Our conversationalists for this session are Heather MacRae and Felice Burrows . Heather is an Associate at The Fulcrum Agency and Felice is the Co-founder and Director of Architects&Co. Both share a circuitous route to an architecture career, a strong interest in social impact and making a difference, and a sceptical view of the high design elements of the industry. They discuss their shared passion for travel and work in marginalised communities, with Felice working in India on the Anganwad...
Mar 01, 2025•42 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are good friends Shelley Penn and Amy Muir . Shelley is a strategic advisor to government and private sectors, Amy is Director of MUIR Architecture. Both are highly regarded architects, advocates and serious strategic thinkers with a strong commitment to the public realm. Their conversation from 2017 addresses these commitments and the importance of communicating the public value of design, along with career transitions and pathways. But it begins with a l...
Mar 01, 2025•31 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are academic and historian Harriet Edquist and Cumulus Studio Associate Lucia Wellington . Harriet brings an enormous breadth of understanding of design across eras, from her historical research and archiving. Lucia is a strong advocate for sustainability within Cumulus and the wider profession. In this thoughtful conversation, Harriet and Lucia discuss the importance of heritage preservation and quality craftsmanship. They share insights into Tasmanian ur...
Nov 24, 2024•34 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Poppy Taylor and Clare Steen . Poppy is a co-founder of Taylor & Hinds Architects and Clare is a co-Director of Launceston-based Plain Architecture. In this lively, engaging conversation, Poppy and Clare chat about their commonalities – being Tasmanian architects (born, bred and educated) with young families, who are running small practices. They reflect on their education, their younger selves (full of naivety, enthusiasm and brashness), their ear...
Nov 08, 2024•42 min
Our speakers for this episode are good friends Sophie Cleland and Tania Davidge. Sophie is a director at Architectus and Tania is now the CEO of Open House Melbourne. This is a hilarious conversation filled with laughter and a serious commitment to community and political engagement. Tania and Sophie rewrote the brief for Salon asking the audience to direct their conversation in a ‘choose your own adventure’ escapade. The winning topics were ‘boiling frogs’ and ‘turtles all the way down’. Listen...
Oct 31, 2024•43 min
Our conversationalists for this wonderful episode are Maggie Edmond and Vanessa Bird . It is a celebration of Maggie’s life and work on the occasion of being retrospectively awarded the 2003 Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal . Vanessa begins by outlining the campaign that enabled this recognition then interviews Maggie about her childhood, family influences and life in practice and beyond. Maggie speaks of growing up in the midst of the Melbourne fashion industry, running errands in ...
Oct 31, 2024•45 min
Our speakers for this episode are Gordana Blazevska and Stephanie Bullock . Gordana is Founding Director of Management for Design and Stephanie is Founding Director of Kosloff Architecture. Stephanie moved from finance into architecture, while Gordana is an accountant who works with architectural and design practices. They met for the first time for this cross-disciplinary conversation, and got on famously – they have subsequently run a marathon together! Together, they compare the similarities ...
Oct 31, 2024•38 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Birdy Bird from Land Back Foundation and Jade Kake of Matakohe architecture + urbanism. They share stories and wisdom, and find much common ground. Both are incredibly articulate and generous speakers, providing a jam-packed session of information and advice. The conversation was wide-ranging, from land rights and reparations in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, to the importance of active listening, consensus building, and critically interrogat...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Our conversationalists are Samantha Donnelly and Tiana-Jane Furner-McBeath. Sam is an architect, educator and researcher. She is undertaking her PhD at Monash University and is now a lecturer in the School of Interior Architecture at UTS. Tiana-Jane is an Aboriginal woman and architectural graduate at BVN. At the time of the conversation she was living between Gomeroi and Gadigal Country. Tiana-Jane and Sam exchange experiences of working with oppressed or endangered communities, and discuss the...
Oct 31, 2024•25 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Minnie Cade and Sonia Sarangi . Both Melbourne-based architects, they met for the first time for this conversation. Sonia is a director at Andever and, at the time of the recording, Minnie was a Principal at Wardle. Their conversation canvasses collaboration and independence in the workplace and the intersections of personal and professional lives. Minnie speaks of her background as an elite rower and the influence of this on how she leads teams in arc...
