Meet the 2023
SONA Executive

Announcing the 2023 SONA Executive team.

SONA Executive

The SONA Executive is a team of dedicated students that volunteer their time and work closely with the Institute to guide the future of SONA’s programs, support the network of SONA representatives and represent SONA on a national level.

Voting has closed for the 2023 SONA Executive. 

Be sure to read more about the candidates below.

If you have any questions please  contact the SONA team by email sona@architecture.com.au

2023 SONA EXECUTIVE TEAM

2023 SONA Vice President
Competitions and events
Kathryn Neale

Master of Architecture student at the University of Western Australia

I found my time as SONA Representative in 2019 highly rewarding.

Kathryn neale

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

I found my time as SONA Representative in 2019 highly rewarding. My best outcomes in that role were the events I planned and executed, including SuperStudio 2019, and an in-house event connecting students with practitioners hosted at the Hassell Perth studio. But also, I was able to bring my professional experience in communications and marketing to leverage relationships and drive new membership for SONA. I envisage I will continue to do this in the VP role, to drive the success of SONA’s competitions, events and communication.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

I am particularly passionate about the Medium Density R-Codes in Western Australia, and effective infill on a national level. Furthermore, how can we design differently to achieve both Net Zero architecture and effective infill design which leverages Solar Passive design and nurtures our existing landscape? These are the kind of discussions I would bring to the fore, in this role, forging new ways of collaborative thinking amongst our peers, but also utilising AIA’s partnerships and sponsors in competitions and events to help student’s better understand sustainable product and material alternatives.

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

I do think there are benefits in multi-level classrooms i.e. pairing Masters students with Bachelor students, or connecting students with graduates, or even Architecture students with other disciplines. I believe this enables the best mode of collaborative thinking and learning – bringing a diverse mix of experience and thought into one room. I would hope to apply this to competitions and events, in an effort to not only achieve a multi-dimensional conversation/approach, but also to deliver upon a culture of camaraderie and diversity.

I am a mature aged student, at age 34, and so I have a strong background from a prior career working in Marketing and Communications for over ten years. I would bring my wealth of knowledge and skills in this area to the role.

Read Kathryn's platform statement
2023 SONA Vice President
Membership and engagement
Blake Hillebrand

Bachelor of Architectural Design student at RMIT

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry.

BLAKE HILLEBRAND

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry. My roles as a SONA Representative, RMIT Architecture Student Collective (RASCol) President, and working in the profession have allowed me to acquire a holistic perspective on the needs of a vast array of students. This is vital in ensuring I can engage, promote, and represent a greater number of students with accuracy allowing me to organise and implement successful events and initiatives. Being a part of an immensely supportive/driven team at AIA has inspired me to want to take up this incredible opportunity to utilise my local and State experience on a national level for the benefit of all Australian students within the built environment. SONA should represent and empower all students to meet like-minded people, create lasting connections, and to progress their knowledge/skills to make an impact on the industry.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

Personally, transparency and empowerment are the two issues that matter most to me. When I say transparency and empowerment, I mean I want students to see and understand the reality of the industry and how we grasp what we can do to make it better for ourselves and those around us. For example, in 2022, one of the events I organised was the You Can’t Ask That! Event where I moderated a tremendous panel discussing uncensored questions that people are too afraid to ask. I want students to have the power and agency to seriously question our profession in the hope we can improve it. Through the curation and organisation of national initiatives/events such as a speaker series, workshops, and exhibitions we can tackle a range of issues impacting our industry’s development such as sustainability, mental health, and Indigenous promotion and action to educate and promote forward-thinking students.

One of our goals is to grow the SONA community and to ensure SONA members are actively engaged in our community, how would you contribute to achieving this?

Through my leadership positions within student organisations, I strongly believe that I can grow SONA and its level of engagement through delivering effective initiatives to a diverse cohort of students. In 2022, across SONA Victoria and RASCol, we have had a total of approximately 729 attendees to 9 events in 5 months which is a clear testament to the hard work of myself and the support and relationships directly around me. Additionally, we had the most Super studio signups from any state, RMIT has the most new-member signups (as per the latest copy). Additionally, as an executive of RASCol we have gone from 78 members to 191 members and were awarded the RMIT Student Life Club Award. I want to continue to lead and collaborate with others to deliver strong outcomes to students and to the wider industry through maintaining and harnessing connections for the benefit of all.

