Championing Inclusivity and Design for Community
Championing Inclusivity and Design for Community: Ivy Zivic Featured at Sydney Build Expo 2025
We’re proud to celebrate Ivy Zivic (Ivana Zivicnjak), Associate and Urban Planner in our Sydney studio, who was recently featured in an article highlighting her inspiring journey as a woman in architecture and urban planning.
With over 14 years of international experience, Ivy brings a deeply considered approach to designing people-first places, drawing on her background across Europe and Australia. Her expertise sits at the intersection of architecture and planning, with a passion for shaping urban environments that prioritise sustainability, inclusivity, and community connection.
At Sydney Build Expo 2025, Ivy and the MODE team (Max Weston, Tim Williams) led a well-received workshop titled “Designing Sport and Recreation Precincts as Community Hubs”. The session explored how integrated design thinking can transform recreational infrastructure into vibrant, inclusive spaces that enhance community wellbeing.
In her interview with Sydney Build Expo, Ivy reflected on her path into the profession and the importance of diverse voices in shaping the built environment. Her message to emerging women in the industry was clear and empowering:
“Gender does not define capability or potential for success. Embrace who you are, challenge the status quo, and collaborate to create lasting, positive impact.”
This sentiment strongly reflects MODE’s ethos and our CONNECTED BY DESIGN philosophy, where diversity of gender, culture, discipline, and sector is not only encouraged, but embedded in the way we work. It’s this richness of perspective that strengthens our teams, leads to more meaningful outcomes, and empowers both our projects and our clients.
Ivy’s work demonstrates the impact of thoughtful design and strong leadership in delivering real-world outcomes for communities, both in the studio and on the national stage. We’re proud to see her contributions recognised—and even prouder to see the inspiration she provides to the next generation of female leaders in our studios.