Commencing professional life as an architect and company director running her own practice in her native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Flavia’s immersion in cultural heritage gained momentum when she consulted on sites such as Valongo Wharf, Santa Cruz Fortress, Bonsucesso Church and the Sugar Loaf Mountain masterplan, today recognised as having Outstanding Universal Values by the World Heritage Centre. With a strong cross sector background, in these projects she found her true vocation.

Today she shares her global perspective and commitment to heritage practice as a Principal at element where she leads the team in preparing heritage strategies, impact statements, and assessments and identifies opportunities in restoration, adaptive reuse and development planning.

Flavia’s work is equal parts advisory and delivery. She is creative, committed and known for her holistic approach to resolving project challenges. She sees opportunity in educating and knowledge-sharing to foster heritage appreciation. Project highlights include writing the Cossack Townsite Conservation Management Plan – a place highly constrained by climate change, preparing the Heritage Chapter for the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, consulting on the New Museum project and a range of private homes across the state.

And her work in the field has not gone unnoticed. In 2018 Flavia was appointed to represent Western Australia on the national Executive Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for a two-year term. Into the future she sees heritage playing a greater role in shaping places, and a more focused legislative framework to support heritage and change.