12 November 2018

Last week, coinciding with the National Awards in Melbourne was my last attendance at a National Council Meeting representing you as our local Chapter President.

At my age the propensity to reflect on experiences increases, and right now, sitting in the sun with an extra shot coffee at a little cafe on Rockeby Road Subiaco… I can’t help but reflect.

The Institute nationally has largely reinvented itself over the last few years, and as evidenced by recent leadership changes, continues to evolve. There is no doubt that financial woes have been taken seriously and at a fundamental level there has been a focus to steady the ship and then re-chart its direction. There have been a series of strategic processes in order to do this and to seek to reposition the Institute as our pre-eminent representative body. Views are not always consistent (who would have thought with a room full of architects) and it feels sometimes hard to be heard all the way across the Hay Plains or the Blue Mountains to our eastern epicentre. However, one thing I have learned is that if we wish to be heard… we have to start by making some noise.

We do operate in a different architectural environment to many of our contemporaries, but so do they. In fact every state is peculiar and unique, and every state has its challenges. If we assert that our solutions are bespoke and clever and informed by place and prospect then it is only us who can possibly tell that story – so speak up. I have found that if you do have a worthy story, some people elsewhere actually listen.

I reflect also on much more local matters… our work economy, metabolism in your forties, my difficulty in finding any compelling platforms in local government elections.

But locally I think we have great cause to be proud and even more reason to be involved.

Our institute in Leigh Street achieves a lot. We have a handful of staff, a modest budget and a core group of regular contributors from our membership group.

I want to thank these people – this core group. I won’t try and name names, because I’m good at reflecting in general… less so on details… but most of what we do is actually done with less than 20 people involved.

And we’ve done a bit:

• Launch of an accessible and affordable state based equity program -tailored for SA
• Development of a well resourced architecture in schools program – best in the country let me suggest
• Significant influence to thinking about Planning Reform
• Ongoing presentations of events and talks such as Architecture on Show and Design Conversations
• Effective lobbying on state procurement and contract conditions
• Delivery of a comprehensive and well attended and engaged awards programme
• Continuing offering of CPD programmes
• Support and mentoring opportunities for both new and very established members

I’m not personally leaving this role until early next year, and will lose the title but certainly not a willingness to stay involved.

However, as I reflect on the last of my national engagements… its been a good time. We’ve made some things happen and we’ve delivered value to our members in SA. I reflect that I personally have got a lot more value from being involved than just being a member. Yes in part I mean the glass of wine and nibbles at Council meetings once a month… but I really mean in knowledge, new contacts and a sense of achieving something of value for architecture.

Mario Dreosti
SA Chapter President