Left to right: Yew Kee Cheong AIAI President, Karl Fender Hon AIA RAIA Pres 2010-11, Richard Francis-Jones Hon FAIA, Ric Butt Hon AIA RAIA Pres 1997-98, Bob Nation Hon AIA RAIA Pres 2005-06, Alec Tzannes Hon AIA RAIA Pres 2007-08, Simon Wells Intl Assoc AIA, Sammy Hui (NorthGlass)
Updates from Australia
Australia is currently facing a nationwide housing crisis along with a downturn in the construction industry due to escalating building costs. As in many countries, affordable housing remains a pressing concern, with Federal, State, and Local Governments working to address this concerning matter.
With high migration levels and large infrastructure projects still under construction, materials and labour struggle to meet demands. Several significant housing developments across all states have been shelved due to the high costs of building further exacerbating the problem.
Members
The tyranny of distance makes it difficult for many AIA members to get together so this year three events were organised in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
At the end of April, a function was held in Sydney using the (Royal) Australian Institute of Architects Conference in Sydney on 2 May as a focal point. AIA International President Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, addressed members at a dinner, outlining AIA International’s restructuring into three global zones: the Americas (Zone 1), Europe–Africa–Middle East–South Asia (Zone 2), and East Asia–Oceania (Zone 3). He also shared the progress on establishing the new AIA Oceania, which will support members in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Pacific nations of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
Left to right: Bob Nation Hon AIA, RAIA Pres 2005-06, Angela Lee AIA, HKS, Ed Haysom Hon AIA RAIA Pres 2000-01, Kristi Spessard Azaroff, Illya Azaroff AIA President Elect, David Wagner RAIA President Elect 2026-27.
In June, during Design & Build Week in Melbourne, a dinner was held alongside Archibuild Expo to update local members from Victoria and South Australia on the planned formation of AIA Oceania and ongoing collaboration with the (Royal) Australian Institute of Architects on future planning of events.
In July, incoming 2026 AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, served as a lead speaker at the Australian Disaster and Emergency Management Conference on the Gold Coast and joined the Brisbane dinner to meet with local AIA members. Attendees included David Wagner, who is next year’s President of the (Royal) Australian Institute of Architects, as well as past Presidents Bob Nation and Ed Haysom.
At all three functions, it was apparent that the local members were all keen on the formation of AIA Oceania. Emails have been sent to most of the 71 AIA members located across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, some of whom also have offices in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
For more information about the AIA Oceania Section formation, please click here >>>
Best wishes to all,
Simon Wells, RAIA, Intl. Assoc. AIA
Country Representative Australia
Secretary AIA Oceania
