Kirsteen Mackay facts for kids

Kirsteen Mackay is an architect from both Britain and Australia. She holds a very important job as the South Australian Government Architect. This means she helps make big decisions about how buildings and public spaces are designed in South Australia.

She is officially registered as an architect in both the United Kingdom and South Australia. This allows her to legally design and oversee building projects in these places.

Kirsteen Mackay's Education and Early Career

Kirsteen Mackay studied architecture at the Glasgow School of Art. After that, she continued her studies in design. She earned a special post-graduate degree from the Royal College of Art in London.

Working in Private Architecture Firms

Kirsteen has a lot of experience, about 15 years, working for private architecture companies. One of these was Marks Barfield Architects. This firm is known for designing interesting buildings.

Leading Design Review in the UK

For four years, Kirsteen was the Head of Design Review at a group called the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) in the UK. CABE's job was to make sure new buildings and public spaces were well-designed. She helped review many projects to ensure they were good for people and the environment.

Starting Her Own Architecture Company

Kirsteen also ran her own architecture company. It was called Springett Mackay Architecture. This shows she has a strong background in leading design projects.

Becoming the South Australian Government Architect

Before her current role, Kirsteen worked in the Office for Design and Architecture SA (ODASA). She was an associate government architect there. This means she was part of the team that advised the government on design matters.

Taking on Leadership Roles

In November 2014, Kirsteen was asked to take on more responsibility. She became the Acting Government Architect. She also became the Acting Manager for Architecture and the Built Environment. These were temporary roles where she showed her leadership skills.

Appointed to a Permanent Role

In July 2015, Kirsteen Mackay was officially appointed as the South Australian Government Architect. This is a permanent and very important position.

What the Government Architect Does

In her role, Kirsteen leads a team called the Architecture and Built Environment Directorate. This team is part of the SA Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure. They work on planning and building projects across South Australia. She also leads the SA Design Review program. This program makes sure that new building projects meet high design standards.