Read Blake's platform statement
2023 SONA
President Elect
AREMEL TIBAYAN​

Bachelor of Design (Architecture) student at Deakin University

I care about: the importance of our built environment education, the future where the built environment will benefit society and, the students, my colleagues and friends that’ll take us to this future.

Aremel Tibayan

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

As president elect, I promise to dedicate myself to fulfilling SONA's/The Institute's vision, mission and goals that supports all built environment and architecture students by continuing and building upon the hard work of past/current executive members and representatives. Since I joined SONA in 2019, I've strongly understood the value that the organisation brings to all its members and non-members in areas of: advocacy, community and professional development. I plan to use my experience over the years to strengthen the current strategies to maintain the benefits that SONA provides to all students. As well as develop new approaches so that SONA continues to grow and adapt to the exciting and unknown future that is ahead of us in the built environment (from growing climate concerns, changes to built environment/architecture education and creation of advanced technology).

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

The areas of concern that matter most to me are: 1. Present to students other possible careers to pursue with a built environment/architecture degree such as: urban planner, novelist or film director. Also, to extend the organisation for those not studying architecture: there is knowledge and skill from understanding other disciplines. 2. As we recover from the pandemic, we've seen the importance of looking after our wellbeing while studying. Life is difficult. But, we can learn to make it less difficult, by implementing healthy effective study/work/life balance approaches in our built environment education system to further benefit us as we become older. 3. SONA members and non-members are made up of a large demographic. I'm determined to provide students a chance to share their stories and, and to listen to each other. Listening to these stories is a learning experience that adds to the value of our built environment studies.  

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

I'm fully prepared to accept the responsibilities of president elect, to preform these responsibilities to the highest standard and to humbly serve the SONA community. From being a student member to becoming vice president,  I've gained the necessary experience of working alongside representatives and executive team to deliver initiatives and promote the value of SONA to all students. I wish to contribute what I've learnt (from the failures and successes) to support the upcoming president, vice presidents, representatives and student members. I care about: the importance of our built environment education, the  future where the built environment will benefit society and, the students, my colleagues and friends that'll take us to this future. As president elect, my hope is to be a part of the journey where we all reach our potential to contribute something great to the built environment within and outside of Australia.

Read Aremel's platform statement

The SONA President for 2023 will be current President Elect, Tom Huntingford.

Platform statements – SONA Vice President Competitions and Events

2023 SONA Vice President – Competitions and Events​ candidates

Kathryn Neale

Master of Architecture student at the University of Western Australia

I found my time as SONA Representative in 2019 highly rewarding.

Kathryn Neale

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

I found my time as SONA Representative in 2019 highly rewarding. My best outcomes in that role were the events I planned and executed, including SuperStudio 2019, and an in-house event connecting students with practitioners hosted at the Hassell Perth studio. But also, I was able to bring my professional experience in communications and marketing to leverage relationships and drive new membership for SONA. I envisage I will continue to do this in the VP role, to drive the success of SONA’s competitions, events and communication.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

I am particularly passionate about the Medium Density R-Codes in Western Australia, and effective infill on a national level. Furthermore, how can we design differently to achieve both Net Zero architecture and effective infill design which leverages Solar Passive design and nurtures our existing landscape? These are the kind of discussions I would bring to the fore, in this role, forging new ways of collaborative thinking amongst our peers, but also utilising AIA’s partnerships and sponsors in competitions and events to help student’s better understand sustainable product and material alternatives.

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

I do think there are benefits in multi-level classrooms i.e. pairing Masters students with Bachelor students, or connecting students with graduates, or even Architecture students with other disciplines. I believe this enables the best mode of collaborative thinking and learning – bringing a diverse mix of experience and thought into one room. I would hope to apply this to competitions and events, in an effort to not only achieve a multi-dimensional conversation/approach, but also to deliver upon a culture of camaraderie and diversity.

