As AASA convened for its 2025 AGM on 1–2 October 2025, the Association stood at a pivotal juncture—reflecting on a year defined by strategic leadership transitions, sector-wide advocacy, and deepening international engagement. This gathering not only marked the formal handover of executive stewardship but also reaffirmed the enduring legacy of initiatives that continue to shape architectural education across Australasia.

The AGM convened leaders from architectural education, registration bodies, and professional institutions across Australia and New Zealand. Notable attendees included Ms Lyndal Macpherson, CEO of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA); Ms Judith Taylor, CEO of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB); Mr Paul Viney, National President of the Association of Consulting Architects (ACA); Dr Cameron Bruhn, CEO of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA); Mr Mark Abbot, Director of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA); and Professor Paul Loh, representing the Australian Deans of the Built Environment and Design (ADBED).

Over the past 12 months, AASA has delivered the following key initiatives:

Leadership and Indigenous Education

AASA proudly welcomed Marni Reti as the lead for Indigenous education and research—a role long vacant. Her appointment signals a deepened commitment to embedding First Nations perspectives across architectural pedagogy and practice. Marni’s cross-sector engagement, including her role at Sustainable Indigenous Design, has already strengthened AASA’s responsiveness and cultural leadership.

Learning and Teaching Grant: Embedding First Nations Leadership

The 2025 Learning and Teaching Grant focused on First Nations themes, led by Marni Reti (AASA Indigenous Education and Research), Dr Amber Ruckes (University of Auckland) and Steven Feast (Curtin University). Two standout projects were funded—Shelley Smith’s “Decolonising the Critique” at the University of Newcastle and Bernadette Muir’s Strengthening Indigenous Partnerships in Architectural Education: Embedding Mana Whenua Relationships at Ara Institute of Canterbury. These grants continue to advance pedagogical innovation and showcase the richness of architectural scholarship across the region.

Venice Biennale

AASA’s involvement with the Home Project at the Venice Biennale, led by Dr Michael Mossman, united nearly every architecture school across Australia. The resulting installation was a powerful testament to national collaboration and academic strength, showcasing AASA’s capacity to facilitate high-impact international engagement.

Modernism Collaborative

Under the leadership of Vice President Professor Deborah Ascher-Barnstone, the Modernism Collaborative continues to thrive. A geo-tagged database of significant modernist projects across Australia and New Zealand anchors the initiative, complemented by symposia and peer-reviewed research. Following the success of This is Modernism (16 Feb 2024), the second edition of the symposium Modernity, Materials and Materiality was held on 3 October 2025 at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), drawing enthusiastic participation from academics and historians across the region. Special thanks to Professor Deborah Ascher-Barnstone and Dr Martha Liew for their stewardship.

Continuities of Modernism: From Adelaide to Auckland

s_Architecture: A Platform Reborn

Originally founded by Professor John Macarthur at University of Queensland, the s_Architecture platform has been revitalised under AASA’s stewardship, led by Dr Chris Brisbin and supported by

Dr Yusef Patel. Now hosted on AASA’s infrastructure, it functions as a mailing list, blog, and global catalogue for calls, jobs, and events—becoming a vital tool for sector-wide and international engagement.

International Partnerships and Strategic Expansion

AASA’s affiliate membership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) continues to yield opportunities for global collaboration. Presentations at the 2024 ACSA Administrators Conference in Denver and the 2025 European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE) conference in Barcelona have positioned AASA as a leader in digital pedagogy and First Nations education. Conversations are underway for future joint conferences and deeper EU alignment, with growing interest in Southeast Asia as a region of opportunity.

Planetary Practice: A Landmark International Conference

The upcoming ACSA x AASA International Conference, Planetary Practice, will take place in July 2026 across Southeast Queensland campuses—QUT, Bond University, and Griffith University. Co-chaired by Dr Kirsty Volz (QUT) and Associate Professor John Doyle (AASA), the conference explores environmental systems, cultural practice, and decolonisation. With branding complete, submissions underway, and support from the Brisbane Economic Development Association, the event is shaping up to be a landmark moment in AASA’s global engagement strategy.

Accreditation Reform: AASA’s Advocacy Legacy

Since 2021, AASA has led sustained advocacy for reforming the architectural accreditation procedure. Despite initial setbacks, the Association helped catalyse a sector-wide review, shaped its terms of reference, and mobilised academic engagement. While outcomes are still pending, the groundwork laid will guide the next executive in securing a more coherent and representative framework.

Executive Transitions

Following the recent elections, Associate Professor John Doyle stepped down after two terms as President, transitioning into the Immediate Past President role. His leadership helped lay strong foundations over the past four years—particularly in accreditation reform and international outreach—ensuring continuity for the incoming executive.

Professor Deborah Ascher-Barnstone also concluded her tenure after four terms as Vice President, having led key initiatives including the Modernism Collaborative and ACSA engagement.

Conclusion

As we close this chapter and look ahead, we extend our sincere thanks to Associate Professor John Doyle and Professor Deborah Ascher-Barnstone for their dedicated leadership as President and Vice President. Their stewardship has shaped AASA’s trajectory with vision and resolve. We now warmly welcome the incoming executive team: Dr Chris Brisbin as President, Dr Andrew Burgess as Vice President, and Professor Erik L’Heureux as Treasurer. Their collective expertise and commitment promise to guide AASA into its next phase of international engagement and pedagogical innovation.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to AASA Immediate Past President Professor Peter McPherson (2017–2025), whose steady leadership guided the Association through the challenges of the COVID era and laid the foundations for renewed sectoral momentum. We also warmly thank Professor Charles Walker for his generous hosting of the 2025 AASA AGM at Auckland University of Technology. Also special thanks to Dr Yusef Patel from Unitec for his generous on-the-ground support throughout the AGM.

Finally, our sincere thanks to Peddlethorp Architects Auckland (Richard, Brad and their team) for their generosity in hosting the AASA reception. Their office provided a warm and beautiful setting for our gathering.