Episode Title: Joint Ventures, Leadership & Designing at Scale with BKK Architects
Guests:
Simon Knott — Director, BKK Architects
Missy Saleeba — Practice Manager, BKK Architects
What happens when collaboration becomes a competitive advantage?
In This Episode:
In this episode, Seton sit down with Simon Knott and Missy Saleeba of BKK Architects to explore how joint ventures, trust-led leadership, and long-term partnerships are shaping the future of architectural practice.
In EP12 of the podcast, we go inside one of Australia’s most respected architectural practices — BKK Architects — to unpack how large-scale collaboration really works.
Simon and Missy share honest insights into:
• Why joint ventures are becoming essential in complex projects
• How leadership shifts when multiple practices come together
• The importance of clarity, trust, and shared values
• What it takes to design and deliver at scale without losing integrity
Connect and Follow Simon Knott & Missy Saleeba:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonknott-bkkarchitects
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missysaleebabkkarchitects
Website: https://b-k-k.com.au/
Takeaways:
- Joint ventures succeed when values are aligned — not just capabilities
- Strong collaboration requires clear roles, trust, and accountability Leadership in architecture is shifting from control to coordination
- Scale doesn’t have to dilute design intent when systems are right
- Long-term relationships outperform short-term wins
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to BKK Architects
03:20 – Why joint ventures are becoming more common
08:45 – Leadership dynamics in collaborative models
14:10 – Trust, governance, and decision-making
19:30 – Designing at scale without losing integrity
25:40 – Lessons learned from complex partnerships
30:00 – The future of collaboration in architecture
Sound Bites / Quotes:
“Joint ventures work best when there’s absolute clarity on intent and responsibility.”
“You can’t collaborate effectively without trust — and trust takes time.”
“Design quality doesn’t disappear at scale; it just requires stronger frameworks.”
Referenced in This Episode:
- Practice & Collaboration
- BKK Architects https://www.bkk.com.au
- Australian Institute of Architects – Practice & Collaboration Resources https://www.architecture.com.au/explore/practice
- Joint Ventures in Construction & Design (Infrastructure Australia) https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au
- Leadership & Governance
- Harvard Business Review – Collaborative Leadership https://hbr.org/topic/collaboration
- Governance in Professional Partnerships (AICD) https://www.aicd.com.au
- Designing at Scale
- Design Quality Frameworks – Office of the NSW Government Architect https://www.governmentarchitect.nsw.gov.au
- Large-Scale Project Delivery & Integrated Teams (McKinsey Insights) https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights
LET’S BE CONNECTED