Judges

Gabrielle Morrish

With over 30 years of experience, Gabrielle’s extensive skills cover all aspects of urban design, architecture and Expert Witness Services to the NSW Land & Environment Court. She has practiced in the private sector, State and Local Government in Sydney and London including executive and managerial roles in Government such as Director of UDAS reporting to the Minister for Planning and Premier of NSW.

Gabrielle established GMU as the leading Urban Design and Architecture practice in 2004. Since then under her leadership, the GMU team has undertaken numerous signiﬁcant urban design projects including revitalisation strategies and master plans for new towns and major redevelopment sites in Sydney and Regional NSW.

Gabrielle is a registered architect in Australia and in the UK and has held many senior positions in Government and private practice. She has delivered many of the leading design quality codes and documents used in NSW today including the Residential Flat Design Code and Seniors Living Design Guidelines.

Renato D`Ettorre

Born in Italy, moved to Australia with his family in the 1960’s, studied architecture at the University of Technology, Sydney.

In 1984 Renato lived in Sardinia investigating many architectural sites around the mediterranean islands. He later worked for Pier Luigi Nervi and Paolo Portoghesi in Roma and Harry Seidler and Romaldo Giurgola in Sydney.

Renato started his sole practice in 1990 after a commission for a house in South Coogee. The house, with a magnificent site by the sea, inspired Renato to take the opportunity to forge a personal path within the plurality of the modern architectural milieu.

The personal path chosen has manifested itself not only in his design values, but also in the practice of his architecture; an intuitive way of working in which projects are allowed to develop in their own good time through continual revision and modification, working through the endless design possibilities in architecture.

Renato’s architecture draws inspiration from past masters and civilizations, attempting to represent the present with a desire to leave enduring buildings for the future.

Renato is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects and has been a registered architect in NSW since 1997.

He is the Creative Director of Renato D’Ettorre Architects and is responsible for all conceptual designs.

Nick Tobias

As founder and principal of Tobias Partners, Nick Tobias has over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering finely crafted architectural and interior design projects in Sydney, Australia and abroad. His work has been published globally and won numerous awards from organisations such as the Australian Institute of Architects, the Design Institute of Australia, various Councils and design publications.

Nick leads a talented core team of seventeen which includes three principals, associate and senior architects, interior designers, a contracts manager and a general manager.

Beyond day to day practice Nick has been a speaker, juror, mentor, panellist, advisor and court appointed expert witness.

Nick has dedicated significant resources to philanthropic endeavours. He has a great passion for contemporary art and has served on the boards of various non-profit organisations. He has a long history of involvement with the MCA and was appointed a Director of the Board in 2019 and Chair of the Foundation in July 2020.