August 29, 2023
‘The Last Mile’ Champions of Change Sponsorship Action Group podcast, focusing on the last mile
The architecture industry widely misunderstands the value of sponsorship as an equaliser and accelerator, particularly when it comes to enabling more women to progress in their professions and reach the "Last Mile."
Our research aims to change this narrative. We seek to empower architectural professionals in leadership positions to embrace sponsorship as best practice.
Despite women comprising 48-49% (Parlour 2021) of recent architectural graduates, they remain underrepresented in leadership and ownership roles. The transition from being an outstanding second-in-command to becoming an owner appears to be the most significant challenge. Our objective is to highlight sponsorship as an essential step in paving the way for women to bridge this gap.
It's important to note that sponsorship is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it is an organic form of advocacy. Sponsorship can effectively develop, guide, and advance the careers of high potential individuals, providing visibility both within and outside an organisation.
This sponsorship page serves as a strategic guide to implementing sponsorship practices within a wider framework.
Through the direct experiences of the women who graciously participated in this podcast series, we hope to illustrate how these strategies can result in meaningful cultural shifts towards a more equitable industry.
We conducted a series of six interviews featuring women in equity positions within our Champions of Change practices. All have in common an ability to shift their mindsets and facilitate personalised sponsorship techniques crucial for success. By sharing stories, successes, and failures, these leaders can influence others and drive positive change.
Cathryn has over two decades of experience delivering integrated transport design solutions that create vital, coherent and enlivened spaces. A project director and registered architect, she guides highly collaborative design processes, contributing deep insight and understanding of complex airport operations and wider transport interchange systems. Leading large multidisciplinary teams, she champions innovative, commercial and sustainable solutions.
Bianca is well-versed in working alongside upper-tier developers and relishes the challenge of balancing requisite time and cost restraints with good design outcomes.
Considering the impact of architecture on user experience, Georgia is interested in understanding how the workplace environment can affect the behaviour of researchers and practitioners within health precincts and using that information to inform the way space is configured.
Having worked on a diverse range of architectural and interiors focused projects, Georgia seeks to push traditional building and fit-out typologies with dynamic, highly integrated and research-driven solutions.
Sally’s enthusiasm for design and the vision of the projects she leads is contagious. She is naturally personable and effortless in her ability to engage clients, stakeholders, consultants, and project teams at all stages of a project. She is an advocate for spaces that leave lasting impressions and believes everyone should have the benefit of living in, working in, or occupying well designed spaces.
Sponsorship allows people to explore outside the boundaries of a traditional career trajectory. Catherine examines alternative approaches to sponsorship that can have a positive impact, especially for women in part-time roles. In analysing these approaches, she talks about the importance of open and honest communication between the sponsor and sponsee.
Catherine’s expertise in a diverse range of building types is well recognised, from hospitality and mixed use including high rise residential and retail, social housing, education and health.
Appointed PTW Director and Hospitality Sector Lead of the Sydney and Ho Chi Minh office in 2016, Catherine was previously Design Director of the Shanghai office and Deputy General Director for Vietnam.
Catherine regularly contributes to industry forums such as Women in Construction and Design (WIDAC), Design Inn, Australia Build Week Online and has participated as a tutor, lecturer and guest critic in a range of architectural education courses at UNSW and other Sydney universities and TAFE programmes.
Christina is passionate about creating active, inclusive and inspirational environments and leads projects using an open and collective design process. She is a third-generation architect, born in Seoul and raised in Brisbane. Her Korean-Australian heritage has significantly shaped the way she perceives the world and her practice in architecture.
Christina is the winner of the 2018 Australian Institute of Architects, National Emerging Architect Prize and recipient of the Australian Financial Review Young BOSS Executive.
Brian Clohessy and Isabella Aliberti reflect on the themes that emerge from the podcast and what they mean for career growth and development.
You can read this reflective piece here.