Queensland
President's
Prize

Advocacy for architects is a key mission of the Australian Institute of Architects, and Lindy Johnson has devoted her career to this pursuit. As the Director of Lindy Johnson Creative, she recently celebrated ten years of providing marketing, business development, publicity, and media services to leading architecture and design firms in Australia and the UK.

Prior to forming her company, Lindy conceived and branded world-first government-to-business programs like HEAT Architecture, a highly successful program for architects and designers, generating millions of dollars in international editorial and commissions. HEAT was just one of many distinguished accomplishments. But it is her pure and generous acts of devotion to our profession that are particularly worthy of acknowledgment, like being the inspiration for the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Region film, “Drawn Here”, celebrating 30 years of the architectural awards in that region in 2013. The film was well received and now provides precious historical collateral for the coming of age of Queensland’s regional architecture.

Lindy often goes far beyond her commercial remit, lending her personal passion to the advancement of architects and architecture. A recent example was her pro-bono participation in discussions that inspired the Institute to host Carol Ross Barney, the 2023 USA Gold Medal Architect, in Brisbane, fostering an international conversation of architectural excellence.

Lindy’s successful career, working not only with Members in this room but the Institute itself, is testament to her expertise and value to our profession, but her early and steadfast leadership of architectural advocacy is deserving of special recognition.

This 2024 President’s Prize is an opportunity to thank Lindy Johnson for her service to our Institute, our members, and our profession, as well as to highlight the importance of advocacy for architecture.

Brisbane Open House, championed by Board Chair, Malcolm Middleton OAM LFRAIA, is a member of Open House Worldwide and the holder of the licence that has enabled the Open House program to flourish throughout Queensland.

The mission of Open House Worldwide is to host “…festivals and conversations about architecture, design, and cities across the globe”, enabling a public celebration and exploration of high quality and diverse architecture, design, and heritage within our communities.

Following the initial festival in Melbourne in 2009, Brisbane commenced in 2010, and it was a natural progression of Open House to spread to the regions, starting in Maryborough in 2012, followed by Toowoomba, and a brief flourish in Cairns, and Bundaberg. The Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast have both hosted Open House celebrations for nearly a decade.

Open House Worldwide and its licence holders are organised by not-for-profit associations run by volunteer committees of dedicated architects, built environment professionals, and citizens. Many of those volunteers are distinguished Institute of Architects Members and include recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia, Gold Medallists, Doctors of Philosophy, Life Fellows, Fellows, and many others.

Her Excellency, The Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD are Patrons of Open House, while its supporters and sponsors include the Mayors and Councils of every participating city and region, local businesses, community enthusiasts, and the building owners who generously opens their doors to visitors and videographers.

This 2024 President’s prize recognises the value of Open House festivals for fostering a strong relationship between architecture and the public, appreciates its volunteers and supporters, and challenges the initiative to grow throughout Queensland and Australia.

The Abedian School of Architecture (ASA), currently headed by Professor of Architecture, Dr Paul Loh, opened its doors to students in 2011, while its award-winning Abedian School of Architecture building, designed by globally renowned architects Sir Peter Cook and Gavin Robotham from CRAB Studios in London, officially opened its doors in February 2014, just over ten years ago.

The ASA is now home to Bond University’s innovative architecture program, including the unique Architecture Futures Laboratory (AF_Lab).

Behind the formation of the ASA lies an incredible team motivated by the visionary Patron of the school, the Gold Coast based international developer, Soheil Abedian.

With architectural education forming an essential cornerstone of good architecture, the obstacles faced by a private university aspiring to form an accredited architectural curriculum in a regional city of Queensland were enormous, but so was the conviction of those involved. Those individuals were local, national, and international, but all shared an incredible motivation to succeed.

While architecture and urban design programs throughout regional Queensland are increasingly under pressure, it is worthy to acknowledge the coming of age this world-class nexus of architectural education.

This 2024 President’s Prize for the Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University is the opportunity to share in the celebrations of the ASA as it enters its second decade, adding to the list of accomplishment the respect and admiration of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects.

