International Women’s Day luncheon – Brisbane
Join the ACA QLD/NT community for an intimate International Women’s Day lunch, celebrating this year’s theme Give to Gain.
Book your tickets here
In an increasingly busy world, it has never been more important to be intentional about where we place our energy, time, care and passion. This lunch brings together three outstanding design professionals at different stages of their careers to reflect on how they have shaped giving: where they invest, where they hold back, and how intentional choices can lead to greater impact.
Held in a private dining room at Southside, Fish Lane, this boardroom-style luncheon features Erin McDonald, Associate Director at Blaklash and Chair of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia; Leone Lorrimer, executive leader and long-standing advocate for gender equity in architecture; and Eloise Atkinson, whose work in affordable housing advances equity through the built environment.
The afternoon unfolds over a four-course lunch, with keynote reflections from each speaker followed by a panel discussion and audience questions.
With time to connect over lunch and drinks, this is a rare opportunity to pause and reflect. We hope you will leave with renewed clarity about your priorities for 2026, and the role each of us can play in advancing equity across our workplaces, profession and communities.
Secure your place and be part of the conversation.
Numbers are strictly limited.
WHEN & WHERE
Friday 13 March 2026 | 12pm–4pm
Southside Restaurant, South Brisbane
COST
ACA Members $195 + booking fee (ACA Membership Number required) | Non-members $245 + booking fee.
For further information, contact Rozzy Middleton at qldnt@aca.org.au
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Erin McDonald
Associate Director, Blaklash | Director, Indigenous Architecture & Design Australia
Erin McDonald is Associate Director at Blaklash, working at the intersection of culture and design to embed Country and cultural integrity throughout the design process. With experience across community, policy and practice, she champions respectful partnerships and culturally responsive outcomes grounded in First Nations knowledge systems. Erin serves on national and state advisory panels, including as Chair of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia, and is a leading advocate for systemic change through collaboration and leadership.
Eloise Atkinson LFRAIA GAICD
Practice Partner, Deicke Richards
Eloise Atkinson is a Brisbane-based architect with more than 30 years’ experience, specialising in education and social and affordable housing. She is a long-standing advocate for well-designed housing through her leadership as Independent Chair of Brisbane Housing Company and her involvement in initiatives addressing homelessness and housing insecurity for older women. A Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, Eloise combines practice, governance and advocacy to improve equity in the built environment.
Leone Lorrimer LFRAIA GAICD
Leone Lorrimer is an executive design leader with over four decades of experience across major international practices and client-side roles on significant cultural and civic projects. A pioneer for women in architectural leadership, Leone has driven organisational and cultural change through mentorship, advocacy and governance, including her role on the Australian Institute of Architects’ inaugural National Gender Equity Committee. A Life Fellow of the Institute, she is widely recognised for her leadership, influence and contribution to the profession.