Announcing the 2023 SONA Executive Team

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

As president elect, I promise to dedicate myself to fulfilling SONA's/The Institute's vision, mission and goals that supports all built environment and architecture students by continuing and building upon the hard work of past/current executive members and representatives. Since I joined SONA in 2019, I've strongly understood the value that the organisation brings to all its members and non-members in areas of: advocacy, community and professional development. I plan to use my experience over the years to strengthen the current strategies to maintain the benefits that SONA provides to all students. As well as develop new approaches so that SONA continues to grow and adapt to the exciting and unknown future that is ahead of us in the built environment (from growing climate concerns, changes to built environment/architecture education and creation of advanced technology).

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

The areas of concern that matter most to me are: 1. Present to students other possible careers to pursue with a built environment/architecture degree such as: urban planner, novelist or film director. Also, to extend the organisation for those not studying architecture: there is knowledge and skill from understanding other disciplines. 2. As we recover from the pandemic, we've seen the importance of looking after our wellbeing while studying. Life is difficult. But, we can learn to make it less difficult, by implementing healthy effective study/work/life balance approaches in our built environment education system to further benefit us as we become older. 3. SONA members and non-members are made up of a large demographic. I'm determined to provide students a chance to share their stories and, and to listen to each other. Listening to these stories is a learning experience that adds to the value of our built environment studies.  

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

I'm fully prepared to accept the responsibilities of president elect, to preform these responsibilities to the highest standard and to humbly serve the SONA community. From being a student member to becoming vice president,  I've gained the necessary experience of working alongside representatives and executive team to deliver initiatives and promote the value of SONA to all students. I wish to contribute what I've learnt (from the failures and successes) to support the upcoming president, vice presidents, representatives and student members. I care about: the importance of our built environment education, the  future where the built environment will benefit society and, the students, my colleagues and friends that'll take us to this future. As president elect, my hope is to be a part of the journey where we all reach our potential to contribute something great to the built environment within and outside of Australia.