The 2023 prize goes to Kirsty Chessher-Brown, the current chief executive officer of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Queensland), for her creation, stewardship, curation, and championship of its envirodevelopment initiative, alongside her masterly and comprehensive career with the UDIA (Queensland).
Envirodevelopment, one of the earliest efforts of an industry sector tool to classify and codify all key requirements and categories that can define best practice design processes and outcomes of sustainable urban developments, was established by the UDIA (Queensland) in 2006 to drive the delivery of more sustainable communities and spaces. Since its inception in queensland as one of the first industry environmental sustainability measuring and incentive programs, enviodevelopment and has since expanded across the country, certifying more than 210 projects nationwide.

In championing envirodevelopment, Kirsty correctly predicted that there are many cohorts within our community eager to adopt environmentally sustainable lifestyles and practices, and the reward system that envirodevelopment has established provides a way for these proclivities to be reinforced, incentivised, and celebrated.
Kirsty’s untiring pioneering efforts at the helm of the envirodevelopment regime for more than a decade has not only had a direct positive impact on our built environment but has also cultivated an environmentally sustainable mindset, engaging, inspiring, and enlightening industry, government, and its citizens. With an increasing focus on reducing our global footprint and carbon impacts to mitigate climate change as we approach 2030, envirodevelopment offers a clear opportunity to demonstrate leadership across the range of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

While Kirsty’s envirodevelopment legacy is now in the capable hands of her UDIA team and their expert industry consultants and partners, she has more recently directed her passion and leadership to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Queensland). In this leadership role Kirsty influences nearly 500 member businesses and individuals by providing professional research and advocacy, while her established value of environmental outcomes reinforces the key principles of the “reducing carbon emissions” advocacy statement recently released by the national body of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Kirsty is to be applauded for her commitment to the creation of a sustainable urban environment and thanked for consistently demonstrating an appreciation for architecture and design in the realisation of this agenda.

Bruce Medek’s service is both exemplary and longstanding. Bruce has served the profession with distinction both from within the Institute and via his roles external to the Australian Institute of Architects.

Bruce has served the profession from within the institute in roles such as; convener of the practice of architecture learning series course (2004-2008), Chair of the Brisbane Regional Awards Programme (2002), the National Practice Committee (2006-2008), the National Contracts Consultative Committee (2010-2013) and as Chapter President (2008-2010), amongst others. This service is capped by Bruce being conferred as a Life Fellow in 2017.

Bruce’s service via the Board of Architects Queensland started in 2007 when he represented the board as part of the state visiting panel for the accreditation of the Queensland University of Technology, a role he has reprised several times since including for; Griffith University, the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology for a second time. Bruce sat on the Queensland Board of Architects as the Institute’s representative from 2010 to 2013.

In 2013 Bruce was then formally elected to the Board, as the architect elected member. Having served continuously since then, Bruce has been chair of the board since April 2018.

Bruce’s service extends beyond these roles, in particular Bruce has strategically positioned himself in the last few years to mentor young architects.

Bruce’s achievements in practice are also of note, having first worked on award winning buildings within other practices, Bruce has gone on to form award winning practices of his own, including his partnership with Jim Gall in Gall and Medek. In addition to his work being acknowledged through the Institute’s national awards programme, Bruce’s work has also been awarded in International Competitions.

Bruce’s achievements as an architect in his own right, his mentoring, and his exemplary contributions to the profession, both from within the Institute but more specifically for his extensive service and commitment to the profession on the Board of Architects Queensland, make him a worthy winner

Richard Choy has been selected on the basis of his long-standing exemplary work advocating for the profession at all levels and for his leadership in professional and ethical practice.

Richard is known nationally to the architecture profession through his role as CEO of NATSPEC, which was formed by the Australian Institute of Architects as a subsidiary company in 1975.

For the last 17 years Richard has presented to architecture students, encouraging them to be proud of the profession and to engage with the Institute. He has further supported the Institute’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through SONA and EmAGN, and he has helped develop CPD initiatives including Technotes and Architech.