Oct 31, 2024•30 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are our colleagues Gill Matthewson and Sarah Mair . Gill is an architect, educator and researcher, currently working with the XYX Lab at Monash University. She is a co-founder and director of Parlour and is responsible for the data analysis that underpins so much of our advocacy. At the time of this recording, Sarah was an architecture student, event curator and furniture designer. She is now an architectural graduate at Hassell. It is wonderful to have th...
Oct 30, 2024•31 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Julie Nichols , a Senior Lecturer at UniSA; and Reem Daou , a Graduate of Architecture at Russell & Yelland. In this engaging episode, Julie and Reem discuss their passion for architecture and the way it can help sustain you through different phases of your career. Julie reflects on her experiences working in Malaysia, Indonesia and the UK, stressing the value of site-specific design and community involvement. Reem shares her experiences of travell...
Oct 28, 2024•35 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Melody Chen , co-founder of architectural practice A-CH; and Charmaine Kai , co-founder and director of 8i Architects. Melody and Charmaine share the genesis and evolution of their practices and the flexibility required to balance family, architectural projects and volunteer commitments. They discuss the challenges of running architectural businesses, balancing the passion for the work with efficient time management. They discuss the adversarial nature...
Oct 28, 2024•27 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Marie Glezos , a Senior Architect at SMFA; and Deb Auckland , who at the time of the recording was an architect and senior advisor at the Department of Education South Australia. Marie’s focus on giving back is drawn from her strong community-based upbringing, with her migrant grandparents sharing a commitment to help others with whatever they might need. Deb highlights the importance of incorporating first-hand perspectives when designing for schools ...
Oct 28, 2024•27 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Kate Hislop , the Head of the School of Design at the University of Western Australia and Julie de Jong , Director of H&H Architects. Their spirited discussion covers Julie’s experience of regional practice, from losing the design ego to the beauty of regional towns, the priority of lifestyle and being a real participant in the local community. Julie is candid about her time studying, working and living in the city for more than a decade before cho...
Oct 15, 2024•37 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Sandy Anghie and Isla McRobbie. Sandy is a lawyer turned architect and president of the WA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. Isla is an architect turned construction lawyer and partner at Jackson McDonald. In this engaging episodde, both speakers discuss their experiences navigating professional identities and perspectives in the construction industry, sharing their approaches to career development in architecture and law; and the impo...
Oct 15, 2024•32 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Heather Wasley, a Senior Associate at Grieve Gillett Architects and Olivia McKim, currently working as an architect at Brand Architects. In this open, honest conversation, Heather and Olivia share their struggles through university – one supporting herself away from family and the other with experiences of grief and feelings of failure. Heather discusses her lengthy break between degrees while raising her daughter and her difficult decision to leave he...
Oct 06, 2024•34 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Brisbane-based Emma Healy and Annaliese McCarthy. Emma is a co-founder of Landings Studio and Principal Architect at the City of Moreton Bay Council. Annaliese is an architectural graduate at BVN. Emma dubs herself a “suburban Utopian”, living and working in a fibro shack in a semi-rural suburb. Annaliese has worked and travelled throughout her student years, testing different roles and fields, from architecture to construction management and property ...
Oct 06, 2024•36 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Ceridwen Owen and Jennifer Nichols . Ceridwen is an Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania and co-leads the Diverse Inclusions Lab. Jennifer is the Executive Director – Tasmanian and International Chapters of the Australian Institute of Architects. Jennifer and Ceridwen share their experiences and perspectives on architectural education, practice and academia, emphasising the importance of learning from experiences and adapting to new challe...
Aug 16, 2024•37 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Lisa Halton and Kellie McGivern . Lisa has worked on several projects that cater to health and wellbeing in the built environment. Kellie is Design manager for Hesperia Property Development and Principal of Project Advisory & Design Management practice for Lacewings Advisory. In this generous conversation, Lisa and Kellie discuss their non-linear career paths, their respective moves from Ireland to Perth, the importance of making connections and sh...
