GuideWho Is The Brickman? Ryan McNaught of LEGO Masters Australia
If you have watched LEGO Masters Australia, you already know the guy in the black shirt who walks the builds with Hamish Blake and somehow spots the one loose brick nobody else noticed. That is Ryan McNaught, known to the show and to the wider LEGO world as The Brickman. Here is who he actually is and why he is the one judging seat that never changes.
So who is The Brickman?
The Brickman is Ryan McNaught, a LEGO Certified Professional based in Australia who has served as the sole judge on LEGO Masters Australia across every season the show has aired. He works alongside host Hamish Blake, and according to his own studio's website (thebrickman.com), he is the only LEGO Certified Professional in the Southern Hemisphere, which is a big part of why he was the obvious pick to judge the Australian version of the format.
What is a LEGO Certified Professional, and how did he become one?
A LEGO Certified Professional, or LCP, is one of a very small number of builders worldwide formally recognized by the LEGO Group to take on large commissioned builds and represent the brand at that level. Per thebrickman.com, McNaught founded his business, Brickman, in 2008 after starting out building commissions in his garage, and he became an LCP in 2011.
Before any of that, McNaught worked in information technology and held a role as a Chief Information Officer, according to widely reported biographical coverage of him. Coverage of his background says the turning point was a LEGO Mindstorms model of an Airbus A380 he built, which caught LEGO's attention and helped push him toward building with LEGO full time instead of as a side hobby.
His role on LEGO Masters Australia
On the show, McNaught is the judge who scores and critiques every team's build each episode, working with Hamish Blake as host. Unlike the US version of LEGO Masters, which uses a rotating panel of LEGO Group designers called Brickmasters alongside its host, the Australian show has kept McNaught as its one consistent judge from season 1 through season 7, and he continued in that role for season 8, Bricktacular, which is co-hosted by Blake and Sophie Monk and began airing in July 2026.
That consistency is part of why fans trust his calls. He is not a rotating guest judge learning the format, he is the same eye every season, judging builds against the same bar he has used since the show began on Nine Network in 2019.
His work outside the show
Outside of LEGO Masters, McNaught's studio Brickman builds large-scale commissioned LEGO models and touring exhibitions. According to his studio's own materials, his team has produced record-setting builds including what is described as the tallest LEGO model in the Southern Hemisphere, a roughly 7.5 meter tall rocket built with lights and sound, along with life-sized LEGO vehicles and several globally touring exhibitions of his work.
The Brickman is Ryan McNaught, a LEGO Certified Professional and the only recurring judge LEGO Masters Australia has ever had, from its 2019 premiere through the Bricktacular season in 2026. His credibility comes from real credentials, not just TV casting, which is exactly why the show has never needed to swap him out.
Common questions
Is The Brickman the only judge on LEGO Masters Australia?
Yes. Ryan McNaught has been the sole recurring judge across every season of LEGO Masters Australia, working alongside host Hamish Blake.
Is Ryan McNaught a real LEGO Certified Professional?
Yes. He became a LEGO Certified Professional in 2011, and his studio's website states he is the only LCP based in the Southern Hemisphere.
Where is The Brickman from?
Ryan McNaught is based in Australia. Biographical coverage describes him as having grown up in Shepparton, Victoria, before moving into a career in LEGO building.
What did Ryan McNaught do before LEGO Masters?
He worked in information technology, including a role as a Chief Information Officer, before founding his LEGO commission business Brickman in 2008 and becoming a LEGO Certified Professional in 2011.