April Workshop Critics

Albert Refiti

Albert Refiti is a senior lecturer in spatial design at AUT University with a background in architecture, having worked on projects like Kermadec restaurant and the Fale Pasifika at the University of Auckland. Albert is educational associate member of the Design Industry of New Zealand, since 2005, a member of the board of directors, Pacific Business Trust, 1998-2002, a board member of Moving Image Centre 1999-2003 and a board member of Artspace, 1994-2000

Juan Molina

Juan Molina is a senior architect and urban designer at CPRW Fisher. Juan is a graduate of the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona and a Spanish Registered Architect,  member of the Collegi Oficial d’Arquitectes de Catalunya.  Juan was taught by luminaries, Enric Miralles and Ignasi de Solà-Morales and worked with Viaplana and Pinon on the early days of the ‘Plazas duras’ in Barcelona. He has over 20 years of experience as a practicing architect in New Zealand and Spain, projects include the master planning of Britomart with Cheshire Architects and designing a NZIA award wining projects with CPRW Fisher. His latest urban intervention was the instigation of the Candy Chang ‘Before I die...’ wall in St Patricks Square. 

John Coop

John Coop is Regional Director of Warren and Mahoney’s Auckland studio. During his tenure as a Principal and shareholder since 2001, John has spearheaded major design projects, overseen significant growth for the Auckland studio, and has been a pivotal player in developing thought leadership in the wider New Zealand architecture industry.  With close to 20 years’ experience, John is a member of the Auckland Civil Defence Built Environment Recovery Task Group and the Auckland branch of the Property Council, a past president of Auckland Architecture Association, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), and has been a significant contributor to the NZIA Graduate Development Programme. Prior to Warren and Mahoney, John spent three years working in London with Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Russell Baikie

Russell Baikie Senior Principal Harrison Grierson. Russell is an expert in regional planning, policy planning, project management and resource consenting. Russell has worked on a range of large scale residential and business growth planning and policy projects. Russell regularly appears as an expert witness at Council hearings, mediations and Environmental Court.

Stuart Houghton

Urban Designer, Associate Principal, Boffa Miskell. Stuart has over 10 years experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. His experience ranges from preparing urban design frameworks, structure plans, and site master plans as well as strategic and conceptual design proposals for streets and public spaces. Stuart bridges the professional and disciplinary divides between planning and design, strategy and implementation, and public and private interests, to deliver higher quality, more liveable cities and urban places.

John Walsh

John Walsh is the former editor of Architecture New Zealand and Houses magazines and managing editor at AGM Publishing, and is currently the Communications Manager of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. A graduate of Auckland and Columbia Universities, John is the author of three books on New Zealand architecture, and editor of the catalogue for the New Zealand pavilion at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale. His next project is a book on the late Wellington architect, Gerald Melling.  

Steve Mason
Steve Mason is a marketing specialist. In a thirty year career with Lion Nathan he stumbled into marketing whilst managing the Dunedin brewery in the 1980’s (resuscitating the dying Speight’s which went on to become New Zealand’s biggest beer brand). After an Auckland University MBA in his late 30’s, Steve spent ten years in International Business Development, primarily prospecting for brewing joint ventures which resulted in Lion making a $200 million investment in China. He later became Chief Marketing Officer overseeing Lion’s marketing in Australia, New Zealand and China. After retirement, he has been helping businesses in the cereal, meats and fishing sectors develop their enterprise and marketing strategic plans.