Alexandra Morrison is working on Northumberland St, a commercial tower and companion building soon to become the new headquarters for Aesop. She’s also Project Architect on the Lord Somers Camp and Power House redevelopment on Albert Park Lake. The revitalised precinct will support the NFP’s work to enhance social cohesion with at risk youth and the disability sector.
"During my time studying at Deakin University, Dr Mirjana Lozanovska became a great mentor. An influential and thought-provoking teacher, her expectations - to think analytically, evaluate and synthesize your ideas - were known to either make or break you as a student. Her urban scale, community-based and globally focused design studios have helped me understand architecture’s role in responding to contemporary issues such as societal shifts, global migration and threatened ecosystems."
Stephanie Pahnis is a Graduate of Architecture working on Bendigo Law Courts. She is also the Co-Founding Editor at Caliper Journal, an independent architecture publication based in Melbourne. First published by students in 2017, Caliper was born from the desire to have messier and more meaningful discussions about architecture and its place in the world.
"Architecture has long been a male-dominated profession. IWD is a reminder of how much we’ve achieved but also the journey to come in realising genuine equality. When I think of my biggest influence, I instantly think of the immediate women I practice with every day: my peers, colleagues and teachers. There’s such a rich group of emerging female architects in Melbourne and it excites me that these future leaders will determine how the profession is defined."
Kendal Mountfort is Wardle's Marketing Coordinator. She works across EOIs, RFTs and communications across the Sydney and Melbourne studios. Originally from Tauranga, New Zealand, she moved to Melbourne last year and brings a special Kiwi sensibility to her work.
"I take a lot of inspiration from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. I was still living in NZ when she was elected, but now that I’m in Australia I have come to admire her standing both on the New Zealand and world stages. At a time when so many political leaders lack qualities critical to their positions such as clear, honest communication, sincerity, humility – Jacinda brings an integrity and compassion to her role that sets her apart. In the midst of so much chaos, change and short-term thinking in the world, I only wish there were more leaders like Jacinda."
Jeanné Skelin is Practice Coordinator for the over 85 staff that make up the Melbourne studio. Her role spans everything from planning Bruny Making Weekends to the recruitment and induction of new staff. She played a key role in recruiting our Sydney team last year.
"Two people who have been instrumental to my career growth are Wardle Principals Jane Williams and Richard Sucksmith. I first worked with Jane at BVN, where she constantly expanded my responsibilities and prompted me to challenge myself. Practice Principal Richard Sucksmith encouraged me to take on my current role and has guided me through a steep learning curve over the past 10 months. Both observed potential in me that I wasn’t aware of and gave me the gentle nudge I needed to move forward. My husband has also been a great mentor."
Chloe Lanser is working across several projects in Burnie and Launceston, part of the University of Tasmania’s $300M Northern Transformation Project. She recently played a key role on the Royal Botanic Gardens Nature and Science Precinct.
I’ve been inspired by many pioneering women architects: Lina Bo Bardi, Ray Eames, Eileen Grey, Charlotte Perriand, Marilyn Mahoney Griffin, Aino Alto. These women succeeded in a time dominated by male architects and produced revolutionary work that also promoted the social and cultural potential of design. The debate around gender equity has taken giant steps but continues in design and society at large. I take encouragement and duty from the lives of these pioneers, to continue in joy and excitement for the future as they did.