning, Dominique has contributed to key projects such as the Macquarie Point Precinct Plan, Bays West Precinct Master Plan, North Head Sanctuary Master Plan, and Bintulu Waterfront Master Plan. Originally trained in architecture, Dominique shifted her focus to urban design to create spaces that foster community.  

Matt Trilsbeck – Associate
Matt brings a decade of engineering and six years of architectural experience to COX. Since joining in 2016, he has worked on health, sport, public, and commercial projects with a focus on human-centered design and societal wellbeing. Leveraging his clinical planning and Healthcare Design expertise, Matt delivers exceptional project outcomes. A skilled communicator, he excels at simplifying complex information and is known for his precision in problem-solving, thriving in multidisciplinary teams and project management. 

Karin Ke – Associate
Karin, a Registered Architect and aspiring urbanist with the UDA, specialises in public sector projects across education, culture, and urban planning. Her portfolio spans concept design through to construction on projects like university facilities, sports, and educational precincts, along with major city shaping cultural projects. Driven by a research-based humanist approach, she designs with a focus on architecture’s role within the broader urban environment.