Rachael Rush, Auckland Awards Convenor 

Rachael is Managing Director of Klein Architects, Chair of the New Zealand Health Design Council, and a registered architect. Widely recognised as a leading expert in health design, she has built and led Klein’s specialist health team for over 20 years, delivering award-winning projects and advancing mental health facility design across New Zealand. Her major projects include Burwood Hospital Redevelopment, Middlemore Hospital’s Tiaho Mai, Hillmorton Specialist Mental Health Services, and redevelopments at Whangārei and Nelson Hospitals. Rachael has also previously served as a judge for the NZIA Architecture Awards and the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards.

Joining Rachael on the Auckland jury are: Nicholas Dalton (TOA Architects), Kelly O'Sullivan (SGA Architects) and Brian White (Edwards White Architects).

Louise Booth, Waikato & Bay of Plenty Awards Convenor 

Louise is a Director and co-founder of Object Office Architects, established in 2020 with her husband and collaborator Devon Booth. With a focus on residential projects in her current practice, and a breadth of experience in civic, education, and award-winning commercial projects, Louise takes a people-centred approach, with a strong focus on the lived experience of spaces and a commitment to lasting design.

Rounding out the jury are Geoff Lentz (PAUA Architects), Georgia Peacocke (Edwards White Architects) and Davor Popadich (Pattersons Architects).

Matt Edmonds, Gisborne & Hawke's Bay Awards Convenor  

Based in Hawke’s Bay, Matt is a Senior Associate at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott with over 14 years of experience across a broad range of project types. He has a strong passion for designing memorable, high-end residential and mixed-use projects, including award winning work recognised by the Institute with interest from national and international publications.

Matt has contributed to numerous award-winning projects, delivering innovative design responses that create a strong sense of place. 

Matt will be joined by Emelia Atkins (Warren and Mahoney), Shannon Bray (Wayfinder Landscape Planning) and Simone Bub (Bub Architects).

Craig Dalgleish, Western Awards Convenor 

Craig and his wife, Sharee, started Dalgleish Architects in Whanganui in 2004. The practice has grown to a steady group of 8 people and has celebrated diversity since it’s inception.

Craig has served three terms on the Institute Board, as Western Branch Chair three times, guest juror to Wellington twice, and served as Western Branch Awards Convenor three times.

His awards include two New Zealand Architecture Awards, the 2024 AGM Interior Design Awards Community Impact Award, and 19 local Awards across the motu.

Also on the Western jury are Sandra Henderson (Sandra Henderson Photography), Jono Murdoch (Ailtire Architects) and Renee Woods (Renee Woods Architect).

Amanda Bulman, Wellington Awards Convenor  

Amanda Bulman is a director at Three Line Studio. Her work spans public and community architecture, urban design, and high-performance housing, with recent recognition including a 2025 Wellington Architecture Award for Public Architecture for Whakamaru o te Korowai o te Panepane o te Ika a Māui (Wellington City Mission headquarters). She was also Project Architect for Te Pā Maru, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first alcohol harm-reduction facility, and is a current member of the Urban Design Panel shaping Te Ngākau, Wellington’s civic heart.

Amanda has previously served as an Institute jury member and Three Line Studio has been recognised numerous times over the last 20 years with Institute awards. Her practice is grounded in community engagement, urban thinking, and a Te Tiriti-based approach, supported by her Pōkairua o Te Ara Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. She brings to jury work a considered, generous, and rigorous perspective on architecture’s social, urban, and environmental responsibilities.

Making up rest of the Wellington jury are James Fenton (James Fenton Architect), Haley Hooper (Studio MØN and Wellington City Council) and Severin Soder (Architectus).

Patrick Avery, Nelson & Marlborough Awards Convenor 

Patrick is a Director at Untitled Works; a small practice based in Whākatu Nelson. He has 20 years' experience working as a registered architect in New Zealand and Scotland, and has been involved in a wide range of projects from civic, historic, commercial, educational and residential.

Patrick was a member of the Nelson & Marlborough Branch local awards jury in 2016 and more recently designed Anakiwa House, which picked up an Nelson & Marlborough Architecture Award in 2024. Patrick has a broad appreciation for architecture of all scales and is drawn to buildings that are thoughtfully conceived and executed with rigour.

Accompanying Patrick on the jury is the artist Josephine Cachemaille, Virginia Fay (Studio Virginia Fay) and Kevin Lux (Tennent Brown Architects).

Mike Callaghan, Canterbury Awards Convenor 

Mike Callaghan is the Principal of Johnstone Callaghan Architects, the award-winning Ōtautahi Christchurch practice he co-founded in 2019 with Prue Johnstone.

With 18 years’ experience and a registered architect since 2016, Mike brings significant professional and community insight to the role of convenor. He previously served as the Canterbury Convenor for the Awards in 2016, and has long been an active awards entrant, contributing to the culture of architectural excellence across Aotearoa.

Mike maintains a strong interest in advancing sustainable design and building principles, leading ongoing investment within his practice to upskill staff and embed environmentally responsible approaches into all projects.

Comprising the remainder of the jury are Annabel Cropper (Annabel Cropper Design), Julia Mercer (Elbow Architects) and Daniel Smith (Edwards White Architects).

Andrea O'Connor, Southern Awards Convenor 

Andrea is an architect and interior designer with over 25 years’ experience delivering commercial and residential projects across New Zealand and Australia. She has led projects from concept to construction, including full Institute contract administration, with responsibility for design quality, programme, risk, and financial performance.

She has led multidisciplinary teams and advised clients strategically, balancing design excellence with strong commercial outcomes. Her work has received international recognition for sustainability, colour design, and architectural photography, and she has contributed to award-winning teams in New Zealand and Australia.

A longstanding advocate for sustainable design, she has taught at Wellington Design School and served on local Institute branch committee boards.

Andrea will be joined by Lianne Cox (Studio of Pacific Architecture), Regan Hall (McCoy and Wixon Architects) and Ben Hudson (Ben Hudson Architects).

The shortlists decided by the juries will be announced from mid-March. The 2026 Regional Architecture Awards will be held across the motu from May to June. Stay tuned for more.