What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture and design?
As a high school student, I was deeply passionate about fine art and politics. That love led me to pursue an arts degree, majoring in art history and politics, which I absolutely loved. During that time, I had an incredible teacher, Conrad Hamann, who had a profound impact on me. He brought to life the art and thought behind architecture in a way that was completely eye-opening.
That awakening—seeing architecture as a form of storytelling, power, and place-making—stayed with me. After taking a gap year, I knew I wanted to apply those ideas in a tangible way and decided to study architecture.
Have you had any role models during your career, and how did they inspire you?
I’ve been fortunate to have some truly inspiring role models throughout my career—some who have positively shaped my approach, and others who have shown me ways of working that I knew I wanted to do differently. Each experience has helped me reflect on what feels right for me and how I want to lead. The most important lesson has been to stay true to my values rather than simply following established ways of doing things, which takes time to build the confidence to put into action.
When I was a student, there weren’t enormous amounts of high-profile female architects in Melbourne to look up to. Of course, there was Maggie Edmond—whose daughter I coincidentally studied with—and architects like Shelley Penn and Kersten Thompson, who were just at the beginning of their trajectories and becoming more recognised in the field. At the same time, I was watching closely and admiring the success of female leaders in the arts, such as Melbourne’s Anna Schwartz and jewellery designer Susan Cohn, as well as business trailblazers like Elizabeth Alexander AO, whose leadership and influence were incredibly inspiring. While the architecture industry is changing, progress has been too slow. There’s still a real need for more women in leadership roles, not just in design but also in shaping the business and decision-making sides of architecture.
How can architects and designers ensure that the built environment is designed to be more inclusive and accessible for women, from public spaces to workplaces?
For a long time, many of our cities and public spaces have been shaped predominantly by male designers, often without a deep consideration of how different people experience them—so it’s not entirely surprising that many environments have historically felt less safe or accessible for women. Fortunately, there is now a growing awareness of these issues, with planning authorities beginning to measure and address gendered design, and designers like Claire Martin from Oculus leading important conversations in this space.
That said, there’s still a long way to go. It’s frustrating that even today, many workplaces fail to provide something as fundamental as private, lockable spaces for new mums to express milk. These are the kinds of everyday barriers that persist when inclusivity isn’t embedded in the design process from the start. Whether in the public realm or within our own industry, we need to be more intentional about designing for a broader range of experiences—because truly great design is one that works for everyone.
What advice would you give to aspiring young women considering a career in architecture and design?
First, be clear on why you want to pursue this field, because architecture can be challenging, but if you love it, it’s incredibly rewarding.
Don’t be afraid to take up space, ask questions, and challenge the status quo. Find mentors who genuinely support your growth, and don’t be discouraged by outdated mindsets—change in the industry happens when more diverse voices step into leadership roles.
Most importantly, stay true to your values and trust your instincts. Your perspective and ideas are needed to shape the future of our built environment.
Do you mentor junior colleagues? If so, what do you emphasise in your guidance?
My leadership style is focused on building people up as individuals and as a team collective. I’ve had the delight of being able to empower and mentor colleagues, as well as students who are currently studying music, industry or arts administration and wanting to pursue a career similar to mine.
There is not one definitive pathway for getting into, and working in, the arts industry. And it’s not all about your degree or your skills. It is about the connections and relationships you build and continuously learning about yourself, the industry and the opportunities you choose to seek, seize or alternatively, choose to pass on and leave behind.
Trust yourself, build your boundaries, develop your confidence and belief in your worth, and work to understand where and how you can add value to the organisation you’re working for and the community that it serves.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is #AccelerateAction. At the current pace, achieving full gender parity will take until 2158—roughly five generations from now—according to the World Economic Forum. How do you think the arts and culture industry can drive progress towards a more equal playing field for women?
The fact that gender parity is still over a century away is completely unacceptable. The architecture industry has a responsibility to accelerate change, and that starts with real, structural shifts—not just symbolic gestures. We need to see more women in leadership roles, more equitable pay, and better workplace policies that support all aspects of life, including parenthood.
Firms must actively foster mentorship and sponsorship opportunities for women at all levels, not just early career stages. And beyond the profession itself, our designs must reflect an awareness of gender equity in the way cities function—ensuring public spaces, transport systems, and workplaces are designed with safety, accessibility, and inclusivity in mind. Change won’t happen without a push, and we all have a role to play in demanding and driving that progress.
About FK
FK is a multi-disciplinary international design firm delivering projects around the globe, with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The practice’s work includes ground-breaking projects such as Mona in Hobart and Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, set to become the world’s second-tallest tower. Spanning cultural, commercial, multi-residential, senior living and hotel typologies, FK delivers holistic solutions in architecture, master planning, urban design and interiors. The practice’s core philosophies — place, sustainability and innovation — are embedded across FK’s project portfolio.
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