Having delivered real-world projects over the past 18 years with owners and T1-3 Construction groups, my positions have added significant value to developers, HNWI, asset funds and private groups, by managing their design and development processes so projects deliver on commercial and programme targets, and ensuring that what is briefed is what is constructed.

My role is end-to-end.

From establishing the client brief and development strategy through to detailed Principal Operational Requirements, consultant appointment, negotiation of planning approvals, unlocking asset values and on-site construction delivery. I help not only to lead architects, interior designers, engineers, planners, and specialist consultants but also ensure we appoint the right people to deliver projects, from early feasibility through design, approvals, construction, and handover.

It’s about making sure decisions made early don’t create problems later.

Clear briefs.

Clear responsibilities.

Clear alignment between design, cost, programme, and risk.

Where my role becomes more specialised

A significant part of my work takes place in owner-operator environments such as hotels, branded residences, wellness guest amenities, and brand-led retail, where design and development management go beyond coordinating consultants alone.

These sectors require balancing the interests of multiple stakeholders, including owners, operators, and brands, while establishing and delivering complex brand standards and contractual requirements.

This is where my experience adds the most value, ensuring projects remain commercially viable, provide clarity in construction tendering, and are operationally successful once delivered at handover and beyond.

Why clients engage in client-side design management

To add value and manage risk.

To avoid scope creep and late redesign.

To protect quality without losing control of cost or programme.

And to help owners and developers turn good ideas into projects that actually work.

I work collaboratively, bring diverse teams, JV Partners, and stakeholders together, and act always in the client’s interests, adding value through clarity, accountability, and experienced leadership across complex delivery environments.

If you’re looking for experienced, hands-on support to bring clarity to complex projects, you’re in the right place

Design & Development Management

Tier 1 level experience, delivering commercial certainty through disciplined and collaborative execution,

Experience

  • Collaborative property development professional combining design, construction and operational expertise to turn strong ideas into buildable, commercially robust assets.

    I bring practical, innovative insight from delivering projects across scales and sectors; working with owners, operators, consultants and Tier 1–3 contractors to move concepts from feasibility and planning through design and delivery.

    I love supporting project teams, and help bring hands on approach to any project at any stage, I help bridge the gap between design ambition and operational reality, ensuring commercially successful outcomes and efficient delivery.

    With client-side experience in development, operations and construction, and formal training in Architecture, Construction Project Management and Law, I add clarity and certainty to projects and enable shrewd decision making processess.

    Known for being hands-on, approachable and collaborative, I focus equally on people and outcomes; building strong teams and leaving projects, and people, better than I found them.

  • Building genuine connection, integrity, creativity and empathy guide every decision. These are not slogans; they are the principles embedded in my process, from initial feasibility to handover.

    • Integrity: Proven delivery with honest advice, transparent assessments and reliable outcomes. You’ll receive realistic budgets, clear risk identification and accountable delivery; always aligned with long‑term value, not short‑term optics.

    • Creativity in solutions: Thoughtful expertise in multidisciplinary design leadership, where pragmatic innovation intersect in providing real solutions. I support reframing constraints as opportunities, blending architectural rigour with practical construction know‑how to achieve distinctive, buildable outcomes.

    • Empathy: By listening to and hearing all users, stakeholders, and delivery teams, I ensure the end result fits its users. Human‑centred insight informs layouts, materials and operations, ensuring spaces perform for people and places over time.

    Together, these values create certainty: well‑considered strategy, disciplined delivery and buildings that endure.

  • Development strategy and feasibility

    • Investment stratergy aligned with market and delivery constraints

    • Site due diligence and risk identification to protect capex and timelines

    • Land use, planning strategy, and entitlement pathway mapping

    Client Design Representative Inception to delivery

    • In-house concept and briefing direction from Client PPR, Brand Operator briefings, and negotiations

    • Integration of design, cost and constructability to reduce rework

    • Multidisciplinary Consultant engagements, Technical review and quality assurance across consultants and contractors

    Delivery and construction assurance

    • Construction management and site oversight to protect programme and quality

    • Contract strategy, procurement advice and tender evaluation

    • Practical completion, defects management and close-out processes

    Client-side commercial and project governance

    • Budget governance, reporting and forecasting and value engineering

    • Contract administration and claims mitigation

    • Governance frameworks for family offices and funds to translate investment targets into deliverable outcomes

    Asset and lifecycle planning

    • Operational input to design for maintainability and long-term cost certainty

    • Refurbishment and adaptive reuse strategy to extend asset life and maximise returns

    • Sustainability and resilience measures that are pragmatic and cost-effective

    Why this matters

    Having worked on client operator and owner, developers with a background in contractor and consultancy - I help support strong Return & Investments through early and practical solutions. The result: less costs and expertise in operational and development assets providing market ready assets and value to stakeholders and investors.

    See more about Shannon

National Delivery Capability

Major Projects & Commercial Outcomes

Sector specialist: Hotels, Hospitality, Branded Residence | Residential - Apartments, Lifestyle Wellness & Mixed-Use Retail Precincts

Sector Expertise

  • Hotels, Hospitality & Resorts:

    Transforming spaces into unforgettable guest experiences.

  • Residential and Mixed-Use Developments:

    Expertise in both Build to Sell and Build to Rent models.

