EmAGN TAS | BUILDING INFLUENCE: MEDIA SYMPOSIUM ON ARCHITECTURE + ADVOCACY
Saturday 29 August | 9.00am for 9.15am sharp start, finishes 3.45pm
Venue: The Forest
Event Overview
The future of our cities, homes and communities is increasingly shaped by political priorities, market forces, media narratives and institutional decision-making, yet architects are often absent from these arenas. As we face increasing challenges around climate change, housing affordability, and growing inequality; the ability to communicate, advocate, and influence effectively has never been more crucial. This one-day symposium brings together architects, journalists and public voices to explore how both emerging and established practitioners can deepen their media and political literacy, and strengthen their public presence. The program identifies where architectural thinking can have real leverage, and how to express this through clear messaging and strategic contributions across multiple forms of public engagement.
The program will feature keynote speakers Elizabeth Farrelly, Izzie White, Nicky Adams RAIA and Scott Balmforth FRAIA, with additional details to come.
Speaker/s
Izzie White
'Architecture's Biggest Advocate', Architectural Communications Specialist
Izzie spent years in architectural practice before pivoting to address the industry's most
persistent challenge: its ability to communicate value. Now working professionally as an
architectural communications specialist, in her spare time she's become a leading advocate for
Australian architecture and urbanism through her social media platforms. By making educational
content aimed at bridging the gap between architecture and the public, she hopes to inspire the
next generation of designers to be louder in civic conversations.
To find out more about Izzie, check out her website here, and explore her advocacy content on
Instagram.
Scott Balmforth FRAIA
Strategic Architectural and Urban Design Adviser, Urban Design Advisory Panel member, Founding director of TERROIR.
Scott is the Hobart-based Founding Director of TERROIR Pty Ltd since 1999 and TERROIR Aps (Denmark) since 2010. He has been responsible for a range of state, national and international award-winning projects across strategic planning, master planning, public, commercial, residential and interior design, many of which have been internationally published. TERROIR were Creative Directors of the 2009 Australian Institute of Architects’ National Conference.
Scott is a Registered Architect in Tasmania and Victoria and holds an invited Masters by Practice degree from RMIT University.
Scott has Chaired the Hobart City Council Urban Design Advisory Panel since 2020. In 2023, he was appointed the inaugural Strategic Architecture and Urban Design Advisor to Infrastructure Tasmania, providing expert advice on projects and how they can enhance the liveability and functionality of Tasmania’s future infrastructure. In this role, along with other State Government Architects, Scott was a recipient of the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects National President’s Prize.
In early 2026, Scott was appointed Chair of the Macquarie Point Stadium Design Quality and Integrity Review Panel, an independent oversight body established by the Tasmanian Government under the State Policies and Projects (Macquarie Point Precinct) Order.
Program
The program will begin with a series of short morning presentations and panel discussion
featuring guest speakers exploring how public narratives are shaped, and the role architects can
play in influencing them.
The afternoon session will feature interactive workshops (in two concurrent sessions) led by our
guest speakers. Through practical exercises and discussion, participants will have the
opportunity to develop skills in communicating ideas, engaging audiences, and contributing to
broader conversations about architecture and design.
Stay tuned; more details to be announced soon.
Price
EmAGN + SONA members: $50
Members: $80
Non-members: $120
Sponsors
EmAGN Tas is proudly sponsored by;
FAQs
Q: This looks like a long, but exciting day, will there be food provided?
A: Yes, catering will be provided.
Q: I saw that workshops would be a part of this Symposium, where can I find more information
about them?
A: We will be releasing more details about the workshops closer to the event.
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.