Greetings to my fellow architects.

I have been overwhelmed by so many calls, emails and social media posts congratulating me in the new role as your President.  It’s all a bit daunting and I will try so very hard to not let you all down!  It won’t be for want of trying!  Prior to the official handover from Bruce Wolfe (who did such a great job in the role) I have made an effort to get out and meet more of the architectural ‘flock’ by attending some of our Committee meetings including Sustainability, Practice, Education to get the ‘vibe’ of the thing.  I also took trips down to the Gold Coast and out to Toowoomba to see John Thong and Paul Worroll in action as the current State Jury and meet with our regional membership in these places.  I hope to do the same with the other regions and the new awards process will give me the opportunity later in the year to get up to the north of our big state.

Just before the big handover ‘gig’ at Eat Street Markets I’d spent a few days in the ACT putting on my ‘trainer wheels’ and getting involved in our first National Council (NC) meeting of the year.  This meeting was skilfully chaired by my fellow Queensland architect Richard Kirk, who stands down as National President in the next couple of months (A big effort).  The relatively new executive / management ‘machine’ or team at National is impressive and I look forward to working with them, our local team and our grass roots members to build a stronger Institute in my years as President.  I’m looking forward to the imminent release of the new web based ‘Practice Notes’ which will supersede the old ‘Acumen’ as we had a sneak preview at NC!  They look fantastic, given all the work by Rachael Heise, the National Acumen Task Group and Ian Kynaston the Chief Information Officer.

So feel free to contact myself or Melissa Greenall our ED if you have any feedback as we bed down so many new things in my term at the helm!

Paul Trotter

Queensland Chapter President

(9 April 2018)