AGM, REM and NPE:
The Australian Architecture Conference held in Sydney over this last weekend was a tremendous success with an array of fascinating speakers, great panel discussions and an opportunity to engage with colleagues from all over Australia and New Zealand. There is no substitute for in person conversations and over a thousand members enjoyed a great number of presentations and conversations over the two days. Remember for those who did attend, register the sessions attended and answer the short quizzes to obtain formal CPD points. All registered architects are required to have achieved a minimum of 10 formal points and 10 informal points by the end of the financial year in just under two months’ time.
Remuneration of Institute Directors
On the second day of the conference the Institute held its annual general meeting and it was very pleasing to see several hundred members attend which is a great increase on days gone by. Aside from presenting annual reports and finances, the meeting also presented a resolution to increase the budget allowance for payment of board members. The Institute’s board is made up of eight board members, five (honorary) National Councillors and three independent board members (with expertise in finance, legal and people & culture). The Board is legally responsible for the finances, management of risk, observing legal and regulatory requirements, appointment of the CEO (CEO is then responsible for appointment and performance of the staff) and general health of the Institute. The Board is also responsible for the overview of the Institute’s two wholly owned subsidiaries, each with their own boards: IBL Limited (more commonly known through its trading entity of Planned Cover Insurance Brokers) and Architecture Media Pty Ltd which publishes paper and digital publications such as Architecture Australia and Architecture Au and also conducts events such as Design Speaks symposiums.
The independent board directors of the Institute have received an annual payment for their service for a number of years now, while the member directors have not received any payment. This inequity and the concern that we are not respecting member architects has been the subject of discussions over years and was finally decided by National Council to recommend that architect members are also paid an annual fee for their equivalent service. The resolution proposed at the AGM was to increase the available annual budget pool from $80,000 to $315,000 to permit member directors to be paid and for there to be annual escalation of the remuneration (note independent directors have not received a raise in their fee for eight years). The resolution was passed by a show of hands combined with a counting of proxy votes. While individual remuneration figures were proposed in the AGM agenda, it was advised by the National President at the meeting that this will be subject to further scrutiny and a new proposal presented.
Presidents’ Stipend
Separately, the board has decided that National and Chapter Presidents are to be provided with a $15,000 pa stipend from the current financial year onwards and that this payment can be enabled through existing board powers. This was not a matter that required a resolution at the AGM but was raised in the meeting.
Awards Programme
Meanwhile the awards programme continues apace with shortlisted entries now visited and jury decisions for awards and commendations submitted. Thanks to the Chapter’s Natasha Ugrinic for weaving the numerous jury visits across Victoria in the same week as the Conference.
National Leadership
During April, National Council held elections for the next National President Elect and a National Council Board member. Tiffany Liew (NSW) was re-elected as National Council Board member and I was elected to the position of National President Elect. The role of National President Elect is for a year, followed by a one-year term as National President and then a year as Immediate Past National President during which time I will also have a position on the Institute’s Board of Directors. The appointment was formally announced at the AGM and commenced the new role at the conclusion of the AGM. It has been several years since a Victorian has been on the board, and I look forward to bringing a Victorian perspective.
An election will be held shortly to appoint a new Victorian President with myself remaining as Victorian President until there is a replacement. Victoria is currently well served by a significantly talented and dedicated group of Chapter Councillors, and I look forward to working with the new Victorian President It has indeed been an honour and pleasure for me to serve as Victorian President since mid-2022 and I look forward to serving the membership in a different role for the next three years.
David Wagner FRAIA
President of the Victorian Chapter
