Nerida Bawtree (nee Bergin) studied architecture at the University of New South Wales, Sydney graduating in 1995 with honours. During her degree, Nerida worked with Alex Popov in Sydney and Marques and Zurkirchen in Luzern, Switzerland.

Upon completion of her degree, she worked at Lippmann Associates in Sydney and her most notable achievement was being a significant part of the winning competition team for the Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool. After working with Ed Lippmann for three years and becoming an Associate, Nerida qualified as a registered architect in 1999 with the Australian Architects Registration Board. In 2000, Nerida travelled throughout Europe before settling in London where she joined the innovative and world acclaimed practice, Future Systems. She worked on the façade and interiors of Selfridges Birmingham and various high profile residential and retail projects.

In 2002, Nerida returned to Sydney and joined Hassle and was then subsequently invited by Bob Nation to run the residential building 185 Macquarie Street for Crone Nation. When she left to go on maternity leave in 2004, she formed Bawtree Design and has worked on various residential projects in Manly, Seaforth, Clovelly and boutique apartment buildings in Niseko, Japan.