A year ago, on the eve of my tenure as national president, I wrote in this esteemed journal: “If everyone in our industry genuinely comprehended what the Institute did for the profession, I’m sure I would never again be asked if membership was worthwhile. On the contrary, architects both established and emergent would beat a path to the Institute’s door when renewals went out.”
Of my ambitions as president, I added: “I plan to focus on bridging this apparent knowledge ‘gap’, and to help ensure that the profound achievements of the Institute are reflected by an equally profound knowledge of its relevance and value to members.” Given that was my first foreword in Architecture Australia, I thought it appropriate to devote my last foreword as president to assessing whether progress has been made.
Encouragingly, the Institute has hit a number of milestones with member-focused events, products and services over the past year, indicating record levels of support. Our national architecture awards program has attracted an unprecedented level of interest – with entries nationally nudging one thousand for the first time. The program received more than 950 entries across the nation, with a record number of international entries expected. Likewise, increased awareness of our ongoing commitment to the Venice Biennale was evident, with the 2011 Now and When: Australian Urbanism exhibition attracting a record 93,000-plus visitors to the Australian Pavilion – up 60 percent from 2008 – and solid attendance at its showings in Seoul and Queensland in April. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, this year’s fabulous, rich program of speakers and topics saw more than 1,000 attendees participate in the Natural Artifice national conference.
Recognition and respect for our critical policy and government work continue to grow. After many years of lobbying on the profession’s behalf, the Institute was delighted to help secure the creation of Government Architect positions for all states and territories, with South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory on board in 2010. We continued to liaise with the federal government on the creation of a Commonwealth Government Architect’s position in the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and on cementing our positive relationship and support of the Government Architects Network Australia (GANA).
Elsewhere, we’re now co-hosting our fourth annual Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) summit in Canberra, which continues to facilitate effective conversation between parliament and industry leaders and to explore issues that influence national prosperity. The event’s profile continues to strengthen, with high-level ministers, members of Parliament and key industry leaders in attendance and tremendously supportive of our efforts. BEMP, along with our commitment to the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), has also witnessed a deepening understanding and respect for the profession from a range of partners and co-hosts, including peak industry bodies such as the Planning Institute of Australia, the Property Council of Australia, Consult Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia.
It is also encouraging that take-up of our A+ membership has far exceeded expectations, and we continue to see strong growth in this area. Since December 2010, almost three hundred additional practices have come on board – boosting the total number of A+ practices to 1,450 by mid-April. These practices now incorporate more than 4,000 Institute members, including about 1,750 who are new members, which means about 40 percent of members are now enjoying extra benefits such as Acumen, EDG, Australian Standards and numerous special discounts on Institute products and services. In the broadest sense, the Institute’s mandate remains to champion the best interests of both the profession overall and each of its individual members. It educates government and the wider community on the value of sustainable design and the pivotal role architects play in its creation. And it helps architects at all levels realize their potential through the provision of knowledge and professional development services. I’d like to think that all of the above efforts and achievements over the past year have met this mandate.
Finally, I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes on behalf of the profession to incoming national president Brian Zulaikha, of Sydney-based practice Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. Brian is a highly respected award-winning architect and former president of the New South Wales Chapter, with an impressive level of commitment to the profession. I’m sure you’ll join me in offering him best wishes, and your support over the coming twelve months as Brian continues to work on your behalf to advance the profession.
