PARLOUR SUPER SALON AT RMIT'S 'WORKAROUND'

Parlour regularly host Salon events, where invited architects, academics, or those working in related fields hold a conversation while in a public setting, with the idea that the casual flow of conversation may produce interesting angels on topics usually discussed in a more formal interview or presentation setting.

Parlour are hosting the fourteenth and final Episode in RMIT's WORKAROUND programme, which started on 25 July 2018. For this two-hour 'Super Salon', they will be in conversation with A+W NZ.

Parlour's co-founders Justine Clark, Gill Matthewson and Naomi Stead will talk with A+W NZ Co-Chairs Lynda Simmons and Divya Purushotham.

Parlour grew from a research project led by Naomi Stead at the University of Queensland, ' Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work and Leadership (2011–2014)'. This project was government-funded and involved an intensive PhD programme with the aim of understanding why women are under-represented at senior management level throughout the architecture profession. Justine Clark and Gill Matthewson were part of the group of eight researchers, and many substantial outcomes from this project emerged, not least of all the advocacy platform of Parlour and their Equity Guides for the profession, which were adopted by the Institute.

New Zealanders Justine Clark and Gill Matthewson were the inaugural winners of the Munro Diversity Award in the A+W NZ Awards 2014.

The RMIT Design Hub WORKAROUND - Women Design Action programme aims to highlight 'a burgeoning movement of women focused on advocacy and activism within an expanded field of architecture' and there are fourteen Episodes spread across three weeks. All Episodes will be broadcast live on the Design Hub website.

We are honoured to be invited, and look forward to a lively and interesting conversation on 11 August 2018, at 12:00.

Here is a link to an article by Melia Raynor for Matters: 'Women in Design That WORKAROUND', posted 1 August 2018.

A big thank you goes to The University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning, who are supporting A+W NZ in their attendance at this event. A special mention to HOS Julia Gatley for this support.

words by Lynda Simmons