Give to Gain: Reflections from the ACA's IWD Lunch

The ACA’s annual International Women’s Day lunch brought colleagues together for a series of thoughtful talks and a panel discussion exploring the theme ‘Give to Gain’ — a celebration of how generosity of time, knowledge and leadership can ripple outward into meaningful social impact.

Across three presentations from speakers Eloise Atkinson, Leone Lorrimer and Erin McDonald, and a lively panel discussion, our speakers reflected on responsibility, collaboration and the evolving role of architecture in shaping more inclusive communities.

Our Event Partner Stratco opened the day with a story close to the heart of the theme. Queensland’s Architectural and Specifications Representative Cindy Lee shared the story of Mavis Stratton, whose quiet strength helped build one of Australia’s most enduring family businesses. When her husband and company founder Alfred Stratton passed away, Mavis stepped up to lead Stratco, transforming it from humble beginnings in 1940s Adelaide into the proudly national Australian company it is today.

Three Insightful Discussions

Prioritising Social Value

Eloise Atkinson, Practice Partner at Deicke Richards, drew on more than 30 years of experience in education and social and affordable housing to discuss housing equity as both a leadership and design challenge.

She argued that governance and leadership decisions within practice can significantly influence housing outcomes for vulnerable groups, including older women. Rather than treating social outcomes as secondary, Eloise emphasised that architects must actively advocate for them within housing projects.

Her message was clear: leadership that prioritises social value is not optional, it is central to responsible practice.

Cultural Shifts Across Architecture

Leone Lorrimer spoke on leadership, representation, and the cultural shifts still needed to achieve genuine gender equity in architecture. With more than 35 years’ experience across major international practices, Leone reflected on navigating gender inequities, from all of her leadership roles.

She highlighted initiatives such as flexible work policies, the Workplace Gender Equality Act, and Parlour’s research-driven advocacy, showing how mentorship and structural reforms have gradually improved representation and leadership pathways for women.

Leone also noted how architectural practice itself has evolved: contemporary projects increasingly require collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability considerations, areas in which women’s consultative approaches thrive. Leone encouraged creating opportunities for others, amplifying diverse voices, and designing built environments that generate lasting social impact.

Authentic Collaboration

Erin McDonald, Associate Director at Blaklash and Director of Indigenous Architecture & Design Australia, addressed the growing expectations placed on First Nations practitioners to educate the profession and advocate for respectful engagement.

She spoke about the need for authentic collaboration with communities, and emphasised that responsibility for cultural learning sits with Indigenous and Non-Indigenous practitioners alike. Her perspective reinforced that leadership often means distributing power and ensuring Indigenous knowledge meaningfully informs both process and outcome.

Panel discussion

The panel discussion, hosted by Justine Ezbery of Fulton Trotter Architects and Cara Phillips of BSPN Architecture, expanded on these themes through a series of questions exploring professional responsibility, advocacy and career development.

Speakers reflected on balancing education with client expectations, sustaining energy for long-term advocacy, and how their career journeys have shaped their perspectives on leadership. They also considered what advice they would give their younger selves entering the profession.

A common thread emerged: leadership in architecture today extends well beyond project delivery. It involves mentoring, influencing governance and helping build a profession that is more inclusive, collaborative and responsive to community needs. Several ideas resonated strongly throughout the afternoon:

• Architecture is increasingly understood as a social practice, with leaders able to influence housing equity, representation and Indigenous engagement through their work with communities, policymakers and cross-disciplinary teams.
• Leadership is also about cultivating culture — creating environments where diverse voices are heard and valued in project discussions and procurement processes. Mentoring and sponsorship play a critical role in sustaining the profession and broadening leadership pathways.
• Authentic engagement with First Nations communities requires humility, appropriate resourcing and genuine collaboration. When approached thoughtfully, advocacy is not separate from design work but strengthens both client relationships and project outcomes.

Together, the speakers reminded us that purposeful leadership, grounded in generosity, collaboration and accountability, has the power to shape a more inclusive and socially responsive architectural profession.