Kate Macdonald

Kate is an associate principal in our Australian architecture studio, bringing over 20 years of experience in delivering complex infrastructure projects across Defence, aviation, transport, and tertiary education.

Kate’s career spans deeply technical work for clients including the Australian Department of Defence, Qantas Airways, Airservices Australia, Northrop Grumman, Transport for NSW, and several regional airports and universities. Her expertise in aviation infrastructure encompasses the design of terminals, aircraft hangars, aerobridges, simulator training facilities, logistics hubs, and support buildings.

Kate is known for her people-centric approach and strong client relationships. She is passionate about delivering mission-driven, place-based solutions that balance performance, sustainability, innovation, and impact. Her design ethos is grounded in meaningful collaboration — working closely with clients, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams from concept through to delivery.

At HDR, Kate works across our global multidisciplinary network — including building engineering, aviation, and transportation — to address the evolving needs of highly technical sectors through integrated, high-performance solutions.