Queensland architect Catherine Baudet has tonight been awarded the inaugural Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize for her outstanding support for women in the architectural profession spanning more than 30 years.

Immediate Past President and Jury Chair, Jon Clements, said Catherine has played a pivotal role in bringing about the substantial progress now being achieved towards gender equity in the architectural profession.

‘In 1983, Catherine co-founded Women in Architecture Queensland which hosted the first exhibition of the work of 40 women architects the following year,’ Clements said.

‘Over the past 30 years Catherine has tirelessly advocated for gender equity and promoted the outstanding contribution women make to the architectural profession.

‘Catherine brought a new level of energetic focus to gender equity issues both through her own practice, Ferrier Baudet Architects, and at the Institute when she became the first woman architect to be elected to the Queensland Chapter Council in 1989.

‘Importantly, Catherine inspired Paula Whitman on a path of investigative research which subsequently led to the landmark 2005 study Going places: The Career Progression of Women in Architecture.

‘This prize is a fitting tribute to and recognition of Catherine’s achievements, the benefits of which will be felt by generations of women architects into the future.’

In awarding Catherine the prize the jury noted that, ‘Catherine is an exceptional role model and mentor for many young and emerging architects and she is a most worthy recipient of the Inaugural Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize 2017.’

The Prize is a new initiative of the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Committee for Gender Equity and aims to recognise exceptional leadership and an outstanding contribution to the advancement of gender equity in architectural practice, education and governance. The national prize is named in honour of the late Queensland architect, university professor and gender equity advocate, Paula Whitman.

It is part of a broader suite of initiatives the Institute is leading to promote gender equity in the profession. Last year the Institute adopted and met a new target to ensure gender equity on its Board of Directors.