I am a mature aged student, at age 34, and so I have a strong background from a prior career working in Marketing and Communications for over ten years. I would bring my wealth of knowledge and skills in this area to the role.

Read Kathryn's platform statement
Blake Hillebrand

Bachelor of Architectural Design student at RMIT

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry.

Blake Hillebrand

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry. My roles as a SONA Representative, RMIT Architecture Student Collective (RASCol) President, and working in the profession have allowed me to acquire a holistic perspective on the needs of a vast array of students. This is vital in ensuring I can engage, promote, and represent a greater number of students with accuracy allowing me to organise and implement successful events and initiatives. Being a part of an immensely supportive/driven team at AIA has inspired me to want to take up this incredible opportunity to utilise my local and State experience on a national level for the benefit of all Australian students within the built environment. SONA should represent and empower all students to meet like-minded people, create lasting connections, and to progress their knowledge/skills to make an impact on the industry.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

Personally, transparency and empowerment are the two issues that matter most to me. When I say transparency and empowerment, I mean I want students to see and understand the reality of the industry and how we grasp what we can do to make it better for ourselves and those around us. For example, in 2022, one of the events I organised was the You Can’t Ask That! Event where I moderated a tremendous panel discussing uncensored questions that people are too afraid to ask. I want students to have the power and agency to seriously question our profession in the hope we can improve it. Through the curation and organisation of national initiatives/events such as a speaker series, workshops, and exhibitions we can tackle a range of issues impacting our industry’s development such as sustainability, mental health, and Indigenous promotion and action to educate and promote forward-thinking students.

One of our goals is to grow the SONA community and to ensure SONA members are actively engaged in our community, how would you contribute to achieving this?

Through my leadership positions within student organisations, I strongly believe that I can grow SONA and its level of engagement through delivering effective initiatives to a diverse cohort of students. In 2022, across SONA Victoria and RASCol, we have had a total of approximately 729 attendees to 9 events in 5 months which is a clear testament to the hard work of myself and the support and relationships directly around me. Additionally, we had the most Super studio signups from any state, RMIT has the most new-member signups (as per the latest copy). Additionally, as an executive of RASCol we have gone from 78 members to 191 members and were awarded the RMIT Student Life Club Award. I want to continue to lead and collaborate with others to deliver strong outcomes to students and to the wider industry through maintaining and harnessing connections for the benefit of all.

Read Blake's platform statement
Matt Sabransky

Bachelor of Design (Architecture) student at Deakin University

From the beginning of my studies in architecture, I have been interested in immersing myself into the industry.

Matt Sabransky

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

From the beginning of my studies in architecture, I have been interested in immersing myself into the industry. Through my experience as a member and then as a representative of SONA, I have seen the importance of engaging in the architectural community. In this way I have also seen how architects and industry leaders have opened themselves up to students, and their willingness to make the community more accessible. This role allows for students to interact on a state, and national level rather than only locally, within each university institution. SONA provides countless opportunities in various ways, the competitions and events run through SONA allow for open dialogue and access to the channels that create future possibilities. I believe being involved in this process will provide priceless experience to take into my architectural career.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

I believe that design should be accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for placemaking in any and all circumstances. Social and affordable housing as well as shelter for those seeking it should be included in the study of design. As a student, study of contemporary issues and the ways in which architecture can inhibit or encourage interactions with space, has impacted my view on design. Opportunities to explore these concepts and provide resources to the academic theory side of architecture has the potential to deliver positive changes in architecture nationally. Innovations in the industry are fostered by experience, support and, importantly, research. I hope to facilitate events that encourage this behaviour while supporting individuals in their accent through their studies.

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

Through my experience in SONA I have both competed in and helped to organise and facilitate SuperStudio. During these competitions I have seen how students have opened themselves up and engaged with each other, with design as a foundation. Having a common goal not only serves as a conversation piece, having students from all walks of life, and at different points in their education coming together, but also demonstrates a journey from brief to final product in several forms. As a mature aged student, coming from a background in a different industry, and having worked across a diverse landscape, I understand the importance of providing these opportunities across the board. I believe architecture students are drawn to communicating their ideas with each other, and have a natural relationship based on the requisites of their studies. Offering a range of events including competitions allows for networking beyond general conversation.

