The awarding of Australian Honours on the King’s birthday saw six Australian architects receive honours and of these the work of four Victorian architects is being celebrated. It is wonderful, and indeed very appropriate, to see public recognition of multiple architects for their service to the community. The Victorian architects awarded are Corbett Lyon AO of Lyons Architecture, Rob McGauran AM of MGS Architects, Neville Page OAM of GHP Architects and Geoffrey Watt OAM of Watt & Partners Architects. Congratulations to Corbett, Rob, Neville and Geoff for your sustained and dedicated contribution to our community and the role models you provide for our profession. I would also like to recognise the work undertaken by those, including our own Victorian Honours committee, that researches and prepares lengthy citations on the work of these individuals and submits to the Australian Honours committee for their consideration. LINK TO AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT EDM
A week ago, the Chapter, led by our Sustainability Committee, held the Circular Economy Symposium at Treasury Theatre. Those who attended heard exceptional presentations from Ross Harding of Finding Infinity, Professor Dan Hill of the University of Melbourne, Karolina Blackman of 3XN Architects and Jeremy Spencer of Sustainable Builders Alliance followed by a panel moderated by Anna Cumming. The half day symposium was insightful with a plethora of guidance and tips on how to orientate our studio work while also placing the climate crisis in a contemporary context. The Circular Economy is fundamental in our quest to decarbonise our industry and enact design that is more environmentally sustainable. It was great to see so many at the symposium and also engage in the conversations that surrounded the presentations. This symposium was held in the context of much sustainability thought and presentations. The Institute has very recently released its foundational paper on addressing net zero, ‘Architecture Industry Decarbonisation Plan 2025-2050’ and our Victorian Chapter’s monthly sustainability webinars provide regular insights into all matters of sustainability. Recently the Danish Trade Council hosted ‘thought leadership discussion on embodied carbon and sustainability in the building sector’ which featured a great presentation by Thomas Hobbs of Henning Larsen Architects on their research and built outcomes. Many members are signed up to the Architects Declare declaration and Architects Declare also run seminars promoting decarbonisation and climate diversity. I would encourage all members to take advantage of the many opportunities that surround us to continue to improve our practice in reducing embodied and operational carbon expenditure, build using materials that have sequestered carbon, design to preserve existing building fabric and generally promote sustainable design.
As all who have entered our architectural awards programme in the last three years, would appreciate, sustainability has become a significant focus in the awards process. The Victorian Architecture Awards play a crucial role in realizing the Institute’s mission of improving our built environment through the promotion of quality, responsible and sustainable design. As per last year, entry into the Sustainability Category, is only via high level ESD performance in the direct entry categories. The Sustainability Checklist has been used for the last three years and the direct entries making it through into the sustainability category has increased from 12% last year to 20% this year, so the vision of our National Council to use the awards programme as a vehicle to promote and encourage high level sustainability is gradually taking hold. I recognize the leadership role those particular entries are playing in forging our future. We are near to the culmination of our 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards programme with the Awards dinner on Friday evening 27th June where winners and commended entries will be declared. I look forward to seeing you all there.
This Victorian President message newsletter will be my last as Victorian President, as the Institute’s Victorian electoral process reaches its conclusion today and I am happy to congratulate Stephanie Bullock on her appointment as our new Victorian President. Stephanie has served on the Victorian Chapter Council for the last few years and alongside this role has been vitally involved in Victorian committees. I wish Steph all the best as she takes on this role and offer her my support as Immediate Past President.
It has been my great privilege to serve the Victorian membership over the last three years. It has been a time which has seen an increase in our advocacy to political and executive government, nurturing of our ties with allied professional organisations, an upsurge in our work in the sustainability field, greater recognition of first nations and of diversity and equality generally. I am the first to recognise that I have been a small part of this process. We have a talented and well-equipped Chapter Council, a vast number of interested and invested members volunteering their time and a dedicated staff support team led by Executive Director, Daniel Moore. I personally would like to thank my life and work partner, Jacqui Wagner, for her enormous support which has allowed me to serve as Victorian President. I would like to finish my presidency by reiterating the statement that I have made at every public event for the last couple of years over which I have presided. I believe at its core, our recognition of the value of our fellow members and encouraging their contribution and involvement lies at the heart of a successful Institute that can best promote architects and architecture.
I would like to remind everyone in attendance today of our collective responsibility to create safe spaces, both within the workplaces we inhabit and the events in which we celebrate our industry. We enjoy an inherently diverse and complex social fabric, and it is important to understand, recognise, and respect the differences that build a strong, inclusive community.
David Wagner FRAIA
President of Victorian Chapter
National President Elect
