NSW Fellows
&
Life Fellows

Life Fellows & Fellows

Life Fellowship is awarded to members who is a Fellow of the Institute and who, in the opinion of the National Council, has rendered notable contribution to the advancement of the profession in design, construction, literature, education, public service or in any other way deemed worthy of the honour of Life Fellowship. Life Fellow is the highest honour class of RAIA membership available to members practising architecture.

Fellowship is awarded to those who have demonstrated a significant contribution to the architecture profession beyond architecture practice. Each nomination requires the endorsement of two voting members and the Chapter Council.

2025 Fellowship Application

Applications for 2025 have now closed – check back here in 2026 for next years applications form!

2025 Fellowship Application

Fellowship is a recognition of achievements within the architectural profession.

Complete below form for 2025 Fellowship application.

Application Form

2025 Life Fellows & Fellows

Life Fellow

Bill Tsakalos

Eva-Marie Prineas

Penny Morris (†)*

Peter Lonergan

 

Honorary Fellow

Prof. the Hon. Bob Carr

Brett Boardman

Dr Danièle Hromek

Dr Noni Boyd

Tina Perinotto

 

Fellow

Linda Babic

David Boyle (†)*

Nicholas Brown

Andrew Burges

Andrew Burns

Scott Carpenter

Lisa-Maree Carrigan

Jacqueline Connor

Tamara Donnellan

Susan Harper

Sarah Hill

Carolyn McFarland

Russell McFarland

Sophie Pickett-Heaps

Mark Raggatt

Craig Teasdell

Nicholas Turner

Darlene van der Breggen

Philip Vivian

David Welsh

Elizabeth Westgarth

Kati Westlake

Jade Young (†)*

 

*Honoured In Memoriam

find out more

NSW 2025 Fellows Luncheon
2025 Fellows Luncheon | Phtographer: Stanley Images
Prof Glenn Murcutt AO LFRAIA, Bridget Smyth FRAIA | Photographer: Alexander Mayes
Advancement to Fellowship

 

Criteria for elevation

  • Time: A minimum of 12 years as a Voting Member. Only years of membership at Member or Associate category are counted. Chapter Councils may consider a lesser period of membership as a special case.
  • Contribution: Evidence of a significant contribution to the profession.
  • Endorsement: Recommendation and endorsement of reasons for elevation by two Voting Members. In the case of overseas members, two short references of no more than 300 words, written by Voting Members of the Institute, must also accompany the application.

Guidance notes for the applicant

Fellowship is to recognise a level of achievement within the architectural profession. Therefore it applies similarly to generalists, specialists, academics, project managers and administrators.
Fellowship should be regarded as a privilege, not a right.

Chapters have some latitude in their interpretation of the contribution criteria of the submission; however they should ensure that sufficient information is provided to demonstrate that the intent of Fellowship is satisfied.
To demonstrate their significant contribution to the profession candidates should provide the following supporting information:

  • Gaining of Significant Experience in the Practice of Architecture
    For broad experience the candidate should supply a C.V. indicating employment, types of projects and their professional role to demonstrate their experience across the full range of architectural activity. For specialist experience, the C.V. should indicate their expertise in any area of architecture activity.
  • Significant Service to the Profession or Community
    The candidate should supply details of their service to the community and profession through participation in organisations or groups such as the Institute, AACA, government, schools, community, other professional bodies, media, church etc. or through any other method. All details of service are of assistance to Chapter Council in assessing an application for elevation.

* These notes are provided for guidance only

Advancement to Life Fellowship

 

Criteria for Elevation to Life Fellowship

Life Fellowship can be awarded to members who is a Fellow of the Institute and who, in the opinion of the National Council, has rendered notable contribution to the advancement of the profession in design, construction, literature, education, public service or in any other way deemed worthy of the honour of Life Fellowship. 

“Notable contribution” is defined as being a contribution above and beyond the normal contribution made by an architect in the course of their professional career, eg. a record of long or high service in a professional or industry association; a long and sustained record of recognised excellent works or public service, or similar achievement in the fields of building technology, literature or education.


Guidance Notes for Submission of Nominations for Life Fellowship

Article 3 of the Articles of Association of the Institute reads as follows:
Article 3. Life Fellows – The National Council shall have power to confer Life Fellowship upon an architect who is a Fellow of the Institute and who in the opinion of the Council has rendered notable contribution to the advancement of the profession in design, construction, literature, education, public service or in any other way deemed worthy of the honour of Life Fellowship.

  1. All Corporate members of the Institute are eligible to make nominations.
  2. Nominations shall be in the name of a Proposer, who will be personally responsible for collating and submitting all relevant information together with a citation.
  3. Nominations shall be submitted to the Chapter of which the nominee is a member (or, if not a member of a Chapter, to the Secretary of the RAIA).
  4. Chapter Councils shall be responsible for checking that nominations are adequately prepared in accordance with these notes before onward transmission to National Council. They shall also be responsible to append their endorsement, or otherwise, of nominations, but shall not withhold from National Council any nomination on the grounds that it is not endorsed.

This form is now closed.