The Royal Australian Institute of Architects is in a fantastic position. Our governance restructure is complete and the many
benefits of our financial restructure are now becoming evident. We have wheels on the reinvigorated Institute vehicle so
now we can drive it to achieve our goals; and also to restructure our membership-to broaden it-which is vital if we are
to improve our profile and impact in the community.
While the country struggles with Constitutional reform, the RAIA has shown the way in leading Australia into the 21st
century. We have taken a fractured 19th century model of a ‘Federated’ Institute which had competing State and Federal
components and have successfully welded them into a truly National model where grassroots elect State leaders directly
onto the National governing body. The result has been harmonious and has exceeded all expectations. Service delivery to members and advocacy to
business and government is already increasing as a result. We now need to address the issue of ‘regionalisation’ to enable both better representation and increased delivery of
services directly to our members throughout Australia. As Australia considers a republic, the RAIA needs to consider its name and plan to change its title to more accurately
reflect its new shape and role. Perhaps we could have a competition for our new name? Architecture Australia? Institute
of Australian Architecture? The Australian Architectural Institute? Such a name will reflect the fundamental change which the Institute began last year to broaden our sphere of influence
by increasing our membership to include more than architects. This will allow a wider cross section of the Australian
design services industry to be represented, strengthening our role in advocating a better built environment. The strength of numbers will assist us to promote our values-that the quality of the built environment is not measured
by economic cost alone but by other considerations like lifecycle cost, social cost and environmental cost. To advance architecture in this country, we must constantly promote this message. Architecture and design hardly rate a
mention in Federal Minister John Moore’s recently released draft Construction Industry Statement. We need to do more
than simply rectify this-we must ensure that our message is heard at the highest levels. Members have a wonderful opportunity to discuss these developments and challenges when they come together at the
Convention in Cairns. I look forward to seeing you there. Ric Butt FRAIA
National President | 
