CEO report – May 2025
Angelina Pillai reflects on a very busy month of activity, from strategy and planning with the ACA National Executive Committee in Melbourne to connection and inspiration in Sydney.
Strategic planning in full swing
Last month was a busy and energising period for the ACA. Our national executive team gathered in person for two intensive days of strategic planning. We explored opportunities to enhance our member offerings – including improved segmentation, expanded CPD and more targeted advocacy. Each Branch President shared their local plans to deepen engagement with members, governments and the wider community. It marked Paul Viney’s first in-person meeting as National President and served as a fitting swansong for outgoing president John Held.
A week of ideas in Sydney
Sydney was abuzz with architectural discussions, presentations and future-mapping sessions. The PechaKucha event, hosted by the NSW Architects Registration Board, was a highlight. Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship scholars delivered captivating presentations that challenged assumptions and sparked new thinking on housing and urban design. Big thanks to Kirsten Orr and the team for a wonderful evening.
Arch_Manu Partnership
We also had the pleasure of catching up with Arch_Manu (Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing) at a dynamic workshop with more than 20 PhD candidates. The discussion focused on ACA’s insights into how architectural practices are embracing digital technologies, AI, data management, professional ethics, and compliance. Their research, centred on digital sustainability, bridges academia and industry by tackling real-world business challenges with fresh, research-led solutions. Great to see Hank Haeusler, Ivana, Farnaz and the group of students.
NSW/ACT Committee Dinner
Our NSW/ACT Committee hosted a lovely dinner, where we delved into Harry’s ambitious agenda to further ACA’s impact and drive meaningful outcomes for the profession. Good food, great conversation, and bold ideas – what more could you ask for?
Working together with Consult Australia
It was great to connect with Jonathan Cartledge and Kristy Eulenstein from Consult Australia over lunch. We’re continuing discussions on how our organisations can better support consulting businesses across the built environment.
Welcome, Lyndal Macpherson
A warm welcome to Lyndal Macpherson, the new CEO of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia. We look forward to collaborating to strengthen the profession nationwide.
Architects Conference at the Sydney Opera House
The Australian Institute of Architects Conference was a great event, held in the iconic Sydney Opera House. A personal highlight was keynote speaker Vinu Daniel, whose work draws deeply from India’s culture of sustainability – something I connected with strongly. Congratulations to the Government Architects, recipients of the National President’s Prize. Your work is incredibly important, and the ACA stands ready to support.