Relocating from New York, where he formerly led Populous’ aviation practice across the Americas, Ax joins Woods Bagot in Western Australia to focus on the delivery of the landmark Perth Airport redevelopment, a project that will create a next-generation aviation hub for Australia. 

For Ax, the opportunity to join Woods Bagot was driven by a shared belief in design’s ability to shape how people experience and connect with places. 

“What drew me to Woods Bagot is its view of design as part of a much bigger conversation about people, places and the future of our cities,” says Ax. 

“The firm’s vision of ‘Architecture for Worlds Ahead’ and the broader 7C Network approach to total place design aligns closely with my own belief that great design begins with understanding the people we’re designing for.” 

That people-first approach has been central to Ax’s career. He has championed research-led design methodologies that combine passenger insights and operational data to inform airport planning and create better user experiences. 

“Airports are extraordinary places because they bring together thousands of people travelling for completely different reasons, whether for business, holidays, family reunions or significant life moments.” 

“The more we understand those experiences, the better we can design environments that support them. Some of the most successful projects I’ve worked on have started by listening closely to passengers, gathering real-world insights and using that knowledge to create more meaningful outcomes.” 

It is this intersection of people, infrastructure and place that makes the Perth Airport redevelopment particularly compelling for Ax. 

“Perth Airport is a very exciting project,” says Ax. “Its impact extends far beyond the airport, with the potential to strengthen Perth’s role as a major international gateway and connecting Australia to the world in a new way. I’m looking forward to helping deliver an exceptional outcome for the client, stakeholders and the millions of passengers who will use it for decades to come.” 

His appointment comes as Woods Bagot continues to expand its aviation portfolio, with major airport, transport and infrastructure projects spanning Australia and international markets, including the newly completed Western Sydney International Airport and Seattle Tacoma International Airport. 

Kukame McPierzie, Woods Bagot Principal and Project Director for Perth Airport, said Ax’s appointment brings world-class aviation leadership to one of Australia’s most significant city-shaping projects. 

“Geoffrey is an internationally respected aviation leader whose experience spans some of the world’s most complex airport environments,” says McPierzie. 

“His deep understanding of passenger experience, operations and stakeholder collaboration will be invaluable as we deliver the next phase of Perth Airport’s redevelopment. We’re thrilled to welcome Geoffrey to Perth and look forward to the impact his expertise will have on both the project and our broader aviation practice.” 

Ax will represent Woods Bagot at the upcoming Passenger Terminal Expo Asia, where he will join industry leaders on the panel ‘Designing the Skies – Integrating AAM into Asia’s Hyper-Dense Cities.  

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Adrien Moffatt
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