Timothy Hill awarded Gold at the Australian Architecture Conference

The Australian Institute of Architects has unveiled the recipients of the 2025 National Prizes which recognise individuals who have built their substantial legacies advancing the profession and by embodying values of progressiveness, innovation, and integrity. 

Among the National Prizes awarded at the Conference was the Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honour recognising distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture, or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner. 

The 2025 Gold Medal is awarded to Timothy Hill, director of Partners Hill since 2013, and an architect responsible for numerous exemplars of Australian architecture. 

His contribution to the profession extends to education, professional lectures and various forms of advocacy that, in combination, make him a most influential architect whose impact is felt nationwide. 

His unique combination of architectural poetics allied to a critical leadership discourse – a discourse that defines the larger territory in which architects can operate, all the while advocating for architecture’s greater purpose and value.

"This year’s National Prize winners exemplify a profound commitment to elevating architectural practice through leadership and proactive engagement with our sociocultural contexts. Their legacies stand as a testament to the advancement of the profession through innovation and integrity,” says Jury Chair, Jane Cassidy FRAIA. 

National President’s Prize – Government Architects Network of Australia 

The Australian government architects through the Government Architects Network of Australia (GANA) have demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication in the field of architecture and urban design. 

Their contributions have significantly shaped the built environment of Australia, enhancing the quality of life for all Australians and setting standards for good design, great architecture and sustainable, resilient cities.  

The Government Architect Network of Australia includes: 
•    Scott Balmforth RAIA, TAS Strategic Architect and Urban Design Advisor  
•    Abbie Galvin LFRAIA, NSW Government Architect  
•    Jill Garner LFRAIA, VIC Government Architect  
•    Leah Lang FRAIA, QLD Government Architect  
•    Kirsteen Mackay RAIA, SA Government Architect  
•    Emma Williamson FRAIA, WA Government Architect 

Their work across advocacy and policy serves as an inspiration to architects and designers globally, and their legacy will continue to shape architecture for years to come. 

Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize – Nicole Kalms RAIA | Director, XYX Lab  

Nicole Kalms RAIA has shown exceptional dedication to addressing gender equity in the built environment. Her evidence-based investigative practice listens to and collates lived experience towards visible and participatory action. 

Her research demonstrates application over a wide spectrum of topics, with unwavering commitment to advocacy. 

Kalms’ work has already effected government progress and promoted the creation of tangible resources for architecture practices, opening up knowledge to a broad audience. 

As a founding director of XYX Lab, she is able to apply her ambitions through the XYX channel, enabling many projects through her diligence, guidance and collaborative techniques. 

Leadership in Sustainability Prize – David Baggs LFRAIA | Director / Cofounder, Global GreenTag International

David Baggs LFRAIA has made a significant, lasting contribution to the architecture and built environment industry, particularly in the areas of sustainability and supply chain management. 

As CEO of Global Green Tag, he has helped architects make more informed and sustainable decisions by simplifying complex sustainability data. 
His work on global innovations like the Product Health Declaration, the Modern Slavery Declaration and the Nature Positive Plus Declaration has improved transparency and set new standards for product ethics. 

Through his ongoing work, Baggs continues to support architects and the broader industry in creating a more sustainable and ethical built environment. 

Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture – Nicole Mesquita-Mendes | Urban Designer, Urbis 

Nicole Mesquita-Mendes is a tireless advocate for the architectural profession and an entirely worthy recipient of the 2025 Student Leadership in Architecture prize. 

The jury was impressed by the breadth and depth of her involvement in a wide range of diverse initiatives, notably her capacity to amplify existing initiatives, seen through her work with the Hearing Architecture podcast. 

Mesquita-Mendes is an active participant in academic review and research and an early agitator for studies into the health and wellbeing of student architects, resulting in her involvement in the Wellbeing of Architects research initiative. 

Mesquita-Mendes is an excellent communicator and an incredible asset to the architectural community.

Bluescope Glenn Murcutt Student Prize – Rebecca Mallaby | Architectural Graduate, Carr Architecture 

The jury unanimously awards the 2025 BlueScope Glenn Murcutt Student Prize to the Common Space by Rebecca Mallaby. The Common Space is awarded for its innovative response to Australia’s housing crisis, offering a modular co-living model that skilfully balances humanity and economy.

It explores diverse housing options with flexible configurations for lone or paired occupants, integrating private and communal spaces to foster social connections while preserving individual privacy.

The project is documented in fine linework drawings and evocative renders that demonstrate this satisfying duality.

Image: Timothy Hill / supplied