Arup has expanded its First Nations leadership team across Australia and New Zealand with two key appointments, reinforcing its commitment to cultural integrity, reconciliation, and inclusive design.
Respected leader and proud Gomeroi woman Melanie Grills has been appointed as Arup’s First Nations Lead, Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). The newly created role reports directly to Liam O’Donohue, Managing Principal for ANZ, marking a major milestone in the firm’s reconciliation journey.
“Melanie’s new role is a testament to her commitment to cultural integrity, as well as the success of our First Nations workstreams which have matured into established and impactful business functions,” said O’Donohue.
Grills said she is encouraged by the progress made in building strong relationships with First Nations communities and in embedding cultural knowledge within Arup’s projects. “This puts us in a strong position to further bolster these connections, foster true partnerships, and ensure Arup’s commitments continue to translate into meaningful outcomes,” she said.
In her new role, Grills will oversee all First Nations workstreams across ANZ, including First Nations Project Services, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Network, Arup’s Reconciliation Action Plan, and the Indigenous Procurement Strategy.
Arup has also appointed Shay McMahon, a proud Yuin woman, as First Nations Strategic Design Lead. McMahon brings a decade of experience in architecture, urban design, and planning, with a strong focus on integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into contemporary design practices.
In her role, McMahon will support clients through Arup’s Designing with Country initiative—embedding Country-centered design principles across key projects and collaborating with Traditional Custodians to ensure built environments reflect and respect Aboriginal cultural values and identity.
“I’m excited to join a company that values cultural integrity and design excellence,” said McMahon. “I believe there’s a delicate interplay of exploration through engagement required to understand design outcomes, one that honours the rich intersection of cultural, ecological, and place-based principles.”
O’Donohue concluded, “These changes mark an important milestone in our reconciliation journey, recognising that First Nations leadership is central to our firm’s commitments. We reaffirm our collective responsibility to nurture cultural understanding, drive positive impact, and embed First Nations principles across our business.”
