Architect Networking Events 2025
FEBRUARY
Clause 4.6 – Breaching Development Standards
This was an insightful evening with Penny Murray, Partner at Addison Lawyers, who delved into Clause 4.6 requests, covering key elements, potential traps and common mistakes, and explored how the courts approach these requests, providing valuable insights for architects navigating this complex area and an opportunity to enhance understanding and engage in discussion with industry peers.
MARCH
Regulatory compliance as a risk management strategy: What you should know – the good, the bad and the necessary
SPUN hosted an insightful presentation by Kirsten Orr, Registrar of the NSW Architects Registration Board (NSW ARB), exploring key issues shaping the architecture profession, including risks and challenges in Australian architecture drawn from NSW ARB’s FY2023–2024 complaints data and findings from the June 2024 NSW ARB & ARBV report.
APRIL
JIMONTEI – a Zen Garden in Sydney
The session focused on the unique challenges and discoveries involved in creating a Zen-inspired garden in the heart of a bustling city. It explored key learning outcomes including an understanding of Zen aesthetics and their application in compact urban spaces, strategies for effective collaboration with a landscape consultant, the use of remote technologies to successfully deliver international projects, and creative approaches to making small spaces feel expansive and serene.
MAY
Planning Policy Reforms and Industry Collaboration
SPUN hosted a talk by Melissa Neighbour, an experienced urban planner and sustainability specialist, examining policy changes responding to Australia’s housing crisis. The session explored current housing challenges, recent planning reforms and their impact on development feasibility and delivery, while also highlighting the role of cross-sector collaboration in driving reform and introducing Propinion, an industry-led initiative aimed at resolving legislative ambiguities through collective professional consensus.
JUNE
Disputes, Complaints & Common Problems known in the Building Industry
SPUN hosted an essential forum with Andrew Garcia, Director of Complaints at Building Commission NSW, examining disputes, complaints and common problems across the building industry. The session explored issues arising from miscommunication, compliance failures and broader systemic concerns, with Andrew providing a candid, insider perspective drawn from real casework, investigations and recurring problem areas across residential and non-residential building works, making it a highly relevant discussion for architects and construction professionals.
JULY
Pathways to Complying with the NCC
SPUN hosted a technical presentation by Andrew Savage, Business Development Manager – Architecture & Design at Weathertex, who drew on more than 30 years of industry experience to guide architects through the pathways to NCC compliance. Previously presented to the Association of Australian Certifiers (AAC), the session focused on addressing common concerns raised by certifiers and principal certifying authorities, outlining the six acceptable methods of providing evidence of compliance, their order of rigour and appropriate application, and offering valuable insights for architects committed to best-practice and sustainable outcomes.
AUGUST
Designing for Sound: Acoustic Principles in Architecture
SPUN hosted a focused CPD session presented by Samuel Johnson of Resonate Consultants, exploring key acoustic principles in architecture from concept to construction. The session covered acoustic theory, risk management, sustainable systems, consultancy and documentation, on-site quality assurance and case studies, equipping attendees with practical insights to communicate effectively with consultants, optimise specifications and improve acoustic outcomes across projects.
SEPTEMBER
Regulatory Challenges for Resilience of Buildings
This presentation by Richard Choi examined how regulation can keep pace with the urgent need for resilient design, exploring the challenges of implementing appropriate building regulations in response to climate extremes and the role of architects in shaping a way forward, while addressing key themes including the limits and opportunities of current building codes, embedding resilience into regulation and practice, and the architect’s role in influencing policy and advocacy.
OCTOBER
Little Pot Of Gold
This session explored the challenges of delivering healthy, net-zero-carbon homes in Australia, drawing on the Little Pot of Gold house research to examine the relationship between operational and embodied carbon, NatHERS and PHPP. Through 24 climate-specific iterations of a single-family home, the research highlighted inconsistencies in Australia’s housing approach while demonstrating how a more consistent framework could improve health, comfort, energy efficiency and upfront carbon outcomes nationwide.
NOVEMBER
Adaptive Reuse, Heritage & Contemporary Design
SPUN Architects Network hosted its end-of-year November Sparkle event featuring fjcstudio, who presented a selection of projects exploring adaptive reuse, heritage conservation and contemporary design. The session highlighted how heritage buildings can be reimagined for modern use while preserving their cultural significance and included an update on the SPUN Student Internship Sponsorship Initiative during SPUN’s 2025 end-of-year celebration at Roseville Golf Club.
