Maia Cavendish is a Senior Urban Designer and Planner at Archipelago, bringing a unique blend of professional expertise and artistic creativity to her work. With extensive experience spanning local and international projects, she specialises in strategic planning, urban policy, graphic representation of built environments, and delivering urban design and planning advice to public and private sector clients. Her work is diverse - including GIS investigations, Enquiry by Design and creative community and stakeholder engagement.
Maia is also a multidisciplinary artist and educator, with her creative practice enriching her ability to foster community engagement and design innovative solutions. A Churchill Fellow (2023), Maia undertook an international study exploring informal urban art’s role in shaping public spaces, further advancing her interest in strengthening place identity through creative expression. She also enjoys teaching urban design at QUT, and is actively involved with the Planning Institute of Australia as graphic designer and deputy editor of the QLD/NT journal.
Her academic credentials include a Master of Science (Urbanism Studies) from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, and a Bachelor of Urban Development (Urban & Regional Planning) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Maia’s professional journey spans work in Sweden, Denmark, and Colombia, where she gained diverse insights into placemaking and urban design. Based in Brisbane, she combines her neurodiverse perspective with her passion for art, urban systems, and community capacity-building, creating meaningful contributions to projects and public discourse.
- Bachelor of Urban Development (Urban & Regional Planning) (Honours), QUT
- Master of Science (Urbanism Studies), Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) Royal Institute of Technology
- Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
- Churchill Fellow 2023 (Queensland): The Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to investigate the implementation of informal urban art in residual urban spaces
- Planning and Urban Design Tutor (2020-ongoing)
Professional Leadership
- Women in Planning Network Committee (PIA), 2022-ongoing
- PIA Qld/NT Journal Editorial Committee, ongoing
- Gender Equity Working Group (PIA), 2023-24
- Queensland Young Planners Committee (PIA), 2022
- All Hallows’ School Board Property Committee, 2020–22
- Mango Hill Mixed Use Development, Concept Master Plan
- Morayfield Neighbourhood Plan
- Urban Design Advice for Economic Development Queensland 2020-2022*
- Croydon Road Precinct Streetscape Planning and Activation, Logan*
- Great Places Program, Moreton Bay Regional Council*
- Sunshine Coast Mass Transit EbDs, Sunshine Coast Council*
- Vision South Bank EbD, Brisbane*
- Tweed Regional City Action Plan, NSW DPIE*
- Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct Structure Plan, NSW DPIE*
- Kallangur Town Centre Improvement Strategy, Moreton Bay Regional Council*
* Experience prior to Archipelago
- The Mill at Moreton Bay Master Plan, Moreton Bay Regional Council
- King’s Hill Master Plan, NSW*
- Neighbourhood Planning Program, Moreton Bay*
* Experience prior to Archipelago
- The Mill at Moreton Bay Built Form Guidelines, Moreton Bay Regional Council
- Urban Design Guidelines, Central Highlands Regional Council*
- Multiple Dwelling Development Review and Recommendations for LP25, Logan City Council*
- Place Identity Investigation, Moreton Bay Regional Council*
- Townships Character and Heritage Investigation + Planning Scheme Recommendations, Moreton Bay Regional Council*
- Moreton Bay Environmental Areas Investigations and Policy, Moreton Bay Regional Council*
- Birtinya Design Essentials, Stockland*
- Best Practice Principles for Centre Activation Toolkit, Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works*
- Community Benefits Bonus Elements Planning Scheme Policy Review and Recommendations, City of Gold Coast*
* Experience prior to Archipelago
- Graphics Palette for LP25, Logan City Council*
- Sunshine Coast Growth Management, Sunshine Coast Council*
- Fraser Coast Graphic Design Services, Fraser Coast Regional Council*
* Experience prior to Archipelago
- Expert Witness Assistant, DVB Project Pty Ltd v City of Gold Coast*
- Expert Witness Assistant, Palmer Leisure Australia v City of Gold Coast*
- Expert Witness Assistant, GTH Resorts v City of Gold Coast*
- Expert Witness Assistant, Sparksman and Ors v City of Gold Coast
- Expert Witness Assistant, McKay, Panozzo and Jensen v Brisbane City Council and Anor*
- Expert Witness Assistant, Burchill v City of Gold Coast and Anor*
* Experience prior to Archipelago.
