ACA Summer Reading and Listening List 2025/26
Before we break for the festive season, we asked our committee members and staff to recommend their favourite books and podcasts of the year. Some have a business angle. Others are just things that got them thinking. We hope you enjoy working your way through these recommendations as you relax and reset this summer.
ACA STAFF
Angelina Pillai
Our CEO, Angelina, appeared on her first podcast this year, and we thoroughly enjoyed it, so we couldn’t resist sharing!
Transforming a Niche Association: Leadership Lessons from Angelina Mallini Pillai is an Association Hub Podcast, and a behind-the-scenes look at leadership strategies for growing and evolving membership organisations. Ange also shares insight into the ACA – why we exist and what drives us to work hard for our members
Emma Brain
Emma coordinates our national communications and advocacy efforts. Her top picks include Juliette Mitchell’s self-published book, ‘The Storytelling Manual for Architects – a heartfelt manifesto for a better way to write and talk about what you do.’
I’ve been in the archi-comms game a long time, and this book is one of the best I’ve read, offering practical and witty advice for communicating with individual clients and broader audiences.
I’ve also developed a taste for Substack, subscribing to Bo Wong’s ‘Field Guide for Creatives’ and Brad Wetherall’s ‘Good Office – Strategy for Architecture Practices.’ I like Substack’s snappy format and the fact that you can dip in during the work day without chewing through lots of time.
Rozzy Middleton
Rozzy is our Executive Officer in QLD/NT and loves beautifully designed architecture books, like these:
The New Sustainable House by Penny Cresswell
A beautifully designed and fresh approach to sustainability in residential housing, mostly focused on Australian developments, but includes projects from abroad.
Adapt! Designing New Lives for Old Buildings by Uro Publications
Not yet released, but one to watch. This book showcases design and practice-based approaches to the sustainable, adaptive reuse of historic places. Uro are excellent publishers of architecture books!
Olafur Eliasson: Experience by Olafur Eliasson
Merging art and architecture, this new monograph coincides with the major show opening at GOMA. A great Christmas coffee table book!
Lo-Tek Water by Julia Watson
Also not yet released. This upcoming book examines how Indigenous water technologies can offer future-ready design solutions for building resilient cities – very pertinent given the flooding the entire world is facing.
ACA COMMITTEE
Mario Dreosti
Mario is Managing Director at Brown Falconer and President of ACA SA. His picks include:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Every person I know has read this at some stage in their personal development journey – a must-read for anyone looking to build better habits and break bad ones.
Currently listening to these podcasts, which are a mixture of psychology, investment and reflection on life.
Sally Matthews
Sally is a Director at Matthews and Scavalli Architects and a member of the ACA WA Committee. This year, like many of us, she’s listening more than reading. Her favourites include two ABC podcasts…
An excellent podcast covering many psychology subjects that we can all relate to. Perfect for understanding human behaviour and the mind.
A philosophical discussion on hot topics that will expand your vocabulary and doesn’t shy away from very long sentences!!
Ashley Richards
Ashley is a member of the ACA NSW/ACT Committee and Global Leader – People & Culture at Woods Bagot. With a psychology background, Ashley recommends…
Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
This book discusses modern challenges facing our young boys and men. The focus is on how to create a better support system through practical actions within the workplace, family and school setting. An essential read for anyone involved in people leadership and cultural development.