Principal
David believes well designed environments can improve people’s lives, and buildings are a source of community. As leader of the practice, and member since the early days of Sandover Pinder, David’s guidance has shaped Carabiner into the firm it is today. David is a former Australian Institute of Architects National President (2014) and WA Chapter President (2011). His international experience working in the UK, Israel, USA, Asia and Europe has given David an in-depth understanding of place and culture, resulting in award winning public architecture embraced by the community.

Chief Executive Officer
Steve McDonald joins the Carabiner team as CEO in 2024, and further enhances our process by providing his 34+ years of Project Management experience. He has delivered a range of large scale, publicly funded, sporting, education and cultural projects in Western Australia and overseas. Steve’s in depth understanding of procurement, construction and project coordination ensures a cohesive relationship between all stakeholders and a deep understanding of the market for a smooth project delivery.

Associate
Paolo has extensive experience working with State Government Departments, schools, educators and consultant teams to deliver world class education projects. He understands schools, and how to deliver them on time and to exceptional levels of quality. Paolo has worked together with the Department of Education to innovate education support environments for children with disabilities, and the people who care for them. Paolo has over 20 years of experience in design leadership and superintendency.

Associate
Pete is a skilled architect specialising in the design of complex sport, recreation, cultural and mixed use community projects. He has delivered well known state and local government projects across a range of sectors, from sport, education, transport and infrastructure across Australia over the last 14 years. Pete has exceptional attention to detail, delivering extraordinary design solutions through creative problem solving and understanding of the client’s vision. Pete is adept at combining strategies for commercial sustainability with excellent user outcomes.

Senior Project Architect
Darren offers his expertise in urban design, community planning, multi-residential, medical, hospitality and sporting projects. His almost 40 years of accumulated industry experience in design, business operations, and successful relationships with clients, authorities, business groups and government at local and state level make him an asset to the Carabiner team. Our clients often remark on Darren’s easy going, professional approach combined with his depth of knowledge in community and commercial projects.

Senior Architect
Ahmad has built a portfolio of international project experience that has its roots in cultural and architectural diversity, and has been a key part of the Carabiner team for the last 18 years. Ahmad has designed and delivered Carabiner’s complex hospital and healthcare projects for over a decade. By applying his wealth of practical knowledge, Ahmad’s design thinking and detailed understanding of health architecture results in projects that truly promote wellbeing for patients and caregivers.

Senior Architect
Peter provides over 25 years of design excellence in contemporary and progressive learning spaces for state and private schools, both in Australia and the UK. His work has been recognised through exhibition, publication, and award. Despite his experience and accomplishments, Peter looks at each new project as a learning opportunity, keeping an open mind so that all possibilities are considered. Peter has a strong understanding of modern learning spaces and design of adaptive, high quality education environments.

Architect
Siobhán is a skilled architect with almost two decades of experience designing some of Western Australia’s iconic sport and recreation projects. Her work in metro and regional Western Australia has developed her understanding of the complex needs of diverse communities. She works closely with clients and project stakeholders to deliver facilities that offer high quality health and wellbeing outcomes.

Senior Architect
Christina believes that a successful outcome for a project starts with excellent documentation and is supported by fostering kind and thoughtful relationship with peers, clients, design teams and contractors alike. Her 25 years of experience in South Africa and Australia has delivered high quality projects in education, aged care, community, sport and health facilities. Christina has a meticulous and detailed approach, leading documentation requirements for many of Carabiner’s large scale projects.

Architectural Technologist
Michael is a dedicated, skilled Architectural Technologist with over 30 years of experience in construction detailing and materiality. He is a cornerstone of Carabiner’s documentation team, and has a long tenure with our firm. Michael collaborates with the Carabiner team, consultants and contractors to ensure thorough and diligent project delivery. His experience spans health, community, transport, sporting and cultural projects.

Quality Manager
Julian has nearly forty years’ experience in the architectural & construction industry and has fulfilled a variety of roles over a wide range of project types and size. He understands that the end goal of architecture is the completed building. His strengths are documentation and contract administration. Julian has an extensive knowledge of building construction and a keen attention to detail. Julian believes the construction process should be collaborative, and forms strong working relationships with contractors, while maintaining the integrity of the building contract.