Read Matt's platform statement

Blake Hilderbrand

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry. My roles as a SONA Representative, RMIT Architecture Student Collective (RASCol) President, and working in the profession have allowed me to acquire a holistic perspective on the needs of a vast array of students. This is vital in ensuring I can engage, promote, and represent a greater number of students with accuracy allowing me to organise and implement successful events and initiatives. Being a part of an immensely supportive/driven team at AIA has inspired me to want to take up this incredible opportunity to utilise my local and State experience on a national level for the benefit of all Australian students within the built environment. SONA should represent and empower all students to meet like-minded people, create lasting connections, and to progress their knowledge/skills to make an impact on the industry.

Personally, transparency and empowerment are the two issues that matter most to me. When I say transparency and empowerment, I mean I want students to see and understand the reality of the industry and how we grasp what we can do to make it better for ourselves and those around us. For example, in 2022, one of the events I organised was the You Can’t Ask That! Event where I moderated a tremendous panel discussing uncensored questions that people are too afraid to ask. I want students to have the power and agency to seriously question our profession in the hope we can improve it. Through the curation and organisation of national initiatives/events such as a speaker series, workshops, and exhibitions we can tackle a range of issues impacting our industry’s development such as sustainability, mental health, and Indigenous promotion and action to educate and promote forward-thinking students.

Through my leadership positions within student organisations, I strongly believe that I can grow SONA and its level of engagement through delivering effective initiatives to a diverse cohort of students. In 2022, across SONA Victoria and RASCol, we have had a total of approximately 729 attendees to 9 events in 5 months which is a clear testament to the hard work of myself and the support and relationships directly around me. Additionally, we had the most Super studio signups from any state, RMIT has the most new-member signups (as per the latest copy). Additionally, as an executive of RASCol we have gone from 78 members to 191 members and were awarded the RMIT Student Life Club Award. I want to continue to lead and collaborate with others to deliver strong outcomes to students and to the wider industry through maintaining and harnessing connections for the benefit of all.

Vote below

Kathryn Neale

I found my time as SONA Representative in 2019 highly rewarding. My best outcomes in that role were the events I planned and executed, including SuperStudio 2019, and an in-house event connecting students with practitioners hosted at the Hassell Perth studio. But also, I was able to bring my professional experience in communications and marketing to leverage relationships and drive new membership for SONA. I envisage I will continue to do this in the VP role, to drive the success of SONA’s competitions, events and communication.

I am particularly passionate about the Medium Density R-Codes in Western Australia, and effective infill on a national level. Furthermore, how can we design differently to achieve both Net Zero architecture and effective infill design which leverages Solar Passive design and nurtures our existing landscape? These are the kind of discussions I would bring to the fore, in this role, forging new ways of collaborative thinking amongst our peers, but also utilising AIA’s partnerships and sponsors in competitions and events to help student’s better understand sustainable product and material alternatives.

I do think there are benefits in multi-level classrooms i.e. pairing Masters students with Bachelor students, or connecting students with graduates, or even Architecture students with other disciplines. I believe this enables the best mode of collaborative thinking and learning – bringing a diverse mix of experience and thought into one room. I would hope to apply this to competitions and events, in an effort to not only achieve a multi-dimensional conversation/approach, but also to deliver upon a culture of camaraderie and diversity.

I am a mature aged student, at age 34, and so I have a strong background from a prior career working in Marketing and Communications for over ten years. I would bring my wealth of knowledge and skills in this area to the role.

Vote below

Matt Sabransky

From the beginning of my studies in architecture, I have been interested in immersing myself into the industry. Through my experience as a member and then as a representative of SONA, I have seen the importance of engaging in the architectural community. In this way I have also seen how architects and industry leaders have opened themselves up to students, and their willingness to make the community more accessible. This role allows for students to interact on a state, and national level rather than only locally, within each university institution.  SONA provides countless opportunities in various ways, the competitions and events run through SONA allow for open dialogue and access to the channels that create future possibilities. I believe being involved in this process will provide priceless experience to take into my architectural career.

