The Emerging Architects and Graduates Network (EmAGN) enters 2026–2027 with deep gratitude for the leadership of Immediate Past President Callum Senjov. His commitment has strengthened national connections, amplified the voice of emerging practitioners, and ensured our volunteer efforts continue to create meaningful impact. Sincere thanks also go to our outgoing and continuing Co‑Chairs and committee members for their energy, advocacy, and the outstanding events delivered over the past year.

EmAGN is powered by a network of dedicated committees across every State and Territory, supporting architects and graduates within 15 years of completing their Masters. Representing  around 35 percent of the Institute’s membership, this community is defined by generosity, enthusiasm, and a shared drive to shape a more inclusive, collaborative and resilient profession.

As our industry navigates social, technological and environmental transformation, EmAGN is committed to strengthening the role of emerging practitioners in conversations around climate resilience, compliance, community, wellbeing, and long‑term sustainability.  Over the coming term, we’ll be building a national resource hub to better support our students and early-career practitioners. Our goal is to centralise practical tools and guidance into one accessible, nationwide platform.

Supporting regional members will also remain a priority. National online events and local “watch parties” will continue to expand access for those living outside major cities, ensuring all members can participate fully in EmAGN Institute initiatives. EmAGN will also continue to collaborate with the regional committees to extend EmAGNs reach to regional areas.  

EmAGN will maintain its strong emphasis on climate‑positive practice across design, research, policy and cross‑disciplinary innovation. Our ongoing Sustainability Snacks series will continue to spotlight emerging professionals and the practical ways information‑sharing can drive change through detailing and real project examples.

Wellbeing, Equity, access, and support for parents and carers also remain core values for the network. EmAGN continues to champion diverse voices, elevate First Nations design leadership, and strengthen pathways into architecture so every emerging practitioner can see themselves reflected in our community.

I particularly look forward to working closely with the EmAGN National committee, National Council, and the Institute Staff including Claudia McCarthy, Katie Katos, and the National Education Team, in the year ahead. 

We welcome members to share ideas, questions, and opportunities for collaboration at emagn@architecture.com.au. For Interest in Joining EmAGN and for local activities, please reach out to your regional EmAGN Co‑Chairs. We look forward to connecting with you at events throughout the year.

About Candice

Candice Halliday is the Principal Architect and founder of CNA Design Studio, a multidisciplinary practice known for delivering innovative, user‑centred and detail‑driven design. CNA creates environments that respond intuitively to client and occupant needs, prioritising quality, accessibility and spatial richness across all project types.

Candice is an enthusiastic committed mentor within the architecture community and a strong advocate for sharing knowledge to elevate design outcomes. She contributes to the profession through national panels, Institute working groups, Super Studio juries and tutoring programs, and continues as an active member of EmAGN Newcastle.

Candice is a Registered Architect and Building Design Practitioner under the Design and Building Practitioners Act. Her portfolio spans industrial, adaptive reuse, hospitality, education, residential, commercial fitouts, health, aged care and interior design.

Candice has received multiple honours, including the Dylan Connelly Memorial Travel Scholarship, the AIA Student Prize for Second Year Studies, and recognition across several built‑environment award programs.

Acknowledgement of country

The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia. We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive. We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects and respect their rights to continue to care for Country. 

I’m pleased to share an exciting initiative currently in development: the Australian Institute of Architects’ Business School of Architecture – a program designed by architects, for architects, to strengthen the business capability that underpins sustainable, ethical and high-performing practice.

As part of this work, we’re running a Melbourne pilot of two foundational modules: Strategy and Financial Performance. The pilot will be delivered as two half-day, face-to-face sessions (one full day in total) on 27 March in the Melbourne CBD, supported by structured pre- and post-workshop activities. We encourage multiple participants from the same practice (up to three) to take part, as well as individual participants, as the format is designed to support practice-based group work and practical implementation. If you’re interested, please complete the Expression of Interest form HERE by close of business this Friday 6 February 2026.

