Our People

Scott Baty

Director

BEng CPEng NER (Civil & Structural) MIEAust

Scott has been a director with SDA since 2007 after joining in 2000 as the 4th member of staff. With over 25 years’ experience in the design of new structures and the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, Scott has had a key involvement in many of SDA’s key & award-winning projects. One of Scott’s core strengths is in his ability to collaboratively approach the solution to any structural problem which ensures a successful outcome for the client, architect and builder. This is mostly due to Scott’s ability to evaluate the core issues of a structural problem very early in the design process, enabling him to then provide a solid, high level review of conceptional ideas initially. This makes certain that Scott’s projects have the right mixture of innovation & efficiency. A proud Tasmanian, Scott attributes this upbringing for his balance between creative thinking & rational problem-solving, making him an asset to all projects he is involved with.

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Nick Reichinger

Director

MEng (OXON) CPEng NER MIEAust MIStructE

Nick graduated with a Masters in Engineering, Economics and Management from The University of Oxford in 2001. He is a chartered Member of both the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) and Engineers Australia.

Having spent his first few years working in London he moved to Australia in 2003, where since he has worked on a variety of projects including the MCA redevelopment at Circular Quay, a number of Wilkinson Award winning residential projects, and the Sub Base Platypus project in North Sydney.

Nick became a director of SDA in 2018.

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Charles Blumer

Director

BE(Hons) MDes NER MIEAust

Charles graduated with Honours from Sydney University, and also completed a Masters in Design at UNSW COFA. He has over 20 years’ structural engineering experience gained in Australia and the UK. He has worked on a broad range of projects from the smallest domestic and art installation jobs to large public and commercial ones, working with the full range of engineering materials, and has been an integral part of the growth and management of SDA Structures over the past fifteen years. His excitement in engineering comes from being able to quickly identify the structural factors that influence collaborations with architects and builders and thinking laterally to resolve the inevitable design challenges. Over his 20+ years of experience he has built strong working relationships with many creative and talented people, and bringing the best from the unique characteristics of every design/construction team is a process he finds as fascinating as the technical challenges on each project.

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Kevin Mongey

Director

BSc (Eng) EngCert(Civil) CPEng NER MIEAust

Kevin has over 20 years’ experience in the design and construction of structures gained in Ireland, the USA and Australia. He is a Chartered Member of Engineers Australia and a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK). Kevin has led the structural design of Australian Museum-Crystal Hall, Three Capes Track and Castle Cove House, all three of which were awarded for Excellence in Structural Engineering by the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers ACSE NSW. Kevin has collaborated on architecturally awarded projects across Australia including the Sulman Medal winning Kempsey Crescent Head Surf Club and Prince Alfred Park Pool.

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Andrew Simpson

Technical Director

BEng CPEng NER MIEAust MIStructE

Andrew is the founder of SDA and has 35 years’ of experience in the design and construction of building structures in Australia and overseas varying in value of up to $200m. Andrew takes a hands-on approach to all projects that he is responsible for and has been actively involved in all other major commissions that the firm has been awarded. He is past President and current board member of the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers NSW, and holds registration in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

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Marie O’Looney

Associate Director and Operations Lead

B.E. NCEA Dip Eng. CPEng MIEAust NER

’Marie integrates strategic leadership with hands-on engineering expertise to drive transformation, quality, and culture across the practice. With over 20 years’ experience in Australia and Ireland, she has led the design and delivery of award-winning projects recognised with Wilkinson and Harry Seidler Awards for Architectural Excellence. Marie’s dual role reflects the heart of who she is — balancing creativity with structure, people with performance. As a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) in both Leadership & Management and Structural Engineering, she brings a unique blend of technical depth and operational foresight.

Within SDA, Marie leads initiatives that strengthen both business and community: she founded the company social club and SDA Women’s Group, developed the Engineer’s QA Manual to enhance performance, and guides the firm’s knowledge share, WHS and policy frameworks. Her approach ensures SDA not only delivers exceptional projects but also fosters an inclusive, collaborative environment where people thrive. Passionate about the future of engineering, Marie is an advocate for creativity, accessibility, and diversity in the profession. Beyond SDA, she contributes as an ACSE Board Director, co-author, and facilitator, mentoring emerging engineers and engaging with schools to show what’s possible in a career in engineering

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Jack Ledgerwood

Associate Director

B.E.Eng MIEAust

Jack is an associate director with over 10 years’ design experience, coupled with his practical building knowledge enabling him to deliver cost-effective and practical design solutions. His projects have ranged from small architecturally bespoke designs to large-scale developments. Jack works closely with multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. His strong technical skills allow him to solve complex problems with efficient and sustainable solutions. He portrays strong communication skills which ensures the client objectives are achieved within required time frames.

