Managing director and principal at Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) Tara Veldman has been named the inaugural recipient of the Australian Well being Design Council (AHDC) Gold Medal. The medal is awarded to nominees who reveal visionary management, a dedication to excellence and a major contribution to the healthcare design business.
Veldman possesses greater than 20 years’ expertise in healthcare design and was instrumental in rising BLP’s Sydney workplace from a solo operation in 2011 to a workforce of 70 professionals right this moment. She grew to become managing director of the nationwide enterprise in 2020.
A media launch from BLP notes that “below [Veldman’s] management, BLP has pioneered ‘translational design’ – a collaborative methodology that brings collectively architects, researchers, clinicians, and sufferers to create therapeutic environments grounded in rigorous proof and deep empathy. This strategy integrates environmental psychology, affected person suggestions, and cutting-edge analysis into each stage of the design course of.”
“I’m deeply honoured to obtain this inaugural award,” mentioned Veldman. “This recognition displays the unbelievable work of our complete BLP workforce and our valued collaborators – the clinicians, sufferers, stakeholders and communities who accomplice with us to reimagine what healthcare environments may be. Collectively, we’re proving that considerate, evidence-based design has the ability to heal.”
The judging committee comprised Kate Copeland, chair of the AHDC; Ron Billard of Ron Billard Consulting; Alex Belcastro of Northwest Healthcare REIT; Warren Kerr of Hames Sharley and committee member of the ADHC; and Isabelle Mansour of Mott MacDonald and secretary and occasions lead of the ADHC.
They commented, “Tara has made a useful and lasting contribution to healthcare design by way of her visionary management, compassion, and dedication to excellence. Her management on main initiatives in Australia has set new benchmarks for care.
“Whereas her affect is strongest on the facility degree, she additionally contributes as a thought chief and mentor, sharing information and galvanizing rising designers, thereby shaping the way forward for healthcare design by way of each observe {and professional} improvement.”
