CHROFI | Team

Name

Role

Tai Ropiha

Director

Tai Ropiha is a founding partner of CHROFI. Together with John and Steven, he has driven the creative input that has generated an international profile for the practice.

Tai is known for his compassionate and collaborative design approach. He develops long-term working relationships with his clients based on trust and his ability to deliver exceptional results. Tai is interested in all scales of practice from urban design and masterplanning through to realising the final built project. His passion is based on a thoughtful, considered approach with a focus on design quality at all stages. He has extensive experience with all types of stakeholders including the private industry, Governments and Local Councils and consultation with the wider public.

Projects of note are the Sulman award winning Maitland Riverlink; $220m Channel 9 Site multiresidential development with Mirvac; $150m Harbord Diggers project; the Condor Street carpark and open space design and many key town centre masterplans including Manly, Frenchs Forest and Turramurra.

Tai also periodically teaches at University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, Masters Class Design Studio and University of Sydney, Architecture Design Studio and has lectured at various forums including Australian Institute of Architects SA Chapter and Queensland State Library.

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Projects of note:

Cronulla RSL Redevelopment - Cronulla, NSW, AU

Balmain Rd Mixed Use Development - Lindfield, NSW, AU

Cremorne Independent Living Units - Cremorne, NSW, AU

Nine by Mirvac - Channel 9 Development - $230m - Willoughby, NSW, AU

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Steven Fighera

Director

Steven Fighera joined CHROFI in 2003 and became a partner of the practice in 2010. Steven brings a passion for the design and making of buildings and places which has been instrumental in the development of the practice.

His career spans a variety of building types including public, cultural, infrastructure, multi-residential and private residential commissions. His strength lies in design leader-ship from project inception through to completion. He brings an innate ability to under-stand client needs whilst grasping difficult design and technical challenges to guide the team in finding better solutions during all stages of a project. Through regular contribution at a project review level, Steven’s holistic understanding of the discipline enables him to provide input through critical observation across the broad spectrum of projects undertaken by the practice.

Representative projects relevant to this scope of work include Tamarama SLSC, Bronte SLSC, Bondi Amenities and Lifeguard Facilities, and the Sutherland Entertainment Centre which is currently under construction. Other related projects of note include Ballast Point Amenities (2009 AIA NSW Chapter Commendation) and Lizard Log Events Pavilion and Amenities (2017 NSW Chapter Award for Public Architecture & the 2017 National Archi-tecture Award for Small Projects).

Projects of note:

Current North Head Viewing Platforms - Manly, NSW, AU

Current Mt Druitt Shade Structure - Mt Druitt, NSW, AU

Current Ivanhoe Community Centre - Macquarie Park, NSW, AU

Current Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club - Tamarama, NSW, AU

2019 Sutherland Entertainment Centre - Sutherland, NSW, AU

2020 St Ives Cultural Education Environmental Centre - St Ives, NSW, AU

2019 Harbord Diggers Redevelopment - Freshwater, Sydney, NSW, AU

2019 Twenty95 Apartments - Manly, Sydney, NSW, AU

2018 Bondi Amenities - Bondi Beach, NSW, AU

2013 Bay St Mezzo Apartments, Glebe - $110m - Glebe, NSW, AU

2013 Acacia Remembrance Sanctuary - NSW, AU

2012 Green Infrastructure Centre, City of Sydney - $15m - Sydney, NSW, AU

2011 Lizard Log Events Pavilion - Western Sydney, NSW, AU

2006 Port Botany Amenities & Viewing Platform - Port Botany, NSW, AU

2005 Ballast Point Park Viewing Platform and Amenities - Sydney, NSW, AU

Hugo Raggett

Associate Director

Since joining CHROFI Hugo’s design skills have been applied across projects of diverse scales, including Tamarama SLSC and Twenty95 Manly Apartments. Hugo has provided leading contributions to competition entries, most recently the succesful Ivanhoe Community Building and the Manly Town Centre, which includes a large mixed use building and a community library; as well as a City of Sydney design competition entry for a high rise hotel (TOGA) at 280 George Street.

Before joining CHROFI in 2015, Hugo worked with dKo Architects in Sydney for 3 years, where he undertook a leading role in two multi-residential projects, overseeing his own team and taking both projects through to DA. He also gained experience overseas as an architectural assistant for Foster and Partners in London, where he was assisting on competition entries and a high rise commercial development in Denmark.

