Leading with purpose, looking to the future

Serving as National President of the Australian Institute of Architects has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional journey. It was a privilege to lead during a period of critical change for our profession, a time shaped by the pressing realities of climate change, digital disruption and economic uncertainty, but also marked by incredible creativity, collaboration and optimism.

At the beginning of my presidency, I said architects are ambitious and I still believe that deeply. We are thinkers, makers and leaders. We have great aspirations not just for the built environment, but for the role design can play in advancing equity, resilience and sustainability. This ambition has fuelled a collective shift across the Australian Institute of Architects, a pivot toward a future-focused, agile and values-led direction.

Under the strategic leadership of the Australian Institute of Architects CEO, Cameron Bruhn and alongside a dedicated National Council and Board, we have spent the past year aligning the Institute with the demands of the century ahead. We challenged ourselves to ask hard questions. What problems does architecture solve? How must we evolve to solve them better? What mindsets and structures are holding us back?

We held workshops with leading academics including Dr Philip Oldfield and Dr Liz Brogden, building shared insight into the forces reshaping our industry. From those discussions came a clear mandate to communicate the value of architecture over the image of architecture. We will capture that tangible value by designing recognition programs that champion the social, economic and environmental outcomes of good design and support members with stronger tools, governance and cultural frameworks.

At the heart of this change is a belief in collective agency. That when we empower architects at every level, through Continuing Professional Development (CPD), policy reform, access to robust networks and leadership pathways, we amplify our capacity to shape better outcomes for communities.

To be awarded a Life Fellowship at the conclusion of this journey is deeply humbling. Life Fellowship is the highest honour the Australian Institute of Architects bestows on its members. It recognises not just contribution to practice, but to education, advocacy, leadership, literature and service to the public. To receive this honour is more than personal recognition. It reflects the shared work of so many committed collaborators across our profession who are driving meaningful change. From advancing decarbonisation to improving equity, from mentoring future leaders to shaping national policy. I accept it with pride, but also with humility and a sense of obligation to continue this work.

One of the most pressing areas where architects must lead is climate action. As professionals who shape cities, homes, infrastructure and public places, we are uniquely placed to address the climate crisis through design.

During my presidency, we launched the Institute's Industry Decarbonisation Plan 2030-2050 in collaboration with ASBEC and the Green Building Council of Australia. We helped secure a national carbon measurement system for the National Construction Code. These milestones were possible because of the strength of our partnerships and the power of speaking with a unified voice.

Business leaders across Australia agree, a well-managed transition to net zero will unlock jobs, drive innovation and protect long-term economic stability. A poorly managed transition, on the other hand, will expose communities to unnecessary risks and costs. Architects have a crucial role to play in leading this transition. By embedding climate-conscious thinking into every project, by working closely with clients and the supply chain and by communicating the full value of sustainable design, we can lead with both purpose and impact.

One of the persistent challenges in our profession is how architecture is perceived. Too often, the image of architecture overshadows its function. Beauty and form matter, but so do accessibility, durability, equity, affordability, resilience, sustainability, health and community outcomes. Our recognition programs must better reflect this.

This past year, we began evolving the Institute’s committees, awards and advocacy structures to shift the narrative. It’s not about diminishing aesthetics, but elevating the practical, economic and social value of good design. When we do this, we strengthen public trust, we foster more financially sustainable architectural businesses and we make the profession more inclusive and relevant.

Australian architecture has a global reputation for innovation, sustainability and place-based thinking. During my time as President, I was proud to support our members as they received accolades around the world. Through strengthened collaborations with international bodies like the UIA, RIBA, AIA, NZIA and RAIC, we are supporting mutual recognition agreements and knowledge sharing across regions.

These international connections are not about prestige, they are about influence. About how Australian architects can contribute meaningfully to global conversations on climate adaptation, Indigenous knowledge systems, disaster resilience and ethical design. And about how we bring those learnings home to improve outcomes in our own communities.

As I look to the future, I remain hopeful. But hope is not the same as complacency. We need courage to let go of legacy systems that no longer serve us. We need care to rebuild our industry culture in ways that are respectful, collaborative and inclusive. And we need action, real, measurable, values-led action to lead architecture into the next era.

The built environment is at the centre of some of society’s most urgent challenges and its greatest opportunities. From housing affordability to flood resilience, from educational equity to cultural heritage, architects are problem-solvers. Our work touches every aspect of human life. When we lead with purpose, when we design not just for image but for impact, we help shape a more just, sustainable and inspiring world.

To my colleagues, mentors, collaborators and friends, thank you. Thank you for your trust, your advice, your ambition and your shared belief in what this profession can be. It has been an honour to serve as National President. I look forward to what comes next and to continuing this work together.

We are only just beginning.