In this episode, Nicole Eadie and Daniel Moore speak with Jefa Greenaway, founding Director of Greenaway Architects. With over three decades of experience championing Indigenous-led design, Jefa has shaped some of Australia’s most significant projects and co-authored the International Indigenous Design Charter, a landmark framework for equity and Country-centred design.

Our conversation explores what Indigenous design equity means in practice and how it can shape the built environment with authenticity and respect for Country. Jefa reflects on his leadership roles across cultural, educational, and infrastructure projects, including the North East Link, the UTS National First Nations College, and the Koorie Heritage Trust, and shares insights on the responsibilities of collaboration, competition procurement, and the growing call for Indigenous representation in public tenders. He discusses the challenges of cultural load, the risks of tokenism, and the importance of shifting beyond decorative stereotypes towards genuine co-design that meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Jefa’s perspective highlights the balance between practical realities of procurement and construction and the deeper responsibility architects have to embed cultural knowledge, equity, and design excellence.

Our sponsor Brickworks also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find ‘The Art of Living’, ‘Architects Abroad, and ‘The Power of Two’, at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to show your support please rate, review, and subscribe to Hearing Architecture in your favourite podcast app. If you want to know more about what the Australian Institute of Architects is doing to support architects and the community please visit architecture.com.au

This is a production by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. The Institute production team was Katie Katos, Claudia McCarthy, and Mark Broadhead, and the EmAGN production team was Nicole Eadie and Daniel Moore.

This content is brought to you by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. This content does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. This content does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, or other types of advice. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or will become inaccurate over time.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia where this podcast was produced, as the first storytellers, the first communities and the first creators of Australian culture. I extend that respect to the Traditional Custodians of country throughout the multiple places abroad where this podcast was recorded. We thank Traditional Custodians for caring for Country for thousands of generations. and recognise their profound connection to land, water, and skies.

In this episode of Hearing Architecture, Megan Eiman and Daniel Moore speak with Associate Professor Liz Cameron from the University of Newcastle. Since joining the School of Architecture and the Built Environment in 2022, Liz has played a pivotal role as one of four Indigenous academics shaping architectural education and practice in New South Wales. With a background in occupational therapy, spatial design, and art, Liz brings a unique, cross-disciplinary perspective to her work, enriched by her commitment to cultural integrity and authentic engagement with Country.

Our conversation explores the meaning and practice of Design with Country, and the ways in which Indigenous Knowledge Systems and sensory ways of understanding place can expand architectural thinking. Liz reflects on her role as an educator, researcher, and consultant, and introduces the University of Newcastle’s new Designing with Country postgraduate course, launching in 2025. She also speaks to the broader shift underway in the profession, as architects respond to the NSW “Connecting with Country” framework and explore how design can embody cultural values, community identity, and custodianship of land.

Through her work, Liz advocates for an architecture that is both culturally grounded and deeply human-centred, offering valuable insights for practitioners seeking to embed authenticity, respect, and sustainability in their design practice.

Our sponsor Brickworks also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find ‘The Art of Living’, ‘Architects Abroad, and ‘The Power of Two’, at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to show your support please rate, review, and subscribe to Hearing Architecture in your favourite podcast app. If you want to know more about what the Australian Institute of Architects is doing to support architects and the community please visit architecture.com.au

This is a production by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. The Institute production team was Katie Katos, Claudia McCarthy, and Mark Broadhead, and the EmAGN production team was Megan Eiman and Daniel Moore.

This content is brought to you by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. This content does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. This content does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, or other types of advice. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or will become inaccurate over time.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia where this podcast was produced, as the first storytellers, the first communities and the first creators of Australian culture. I extend that respect to the Traditional Custodians of country throughout the multiple places abroad where this podcast was recorded. We thank Traditional Custodians for caring for Country for thousands of generations. and recognise their profound connection to land, water, and skies.

In this episode, Vyasa McPherson and Daniel Moore speak with Ella Masters, Registered Architect and Studio Lead of Hayball’s Canberra studio, whose career bridges architecture, education consultancy, and applied research. Originally starting in law before transitioning to architecture, Ella has developed a deep expertise in designing contemporary learning environments for schools and universities.

Ella shares her journey through notable educational projects, her involvement in the Mayfield Project during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the insights she gained while children were learning from home. Now undertaking a PhD in Education and Innovative Practice at the University of Melbourne, she explores the drivers of innovation in educational design, focusing on how outcomes are shaped by engagement processes, procurement methods, and education policy.

The conversation delves into the critical role of both the educational brief and design brief in aligning architectural outcomes with pedagogy, the interplay between educational campuses and public space, and the value of linking academia with practice. Ella also discusses how research can be made more accessible, the benefits and challenges of working across disciplines, and her commitment to ensuring learning spaces are inclusive, flexible, and grounded in evidence-based design.

Our sponsor Brickworks also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find ‘The Art of Living’, ‘Architects Abroad, and ‘The Power of Two’, at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to show your support please rate, review, and subscribe to Hearing Architecture in your favourite podcast app. If you want to know more about what the Australian Institute of Architects is doing to support architects and the community please visit architecture.com.au

This is a production by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. The Institute production team was Katie Katos, Claudia McCarthy, and Mark Broadhead, and the EmAGN production team was Vyasa McPherson and Daniel Moore.

This content is brought to you by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. This content does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. This content does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, or other types of advice. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or will become inaccurate over time.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia where this podcast was produced, as the first storytellers, the first communities and the first creators of Australian culture. I extend that respect to the Traditional Custodians of country throughout the multiple places abroad where this podcast was recorded. We thank Traditional Custodians for caring for Country for thousands of generations. and recognise their profound connection to land, water, and skies.