Mode architecture and design studio announces the appointment of Alayna Renata as one of two new Directors to support the firm’s strategic objectives.

Renata is not only Mode’s first female technical Director, but also the youngest and only member of the management team with indigenous heritage. Of Māori ancestry (Kai Tahu ki Puketeraki me Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau), she has developed skills in understanding and interpreting indigenous values in a landscape context. Renata has also acted as Secretary (Kaiwhakahaere) for the Māori Landscape Architects Group (known as Te Tau-a-Nuku).

Since her appointment as Group Landscape Manager in 2014, Renata has led the Landscape Architecture division to turn it into one of Mode’s most forward thinking and innovative sectors in the multidisciplinary firm.

Commenting on the new appointment, Rhonan O’Brien observed it was important for Mode’s managerial team to reflect both gender and geographic diversity, adding that the addition of Ms Renata further enhanced this objective.

According to O’Brien, diversity, especially at leadership levels, helps bring new ideas, and develops a new corporate culture, which is nearly always required when organisations are growing at an unprecedented rate.

Being a Registered Landscape Architect (AILA/ NZILA), Renata brings considerable knowledge and experience and has helped promote Innovation Capitalisation to further the practice. For over a decade Renata has contributed at both national and international levels to understanding and interpreting indigenous values in a landscape context. Well versed in indigenous landscape matters, she has presented a paper at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference in 2011, and is currently completing a PhD on the integration of indigenous values into landscape architecture.

Alayna Renata looks forward to expanding Mode's business globally and leveraging their relationship with clients around the world. Her vision and leadership skills will help Mode continue to maintain, develop and extend its multidisciplinary services across Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.