Architects Without Frontiers | Australia

Esther Charlesworth - AWF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BArch (RMIT) MUD (Harvard)
PhD (York)

Dr Esther Charlesworth is founding Director of Architects without Frontiers (Australia). She has practiced architecture and urban design in Melbourne, Sydney and New York since 1983 before completing her Masters of Architecture and Urban Design at Harvard University in 1995. Between 1995-1999 she was Senior Urban Designer with the City of Melbourne and is director of the CityEdge International Urban Design Series. Between 2000-2003, Esther was Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the American University of Beirut. She has also lectured extensively in architecture and urban design at RMIT University, the University of Melbourne, MIT, and during 2004 at QUT in Brisbane. She completed her Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of York (UK) in 2003.

Esther is recipient of five major international research awards to further her research into the role of architects in post-disaster reconstruction and has just completed two books on the subject:

• Divided Cities (Beirut, Belfast, Jerusalem, Nicosia and Mostar), with colleague Jon Calame (University of Pennsylvania Press, USA)
• Architects Without Frontiers, War, Reconstruction and Design Responsibility (Elsevier Press, UK)

Esther is currently a research fellow in Sustainability, with Architecture and Urban Design at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Jane Rothschild - AWF DIRECTOR
BA Brown University (Comparative Literature), March Harvard University Graduate School of Design, M Heritage Conservation Sydney (current)

Jane is a co-founder of Dickson Rothschild, a multi-disciplinary firm of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and planners located in Chippendale, Sydney. Dickson Rothschild has offices in China and New Delhi and currently employs staff from over 18 countries speaking at least 15 different languages. Over the last 20 years, Jane has practiced architecture in both the US and Australia and has been responsible for the majority of Dickson Rothschild’s private residential work. Jane’s interests are focused in housing - both local and in developing countries - and in heritage conservation. She moved to Sydney 18 years ago from New York City and has also worked in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Jane joined AWF in 2005 and has been a Director since January 2007.

Jane has also worked with Habitat for Humanity in Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Jane travelled to Aceh in 2006 reporting on HFHI’s reconstruction work and with HFHI Vietnam (with Dickson Rothschild staff) developing housing and construction manuals. Jane is Director for Corporate Relations and the AWF Project Leader for the Anganwadi Pre-schools Project in Ahmedabad, India.

David Anderson RAIA - AWF DIRECTOR
Assoc Diploma Architectural Drafting (Holmesglen TAFE), Diploma of Building surveying (Holmesglen TAFE), Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) (Deakin), Bachelor of Architecture (Deakin)

Registered as an Architect in Victoria in 2000 and in New south Wales in 2002, David has been a sole practitioner for 8 years while working with Alison Dodds and POZ international. For the past 3 years has been contracting to Detail 3 which has seeen him work with Wood Marsh, Hassell and McGlashan Everist. David is currently project architect for Hayball Architects

David has an interest in Developing World Architecture and has led Joint AWF/OzQuest trips for Architecture Students and Architects to Nepal which has seen the construction of amenities, School repairs and water collection facilities for small villages.

Lucinda Hartley- AWF Executive OFFICER

Lucinda Hartley joins AWF in May 2009 as the new Executive Officer, based in Melbourne. Lucinda is a Landscape Architect with extensive experience in international development and a diverse project experience across Asia and Pacific. For the past 14 months she has worked in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as part of the 2008 Australian Youth Ambassador for Development program and the 2009 Endeavour Executive Award where she worked primarily with Habitat for Humanity Vietnam on slum mapping projects, low income housing, appropriate technology and participatory design workshops. Lucinda has also worked with the Asian Coalition of Housing Rights in Cambodia, post-tsunami reconstruction projects in Thailand and she was recently elected to the UN-HABITAT Youth Advisory Board. Lucinda will work with AWF to coordinate current and new projects and regional programs in Asia Pacific. Lucinda will also assist with design workshops and the running of the organization. Lucinda is passionate about defining and implementing the critical role that designers can play in development. She looks forward to working with and learning from AWF staff and volunteers to grow the organization and to encourage design professionals generally to contribute to sustainable design solutions for other 90%. Please do not hesitate to contact Lucinda at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rebecca Adams M.Arch (RMIT) B. Arts Melb Uni) - AWF Programs Co-ordinator

Rebecca Adams joined AWF in 2007 because she believes in fairness and equality, and wants to use her skills to make a difference. After working in theatre lighting for many years, she graduated as an architect in 2008. She has two young children. For AWF, Rebecca manages Australian projects, as well as working with supporters and on the website and newsletters. If you email from the AWF website this is who you will be talking to. She looks forward to hearing from you.