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Ellery Marsh

Associate Director

BE(Hons) CPEng NER MIEAust

Ellery is an Associate Director at SDA with over ten years’ experience in both design and construction.
Having worked on a wide variety of structural projects with international exposure in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK he has broad perspective on the built environment.
With experience working both on site and as a consultant, Ellery has delivered projects and structures in transportation, disaster recovery, heritage conservation and structural architecture.
He is an advocate for sustainable building and environmentally sensitive design and is always keen to incorporate these principles into the designs and projects that he is involved with.

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Lachlan de Blaquiere

Senior Engineer

BEng (Hons) MIEAust

Lachlan graduated with Honours from Sydney University in 2014. He has worked on a number of high profile and award-winning projects including the Marsden Park amenities building, Sydney T1 luxury retail refurbishment and Barangaroo Pavilion. He enjoys working closely and thoroughly with the Architects, Builders and consultants as part of a design team to achieve the best possible unique structural outcome for every project.

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Elana Forbes

Senior Enigneer

MIE

Elana has recently relocated to Sydney from South Africa and brings nearly a decade of structural engineering experience across South Africa, the UK and Middle East. She holds a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering from the university of Pretoria and has developed broad technical expertise spanning both building and infrastructure sectors. She values collaboration, sustainable design, and mentoring emerging engineers to deliver projects with lasting social and environmental impact.

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Mike Moginie

Senior Engineer

BE(Hons)

Mike joined SDA in 2018 and has been a Senior Engineer with SDA since 2023. Mike has a large exposure to a variety of residential and commercial construction plus general building structural refurbishment. With previous experience in post-earthquake remediation and geotechnical reporting in NZ, Mike has brought a well-rounded understanding of structural systems to Sydney.

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Garima Arora

Senior Engineer

Masters in Structural Engineering (NZ)

Garima joined SDA Structures in early 2024, bringing with her extensive experience across both residential and commercial projects gained during her years of practice in New Zealand. She holds a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering and has contributed to several international publications on concrete and materials testing. Garima is passionate about collaborative design and excels at tackling complex engineering challenges. Her dedication to continuous learning, and innovation makes her an invaluable member of the SDA team.

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Karnan Shanmugasundaram

Senior Engineer

MEngSt CPEng NER MIEAust MIStructE

Karnan has recently relocated to Sydney from New Zealand and brings 15 years of experience in structural engineering, covering architectural, industrial, commercial, and civil structures.
Karnan has a strong interest in timber and sustainable design, focusing on practical and resilient solutions that align with architectural intent.
He completed a Master’s degree in Earthquake Engineering Studies at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and was involved in seismic assessments and strengthening works following the Canterbury earthquakes.

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Caroline Coakley

Office Manager

Caroline is the office and business manager at SDA and is the backbone of our in house operations. Caroline leads all aspects of office management and with her valuable corporate experience, marketing skills and expertise, she has optimised our project management and accountancy software systems as an essential member of the team SDA.

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Adam Blatchford

Lead Drafter

Adam has been with SDA since inception, and has been responsible for the implementation of the CAD systems and documentation standards. He has an Associate Diploma in Civil & Structural Engineering and over 30 years’ experience in the industry based in both Australia and Hong Kong.

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Jay White

CAD & BIM Manager

Jay has been with SDA since inception, and has been responsible for the implementation of the CAD systems and documentation standards. He has a National Certificate in Civil Engineering (UK) and has over 25 years’ experience in the design and documentation of building structures and civil infrastructure in Australia and overseas. Jay spent several years as Chief draftsman and Cad Manager on Sydney’s North West Rail Link where he oversaw the documentation from up to 12 different design companies.

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James Liu

CAD & Revit Technician

James is in the drafting team at SDA and has adopted Revit and AutoCAD as his preferred drafting software areas of expertise. James is part of the BIM team at SDA.

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Giorgio Vergara

CAD & Revit Technician

Giorgio is in the drafting team at SDA and uses Revit and AutoCAD as his preferred drafting software areas of expertise. Giorgio is part of the BIM team at SDA.

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Fan Yu

CAD Technician

Fan is a long term member of the SDA team having been with the firm for over 15 years. A qualified engineer himself, Fan has pursued engineering drafting as his primary expertise and at SDA has adopted AutoCAD and Revit as his main operation software.

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Porsiem Tang

Engineer

Sam Hills

Engineer

Ji LI

Engineer

Amanda Dees

Engineer

Eoin Kavanagh

Engineer

Dean Hopson

Engineer

Gabriel Garayalde

Engineer

Sadaf Manshadi

Engineer

Xavier Dao

Engineer

Geoffrey Ni

Engineer

Luke Gardiner

Engineer

Join our Team

If you are a passionate and creative thinking structural engineer we would like to hear from you.