Sydney, Australia – October 2025 – Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) is delighted to announce that Tara Veldman, Managing Director & Principal, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Australian Health Design Council (AHDC) Gold Medal Award. The announcement was made today at the AHDC Annual General Meeting, with the formal presentation to take place
at the 2025 AHDC Conference (27-29 October 2025).
The AHDC Gold Medal recognises exemplary leadership and impactful contribution in healthcare design in Australia. Tara has been honoured for her visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, and transformative contributions to healthcare environments across Australia and internationally.
“I’m deeply honoured to receive this inaugural award,” said Tara Veldman. “This recognition reflects the incredible work of our entire BLP team and our valued collaborators – the clinicians, patients, stakeholders and communities who partner with us to reimagine what healthcare environments can be. Together, we’re proving that thoughtful, evidence-based design has the
power to heal.”
The AHDC judging committee members advised that “Tara has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to healthcare design through her visionary leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Her leadership on major projects in Australia has set new benchmarks for care. While her influence is strongest at the facility level, she also contributes as a thought leader and mentor, sharing knowledge and inspiring emerging designers, thereby shaping the future of healthcare design through both practice and professional development”.
Transforming Healthcare Through Translational Design
With over 20 years in healthcare design, Tara has been instrumental in establishing BLP’s reputation as a leader in evidence-based healthcare architecture. She launched BLP’s Sydney office in 2011, growing it from a solo operation to a team of 70 professionals, and became Managing Director of the national business in 2020.
Under her leadership, BLP has pioneered “translational design” – a collaborative methodology that brings together architects, researchers, clinicians, and patients to create healing environments grounded in rigorous evidence and deep empathy. This approach integrates environmental psychology, patient feedback, and cutting-edge research into every stage of the design process.
Tara’s commitment to collaboration and evidence-based practice has not only delivered exceptional outcomes for clients and communities but has elevated the entire profession’s understanding of how design can contribute to healing and wellbeing.
Award-Winning Projects Redefining Healthcare
Tara has led some of Australia’s most significant healthcare projects, including:
Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre – a once-in-a-generation investment in paediatric care, setting a new national benchmark for how healing spaces and care journeys directly transform children’s health outcomes, integrating care, cancer research, and family support in one purpose-built space – a first for Australia.
The Children’s Hospital, Westmead Stage 2 – Designed in parallel with the above hospital, using biophilic design principles, natural light, and physical connections to green spaces, with a welcoming kids park entrance and vibrantly coloured walkways.
Campbelltown Hospital – The $632 million redevelopment pioneered the integration of mental health services with mainstream care across six floors. The project features outdoor “backyards,” co-created First Nations art, biophilic elements, and calming green spaces that reduce the clinical feel of traditional hospitals.
Advancing Global Healthcare Design
Tara’s influence extends well beyond project delivery. She is a regular presenter at the European Healthcare Design Conference in London, contributed to the Government Architect NSW’s Design Guide for Health, and actively collaborates with academic researchers to advance evidence-based healthcare design practice.
Her thought leadership has been featured in numerous industry publications exploring how human-centred design is transforming healthcare environments.
Championing Diversity and Mentorship
As one of few female CEOs in the construction industry, Tara is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. In 2025, she participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 69th Session in New York with the Champions of Change Coalition, representing and advocating for women in leadership roles.
At BLP, Tara mentors emerging designers, leads vision workshops, and supports research partnerships. She is an active member of the UIA Public Health Group, Champions of Coalition, AHDC, and the Australian Institute of Architects, promoting the development of future leaders in healthcare architecture.
About Billard Leece Partnership
Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) is a multi-award-winning architectural practice specialising in healthcare design. With studios in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Singapore, and partner offices in New Zealand and Tasmania, BLP is recognised internationally for its translational design approach – bringing together evidence-based research, clinical expertise, and human-centred design to create healing environments. The practice has delivered state-of-the-art healthcare facilities across Australia and Asia, consistently setting new standards for patient and staff wellbeing.
About the AHDC Gold Medal
The Australian Health Design Council Gold Medal is awarded for exemplary leadership and impactful contribution in healthcare design in Australia. Recipients demonstrate visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, passion for improving environments for patients and staff, innovation, collaboration, and ethical practice.