Richard continues to present on technical topics at architecture forums and networks including presentations for organizations including the Institute, the ACA and Planned Cover.

Richard has advocated for the role of the Government Architects and supported their activities. He has been active on the Institute’s BIM/IPD steering committee and continues to represent the architect’s and designer’s position on the Australasian BIM Advisory Board.

Richard has strongly supported the role of the architect at the policy level for both State and Federal Governments, most recently as part of his role as a member of the Australian Building Codes Board, advocating for better recognition of the architect’s role as part of the development of the national registration framework. Richard’s role extends beyond advocacy and support for the profession, he has brought leadership through professional and ethical practice by sponsoring the foundation of the architects mental wellbeing forum in Australia.

Richard is a deserving recipient of a prize, designed to recognize exemplary contributions to the profession from outside the Institute.

For outstanding service to Institute members, the profession, and the public through legislative advice to Government on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Jack’s distinguished career has included Chair of the Board of Architects Queensland and chief architect, Queensland Department of Works. He has extensive insight into the workings of government and the formation of legilation.

For more than five decades, this knowledge and experience has provided the Institute with a powerful asset in our engagement with the administrative and legislative arms of government. Already conferred as a Life Fellow, Jack’s ongoing, invaluable service to the profession is worthy of further recognition.

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The Independent Schools of Queensland Block Grant Authority is wholly owned entity of ISQ.  It has been created and charged with the responsibility of distributing and managing the use of both State and Federal capital funds in a way that is fair, equitable and accountable to ISQ and the tax payers of the nation.

The ISQ BGA over many years has demonstrated and supported sound building procurement practices as was illustrated in the BER Taskforce Report back in 2010.

To this day the ISQ BGA recommend to private schools that they should employ an architect as their project manager / designer and their consultants for a fair fee and have all works tendered ethically via select tender method with works constructed under the superintendence of the Architect.

The ISQ BGA over the years has advocated for the architects role across a wide of range of projects and worked constructively with our profession to deliver great outcomes for the school communities.

The ISQ BGA have worked closely with their Federal and State counter parts to maintain this system of procurement and demonstrate through their actions how good buildings can be procured in a way that is supportive of the professions and benefits contractors who subsequently work with good quality documentation.

In essence, the ISQ BGA get the best value from architectural services!

Richard has long been interested in architectural photography and in 1966 held his first exhibition Queensland Background.  In 1967 he commenced practice as an architectural photographer and has been commissioned by leading Queensland architects to record their work. Richard has embarked on a continuing commitment to record the landscape, architecture and industrial archaeology of QLD. His photographs have been the subjects of numerous exhibitions as well as regular exhibitions in commercial galleries.  In 2013, the Queensland Art Gallery held a retrospective exhibition of his work.

Richard has provided photographs for many books that sit on bookshelves of Architects across the country, and Collaborators over the years include his wife Marguerite, Janet Hogan, Dianne Byrne, Judith McKay, Howard Tanner and Robert Riddel. 

You will find the work of the first recipient of this year’s president’s prize in the archives and on the walls of many of Queensland’s top practices- he is the very definition of an expert in his field- architect and architectural photographer Richard Stringer, life fellow of the Institute.

EmAGN are the Emerging Architects and Graduate Network in QLD, who organise diverse events that promote the rich mix of social, political, cultural and sometimes controversial topics in the QLD Design environment. The small but dedicated committee have worked hard to promote architecture to the wider creative and cultural community , whilst promoting the benefits of cross disciplinary professional relationships that will benefit the development of Queensland’s built environment.

EmAGN is a crucial element of the Queensland chapter,  their innovative speaker series include “New Build”  a three part series bringing together a panel of young professionals from architecture, builders, planners and related sectors to share experiences and build a sense of community and support. The “Value” series has created a platform our early career architects to share their work and gain invaluable experience presenting to a broader audience. EmAGN also make ongoing  contributions to the success of the PALS program through events such as Regi frustration, supporting early career architects prepare for their board registration exams and interviews.