Architect
Stephen has over 10 years of experience in architecture and construction for education, commercial and residential projects. His commitment to growth, precision, collaboration and leadership within this field is core to his work. Having engaged with a variety of clients and consultants, he recognises the importance of listening and communicating effectively to achieve well-designed and functional project outcomes. Stephen has worked on a range of Carabiner’s school projects as a member of our education design team.

Senior Architectural Technician
Herve has over 30 years of experience within the construction industry, working to document complex projects. As a Senior Architectural Technician, Herve works diligently within our team to ensure the successful delivery of these projects for clients. Herve’s passion is to work through challenges to assist in developing well-considered, well designed and well documented examples of architecture for the client, that reflects their needs and is something they can be proud of.

Business Manager
Anabela has a keen sense of organisation and a great sense of humour, which makes her ideal to manage Carabiner’s business performance, achieving excellent results for our clients and stakeholders. She has served extensively in professional environments, both in public and private practice, and is driven by performance, business and people, and has helped shape Carabiner’s corporate growth.

Interior Designer
As Carabiner’s Senior Interior Designer, Alita blends creativity with excellent technical documentation skills and attention to detail. Alita has a broad range of experience in many sectors including Education, Recreation, Community, Health and Sports, Hospitality, Retail and Commercial and has been involved from design through construction on most projects. Alita has an extensive knowledge of materiality and design.

Marketing + Bid Manager
Emma has a passion for problem solving and elegant design, and her focus is helping Carabiner to connect with its customers through traditional and digital media. She brings 21 years of experience in brand strategy, B2B and B2C marketing, graphic design, copywriting and communications. Emma is involved in Carabiner’s bid strategy and works with the team to refine and deliver compelling proposals.

Graduate Architect
Throughout her studies in Melbourne, Laura gained valuable lessons in how to design with critical intent. She is motivated by how good design can cultivate positive cultural outcomes to transform communities. Laura wishes to further her skills in adapting, testing and refining designs for various modes of operation and visually communicating them to clients through clear and accessible media. Laura has worked in conceptual design for a range of public projects and prides herself in paying attention to the place, culture and users’ needs through careful observation and informed analysis.

Graduate Architect
Maria is a graduate from Chile, where she has been involved in some fabulous projects. She is passionate about architecture and design, is a committed and hard-working member of the Carabiner family. Her flexibility and thirst for knowledge is a key component to her success. Maria truly enjoys working across varying parts of the architecture and construction industry from conceptual design to detailed documentation and ultimately assisting in the construction phase to learn more about the final product and how it comes to fruition.

Graduate Architect
Colby has many years of experience working in a wide variety of projects including single and multi-residential, commercial, industrial, community and healthcare facilities. He has a positive and calm demeanour that resonates with those he works with. He thrives in a collaborative team environment and has exceptional attention to detail, which is critical to his work in BIM management and documentation. He enjoys the process of developing creative design solutions to produce the most effective and desired outcome.

Graduate Architect
Maki is a Graduate Architect with an enthusiasm for architecture and an inquiring mind. He has contributed to several complex sport, recreation and aquatic projects for communities both within WA and interstate, producing striking and engaging visuals and concepts. Maki has worked in the design and construction industry locally and internationally, immersed in the design of various sport and recreation, community residential, commercial, industrial, civic and mixed-use projects.

Graduate Architect
Manuel's experience spans Architecture and Urban Design, from significant projects in both Australia and Argentina. His career has encompassed justice and correctional, commercial and residential projects. Manuel's understanding of materiality, and the latest standards and guidelines for NCC and Australian Building Code regulations result in high quality design and construction outcomes. Manuel shares Carabiner's ethos of delivering built form that enriches and positively impacts the community, building connection to people, place and understanding of local context.

Office Administration
You've probably heard Libby's friendly voice when calling through to Carabiner. Libby handles Carabiner's day to day office administration and customer service. Professional and diligent, Libby is adept at welcoming clients and making them feel at ease, while handling enquiries and supporting the Carabiner team.