2024 International Women's Day (QLD)
Date: 8th March 2024
Time: 7:00am arrival for 7:30am start. Formalities will end at 9:30am,
followed by an hour of networking and mimosas for a 10:30am finish
Venue: The Calile Hotel, 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley, 4006
Dress: Smart-Casual
Overview
Join us for the 2024 Queensland Chapter International Women's Day, where we come together under the theme Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress. Dedicated to celebrating women in architecture, this gathering recognizes the strides made in achieving gender equality while acknowledging the challenges that women and others continue to encounter in the profession.
Despite notable progress, many people still confront significant barriers to equal participation and compensation in architectural practice. Join us in fostering an inclusive architectural profession that provides equal opportunities for everyone to develop their capabilities, enhance their learning, attain registration, earn fair compensation, and assume leadership roles. Let's collectively contribute to building a more equitable, inclusive and supportive future in architecture and be the change that we want to see.
This year's International Women's Day theme emphasises the importance of financial equality and career progression in the architectural field. Forging gender equity isn't the responsibility of women only - new pathways to gender equality require collective action in challenging stereotypes and embracing the culture of inclusion.
Join us in shaping the future of architecture by opening your tables to others – let's make this event a powerful catalyst for inclusion, collaboration and innovation within our community. Whether it be buying an extra ticket, or a full table, let's use this opportunity to pay it forward. Invite your colleagues, advocates, heroes, mentors and mentees and let's make this year an impactful one.
We hope to see many of you at this annual celebration of our many amazing women who are part of the Queensland architecture community. Tag us on social media to let everyone know you are going!
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MC: Brendan Sutton
Brendan Sutton
Architecture Executive, Peddle Thorp
Brendan is an Architect with over 10 years of experience working throughout Brisbane, Queensland and the Pacific. Working across several sectors with a focus on the delivery of public facilities specialising in healthcare and education, Brendan is passionate about delivering architecture that has a positive effect on the built environment and the people who interact with them, whilst being sensitive to the local and community context.
Brendan is the co-chair of the Institute of Architects Queensland Chapter Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee. During this time he has spoken at the Asia Pacific Architecture Festival – Belonging Stories, and organized events that explore the value of Queerness in public space, NAIDOC week celebrations, and previous International Women’s Day events. Brendan has also been a juror during the 2022 and 2023 Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards, across the Public, Urban, and Commercial Categories.
Speaker: Rebecca Caldwell
Rebecca Caldwell
Founding Director/Architect, Maytree Studios
Rebecca founded Maytree Studios in 2012 to put architecture in reach of more people. That means she’s an idealist at heart, but she works with pragmatism to bring this vision to life. She does more with fewer resources, and believes in designing homes that are sustainable, clever and beautifully tailored to each client. She believes good design is about the process, not just the outcome. Using everyday language to explain design ideas is all part of her approach to lift the curtain on architecture.
To make a big idea happen, Rebecca won’t shy away from real talk (and a swear word or two). She is committed to breaking down the awkwardness around money conversations, so that clients better understand what they can do with their budget.
Rebecca believes the secret to a great client experience is to provide a human-first approach. That’s why Maytree runs under a co-ownership business model and an ethos of being humans first, architects second. This warm management style creates an environment where both her team and clients feel valued.
Speaker: Kirsty Volz
Kirsty Volz
Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology
Dr Kirsty Volz is an architect and academic who specialises in design-led solutions for housing. She is a passionate advocate for the role that architects have to play in delivering the resilient, affordable and adaptable needs of housing in 21st century Australia. Her research focuses on design-led policy for the built environment and the role of architects working in government.
Kirsty is a Senior Lecturer in architecture and the course coordinator for the Bachelor of Architectural Design at the Queensland University of Technology. She is a co-director of architectural practice Toussaint and Volz. Outside of this, Kirsty has published several articles, encyclopaedia entries and book chapters on histories of Queensland's early women in architecture.
Speaker: Eloise Atkinson
Eloise Atkinson
Practice Partner, Deicke Richards
Eloise is a Brisbane-based architect with more than 30 years experience. Her career has largely been in the areas of education and social and affordable housing. She has advocated for well-designed housing through her role as Independent Chair of the Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) Queensland’s largest not-for-profit housing developer and has served on the board for over 17 years.
After more than 29 years with cross disciplinary design practice Deicke Richards, Eloise has recently stepped down from the practice where she was managing director for the last 11 years. She will maintain her connection by taking on the role of Practice Partner.
Eloise is a recipient of The AV Jennings Churchill Fellowship and sits of the Qld selection committee. She holds several other committee roles with not-for-profit organisations who are focused on housing and homelessness.
Speaker: Elizabeth Watson-Brown
Elizabeth Watson-Brown
Greens Federal MP for Ryan
Having directed her own successful practice, Elizabeth Watson Brown Architects, for 21years, Elizabeth was appointed Design Director of Architectus Brisbane in 2011, and was subsequently a Design Strategy Leader for the newly amalgamated national practice.
Elizabeth’s work has been published widely and has received many significant architectural awards. Elizabeth has been an active participant in architecture and urban design in her many public roles beyond practice, having been on many design advisory, review and awards panels including roles as AIA Queensland State Awards Director, AIA National Awards Juror, and AIA Northern Territory Awards Jury Chair, Gold Coast Urban Design Awards Jury Chair, and Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture, University of Queensland.
Elizabeth was an inaugural member of Queensland Board for Urban Places advising The Queensland Government, and a member the Queensland Cultural Precinct Design and Heritage Roundtable advising on the development of the Conservation Management Plan. Elizabeth was a panellist with the Queensland Government Architect on the Independent Expert Panel advising the Queensland Government on works to the Queensland Cultural Centre.
Elizabeth was a member of the Independent Design Advisory Panel advising Brisbane City Council on major development proposals. Elizabeth’s architecture has been widely awarded and exhibited at the seminal ‘Place Makers’ exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art and at the Venice Biennale. Elizabeth has long term expertise in the delivery of high quality residential, institutional, educational and community architecture, and a deep understanding of the role of architecture and urban design in the relationship between human amenity, landscape and climate in our subtropical and tropical urban realms.
Concern for the future and the environments we share inspired Elizabeth to join The Greens in 2018 and volunteer on various Queensland campaigns including the successful re-election of Greens state MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman. She was invited by the party to run for the seat of Ryan at the 2022 federal election, which she won, and is now Federal MP for Ryan. Elizabeth is the Greens spokesperson for the portfolios of Transport, Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities.
Price
Individual: $125
Individual Non-Member: $140
Student: $50
Graduate: $80
Table of Ten: $1200
Table of Ten Non-Member: $1,350
Sponsors
FAQs
Is this an event for women only?
Absolutely not. This is an event that celebrates diversity and inclusion. It is fundamental to the theme of the 2024 International Women's Day that we embrace the WHOLE community and that we all pledge to champion equity, no matter what gender we may be.
Refunds and Cancellations
Please refer to our terms and conditions for information about refunds and cancellations. By registering for this event you are agreeing to these terms.