The world of the recent graduate in architecture is challenging in many ways. The body of knowledge, the complexities of practice and working with clients for the first time.

Luckily there is EmAGN , recipient of 2018 President’s prize. EmAGN gives a voice to early career architects and help ensure that their needs are supported by the institute, contributing to the Chapters goals of creating an inclusive and welcoming community for all architects.

Advocate of Design Quality for promotion of architecture and design and  her leadership in enhancing our urban environment through prioritizing quality design.

The prize acknowledges initiatives including elevation of the position of State Government Architect, renewal and support of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel and the initiation of the Australian Urban Design Awards.

Living in the city exhibition: New architecture in Brisbane and the Asia-Pacific explores nine new architectural projects in Brisbane currently under construction alongside one project from each of our nine Sister Cities in the Asia-Pacific: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Auckland (New Zealand), Chonquing and Shenzhen (China), Daejeon (South Korea), Hyderabad (India), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Kobe (Japan) and Semarang (Indonesia).

The centrepiece of the exhibition details architectural models of each of these projects. Visitors will see some of the region’s most exciting and innovative architectural practice, from immense residential towers and private luxurious homes to state-of-the-art sporting facilities. Through the stories behind these projects, the exhibition wil also provide a snapshot of these cities, allowing visitors to gain insight into the similarities and differences of city living across the Asia-Pacific. Already the exhibition demonstrates it broad appeal and interest to the public by 10,000 visitors having actually found the MOB within City Hall and visited the exhibition.

The Asia Pacific is experiencing unprecedented urban growth. Architects have a critical role in shaping the future of cities across the region, responding to the diversity of its people and countries. Through exhibitions, installations, symposia, lectures and workshops, the Asia Pacific Architecture Forum currently being held until 14 March at the State Library of Qld is exploring the ways new world cities are responding to the opportunities and challenges of the Asian century. This stimulating program of events is celebrating contemporary architecture and anticipating its exciting future. Participants are engaging with architecture from across the region and reflecting on Queensland’s important contribution to its culture.

Judith Gilmore is the Queensland Chapter Manager and she’s been in the role for 16 years and she’s been a part of the Institute for 20 and the recognition is more than the acknowledgement of the length of service.

Like other President’s she’s been a fantastic resource support role, confidant, advisor, great friend and incredible asset to doing this role. So on behalf of the members, Judith is the worthy recipient of the third President’s Prize.

Judith epitomises the collegiate nature of the profession and on behalf of the members I thank you for your long contribution, your dedication and it is my great pleasure to award this prize to you.

Dr Donald Watson and Dr Judith McKay for the exemplary promotion of architectural history, rigorous research standards and scholarship in documenting Queensland’s built heritage. 

Doctors Don Watson and Judith McKay are Queensland’s pre-eminent architectural history scholars.  Their publications on Queensland architects, the Queensland Architectural Archive and Oral Histories underpin all architectural history research in this State.  The depth and breadth of Don Watson and Judith McKay’s scholarly work is extraordinary.  They have pioneered the academic and applied fields of architectural history in this State.

This is a truly landmark development, achieved with a vision, tenacity and inspiring commitment rarely seen in the development and building industry. Now home to a thriving and highly engaged community of over 200 people and still growing, its success and international reputation is highly deserved. There is an undeniable spirit, a sense of shared values and community whose actions every day make a positive contribution to the wider world. Perhaps its greatest achievement and one which is as profound as any, is it’s creation of real community, where safety, security, volunteerism and neighbourliness, have naturally evolved in a meaningful and lasting manner.

The Currumbin Eco Village is one of the great achievements of contemporary Queensland. It remains the benchmark achievement in sustainable community development in Australia and the many, many experts and researchers from around the world who continue to visit attest to its success.

Janne Ryan has elevated the public dialogue about Architecture and Design in Australia innumerable ways. Janne’s work in many forms of media; radio, television, social media and in print and her work with the TEDx program in Sydney, as well as her advocacy and enthusiasm for our architecture and the design community and her great work behind the scenes, is unrivalled in this country.