Until recently Hugo was involved with part time teaching in the University of Sydney, Faculty of Architecture undergraduate program and has been a regular guest critic at a number NSW universities.

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Projects of note:

Cabarita Beach Mixed Use Development

Queenscliff Residence

Tamarama SLSC

Ivanhoe Community Centre

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Marina Goncalves

Senior Associate

Marina is an enthusiastic, dynamic and dedicated architect with 11 years’ professional experience. Prior to joining CHROFI, Marina was an Associate at Tribe Studio and Archer Office. During this time she worked as project architect at all stages across different project types, gaining experience from concept design to contract administration during construction. She is greatly skilled in establishing healthy relationships with all stakeholders - clients, consultants, builders and peers, as well as coordinating different stages of projects. Since joining CHROFI in mid 2021, Marina has become a valued and respected Senior Architect, working on projects such as the Burwood Urban Park, Arts and Cultural Centre for Burwood City Council and Pittwater Road mixed-use development in Manly. A Portuguese national, Marina completed her Masters in 2010 at the University of Porto (FAUP), Portugal, before taking on a role in Switzerland at Burkhalter Sumi, where she gained exposure to competitions before moving on to Max Dudler, Berlin in 2013. Additionally, Marina has worked intermittently as a tutor at the UTS School of Architecture over the past 5 years.

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Projects of note:

Burwood Urban Park and Cultural Centre - Burwood, NSW, AU

Pittwater Road Mixed-Use Development - Manly, NSW, AU

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Robin Sampson

Senior Associate

Robin is an Australian and UK registered architect with over 18 years experience in the design, documentation and construction of medium to large scale projects across a diverse range of sectors including education, sport, public, commercial, hospitality and industrial. Robin brings a versatile skill set, strong design capabilities and technical expertise.Since joining CHROFI in 2024, Robin has led the construction documentation of a major renovation of a boutique retail and apartment building in Sydney, and played a pivotal role as consultant and technical lead in the tender documentation of the first phase of a 220 apartment retirement village. Prior to joining CHROFI, Robin was an Associate at Tanner Kibble Denton Architects (TKD) where he led numerous education projects for both public and private schools. These projects involved a number of sporting facilities, including Queenwood School’s Sport and Recreation Facilities, Frensham School Sports Hall and a joint venture between the Department of Education and The Hills Shire Council, providing shared facilities at Bellavista Public School. He was also project lead for an auditorium located within the heart of Taronga Zoo. Before to moving to Australia in 2015, Robin studied and worked for 8 years in the UK, contributing to a number of Garnett Netherwood Architects (GNA) significant projects.

Projects of note:

Castle Hill Retirement Village, Castle Hill, NSW

Pittwater Road, Boutique Shop and Apartment Renovation, Manly, Sydney, NSW

Darryl Chandler

Associate

Projects of note:

Victor Li

Associate

Victor is an architect at CHROFI with strong skill sets in architectural planning and design development. Victor has been instrumental in a number of projects from concept design and design development through to construction.

He is experienced in mixed-use residential projects and his recent role in CHROFI has seen him leading the design and construction of a boutique office building and pair of terrace houses in Kirribilli. Prior to joining CHROFI, Victor helped design multiple mixed-use/residential towers including: Mastery, a 21-storey mixed-use tower in Waterloo NSW; award-winning Norfolk beach side residential tower; a 20-storey mixed-use tower in Mexico City; and two 700,000sqm mixed-use towers in China. Victor’s professional approach and attention to detail makes him a valuable contribution to the CHROFI team.

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Projects of note:

Cerno Office Building & Terrace Houses - Kirribilli, NSW, AU

Freshwater, Mixed-Use Development, Freshwater, NSW, AU

NINE By Mirvac - $200m - Willoughby, NSW, AU

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Kimberley Nguyen

Senior Architect

Kimberley joined CHROFI in 2019. Her diverse skill set has seen her through projects ranging from small scale residential to larger scale commerical buildings. Since joining CHROFI she has been an instrumental designer for the Mirvac Mixed-Use project in Willoughby. As design lead, she has led three of the buildings on this site through multiple stages including massing studies, concept testing, facade development and DA documentation. Kimberley has also demonstrated skills in graphic design, documentation and BIM.

