Brychan Asaris, South Australian GEDI Committee Co-Chair
At the end of last year, Jasmine Placentino and I officially announced the formation of the SA GEDI (Gender, Equity, Diversity & Impact) Committee. For many of you, this work will feel familiar. In South Australia, this committee has evolved over time, most recently operating as Designers for Diversity. In re-forming the group, we made a conscious decision to align our title with the Institute’s national GEDI Committee, strengthening our connection to the broader work happening across Australia and reaffirming our commitment to shared goals.
As part of this new chapter, we are excited to bring together a team with diverse perspectives, lived experiences and strong passions. The strength of GEDI lies in the breadth of voices at the table and we hope that this committee can grow and reflect that. Each member brings a unique lens to the work, and it is this diversity of thinking that will shape our direction and ensure our initiatives are thoughtful, relevant and impactful.
GEDI is a vast and complex space. It touches how we practice, who we include, how we lead, and the impact our profession has on communities. When Jasmine and I began discussing the next chapter for SA, it became clear that to be effective we needed focus. Rather than attempting to address everything at once, we established task groups to concentrate on specific priorities.
This Spotlight is one of those initiatives.
One of the key themes we want to emphasise this year is impact. Conversations around gender equity and diversity are essential, but they must also translate into visible, meaningful outcomes. Through these spotlights, we will regularly share stories, initiatives and achievements that demonstrate the real impact of GEDI within our profession and our broader community. There is significant work already happening across practices, committees and individuals in SA, and we want to ensure it is recognised, amplified and shared. (so please if you have a story reach out)
We begin the year with a strong program of activity. This week, the GEDI Committee is hosting our International Women’s Day Lunch, an opportunity to celebrate leadership, acknowledge progress, and continue important conversations within our profession.
We are also just starting to collaborate with other AIA committees to deliver a site tour and related events at Yitpi Yartapuultiku, an initiative that reflects our commitment to learning, listening and broadening perspectives. (Watch this space for further details.)
In addition, we are excited to bring ArchiNations to South Australia. Currently established in WA and the ACT, ArchiNations creates a community centred on cultural diversity within architecture. We see enormous value in fostering this network locally and look forward to building meaningful connections here in SA.
As Co-Chair, I see GEDI not as a separate conversation, but as fundamental to the future of our profession. It shapes who feels welcome in architecture, whose voices are heard, and how our work serves the communities around us. Through these Spotlights, we hope to maintain momentum, encourage participation, and highlight the positive change being driven by members across South Australia.
I look forward to sharing these stories with you throughout the year.
Brychan Asaris
Co-Chair SA GEDI committee