Jul 10, 2024•47 min
Our conversationalists in this episode are Meghna Prasanth and Aparna Datey . Aparna is a researcher and educator at the University of Queensland and the Queensland Institute of Technology. At the time of the Salon, Meghna was an architectural graduate and working at Cox Architecture. In this in-depth conversation, Meghna and Aparna share the joys and challenges of pursuing architecture in India and other countries, including Switzerland, the United States and Australia. They discuss the strengt...
Jul 10, 2024•31 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Monica Edwards and Kathlyn Loseby. Monica is a Senior Associate architect at SJB and Kathlyn is the CEO of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kathlyn and Monica discuss the importance of quality design, sustainable building practices and advocacy for structural reform within the profession. They emphasise the importance of collaboration and continuous professional development, and talk about their fami...
May 23, 2024•38 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Fiona Gardiner and Leah Lang . Fiona is an conservation architect and heritage consultant. At the time of the conversation she was undertaking a PhD at UQ. Leah is a strategic design advisor and a registered architect, currently working as the Queensland Government Architect. In this episode, Fiona and Leah share insights into their diverse careers within the Queensland government and public sector. They describe the excitement of making a big impact, ...
May 01, 2024•30 min
Our conversationalist for this episode are Chi Melham and Eva Marie-Prineas . Eva is director of Studio Prineas. At the time of this recording, Chi was a director at Tzannes. She has since established a new practice, EM BE CE. In this engaging conversation Chi and Eva-Marie explore how they have navigated family and work and the challenges of balancing gender roles in both. The talk about mentoring young women in architecture, and the push toward better working environments for the next generati...
Feb 02, 2024•36 min
Our conversationalists for this session are Georgia Lindsay and Tara Broun . Georgia is a senior lecturer in architecture at the University of Tasmania. At the time of the recording Tara was an architect at John Wardle Architects. She is now at Cumulus. Georgia and Tara begin their conversation by discussing significant ‘life moves’. Tara spent time in Europe and Melbourne before returning to Tasmania. Georgia started with a passion for art, exploring how it affects people, and moved around the ...
Dec 14, 2023•44 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Ivana Glavinic May and De’Arne Matthews , The discussion revolves around their careers working client side in the education sector – Ivana as at Flinders University and De’Arne as an architect at Catholic Education SA. This is a fascinating discussion of the potential and strategic opportunities in project management, and the career paths that took Ivana and De’Arne from architecture and interior design degrees to client organisations. De’Arne highligh...
Dec 14, 2023•25 min
Our speakers for this episode are Perth architects Michelle Blakeley and Leonie Matthews , each of whom have wide-ranging, non-linear careers. Leonie and Michelle speak about their mirror experiences of exploring other fields of work, and how their skills have transferred across to architecture. Wide-ranging backgrounds and skills gained from previous work include nursing that provided discipline and empathy, teaching toned one’s listening skills and ability to articulate and review work whereas...
May 30, 2023•34 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Brisbane architects Karen Ognibene , and Libby Ba-Pe . Karen is director of KO&Co Architecture and Libby is an associate at JDA Co. This conversation includes strategies from balancing work and personal life challenges and setting boundaries, to business development and client relationship building. Both provide rich networking advice, articulating the importance of enjoying what you do and who you do it with. They share their enjoyment working on ...
May 30, 2023•26 min
Our conversationalists for this episode are Nicky Adams and Sarah Lindsay . At the time of recording, Nicky was a Senior Associate at Terroir Architects, she is now a director of MANA. Sarah is a founding Director of LXN Architecture. This fascinating conversation traverses many topics from the challenges with the multidisciplinary nature of the architecture profession to part time roles, the influences of travel on education and practices and their diverse career paths. Nicky and Sarah argue th...
May 30, 2023•29 min
Our conversationalists for this session are Josephine Evans and Victoria Clarkson . Josephine is a Director at JPE Design Studio and Victoria at the time was a graduate of architecture at Grieve Gillett Andersen. Their wide-ranging chats centres on the pleasures of participating in extracurricular activities, and the connectedness this brings. Both speak passionately about how we can be far more powerful as a collective and the importance of prioritising collaboration for better design outcomes....
May 30, 2023•27 min