I believe that design should be accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for placemaking in any and all circumstances. Social and affordable housing as well as shelter for those seeking it should be included in the study of design. As a student, study of contemporary issues and the ways in which architecture can inhibit or encourage interactions with space, has impacted my view on design. Opportunities to explore these concepts and provide resources to the academic theory side of architecture has the potential to deliver positive changes in architecture nationally. Innovations in the industry are fostered by experience, support and, importantly, research. I hope to facilitate events that encourage this behaviour while supporting individuals in their accent through their studies.

Through my experience in SONA I have both competed in and helped to organise and facilitate SuperStudio. During these competitions I have seen how students have opened themselves up and engaged with each other, with design as a foundation. Having a common goal not only serves as a conversation piece, having students from all walks of life, and at different points in their education coming together, but also demonstrates a journey from brief to final product in several forms. As a mature aged student, coming from a background in a different industry, and having worked across a diverse landscape, I understand the importance of providing these opportunities across the board. I believe architecture students are drawn to communicating their ideas with each other, and have a natural relationship based on the requisites of their studies. Offering a range of events including competitions allows for networking beyond general conversation.

Vote below

Platform statements – SONA Vice President Member Engagement

2023 SONA Vice President Member Engagement candidates

Blake Hillebrand

Bachelor of Architectural Design student at RMIT

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry.

 

Blake Hillebrand

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry. My roles as a SONA Representative, RMIT Architecture Student Collective (RASCol) President, and working in the profession have allowed me to acquire a holistic perspective on the needs of a vast array of students. This is vital in ensuring I can engage, promote, and represent a greater number of students with accuracy allowing me to organise and implement successful events and initiatives. Being a part of an immensely supportive/driven team at AIA has inspired me to want to take up this incredible opportunity to utilise my local and State experience on a national level for the benefit of all Australian students within the built environment. SONA should represent and empower all students to meet like-minded people, create lasting connections, and to progress their knowledge/skills to make an impact on the industry.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

Personally, transparency and empowerment are the two issues that matter most to me. When I say transparency and empowerment, I mean I want students to see and understand the reality of the industry and how we grasp what we can do to make it better for ourselves and those around us. For example, in 2022, one of the events I organised was the You Can’t Ask That! Event where I moderated a tremendous panel discussing uncensored questions that people are too afraid to ask. I want students to have the power and agency to seriously question our profession in the hope we can improve it. Through the curation and organisation of national initiatives/events such as a speaker series, workshops, and exhibitions we can tackle a range of issues impacting our industry’s development such as sustainability, mental health, and Indigenous promotion and action to educate and promote forward-thinking students.

One of our goals is to grow the SONA community and to ensure SONA members are actively engaged in our community, how would you contribute to achieving this?

Through my leadership positions within student organisations, I strongly believe that I can grow SONA and its level of engagement through delivering effective initiatives to a diverse cohort of students. In 2022, across SONA Victoria and RASCol, we have had a total of approximately 729 attendees to 9 events in 5 months which is a clear testament to the hard work of myself and the support and relationships directly around me. Additionally, we had the most Super studio signups from any state, RMIT has the most new-member signups (as per the latest copy). Additionally, as an executive of RASCol we have gone from 78 members to 191 members and were awarded the RMIT Student Life Club Award. I want to continue to lead and collaborate with others to deliver strong outcomes to students and to the wider industry through maintaining and harnessing connections for the benefit of all.

Read Blake's platform statement
Samuel Otton

Master of Architecture student at the University of Technology Sydney

A problem with our profession is that we submit ourselves to the institutional logic of universities that determine the voices and methods of which we are taught.

