The Australian Institute of Architects has awarded architect and public servant Fiona Gardiner the 2022 Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize.
Gardiner was CEO and director of heritage at the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, and is now adjunct associate professor at University of Queensland School of Architecture.
“Fiona Gardiner is a pre-eminent and respected role model for women who has consistently demonstrated relevant, sustained and active leadership,” said Catherine Baudet, jury chair and winner of the inaugural Paula Whitman prize.
Gardiner graduated from the University of Queensland in 1978 and later completed a master’s degree in conservation at York University. She championed the conservation of important Queensland buildings at a time when they were under threat from the state government led by Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
In 1983, she became the inaugural president of Women in Architecture, a group that raised the profile of female architects through exhibitions, events, and radio interviews.
“These early years of promoting women architects provided the foundations of an attitude that has been fostered since then and passed on to the many women who have encountered her,” Baudet said.
As a public servant, Gardiner created flexible work environment employees to accommodate family demands.
“Gardiner navigated a challenging working environment in the public service with professionalism and grace, showing the world that women were valuable team members and great leaders,” Baudet said. “She advocated for other women and worked to develop and implement non-discriminatory policies.”
She promoted the hidden heritage of Queensland’s female architects through exhibitions and protected their work through heritage listings. She also helped develop heritage policies at state and local government levels.
Gardiner was awarded a Public Service Medal in the 2019 Australia Day Honours for “outstanding public service through management of cultural heritage in Queensland.
The jury for the 2022 Paula Whitman prize comprised Kylie-JoAnn Hughes (Chair of the National Committee for Gender Equity), Erin Crowden (Past EmAGN President and Senior Architect at Proske Architects), Leanne Haidar (SJB Architects and past SONA President), and Alison McFadyen (Parlour Representative and Associate Director at Stallard Meek Flightpath).
Source: Architecture - architectureau
