The Australian Institute of Architects announces that new members have joined the National Committee for Gender Equity with Lee Hillam to take over from the inaugural chairperson, Emma Williamson. The committee was established by the AIA National Council in December 2013 to implement the Institute’s Gender Equity Policy and to recommend actions, initiatives and programs required to give practical effect to that policy.

Lee Hillam will chair the committee for the 2016-2017 year. A director of Dunn & Hillam Architects in Sydney, a parent, and an advocate for architecture’s role in designing better places for all people, Lee has been instrumental in setting Dunn & Hillam Architects up to be a flexible workplace with a high level of business transparency for all staff.

Michael Smith is the Deputy Chair Person of the NCGE. He is a director of small practice Atelier Red+Black based in Fitzroy, Victoria. A passionate advocate for architecture and good design, Michael writes the Red+Black Architect blog as well as columns for Domain.com.au.

Emma Williamson was the founding Chair of the NCGE and is a director of Coda, a practice she co-founded with her husband Kieran almost 20 years ago. Emma is a keen advocate of good design, equity and diversity.

Dr Gill Matthewson is currently based at Monash University in Australia. She has been researching into architecture and gender for many years, and most recently completed her PhD ‘Dimensions of Gender: women’s careers in the Australian architecture profession’ at the University of Queensland. Gill is also a member of the Parlour collective.

Jessica Hardwick, a new member of the NCGE, is lead architect for Happy Haus and also has her own home-based studio based in Brisbane. Jessica is passionate about the role of architecture in building communities and social infrastructure and works primarily in the residential and community sectors.

Catherine Startari, a project architect at GHD Woodhead in Adelaide, joins the NCGE this year. Currently involved in urban design and defence projects, she recently returned to Adelaide with her husband and young son after working as an architect in the Middle East for the past 7 years.

Leone Lorrimer has been a member of the NCGE since 2014. Currently the CEO of DWP|Suters, Leone was a director of a major Australian international practice for 19 years and had 5 years of experience on the client side in the UAE. She is an advocate for the advancement of women through the Institute, WGEA and NAWIC and is a member of Chief Executive Women.

Sam McQueeney is a Graduate Architect at Circa Morris-Nunn Architects, a small practice based in Hobart, Tasmania. He represents Tasmania on the Emerging Architects and Graduates Network group, and has also volunteered on the local Open House Hobart organising committee.

Madeline Sewall works for the vibrant Melbourne practice Breathe Architecture, where she leads a variety of projects ranging from residential to commercial.

Sander de Vries, a new member of the NCGE, is a Project Architect at a medium sized firm in Hawker ACT, and specialises in Community architecture.

Architecture & Design Team

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