Samuel Otton

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

A problem with our profession is that we submit ourselves to the institutional logic of universities that determine the voices and methods of which we are taught. I think SONA presents a tremendous opportunity to challenge and diversify our education, the industries we are exposed to and the people who teach us. This is not to say that universities do not offer excellent thinkers, but I think that there can be far more done to provide students with the diversity they seek. The best thing about SONA is that it is a collective of people who are willing to contribute to one another regardless of what university they attend. I find my interest in undertaking a role with SONA is centred in both valuing and empowering the role of the student, and to find meaningful ways that create exchanges between students and our profession.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

Personally, aside from issues concerning our rapidly declining environment at the hands of a global climate catastrophe, I find issues concerning designing with country and the isolation of students as a result of COVID-19 to be of great significance. We have a duty to society to provide opportunities that benefit our contribution, and I think that the platform can address these issues with a real emphasis on involving Indigenous members of the design industry. Sensitively designing with country is a serious gap in our approach to the built environment, and we can address this by giving future designers a real strong understanding of designing with country. One of the greatest difficulties that the pandemic presented was the isolation of students from one another. I think that we can build stronger relationships between students who have missed out on arguably the most exciting part of their careers.

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

I think as SONA members we need to actively and meaningfully target the areas that interest our students the most, and I do question whether this is something that only happens at university. For instance, many Yr.12 students undertake subjects or have the desire to enter architecture once finishing school (workshops/activities/presentations). There is potentially an opportunity to introduce them to SONA at school so that there is not as much need for students to discover SONA at university. With SONA reps across the country, there is a desperate need to take ownership of our roles as students and coordinate more informal events that promote a collaborative, and interconnected approach to our industry which dismantles barriers between universities. Furthermore, if there is an opportunity to do one big during the year with a few international, and local architects, then I believe we would be able to grow the community.

Read Samuel's platform statement
Matt Sabransky

Lorum ipsum

Matt Sabransky

SONA aims to advance the interests of students within the built environment, their education and the architecture profession as a whole through the promotion of student work and thinking. What interests you about taking this role and aligning yourself with SONA?

From the beginning of my studies in architecture, I have been interested in immersing myself into the industry. Through my experience as a member and then as a representative of SONA, I have seen the importance of engaging in the architectural community. In this way I have also seen how architects and industry leaders have opened themselves up to students, and their willingness to make the community more accessible. This role allows for students to interact on a state, and national level rather than only locally, within each university institution. SONA provides countless opportunities in various ways, the competitions and events run through SONA allow for open dialogue and access to the channels that create future possibilities. I believe being involved in this process will provide priceless experience to take into my architectural career.

As a student of the built environment what issues matter most to you and how would you plan to use this role as a platform to address these issues?

I believe that design should be accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for placemaking in any and all circumstances. Social and affordable housing as well as shelter for those seeking it should be included in the study of design. As a student, study of contemporary issues and the ways in which architecture can inhibit or encourage interactions with space, has impacted my view on design. Opportunities to explore these concepts and provide resources to the academic theory side of architecture has the potential to deliver positive changes in architecture nationally. Innovations in the industry are fostered by experience, support and, importantly, research. I hope to facilitate events that encourage this behaviour while supporting individuals in their accent through their studies.

SONA aims to create a culture of camaraderie amongst students of the built environment. We do this by delivering events and competitions that are relevant, engaging and accessible to a diverse cohort of students within the built environment. How would you contribute to achieving this and what skills do you bring to this role?

Through my experience in SONA I have both competed in and helped to organise and facilitate SuperStudio. During these competitions I have seen how students have opened themselves up and engaged with each other, with design as a foundation. Having a common goal not only serves as a conversation piece, having students from all walks of life, and at different points in their education coming together, but also demonstrates a journey from brief to final product in several forms. As a mature aged student, coming from a background in a different industry, and having worked across a diverse landscape, I understand the importance of providing these opportunities across the board. I believe architecture students are drawn to communicating their ideas with each other, and have a natural relationship based on the requisites of their studies. Offering a range of events including competitions allows for networking beyond general conversation.

