DIA Announces Simone LeAmon as new CEO

The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) proudly announces the appointment of Simone LeAmon as its new Chief Executive Officer.

The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) is thrilled to welcome Simone LeAmon as its new Chief Executive Officer. Long regarded as the country’s peak voice for design, the DIA plays a pivotal role in advancing Australia’s creative culture and professional standards. LeAmon’s appointment signals a bold new moment for the organisation — and for the future of Australian design.

LeAmon joins the DIA following more than a decade as the inaugural Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), where she shaped a globally recognised design collection and program.

During her tenure, she forged partnerships across industry, government and cultural organisations, creating nationally-significant platforms that advanced designers, strengthened design’s economic and cultural contribution, and elevated its visibility within public life; experience that now underpins her leadership of the DIA’s national vision.

“Simone embodies the spirit and ambition of Australian design,” said Ryan Russell, President of the Design Institute of Australia. “Her career has been defined by creativity, intellect and vision; qualities that sit at the heart of the DIA’s mission. As the country’s peak body for design, we are committed to advocating for the profession at a national level, strengthening its impact and amplifying the role designers play in shaping Australia’s future. We are delighted to welcome Simone as CEO and look forward to the leadership, energy and clarity of purpose she brings to the organisation.”

Prior to joining the NGV, Simone built a career grounded in practice, delivering commercial and creative projects across furniture, product, jewellery, interiors, digital and experimental design. Working through her design studios n+1 equals and Simone LeAmon Design and Creative Strategy. Simone holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne and a Master of Design (Industrial Design) from RMIT University.

Over this period of vast experience, Simone has become one of Australia’s most respected design thinkers, an Adjunct Professor in the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University, a mentor to emerging practitioners, and an advisor to government and industry contributing to national design discourse and policy. In 2021, she received the Good Design Australia Women in Design Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to advancing Australian design.

“I’m honoured to lead the Design Institute of Australia and to continue its extraordinary legacy as the voice of design in this country,” says Simone LeAmon.

“My vision is to place design at the centre of Australia’s national conversation—to make it seen, valued and invested in as essential to our prosperity, identity and future. The DIA will be the catalyst for that culture, uniting designers of every discipline and amplifying the impact of what we do.”

Under the leadership of LeAmon’s trusted industry knowledge, the DIA will focus on strengthening the role of design as a national capability, advancing professional standards and advocacy while forging partnerships across sectors to position design as a key driver of innovation, sustainability and social progress.

There are 380,000 designers in Australia, and the DIA represents all of them.

Simone will officially commence her new role as CEO on 12 January 2026.

design.org.au