Managing Principal Elizabeth Carpenter announced AIA NSW Chapter President

I am honoured to represent the NSW as Chapter President.

Architecture is an integral part of who I am, and I deeply value the support the Institute has provided me throughout my career and the dedication of everyone who has advocated for our profession. 

A constant question I ask is:

How can we, as architects, continually improve our built environment and positively impact where we live and work?

After the challenges of recent years, it’s time to leverage our insights and design thinking to benefit our communities.

I champion a holistic approach to architecture – from developing initial concepts and selecting appropriate sites to achieving high-quality outcomes. Now, more than ever, our design skills can address the pressing issues facing our communities.

With almost 10 years of experience in the RAIA NSW Chapter, including roles on the Chapter Council and as Co-Chair of the Practice Committee, I am dedicated to advancing our profession and reassessing how we maintain relevance in a rapidly changing landscape. As a profession, we should be even more visible because we can add great value.

I understand the breadth and diversity of our profession. As a practising architect with over 30 years of experience in a large firm, I engage in many facets of practice and am eager to address the key issues we must advocate for. 

I am committed to advocating for a sustainable future. This is not just a desire but a necessity and should be our primary focus. Sustainability should permeate every aspect of our work—it starts from the beginning and is a state of mind rather than an add-on. Recognising and promoting sustainable work practices is as important as the projects we produce. 

My approach is collaborative, welcoming participation and engagement. I aim to draw upon the combined expertise of the many active members of the Institute’s community and expand this community further.

We all know the critical issues facing our profession and our interaction with the built environment. However, I want to take the time to personally ask what we can do better to improve our impact and how we can work together as a connected community of professionals.

Three areas of focus –

1. housing with an increased priority on how we can improve what we have, fill in the gaps and think very cleverly about the future;
2. supporting young architects who are the future of the profession – engaging them with the Institute at the universities so that they can understand the value of the strength of the profession as they start their careers,
3. and maintaining and communicating the value of the craft of architecture.