Stephen is a Director and Co-founder of CUSP, having previously established his own firm S.P.L.A.T. in 1993, which he then merged with Cardno in 2007. Stephen is passionate about effecting positive social and environmental change through imaginative and practical design. With an academic grounding in the disciplines of Botany and Geography, Stephen is equipped with a broad-based understanding of urban landscape patterns, geomorphology and ecology. Combined with 35 years’ experience as a Registered Landscape Architect, he has a diverse range of skills and personal capabilities.
Stephen’s inclusive approach to management and coordination with numerous design teams has led to success on a substantial number of projects. His dedication to innovative and environmentally responsive design is evidenced by a long list of awards for urban design, masterplanning, urban renewal, and environmental outcomes at state, national and international levels. Stephen served as the Master Landscape Architect for South Bank Corporation for 10 years and held the same role at Brisbane Airport Corporation for 11 years. Through his direction from 2014 to 2026, CUSP was the Lead Designer of the $450M Queens Wharf “Riverline” project for Destination Brisbane Consortium, winner of the 2025 UDIA National Award for Urban Renewal. He currently serves on the Brisbane City Council Independent Design Advisory Panel and has served on numerous committees such as ULDA and the AILA National Practice Committee.
Being heavily involved in peer review, preparation of project/design critiques, strategic advice and masterplanning, Stephen is widely respected for his industry knowledge and contributions and has acted as an awards judge for AILA, UDIA and LQIA and as a professional mentor and membership examiner for AILA.