THE JDA Co. TEAM

James Davidson

Reg. Architect (QLD), B.Arch (Hons 1), PhD

James Davidson is the founder and Principal of JDA Co. — the preferred architecture and design practice for governments, councils and private enterprises adapting urban environments to withstand floods, cyclones, bushfires, storm surges and extreme heat.

James is a lead technical advisor to the Queensland Government’s $741M Resilient Homes Fund. JDA Co. assisted in the design and implementation of this landmark program, which has since been replicated in other Australian states. It follows the rollout of the Flood Resilient Homes Program for the Brisbane City Council — Australia’s largest local government authority — for which JDA Co. was a delivery partner. James has also partnered with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and local Queensland councils to deliver flood-resilient building guidelines.

James holds a Doctorate in Architecture, is a previous Director of Emergency Architects Australia and a Winston Churchill Fellow. He is also the author of Waterfutures: Integrated water and flood management strategies for enhancing liveability in Southeast Queensland.

Clive Ba-Pe

Reg. Architect (QLD), B.ArchDes, M.Arch

Clive joined JDA Co. due to his strong interest in progressive, climate-responsive architecture and his passion for remote and challenging design. Having previously worked in graphic design and illustration, Clive is always looking for ways to improve a situation through design and visual communication. Through this passion, he has been heavily involved in the design and development of multiple publications including State government's Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes & the Water Futures book.

Being of Burmese heritage, Clive is particularly interested in architecture’s role in Asia, having undertaken post-tsunami housing research in Tohoku, Japan. He hopes to one day work on meaningful projects in Myanmar. Clive is also the 3D visual artist at JDA Co and a laser scanning technician at SpatialOps.

Libby Ba-Pe

Reg. Architect (QLD), B.ArchDes, M.Arch

Libby is a registered architect in Queensland and NSW and an associate at JDA Co. Over the past nine years, Libby has worked on a number of small and large scale private residential projects in Brisbane. She provides a diverse and valuable range of skills and knowledge across all project phases.

At JDA Co, she has been heavily involved in the practice’s climate change adaptation work. She has been instrumental in managing the roll out of the Flood Resilient Homes Program for Brisbane City Council. This initiative was the largest residential flood resilience program in Australia at the time. Under Libby’s leadership, the JDA Co. team produced over 150 built examples of flood-resilient design in Brisbane.

Arjan Sandhu

Architectural Graduate, B.ArchDes, M.Arch

Arjan joined JDA Co. in 2018 whilst studying at the University of Queensland. Since then, he has contributed to a range of heritage projects, including cultural, educational and residential work. Arjan’s key area of interest is implementing JDA Co.’s 3D laser scanning service — a technology used to gather on-site data, accurately and precisely. Capturing one-million points per second, whilst rotating 360degrees, the scanner allows Arjan to collate vital information to formulate 3D project models. In particular, Arjan is excited by the opportunity to deploy this technology to assist in the design of more accessible spaces for people living with disabilities.

Arjan first met James Davidson in Malaysia, when Arjan was a New Colombo Plan scholar — a sought-after scholarship that allowed him to study in the Indo-Pacific region where James was teaching at the time. Arjan has long admired James’ drive to deploy architecture to help improve the lives of regional communities and home owners battling challenging climates.

Dylan Secis

Architectural Graduate, B.ArchDes, M.Arch

Dylan studied architecture at the Queensland University of Technology. He has seven years’ experience working on residential and education projects, developing a far-reaching skillset — from documentation and drawing through to project delivery. During this time, Dylan contributed to several significant education projects including early learning centres and secondary colleges. His residential experience extends to new builds and refurbishments for single dwellings and townhouses.

A long-time admirer of JDA Co.’s climate adaptation work, Dylan relishes the studio’s commitment to helping clients leverage good design to fortify the futures of where and how they live. After all, Dylan believes architecture has the power to make long-term, positive change in our communities.

Kane Murray

Technical Detailer, (Cert) Engineering and Construction

Kane brings 25+ years’ drafting experience to JDA Co. He has worked extensively across North Queensland and remote island locations. Understanding the nuances of regional sites makes Kane an ideal fit for JDA Co. — a studio at ease working on geographically remote and often challenging sites.

Integral in enabling a design to be effectively and efficiently executed, Kane collaborates widely. He is responsible for coordinating a range of disciplines, including building, engineering, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical contractors. All who work with him, know Kane as an exceptional problem solver — able to identify innovative ways to realise an architect’s vision.

Kane spent five years living and working in the UK, in roles that saw him contribute to the success of large-scale, complex projects. His international career highlights include senior drafting roles on a mixed-use project linking to the 2012 Olympic Games stadium, and a significant Shepherd’s Bush retail hub, combining transport links and hospitality outlets.