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Projects of note:

M_Park Commercial Building

Robertson House

NINE By Mirvac

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Glen Dennison

Senior Architect

Glen graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Architecture. After his graduation he worked in sustainablity research leading to a Master of Architecture by research gained in 2006 focusing on sustainable design. Working in the industry he gained wide experience in Sydney on projects of various scales and typologies including commercial, higher education and multi residential. Before joining CHROFI, he had been working on the design and construction of bespoke high - end houses.

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Projects of note:

Burwood Cultural Centre, Burwood, NSW, AU

Killara Townhouses, KIllara, NSW, AU

Ivanhoe Community Centre, Macquarie Park, NSW, AU

Cabarita Mixed-Use Development, Cabarita, NSW, AU

Balmain Road, Lillyfield, NSW, AU

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Candace Lee

Architect

Candace is a well-practised registered architect with an eye for aesthetics. She has recently worked on a number of high profile projects such as the successful design excellence competition entry for the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum and the Sutherland Entertainment Centre.

Before joining CHROFI, Candace provided contributions to the Australia Now 2018 Japan Exhibition. She also assisted with drafts and renders for Louise Nettleton Architects on their Palm Beach Surf Club project. Additionally, Candace has assisted Studio Trobec with model making and design on their Newtown Terrace House Renovation.

In University, Candace was the art director for the UNSW Archex Architecture Graduate Exhibition. Her graduation project from Glenn Murcutt Studio has received Commendation of AIA NSW First Degree Design Award.

Candace’s meticulous precision in design, matched with an excellent work ethic, make her an integral part of the services we provide.

Projects of note:

Rialto, Manly, NSW

The Mane Space, Manly, NSW

Petersham House, Petersham, NSW

Pavilion Performance Arts Centre, Sutherland, NSW

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Tobias Grund

Senior Designer

Tobias joined CHROFI in early 2022, bringing with him a wealth of professional experience gained both in Australia and overseas. With his versatile skill set, Tobias has successfully contributed to a diverse range of projects, spanning across social, residential, commercial, and large-scale mixed-use developments.

At CHROFI, Tobias played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of a complex Development Application fora mixed-use project on Balmain Road. The project encompassed the design of light industrial spaces and various residential apartment buildings. His exceptional design skills were instrumental in developing concept designs and conducting feasibility studies for further industrial and residential projects. Furthermore, Tobias’s expertise in BIM management has made a significant impact on enhancing projects throughout the practice.

Prior to joining CHROFI, Tobias honed his skills at FK Australia, where he contributed to a range of commercial and residential projects. Notably, he was a member of the winning design team for Central Place, a high-rise commercial development situated in Sydney’s thriving tech precinct. Additionally, Tobias played a crucial role in the masterplanning of Cabramurra, a town in the Snowy Mountains, as part of a post-bushfire remediation project. His involvement included concept to tender design for various residential building for the town.

During his studies at the Technical University of Munich, he won the TUM.DesignBuilt competition for the design of a Children home in Sri Lanka that received a Honourable Mention at the Geoffrey Bawa Awards.

Projects of note:

Balmain Road, Lilyfield, NSW
White Bay Steel Works, Rozelle, NSW
Private Residence, Queenscliff, NSW
Private Residence, Manly, NSW
Broadway, Glebe, NSW (FK Australia)
Cabramurra, NSW (FK Australia)
Central Place Sydney, NSW (FK Australia)
Kiroro Apartments, Tokiwa, Japan (FK Australia)

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Gareth Bussey

Senior Designer

Gareth Bussey is a designer at CHROFI. Working on a broad range of project, Gareth takes an innovative approach to design challenges and tactfully blends the relationship between design, economics, space and construction.

Graduating in 2018 from University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Gareth’s notable design skills achieved him the Government Inclusivity Award and First Prize in the Second Year Competition at UTS.

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Projects of note:

Cronulla RSL, Cronulla, NSW, AU

Mount Druitt Pavilion Sydney, NSW, AU

Burwood Urban Park and Cultural Centre - Burwood, NSW, AU

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Tomas Moore

Senior Designer