The Victorian Chapter of the 蜜桃影像 is pleased to mark a significant leadership transition. As we farewell our outgoing Chapter President, David Wagner FRAIA, and celebrate his appointment as National President Elect, we also warmly welcome our new President, Stephanie Bullock FRAIA, Director of Kosloff Architecture. This transition represents not just a change of title but the continuation of a legacy of generous leadership, collaborative advocacy, and strategic vision. Both David and Stephanie have contributed immensely to the Institute鈥檚 mission and its members, and this moment offers a chance to reflect with gratitude and look forward with great optimism.
At this year’s Annual General Meeting, held during the Australian Architecture Conference in Sydney, it was announced that David had been elected as the new National President Elect. David鈥檚 transition to the national stage follows an exceptional term as Victorian Chapter President, a role he has held since 2022. Since stepping into the role of Victorian Chapter President in 2022, David Wagner has embodied the very best of architectural leadership, principled, generous, and steadfastly committed to advancing the profession in all its forms. As he takes up the mantle of National President Elect, we thank David for his extraordinary service to the Victorian Chapter and celebrate the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
David鈥檚 term was marked by tireless advocacy. Under his leadership, the Chapter forged stronger relationships with government, holding face-to-face meetings with key decision-makers across Planning, Housing, Treasury, DEECA, VSBA, and the DET. These conversations tackled pressing issues, cladding safety, planning reform, permit timelines, heritage protection, and the vital roles of OVGA and the ARBV. In doing so, David ensured that architects had a clear, respected voice in policy debate.
Beyond government engagement, David collaborated with professional bodies in the built environment, including the ACA, PIA, AILA, UDF, AIBS, and MBAV, advancing collaboration on matters of shared interest. He also initiated the Institute鈥檚 ongoing work with the Victorian Government to address standard form contracts on public projects, an ongoing complex task that will benefit greatly from the groundwork he has laid. David鈥檚 influence reached across every scale of the Institute鈥檚 activities. He contributed extensively to the Victorian Architecture Awards, serving as both jury member, chair and chair of juries, and elevated the recognition of heritage and Country through the Victorian President鈥檚 Prize. At National Council, he was a vocal and passionate advocate for the success and leadership of Victorian members and committees.
Importantly, David also brought people together. He set a new standard for presidential presence, speaking thoughtfully at events of all sizes, representing the Institute in media, and showing up wherever the profession needed him. His advocacy was grounded in genuine care for colleagues, practice diversity, and the future of architecture in Australia. David memorably championed a profession that is safe and inclusive for all. By introducing the 鈥渃ollective responsibility to create safe spaces鈥� statement, now read at major Institute events, he reminded us that respect and care must be at the heart of our shared work.
As David begins this next chapter as National President Elect, we do so with gratitude, pride, and full confidence in his ability to represent the profession nationally with the same energy, insight, and empathy he brought to Victoria. Thank you, David.
We are equally proud to announce the appointment of his successor, Stephanie Bullock FRAIA, as the new President of the Victorian Chapter. Stephanie brings to the role a deep commitment to the profession and an outstanding track record of service to the Institute. A long-standing and active member of Chapter Council, Stephanie has made significant contributions through her co-chairing of the Sustainable Architecture Committee and her national leadership in curating the monthly ESD Lunch-Time Lean-Ins, a valued professional development initiative with an ever-growing audience across Australia.
She has also served as a member of the Practice of Architecture Committee, the Gender Equity and Diversity Committee, and the Enabling Architecture Committee, consistently bringing insight, rigour, and care to her work on behalf of members. In recent years, Stephanie has represented the Victorian Chapter in numerous meetings with Ministers and senior policy makers, advocating for architecture鈥檚 central role in building a more sustainable, equitable, and liveable future.
Stephanie鈥檚 appointment comes at a pivotal time for the Institute as we continue our internal restructuring journey. Over the next six months, the Victorian Chapter team looks forward to working closely with her to ensure that our systems, culture, and member support services are aligned with the needs of contemporary practice. Together, we will continue refining the ways we support our members and deliver the resources, advocacy, and professional leadership that architects across Victoria expect and deserve.
We are excited about the future under her leadership, and we invite everyone to thank both David and Stephanie for their commitment to the Institute.
