summary, Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) Hall of Fame inductee, 2025.
Kirsti Simpson is currently the Studio Executive Chair and Global Leader of Workplace Interiors at international design and architecture practice Woods Bagot, where she is an advocate and ally for her national and international clients. She is an internationally-recognised specialist in workplace design who has earned a place on numerous boards – a testament to an impressive career defined by numerous ‘firsts’ in her profession.
Kirsti undertook a Bachelor of Applied Science, Built Environment at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She commenced her career at Bligh Voller Neild in Brisbane, where she went on to lead the ID discipline in Brisbane. She then moved on to a 25-year career at Hassell, where she was first female partner, first female managing partner and first female board member.
In her role at Woods Bagot, Kirsti has built a reputation for design leadership through major projects in Australia and Asia from Mumbai to Berlin. Kirsti is a tireless champion of the profession of Interior Design and has worked throughout her career to raise the profile of Interior Design as a challenging and significant profession, one that makes a significant contribution to the life of our cities.
She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at The University of Queensland, as well as member of both the Economic Development Queensland Advisory Panel and the Property Council Queensland Division.
Kirsti was made a Fellow of Design Institute of Australia in 2017.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2025
- Last updated:
- 2025