  • Retail Mixed-Use Projects:

    Mergers, acquisitions and masterplanning (with planning approvals) to add value to portfolios; a key contributor to the Chadstone Shopping Centre, the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere.

  • Innovative Wellness, Spa and Destination Developments:

    Creating unique boutique projects that prioritise well-being.

  • Existing Buildings/Brownfield Assets: In a market experiencing higher construction costs, I have led numerous repurposing developments, including refurbishments and adaptive reuse. It's an area where I have demonstrated leadership and added value to clients through capital recycling programs and value creation.

Where I add Value

Every project is a negotiation between ambition and reality. My role is to ensure neither is lost, shaping projects that perform, inspire, and endure.

  • For Property Developers

    • Unlock hidden asset value through in-house design-led strategies

    • Cut through complex approvals and stakeholder layers with certainty

    • Align vision with commercial performance and market positioning

    • Bring certainty to project delivery, with rigorous capital & cost management

  • For Construction Companies

    • Extensive client-side leadership from concept to completion

    • Anticipate and resolve design risks before they impact delivery

    • Unite consultant teams under one clear direction for seamless execution

    • Experienced in procurement strategies and delivery models like ECI, D&C, to ensure certainty in a cost-sensitive market.

  • For Investment Funds

    • Bring a wealth of development experience, connections, and skills to deliver projects in the property development sector.

    • Optimise ROI through disciplined design and development strategy

    • Engineer value without compromising long-term ambition

    • Secure delivery certainty on complex, capital-intensive projects

What I Can Do to Help You

Design Management | Development Management | Project Management

Concept to Construction Handover

  • Due diligence in establishing highest and best use of site, development feasibility, risk assessment, establishing market absorption, financial structuring analysis, legal review and establishing availability of funding.

    • Manage the engagement all necessary consultants for concept stage advice or input including but not limited to project manager, architect, town planner, Geotech engineer, environmental consultant and heritage consultant.

    • Develop a concept that is sympathetic to what is in demand in the market and consider all factors such as lot mix, apartment size, level of finish, car parking rations, requirement for common areas etc.

    • Prepare development plans and feasibility reports.

    • Coordinate initial discussions with the delegated authority to feel out if our direction is in line with what their view is for redevelopment in that area.

    Town Planning & Approvals

    • Manage the engagement of all necessary consultants for town planning stage and oversee their reports including but not limited to project manager, architect, town planner, Geotech engineer, environmental consultant, heritage consultant, ESD consultant, surveyor, wind engineer, waste consultant, access consultant etc.

    • Complete town planning application, meet and negotiate with all relevant authorities and stakeholders throughout the planning process.

    • Attend VCAT and other proceedings as required.

    • Manage the engagement of all necessary consultants for design development/tender stage and oversee their reports including but not limited to project manager, architect, town planner, Geotech engineer, environmental consultant, heritage consultant, ESD consultant, surveyor, wind engineer, waste consultant, access consultant etc.

    • Complete design development based on the town planning permit and progress design documentation to a sufficient stage that allows a tender to be put to market to numerous builders to construct the project.

    • Support and establish a tender list and oversee the tender process. Shortlist tenderers and meet with chosen builders to work through establishing the most suitable builder for the project.

    • Ensure the projects’ financier approves of chosen builder before having contracts prepared, negotiated and executed.

    • Manage the engagement of all necessary consultants construction stage and oversee their reports including but not limited to project manager, architect, town planner, Geotech engineer, environmental consultant, heritage consultant, ESD consultant, surveyor, wind engineer, waste consultant, access consultant etc.

    • Attend weekly PCG meetings to oversee and manage the builder and construction from start to finish. Monitor the progress of construction, building adhering to program, any variations that may be foreseen. Do regular site inspections.

    • Appoint body corporate and work through all the budgets and owners corp structure.

    • Explore opportunity to use management rights. If suitable, go to market to find perspective operators, negotiate terms and complete contracts.

    • Coordination, review and execution of all authority agreements required.

    Reports & Dealing with Contractors/Consultants

    • Provide reports as requested.

    • General Management

    • Manage and supervise the work of all necessary Contractors in relation to the Development Services.

    • Act on behalf of clients to ensure that the various stages of the Development are completed within the time-frame required for project.

Experience that Matters

Clients & Brands I’ve Worked With

With over 20 years in property and construction, I have led design and development for major ASX-listed developers, always focusing on bringing in-house value through experience and teamwork.


Consultant Partners

Key Collaborators

Let’s get Social

Let’s Connect

Shannon Cloete is a Property Development Executive with over 20 years of experience delivering complex, high-value assets across Australia and internationally.

Shannon brings extensive expertise in construction management, Architecture, and finance. This unique combination allows him to operate effectively across the entire development lifecycle, from legal structuring to managing risk and opportunity throughout feasibility analysis, to construction delivery.

He has held senior leadership roles with ASX-listed giants, including Vicinity Centres and The Star Entertainment Group, and gained deep delivery experience with Sunland Group (an integrated Developer-Builder).

Shannon is available for Senior Design or Development Management roles where technical rigour and commercial governance are critical to project success.

LOCATION

Melbourne, Australia (Open to National Roles), Sydney, Brisbane, and internationally.


Let’s talk about how I can help your team.
Contact: contact@shannoncloete.com

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