Balancing Flexibility with Business

22 April 2021

Watch speakers Fiona Martin and Alec Tzannes share their findings and experiences of balancing flexibility and hybrid ways of working with the needs of business.

This webinar was originally held on 5 May 2021.

Now available to purchase as CPD On Demand

Many practices are at the crossroads of the hybrid working model, but how do we adapt to the new way of working? How do we effectively and efficiently roll out flex in the workplace while still balancing the needs of business? What are some of the challenges that emerge when working with a mixed team of remote and inhouse employees? And how do we manage these challenges to ensure we maintain a healthy workplace culture and a healthy bottom line?

Architectural practice management expert and HR consultant Fiona Martin will discuss the practicalities of making flex work in practice, from establishing flex/remote working policies to assessing employees’ readiness for remote working, to trial arrangements and reviews.

Then, one of Australia’s most highly regarded architects, Alec Tzannes, will join ACA CEO Angelina Pillai in conversation to discuss Tzannes’ long history of embracing flexibility within practice. Other topics on the agenda include the main benefits and challenges of adopting flex, the impacts of the pandemic, and the lessons that Tzannes will take forward into the future.

Our Speakers

Fiona Martin

Fiona is an architectural practice management and HR consultant with over 20 years’ experience in large practice. She helps designers to balance creativity and profitability, build culture and deliver best practice. Fiona understands the challenges business owners face and provides practical and simple solutions to build and manage strategic operations and develop people + culture. Fiona provides consulting services to architectural practices, from emerging practices with business establishment, planning and compliance to small and medium practices with operations, practice and people management. Fiona also chairs the NSW Large Practice HR Group comprising Practice, HR and Operations Managers of over 25 large practices in Australia, and is the inaugural affiliate member of the ACA.

Alec Tzannes

Alec Tzannes is the founding Director of Tzannes, an architecture and urban design practice. He has served as Dean of UNSW Built Environment and is now an Emeritus Professor. Tzannes is a strong advocate for workplace equity, offering each role flexible, paid overtime, paid parental leave and work/life balance initiatives. In 2014 Alec was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to architecture, as a practitioner and educator and through professional organisations. In 2018 he was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal. The Gold Medal recognises distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner. He is a current Director of the Judith Neilson’s Charitable Foundation for Dangrove, the Director of the UNSW Foundation Board, and the Chair of the Australian Institute of Architecture Foundation Board.

Cost

Members – $25
Non-members $40

*One ticket per attendee.

CPD

Participation in this 1 hour webinar will deliver 1 formal CPD point.

Learning outcomes – Participation in this webinar will give attendees an understanding of:

  • Issues to consider for an effective and efficient roll out of flex in the workplace
  • How to tackle the challenges of working with a mixed team of remote and inhouse employees
  • How to ensure a healthy workplace culture and a healthy bottom line when implementing workplace flex
  • Employer obligations regarding flexibility in the workplace
  • Experiences and learnings of successful flexible working in practice

AACA NSCA : 9 Practice Management – 9.7 Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements and obligations in regard to architectural practice, practice management and registration as an architect.

APBSA Core Area: Practice Management

The webinar will include time for Q&A with the speakers. Written CPD questions will be sent to attendees before the webinar and will also be accessible for download from the webinar platform. Sample answers will be provided to self-check your responses against after the webinar.

Please keep your receipt and completed questions for your records. A link will be provided after the webinar to upload CPD answers and for issue of a CPD certificate of completion.

Contact

For more information, contact Katherine Ygosse – webinars@aca.org.au or on (0413) 520 548.