Jon Clements was inaugurated as the 76th National President of the Australian Institute of Architects at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne on 28 May.

Melbourne-based Clements is a founding director of multi-award winning practice Jackson Clements Burrows Architects (JCB) and takes up the role following nine years on the Victorian Chapter Council and three years on National Council including a tenure as the Victorian Chapter President, 2012-2014.

Since establishing JCB in 1998, Clements has been actively engaged with the Institute and will harness this extensive experience in guiding the organisation over the next 12 months.
‘Looking to the future, I genuinely believe that the success of our organisation will largely depend on our ability to develop a narrower and more focused strategic plan which provides a more robust support framework for our membership,’ Mr Clements said.

‘Over the past year National Council has responded to a number of significant challenges within our organisation. National Councillors are very aware of the fact that architects are adapting to significant challenges in the landscape of contemporary practice. Facing these challenges has shown us that we have a very robust Council that is both responsive to criticism and open to change and we have now identified a number of areas in the Institute that require reform to ensure that we aim for constant improvement as an organisation.

‘We have a very busy agenda over the coming year; however, I am extremely encouraged by the energy of the current National Councillors and their commitment towards a range of strategies, which will seek to improve our organisation.

‘I feel very honoured to have been elected to the role of National President and it’s my pleasure to congratulate and thank David Karotkin for his support and tireless dedication to serving the best interests of our members and effectively responding to a range of complex challenges facing our profession over the past year. I look forward to continuing to work with David in his role as Immediate Past President and appreciate his ongoing counsel.’

Clements graduated from Deakin University in 1997 and together with Tim Jackson and Graham Burrows, established the multi-disciplinary design studio, JCB, the following year. The practice currently employs approximately 40 architects and interior designers and has delivered a diverse range of projects throughout Australia and overseas.

In addition to his practice and advocacy roles, Clements maintains a continued association with the School of Architecture at Deakin University, providing regular crits and guest lectures. He is also a past member of the Institute’s State and National Visiting Panels for Course Accreditation and a past member of the Deakin University Academic Advisory Panel (Architecture and Building).

Ken Maher, former NSW Chapter President and 2009 Institute Gold Medallist, has been appointed President Elect.