Jon McComish
Director
Founding Director Jon McComish has spent more than two decades immersed in design, construction and project delivery, working on projects of significant scale, complexity and architectural ambition in Australia and internationally.
Before founding MAEK, Jon worked across Western Australia, Victoria, Singapore and London, contributing to the delivery of more than 400 apartments, four high-rise towers, museums, shopping centres, industrial facilities and major design-and-construct projects. His experience includes landmark projects such as The Old Swan Brewery in Perth, Haig Road Towers in Singapore and Wembley Stadium in London.
On returning to Perth, Jon moved into a client-side role overseeing a number of major design and construction projects. That experience gave him a very different perspective on the building process, allowing him to see firsthand the complexity, fragmentation and risk clients can face when navigating major projects.
It also gave him the opportunity to test different methods of project delivery and ultimately shaped his view that highly considered homes needed a more integrated approach — one that brought architecture, interiors and construction together under clear leadership and a single point of responsibility.
That thinking led Jon to establish MAEK in 2009.
From the outset, MAEK was structured differently: design-led, builder-backed and built around one integrated team responsible for carrying the original design intent from concept through to completion. The model gives clients greater clarity and control while allowing highly individual, detailed homes to be designed and delivered within a coordinated environment.
Just as importantly, Jon has always believed that successful projects are built on strong relationships. Bringing clients, designers, builders and tradespeople together as one team creates a more open and enjoyable process, encourages better communication and allows better decisions to be made throughout the life of a project.
Since 2009, MAEK has delivered more than $200 million of projects while deliberately remaining selective about the number of homes it undertakes each year. Jon continues to lead the business with a focus on exceptional design, disciplined project delivery and creating homes that remain true to the original idea from the first sketch to the final key.
Richard Linton
Construction Director
Richard is an accomplished construction director with more than 20 years of experience delivering complex, high-end residential projects in Perth.
Over his career, Richard has played a pivotal role in more than 30 major residential projects, including six luxury homes valued individually at more than $8 million and several significant residences with values exceeding $40 million.
An instrumental member of MAEK since its inception in 2009, Richard is now also a shareholder in the business. He brings an exceptional depth of construction knowledge to every home we undertake, with an understanding that extends across every component of highly detailed and technically complex construction.
That experience enables Richard to anticipate challenges well before they become problems, coordinate trades and consultants effectively, and maintain close control over quality, program and construction outcomes.
Richard combines deep technical expertise with decades of practical experience on site. His ability to understand how the smallest detail connects to the broader construction process makes him an invaluable part of the MAEK team and a key reason we are able to deliver homes of such complexity and quality.
His construction and project management expertise is rare, and his commitment to getting every detail right has been central to MAEK’s delivery capability for more than 17 years.
Kathryn Sims
Creative Director
Kathryn is an internationally experienced design professional and has been an integral part of MAEK for more than eight years. During that time, she has worked across the business as both Creative Director and Architectural & Interior Designer, giving her a uniquely comprehensive understanding of how exceptional homes are conceived, detailed and delivered.
Before joining MAEK, Kathryn worked with award-winning London studio Minale+Mann, where she carried a leadership role in the delivery of bespoke residential projects across London.
Kathryn began her architectural studies in Perth before completing her Master of Architecture while living and studying in Lisbon. During her time in Portugal, she worked alongside EMBAXIADA Arquitectura as part of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale.
Having worked closely with MAEK clients for so many years, and at the request of some of our most valued clients, Kathryn now leads both our design and project teams. She calmly and expertly guides each project from the earliest design thinking through to the detailed resolution of every space, ensuring the original design intent is carried consistently throughout the home.
Just as importantly, Kathryn genuinely loves people and the relationships that develop through the process of creating a home. She has a natural ability to listen, understand what matters to each client and build the trust that allows the best design outcomes to emerge.
Kathryn’s passion for design, meticulous eye for detail and ability to bring together architecture, interiors, project delivery and strong client relationships make her a highly valued leader within MAEK.
Chris Monahan
Client Partnerships
Chris has spent more than two decades working within Western Australia’s residential building industry, developing an exceptional understanding of clients, homes and the settings in which they are created. Throughout his career, Chris has helped more than 2,000 clients navigate the journey of creating and delivering a new home across a broad range of market segments.
At the heart of Chris’ approach is communication. He takes the time to genuinely understand each client — how they live, what matters to them, what they value and what they want their home to become. He also understands that every project is shaped by its setting, from the site and surrounding landscape to the way a home responds to views, orientation, privacy and lifestyle.
Chris works closely with clients and the MAEK design team to turn those conversations into a clear and considered brief, ensuring the home responds not only to the client’s needs, but also to the unique opportunities of the site. His extensive industry knowledge, practical approach to problem solving and ability to communicate complex matters clearly make him a trusted guide throughout the early stages of a project.
Chris particularly enjoys the challenges that come with highly detailed, technically complex homes and helping clients navigate important decisions with confidence. For Chris, the best homes are those where the client, the design and the setting come together naturally. His approachable nature, depth of experience and genuine interest in people make him an important part of the MAEK client experience.
Chris lives in East Fremantle with his wife, Caitlin, and their two young sons.