Read Matt's platform statement

Blake Hilderbrand

I am a passionate advocate for the advancement of student empowerment, connection, and development within the industry. My roles as a SONA Representative, RMIT Architecture Student Collective (RASCol) President, and working in the profession have allowed me to acquire a holistic perspective on the needs of a vast array of students. This is vital in ensuring I can engage, promote, and represent a greater number of students with accuracy allowing me to organise and implement successful events and initiatives. Being a part of an immensely supportive/driven team at AIA has inspired me to want to take up this incredible opportunity to utilise my local and State experience on a national level for the benefit of all Australian students within the built environment. SONA should represent and empower all students to meet like-minded people, create lasting connections, and to progress their knowledge/skills to make an impact on the industry.

Personally, transparency and empowerment are the two issues that matter most to me. When I say transparency and empowerment, I mean I want students to see and understand the reality of the industry and how we grasp what we can do to make it better for ourselves and those around us. For example, in 2022, one of the events I organised was the You Can’t Ask That! Event where I moderated a tremendous panel discussing uncensored questions that people are too afraid to ask. I want students to have the power and agency to seriously question our profession in the hope we can improve it. Through the curation and organisation of national initiatives/events such as a speaker series, workshops, and exhibitions we can tackle a range of issues impacting our industry’s development such as sustainability, mental health, and Indigenous promotion and action to educate and promote forward-thinking students.

Through my leadership positions within student organisations, I strongly believe that I can grow SONA and its level of engagement through delivering effective initiatives to a diverse cohort of students. In 2022, across SONA Victoria and RASCol, we have had a total of approximately 729 attendees to 9 events in 5 months which is a clear testament to the hard work of myself and the support and relationships directly around me. Additionally, we had the most Super studio signups from any state, RMIT has the most new-member signups (as per the latest copy). Additionally, as an executive of RASCol we have gone from 78 members to 191 members and were awarded the RMIT Student Life Club Award. I want to continue to lead and collaborate with others to deliver strong outcomes to students and to the wider industry through maintaining and harnessing connections for the benefit of all.

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Samuel Otton

A problem with our profession is that we submit ourselves to the institutional logic of universities that determine the voices and methods of which we are taught. I think SONA presents a tremendous opportunity to challenge and diversify our education, the industries we are exposed to and the people who teach us. This is not to say that universities do not offer excellent thinkers, but I think that there can be far more done to provide students with the diversity they seek. The best thing about SONA is that it is a collective of people who are willing to contribute to one another regardless of what university they attend. I find my interest in undertaking a role with SONA is centred in  both valuing and empowering the role of the student, and to find meaningful ways that create exchanges between students and our profession.

Personally, aside from issues concerning our rapidly declining environment at the hands of a global climate catastrophe, I find issues concerning designing with country and the isolation of students as a result of COVID-19 to be of great significance. We have a duty to society to provide opportunities that benefit our contribution, and I think that the platform can address these issues with a real emphasis on involving Indigenous members of the design industry. Sensitively designing with country is a serious gap in our approach to the built environment, and we can address this by giving future designers a real strong understanding of designing with country. One of the greatest difficulties that the pandemic presented was the isolation of students from one another. I think that we can build stronger relationships between students who have missed out on arguably the most exciting part of their careers.

I think as SONA members we need to actively and meaningfully target the areas that interest our students the most, and I do question whether this is something that only happens at university. For instance, many Yr.12 students undertake subjects or have the desire to enter architecture once finishing school (workshops/activities/presentations). There is potentially an opportunity to introduce them to SONA at school so that there is not as much need for students to discover SONA at university. With SONA reps across the country, there is a desperate need to take ownership of our roles as students and coordinate more informal events that promote a collaborative, and interconnected approach to our industry which dismantles barriers between universities. Furthermore, if there is an opportunity to do one big during the year with a few international, and local architects, then I believe we would be able to grow the community. 

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Vote for your 2023 SONA Executive Team

2023 SONA Executive voting form

Have your say on who will represent SONA in 2023.

Voting closes 9am AEST Monday 12 September 2022.

You must be a current SONA member to vote.

Be sure to read more about the candidates above to inform your decision.

If you have any questions about the nomination process or experience any issues with this form please contact the SONA team by email sona@architecture.com.au

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1. SONA Executive positions are decided by the first-past-the-post voting system. The candidate with the plurality of votes is the winner of the position.
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3. In the event voting is tied, the current SONA President has the final decision.
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