Separately, you may have seen the recent ArchitectureAu  article regarding proposed changes affecting the Architects Registration Board of Victoria. The Institute has made a submission in response to the Victorian Government consultation on the Architects Regulations sunset review Architects Regulations 2015 Sunset Review | Engage Victoria], and will continue to work with government to ensure members interests are considered.

Thank you for supporting both of these important pieces of work for the profession.

Stephanie Bullock,

Victorian Chapter President

The Tasmanian Chapter has had a busy start to the year, and it is hard to believe that it is now March.

In February, Chapter Council held its handover meeting. We welcomed Felix Blackman, Guy Edwards and Martin Stephenson, along with Georgina Kemp, who is the incoming EmAGN co-chair. They join existing and continuing chapter councillors, Andrew Williamson, Cath Hall, Gaetano Palmese, Hugh Maguire, Jono Buist, Kate Shepherd (EmAGN co-chair) and Natasha Mackinnon (SONA rep), along with Shamus Mulcahy, in the immediate past president role. We have sadly said goodbye to Jason Licht, Lucy Burke-Smith, Michael Loubser, Pippa Jensen, Will Harkness, Chris Shurman (EmAGN co-chair) and Karyn Bogus (SONA rep for virtual students). I thank these people for their contributions over the years, and look forward to working with the current Chapter Council.

It was pleasing to see such a high standard of work entered in this year’s Tasmanian Architecture Awards on the presentation to the jury day. I acknowledge that presenting to your peers can be a daunting task (this is particularly true for me), and I congratulate everyone who presented. I would also like to thank the jurors for their time and considered questions throughout. The day is about sharing the work that has taken place in the state, and also provides an opportunity for an informal catch up – thank you to those who assisted in ensuring we were well fed at the BBQ!

The award entries will be exhibited in Hobart, with a launch event scheduled for Thursday 5 June, and then in Launceston, with the launch event on Friday 4 July, prior to the awards presentation event, which will also be held in Launceston, on Saturday 5 July. Mark these dates in your calendar as we hope to see you all there.

Chapter representatives have attended a number of Government roundtable meetings already this year, and representatives will be attending the City of Hobart’s developer forum on Thursday 19 March. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss issues relating to development approvals in Hobart. We are seeking input from members to take to this meeting, and if you have issues that you would like raised, please let me know, or contact the Institute prior to the meeting.

The Institute has also responded to a number of submission this year, including the Clarence City Heart Plan, and the proposed changes relating to prescribed maintenance under the Building Act 2016. Thank you to members who assisted with these submissions. Currently, the chapter is working on a response to the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy – Urban Growth Boundary proposed update (due Friday 14 March), the Tasmanian Government contract review (due Friday 21 March), the Review of the Department of Treasury and Finance Prequalification Scheme (due Monday 31 March – stay tuned as there is a plan to hold a Practice Forum to discuss this) and CBOS’ Draft Directors Guidelines – Livable Housing Access Requirements (due Wednesday 9 April). If you would like more information on any of these submissions, or would like to assist, please contact Fiona at the Tas Chapter. All past Institute submissions can be found on the Institute’s submission library.

The last few weeks has seen a number of events, including the Architects Recipe: 1970s AV Jennings, part of the Open House Hobart program which was postponed from last year; Japanese traditional Temple Building with Yuji Kanesada; EmAGN’s The Temporality of Being: Closing Night & Full Moon; a site visit to The Tasmanian House 3 by Jiri Lev Architecture; the Findlay Project’s Cooporative Housing Developments talk with Emily Taylor and Claire Austin; the first of the Learning From One Another | Conversations Through Architecture | First House talks, where we heard from Poppy Taylor, David Travalia and Garry Forward; the Emerging Architect Prize Tour with Jennifer McMaster and local winner, Keith Westbrook; and last, but not least, the Findlay Project’s International Women’s Day Breakfast, where we heard from members of the Antarctic Women’s Network who spoke to the theme of ‘women’s perspectives of Antarctic space – the built and natural environment’. Many people have been involved in the delivery of all these events, and I thank you all for your efforts in enabling an inclusive and vibrant chapter.