Now that the National Conference has finished for another year, it is a great time to reflect on the breadth of activity across the Institute — and to begin introducing the work of our NSW Chapter Councillors through upcoming issues of this newsletter. Each of them is undertaking important advocacy work on a range of committees and working groups, and we are excited to share their stories and insights with you.
The past month has been an outstanding showcase of the Institute’s work, beginning with the National Conference at the Sydney Opera House. Congratulations to all involved in curating such an inspiring program. The conference centred on how architectural practice can drive positive change, restore our environment, and chart a sustainable and equitable future. Common threads across the presentations included a commitment to authentic materiality, inclusive design, and the power of simplicity.
On the second morning, I attended the Equity Breakfast, where, to conclude, the Co-Chair, NSW Gender Equity Taskforce, Joshua Potter, presented a powerful list of actions for advancing equity in practice. I have taken the liberty of summarising these –
- Audit the Everyday
- Design for Dignity, Not Just Compliance
- Mind Your Language, Expand Your Lens
- Shift Power, Share Credit. Make Space, Move Aside
- Measure What Matters
- Embed Accessibility into Procurement and Contracts
- Educate the Next Generation (and Yourself)
- Futureproof for a Changing World
You can access the full material from the Breakfast here…
After the conference, I was fortunate to visit the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
It was great to see how many Australian architects made the effort to personally support the Institute and the curators led by Dr Michael Mossman, Emily McDaniel, and Jack Gillmer (Lilley). The exhibition is something we can all be proud of. One of its most impactful elements was the First Nations-led curatorial team’s collaboration with students from 11 Australian universities. Each student created a handcrafted object offering a unique and personal perspective on the meaning of HOME.
Returning from Venice, we launched into a packed week of NSW Awards Jury visits. Once again, I was overwhelmed and humbled by the extraordinary talent of our members (and also the organisational skills of the Institute staff). The jury saw some outstanding work, and we are all eagerly looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our members at the Awards Gala Night on Friday, 20 June.
I would like to introduce Jo Bastian, Chair of the Regional Committee – over to Jo…
– Elizabeth Carpenter, NSW CHAPTER PRESIDENT
The Regional Committee, representing all architects outside of metro Sydney has had a busy start to the year organising our Regional Chats series, the addition of three new members and the first meeting of the Regional and Newcastle Awards Working Group (AWG) – this group will feed into the larger national review of all the RAIA Awards programs which is currently in progress.
Our Regional Chats series, held regularly in Newcastle and sporadically throughout the rest of NSW has kicked off with talks from past Gold Medalists, established award winners and emerging practices with new ways of practicing. These chats are open to both the public and uni students, and have been very well attended, as is the trip to the pub after where the conversation is continued in a more casual location.
– Jo Bastian, Regional Committee Chair
BUILDING BILL UPDATE
Following our recent discussions with the team at the Building Commission NSW, we have been informed that a draft of the Building Bill will be issued in the coming months. We will have approximately four weeks to review the draft and provide feedback. The Building Commission intends to table the Bill in Parliament around August of this year. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates as the timeline evolves.
In collaboration with our industry colleagues, we have recently submitted a letter to Minister Chanthivong, requesting that both the Draft Bill and Draft Regulations be made available for industry review prior to their presentation in Parliament. A meeting with the Minister is scheduled for later this month to discuss this matter further.
NSW PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSIONER
We were honoured to meet with the NSW Productivity Commissioner last week to discuss key issues related to housing supply. During the meeting, we emphasized the importance of the Apartment Design Guide in ensuring the development of housing that is both desirable and conducive to the well-being of its residents. We look forward to continued engagement with the Commissioner on these critical matters.
JACQUI SCRUBY MP
A productive meeting with Jacqui Scruby, the Member for Pittwater, at her office in Parliament House involved insightful discussions covering a range of important topics, including housing supply, building reforms, and the quality and sustainability of housing projects.
– Lisa King, NSW Executive Director
