Professional Contribution - 2023 Western Australian Heritage Awards

An individual who has made a significant contribution to heritage and has demonstrated best practice standards through their employment in the heritage industry.
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Winner

WA Heritage Award 2023 winner logo

Alex Jones, Professional, Western Australian Solid Plastering and Construction Industry

Alex Jones has spent the past 10 years promoting training and the sharing of heritage skills in Western Australia’s solid plastering and construction industry. Alex is passionate about all aspects of this craft and enjoys applying heritage techniques to restore and conserve historical buildings.

His notable projects include the WA Museum Boola Bardip’s Parthenon Frieze replica, Birchmont Homestead, Perth’s Palace Hotel, Narrogin Municipal Power House and renovations on His Majesty’s Hotel. Recent work on Birchmont Homestead required Alex to recreate 1860s rendering, plastering and coating technology to uplift a single-storey limestone rubble building that was in disrepair.

Alex works with two not-for-profit organisations, the West Australian Solid Plastering Association and Heritage Skills Association WA. This voluntary work gives Alex a platform to deliver training and share his heritage skills with emerging professionals.

Since the re-establishment of the West Australian Solid Plastering Association in 2015, members have trained more than 100 apprentices in heritage skills, helping to ensure a healthy heritage sector into the future.

Alex Jones

Commendation

WA Heritage Award 2023 commendation logo

Martin Silk, Managing Director, Quoin Consulting

 Martin Silk has more than 25 years' experience in structural remediation, repair and re-purposing of heritage-listed properties. He is passionate about adding lasting value to the history of Western Australia by preserving the structural integrity of heritage-listed and other older properties of cultural, architectural, historic, aesthetic or sentimental value.

Martin's portfolio spans various heritage projects, including town halls and public buildings, churches, government buildings, residential properties, facades, public landmarks and the stabilisation of ruins. The unique features, craftsmanship or design elements of these structures require careful structural design and knowledge of historical design and building techniques and material for long-term preservation.

Martin continues to be an active member of Perth’s heritage community. He shares his dedication for heritage engineering with a small team of graduate engineers, focussing on developing their skills and leaving a lasting legacy.

Martin Silk, Managing Director, Quoin Consulting

Finalists

Flavia Kiperman, Director and Principal Heritage Team, Element Advisory

Flavia Kiperman has more than 20 years’ experience in heritage and architecture, leading practices in Brazil and Western Australia. She is currently the Director and Principal of the Element Advisory heritage team.

In 2018, she became Western Australia’s representative on the Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Executive Committee. She became the 2022-23 Vice President of Australia ICOMOS in the lead-up to the 21st General Assembly. The appointment reflects her extensive contribution to ICOMOS in Australia and to heritage best practice.

Flavia is a registered architect and member of the Institute of Architects WA Chapter Heritage Advisory Group. She is also a member of the National Trust of Western Australia and several local government design advisory panels. She contributes to the continuing development of young and emerging professionals through her work with Curtin University, giving guest lectures and specialist feedback for adaptive reuse design studios.

Her commitment to best practice heritage outcomes is evident in every facet of her professional contribution, and she has played a significant role in building the profile of heritage practice in Western Australia at a local, state, national and international level.

Flavia Kiperman, Director and Principal Heritage Team, Element Advisory

Geoff Moor, Heritage Officer, City of Canning

Geoff Moor’s knowledge of Canning’s history and heritage is deep and broad, and his contribution to heritage matters for the City and state has been significant.

Geoff has worked with the city for almost 42 years. His personal passion for heritage led to a degree in Museum Studies and in 2015, at the age of 70, he became the City’s Heritage Officer. He has been pivotal in the development of the City’s Heritage Master Plan and reviews of the Local Government Heritage Surveys. Geoff also helped to establish heritage-related programs, supervising the Local History Librarian, liaising with local history organisations and delivering local history talks and presentations.

He shares his wealth of knowledge for Canning’s history with his peers, colleagues and the community.

Geoff Moor, Heritage Officer, City of Canning