Where are they now? Annelise Tiller (TC 1996): Redesigning a career path

Annelise Tiller (née Porter, TC 1996) began a Bachelor of Science Geomatics with a major in Mathematics while living at Trinity. Early in her second year she was still unsure of her academic choice, and by the following semester she had made a brave change of degree, which wove her passion of music and maths into a career of design. 

Annelise enjoyed her time at Trinity as a pipe organ bursar while making close friends with whom she continues to stay in touch.  During her second year at College, she took a part-time role working at Naughton’s Hotel, where she not only served her college peers but met Kim Tiller, who would later become her husband. 

‘Trinity offered me an exciting introduction to Melbourne, built my confidence and became a launching pad to subsequent adventures,’ says Annelise.

In 2002, she graduated top of her year in Interior Design at RMIT and was thereon employed by Melbourne City Council Design & Culture for her thesis on Sandridge Bridge. She worked for Williams Boag Architects for two years while lecturing part-time in interior design at RMIT and completed her architecture studies in 2005. Motivated by the opportunity to work overseas and travel, newlyweds Annelise and Kim embarked on a journey to the Middle East. For Annelise, this was her cue to carve out a highly successful international architecture career, spending 13 years in the Middle East, including 6 years in Qatar where they welcomed the birth of their two children.

Annelise worked with Kann Finch in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), then joined GHD and Katara Hospitality in Doha, Qatar. Upon her return to the UAE in 2016 she re-joined GHD to deliver projects across the Middle East, Africa and India. Some of her project highlights include renovation of a Royal Palace, residential and office towers, a project for Lighthouse Oil & Gas, Raffles and Fairmont hotels and, more recently, Porsche facilities and museum and retail projects. 

In 2018 Annelise was elected as councillor for the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) International Chapter. She was also appointed the 2019 Jury Chair for the upcoming International Chapter Architecture Awards to be hosted in RAIA in Dubai on 29 June. These prestigious awards recognise Australian architects and firms who have made international contributions in the architecture field.

‘I am honoured to collaborate with such amazing talent and look forward to celebrating our winners at the upcoming event in Dubai along with attendance of the RAIA CEO, international chair, national president, institute members and industry professionals around the globe,’ says Annelise.

Annelise is passionate about gender equality in architecture, particularly at the senior level, given it is a field that has been largely male dominated in the past. She is also supportive and encouraging of opportunities available for Australian architects to work overseas.

‘Provision for opportunity of equal achievement is only the beginning,’ she says. ‘As we strive for equity in the workplace we must look beyond gender and apply principles of inclusiveness.’

Annelise and her young family are moving back to Australia at the end of this year and will be living only a five-minute walk from Trinity in a house she designed, and which her husband is now building.

‘I look forward to re-engaging with Melbourne’s vibrant architecture and interior design industry and the opportunity to apply experience and cultural knowledge gained abroad to our local context.’

Follow Annelise on Instagram.