Queensland Chapter President | Amy Degenhart LFRAIA
“As I learned of my appointment to the role of Queensland Chapter President this morning, my reflections jumped to the enormous responsibility of the position, a sentiment immediate past-president Mark Jones, whose tremendous legacy I follow and wish to acknowledge, might still find fresh in his own recollections.
Indulging in nostalgia, I’d love to share how, as a young architect embarking on a working adventure in Queensland, Australia, I consulted the best advice that one could, and reached out to the then Chapter President, Gordon Holden.
Having just completed a semester of Master studies at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, along with my new partner in life, Martyn Shedd, researching the influence of design on property development, Gordon’s strong advice was to look to the Gold Coast for our next laboratory.
And what a laboratory it worked out to be!
Fast forward to today, and the challenges are so much more complex, with climate threats to our lives and way of living filling the pages – and apps – of our press daily, while at the same time, a joyous recognition of the values of diversity, inclusion, and respect command just as much content.
I started my journey of architecture young and with a purpose: use architecture to enhance our places and spaces to better our lives and communities.
Through the years since then to now, I’ve confirmed that good design does make the difference, and I’d like to think that I’ve even contributed some of my own to the cause.
Now, I can do so much more by serving to empower architects – through our combined professional voice of the Australian Institute of Architects – enhance and expand their role as leaders through what will both be extremely challenging and exciting times.
I made a promise that, if elected, I would work diligently towards an architecture of cultural respect, climate responsibility, and professional empowerment, while upholding the values of equity, diversity, and access.
I will do my utmost to uphold that promise, as well as serve all members and advance the causes that we are all individually and collectively passionate about.
In closing, I would like to extend a huge and humble ‘thank you’ to you to members for bestowing in me the faith to fulfill this role as your Queensland Chapter President.
It is an honour.”
