The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the appointment of Vanessa Bird FRAIA as the new President for the Victorian Chapter. The new 2016/17 Victorian Chapter President takes over from immediate past President Peter Malatt who is confident she will bring a voice of calm reason and a collegiate vigour to their renewed Chapter Council. He added that Bird brought extensive practice experience to the table and was viewed with respect in the construction industry.
A co-founder of Bird de la Coeur Architects, Bird established the practice in 1996 with Neil de la Coeur. Bird de la Coeur Architects is a medium sized firm in Southbank specialising in housing, ranging from high-end multi-unit housing for the private sector, to social housing for government organisations. Bird was an Australia Institute of Architects Chapter Councillor from 2001- 2007, and was made a Fellow of the Institute in 2008.
Bird becomes just the 3rd woman Victorian President in the organisation’s history after Prof Dimity Reed (1984 – 1986) and Eli Gianinni (2002 – 2004).
