Architecture in Action: 2025 Australian Architecture Conference speakers announced

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the first round of speakers for its upcoming 2025 Australian Architecture Conference, to be held in Sydney from 2 to 4 May 2025.

The 2025 conference will be hosted at the Sydney Opera House and the University of Sydney's Seymour Centre. The invited Australian and international speakers will draw attention to stories that "demonstrate the capacity of design to instigate positive change, regenerate the planet and chart a sustainable and equitable future for humanity," said Institute CEO Cameron Bruhn.

The steering committee responsible for shaping the 2025 program comprises Aaron Peters, Adam Haddow, Adrian Fernandez, Felicity Stewart, Nicole Mesquita-Mendes, Sally Hsu, Sharaan Muruvan and Tania Papasotiriou. The committee is joined by Institute representatives Cameron Bruhn, Alexis Schnitger and Kate Concannon.

The conference will feature keynote addresses from:

Jing Liu of SO-IL (United States)

A New York-based architect and co-founder of the architecture and design firm SO-IL, Liu has led various projects that tackle sociopolitical challenges in urban design. Notable projects include Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Cleveland and the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.

Kevin O'Brien of BVN (Australia)

O'Brien is an architect, a principal at BVN, an adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and an advocate of informed, intersectional design practice. Renowned for his multi-disciplinary practice, O'Brien has played a pivotal role in projects such as Kith and Kin, Blak Box and Brisbane South State Secondary College.

Andreia Teixeira of Shop Architects (United States)

An associate principal at the New York City-based architecture practice Shop, Teixeira has led numerous prestigious workplace projects, including the Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney, a project that centred around technology-driven design.

Neill McClements of Grimshaw (United Kingdom)

McClements is a partner at Grimshaw with more than 25 years experience. His portfolio spans rail, metro and high-profile infrastructure projects, including the RIBA prize-winning Elizabeth Line in London. His insights on complex network planning offer a unique perspective on innovative infrastructure design.

Complementing the conference is a line-up of fringe events taking place in Sydney from 29 April to 4 May 2025. These events include:

More speakers and program updates will be released in the coming weeks, visit the conference website for more information.