People
Collaborating with our clients and a diversity of industry leaders, our team is focused on resolving problems and enhancing investment returns with design principles and community integration that gets better with age.
Joe D’Alessandro
With 19 years industry experience, Place Development Co-Founder Joe D’Alessandro is a built-form specialist exploring all onsite opportunities for every project. His architectural background alongside in-depth experience in site acquisition, due diligence and site analysis allows him to unlock the maximum value of a site. Coupled with an in- depth knowledge of the WA market and understanding of planning and considered design, he has been integrally involved in the successful design and delivery of over 1000 residential units, as well as multiple restaurants, bars and hotels in Australia and overseas.
Joe specialises in;
+ Due diligence & acquisition
+ Design management & procurement
+ Residential and commercial architecture
Joe has a unique ability to simultaneously consider the micro and macro elements of a project’s design based on his broad experience on the start-to-finish lifecycle of projects.
Joe is a Registered Architect (#2941) after studying at University of Western Australia and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture.
Rob Bates-Smith
Rob Bates-Smith brings a unique expertise and perspective to mixed-use developments, garnered from a diverse 25-year history in International hospitality and project master planning.
As project lead, Rob is responsible for end-to-end design and delivery of complex projects, bridging conceptual planning with robust due diligence and team leadership focused on development outcomes beyond Practical Completion.
Rob specialises in;
+ Precinct and mixed-use master planning
+ Development framework setting
+ Commercial partner engagement
+ negotiations
+ Stakeholder management
+ Development mix curation
+ Transition to operation
+ Asset management
Rob holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Oenology from Curtin University. He is also a founding partner of several successful food, beverage and retail ventures.
David Roberts
With 14 years’ experience in Development Management, Place Development Co-Founder David Roberts plays an integral role in large highly complex development projects offering the technical expertise and in-depth understanding of the intricacies involved in all phases of delivery.
David specialises in;
+ Feasibilities and project analysis
+ Engaging and managing service providers, contractors and consultants
+ Preparing and documenting project requirement briefs
+ The development approval process
+ Financial reporting and cost control
A well-travelled and resourceful problem solver, David is driven to implement good ideas in the most effective way for project success.
He holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Design from Cape Peninsula University
david@placedevelopment.com.au
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Hayley Swift
Hayley fulfills her role at Place Development alongside its sister business, Swift Brown Fox, of which she founded and has successfully directed since 2010.
Her specialised, in-depth communications experience across the WA and Australian property industry is utilised to provide strategic advice in the early stages of every Place Development project - ensuring effective frameworks from the outset of projects that offer pragmatism and longevity.
Hayley also acts as project lead on key Place Development projects, being responsible for end-to-end design and delivery of complex, boutique projects.
Hayley specialises in;
+ Strategic B2B and B2C communications planning
+ Stakeholder engagement
+ Brand strategy, development & implementation
+ Sales & Marketing strategy, development & implementation
+ Multi-residential & mixed-use development
Hayley holds a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Journalism & Indonesian from Curtin University.
David Sorgiovanni
With nine years’ experience working across large-scale commercial, residential and mixed-use development across Australia, David is a dynamic and adaptable project manager, with a robust understanding of all aspects of land and property development.
David specialises in;
+ Feasibility testing and project analysis
+ Fiscal project management and consultant management
+ Town planning and approvals processes
+ Concept design
David’s core interest lies in end-to-end project management and walking clients through each phase of property development to realise their project vision.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial & Management Accounting and is a Graduate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
In 2019 David was a UDIA Young Professional of the Year finalist.
Reyne Dial
Reyne Dial brings specialised planning experience with his continued in-depth navigation of the Western Australian strategic and statutory planning landscape.
He brings comprehensive urban design experience alongside regularly overseeing the statutory approvals process from the initial design phase through to final implementation. This includes working through the conceptual design and approvals phase of Structure Plans, Local Development Plans, Subdivision Applications and also statutory processes such as Scheme Amendments and Development Applications.
Reyne specialises in;
+ Statutory & strategic planning
+ Urban design
+ Engaging and managing service providers, contractors and consultants
+ Preparing and documenting project requirement briefs
+ Due diligence & acquisition
Reyne is driven by high quality outcomes and is a passionate advocate for good design. He seeks to achieve this through early engagement and collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure the vision for the project is maintained from the initial inception stage through to final delivery.
He holds a Bachelor of Planning from Edith Cowan University.
Patrick Miller
Patrick Miller applies a valuable lens to Place’s portfolio of complex and interesting property assets with a unique skillset borne from his former role as Director and Principal Architect of Finespun Architecture.
Patrick specialises in;
+ Residential & commercial architecture
+ Project & construction management
+ Design management & procurement
+ New builds, refurbishment and adaptive re-use of heritage property
Patrick’s down-to-earth nature and level of sensibility is no doubt borne from his inherently positive disposition, coupled with over 20-years experience in dealing with the intricacies of the WA property and construction industry. He is well-versed in both new builds and building refurbishments, with extensive experience in adaptive re-use of heritage property.
His fundamental belief that soul should be the key texture of any project, shines through in his accomplishments to date.
Pat is a Registered Architect (#2318) and holds a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) and Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Architectural Drafting).
He currently acts as a Design Review Panel member for the City of Bayswater.
Left-Right: Hayley Swift, Rob Bates-Smith, David Roberts, Joe D’Alessandro