Janne  seeks out great work and great architects and brings their work to the attention of a public audience who might otherwise not get to hear about such contributions. Giving architects a voice, illuminating the work and its importance in a skilful and intelligent way, where the work and the ideas are accessible and relevant. Janne has a genuine love and curiosity for design and our wider culture which shows through in her informed and perceptive writing. Janne has been a bridge between the normally overt seriousness and intense focus on detail that is a part of the architects character and the desire for a more succinct and relevant.

Janne Ryan takes her work seriously and knows that she has a unique position of regard and respect within our profession. It’s something she sees as a privilege, but there’s no doubt that it is we who are most grateful and who feel more privileged to have Janne Ryan as our friend and wonderfully, generous advocate.

Associate Professor Jay Younger’s contribution within the field of public art as an artist curator has provided exemplary best practice models and outcomes in Queensland, the calibre of which is unmatched. 

Since 1998 her curatorial practice includes key projects across artistic, educational, medical/scientific, parkland, leisure, and judicial contexts including the celebrated Brisbane Magistrate’s Court and the QEII Courts. 

In 2011 she was awarded a PhD from the University of New South Wales which was jointly supervised between visual art and architecture. 

Associate Professor Younger’s public art practice has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to artistic innovation within the built environment. 

BHC values design and understands its capacity to improve lives.

The company has challenged perceptions of what good architecture is about and who it’s for. 

A focus on responding to need — and not markets — has allowed its architects to explore innovative and flexible ways of living and to challenge accepted norms. 

BHC projects often house vulnerable people; they work with difficult sites and sometimes community opposition. 

BHC responds by understanding their clients, being responsive housing managers and by trusting architects to understand their vision and create places where people can live well.

This prize is for the implementation at organisational level for the delivery of some 119 P21 projects and eight Science and Language Centres throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane within the BER program.

The Brisbane Catholic Education Building Services management, headed by Mr. Gerry Conway, undertook an organisational restructure and additionally engaged seven additional staff to assist School Principals and their Communities in working with their appointed architects to enable a smooth project delivery.

The Brisbane Catholic Education Services ‘team’ were at all times unstinting in their endeavour to assist delivery of quality built projects that represented value for money that would not otherwise have been possible under alternate project delivery systems. 

Their respect and understanding of the role of the architect as Principal Consultant and the better value that ensues from the Architect’s direct relationship with the users and clients, including management of project risks, is exemplary.

This prize is for the detailed research and analysis that the Task Force undertook within its larger task of investigating the delivery of school buildings within the BER program from 2010 to 2011. 

Through diligence, vision and rigour, the Task Force has captured a unique snapshot of a range of building procurement methods employed contemporaneously across Australia, linked to detailed assessment of built outcomes in terms of construction quality and value for money. 

We are indebted for the clarity of the Task Force’s Reports. We commend to members the evidence that is provided and the conclusions that are reached regarding our profession’s continuing importance within the public sector and as ‘managing architects’ in the delivery of construction projects.

This prize is made to the office of the Queensland Government Architect in recognition of its important role in championing excellence in design throughout the state and internationally, and for leadership in processes of state and local government to improve outcomes for our urban places.

DEEDI has been awarded this prize for support of the architectural profession through HEAT: Queensland’s New Wave of Environmental Architects

The 2008 Presidents prize is awarded to the University of Queensland.  This prize is made to recognize the demonstrated and ongoing commitment by the University of Queensland to establishing a high quality built environment that facilitates teaching, learning and research excellence.

‘For their patronage of high quality architecture in the commissioning of facilities for Technical and Further Education over an extended period’

For ongoing commitment to the Quality of Architecture and Urban Design

The Award is made to recognize the demonstrated and ongoing commitment by the Gold Coast City Council towards improving the quality of architecture and urban design through the establishment of and continued support for the office of City Architect & Heritage.

Outstanding commitment to the mentoring of architectural graduates.

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