Abbie Galvin

Galvin was appointed the 24th New South Wales Government Architect on 1 October 2019, the first female in the role's 200-year history.

Galvin has won numerous design competitions at the University of Western Australia including the RAIA Travel Grant for Design Excellence. Galvin's reputation in architecture has been steadily increasing, she has been featured in the Architecture Bulletin discussing gender equality in the Australian architecture industry. In the article she admits that there must be change in the industry; stating that current industry practices "...make it extremely difficult for women who are attempting to balance a career and children, and it is not until these issues are addressed that we will see higher levels of female representation and retention". (Architecture Bulletin Sep/Oct 2012, p16). In addition, Galvin has contributed in newspaper publications such as The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.

In 2009 Abbie gained further recognition in the Australian Architecture Institution after being involved in one of the largest projects undertaken by BVN. This was the $1 billion redevelopment of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, and the redesign of the HMAS Creswell training college located in Jervis Bay.

After years of working for small architectural practices, Galvin contacted the Museum of Sydney in regards to an opportunity about developing a public program focusing on architecture. Inspired by the Chicago Open, Galvin organised and co-ordinated the Sydney Open, which was first presented by Sydney Living Museums in 1997. Throughout her working career Galvin has been a dedicated contributor to an accreditation panel through the Australian Institute of Architecture, her role consisting of monitoring and accessing university courses. Galvin occasionally lectures and is a regularly a guest critic for students. She has been on the judging panel alongside Richard Hassell, Sean Godsell and Peter Corrigan for the inaugural ALVA student architecture competition at the University of Western Australia.

Abbie joined BVN Architecture in the mid-1990s and rose to the position of principal, an owner of the practice. She worked on large-scale projects ranging from hospitals, multi-residential housing, and research buildings. Galvin communicates her designs through narrative proposals to gain a client's understanding of complex building designs.

After completion of high school Galvin commenced a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Western Australia in 1988. Galvin learnt from a variety of different educators including Geoffrey London, Simon Anderson, Michael Markham, Charlie Mann, Peter Brew, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall. Two key influential figures outlined above were Geoffrey London and Simon Anderson they "…created an environment of complete experimentation". This environment exposed Galvin to various creative processes that are relative to problem solving aspects of architecture. Galvin graduated from the Bachelor of Architecture with honours in 1992 where she began her first job at Hames Sharley.

Abbie Galvin was the leading architect of Stockland's new head office. This building is a redevelopment of an existing 1980s office block; it became Australia's first rated 6 Star Green Energy Efficient office (Office Interiors v1.1 building). Winning seven awards in total that included the BPN Environ Sustainability Award for Office Fit Out (2008) and Wirtschafts Woche 2008 Best Office Award (Cologne, Germany). Key to the design is the centralised eight-storey atrium.

Abbie Galvin (born 1970) is the 24th NSW Government Architect. Formerly a Principal of Australian architecture, urban design and interior design practice BVN Architecture. She is a registered Architect in NSW, Victoria, ACT and SA and is also a member of the Australian Architecture Association.

Born in Vancouver in 1970, Galvin, along with her parents and two younger brothers moved to the inner suburbs of Perth when she was 6 years old. Galvin's father is an architect and her mother is a nurse.