As a young planner, John O’Callaghan created a buzz in the industry. Instead of rules, regulations and tedious town hall meetings, he kickstarted initiatives like Idea Bombing Sydney, online blogs and social media to get his peers engaged with cities. Now, after ten years leading strategic planning and engagement company JOC Consulting, John shares how he learnt to slow down, find his voice and focus his energy in order to have the greatest impact. Find out how to disrupt a highly regulated industry and harness the latest tech for powerful engagement, plus what John really thinks about plannin ..read more

Tiffany Beamer is a self-confessed introvert - more of a lover than a fighter. She was the youngest partner ever made at OLIN and now leads their Los Angeles studio. Tiffany learnt how to stand her ground firmly but politely and put her case calmly, gaining authority and respect. Find out how she navigates boardrooms and construction sites as a young landscape architect and how her harshest design critic shaped her approach to communication. www.theolinstudio.com/philosophy ..read more

Indira Naidoo is an expert communicator. You might have seen her on TV, heard her on radio or read her books The Edible Balcony and its sequel The Edible City. Indira knows how to hook you into a story, from a spelling bee that nearly spelled the end of her TV career to a real-life bee that’s become a symbol of hope for climate resilience. Find out Indira’s top tips from 30 years in the communications industry: how to grab people’s attention in an era of fake news, why never to watch yourself on film, what she really wants to hear from designers and how to deal with sexism in the workplace. th ..read more

Ever had someone screaming at you in a community meeting? You need a few minutes with Damian Thompson, director of multidisciplinary design studio Lat27. He talks about being the eye of the storm and having stillness of mind…but who learnt those jedi skills at uni? Damian shares his refreshing take on the design industry – he’s successful yet humble. Hear about the botched presentation that’s etched into his memory, why everyone loves a volcano and how to reach every member of your audience.   lat27.com.au ..read more

Harry Partridge is a rare bird: a structural engineer with a creative soul. He ran his own firm Partridge Engineering for over 30 years, taking pride in delivering strong, safe buildings. But early on, Harry knew something was missing. So he went in search of inspiration, creativity and art in his life and in his work. Now with his firm Cultural Capital, Harry works with artists and developers to bring public art to new communities. And he wants to bring the arts into the education of young engineers. Find out why architects and engineers are set up to be arch-enemies. And what happens when yo ..read more

Nicole Larkin is an architect, artist and an expert on ocean pools. Her Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship canvassed all 59 pools along the NSW coast, allowing Nicole to create opportunities, forge connections and bring a fresh perspective to coastal design, planning and policy. Find out what it takes to go from recent graduate to respected expert, ways to supercharge your career and even generate dream projects, plus what needs to go up front in your next presentation. Links www.nicolelarkin.com @thewildedge @nlarkin_design ..read more

Host of Grand Designs New Zealand for six years, Chris Moller is a charismatic TV star. But behind the camera is an erudite architect urbanist who challenges the way we live, build and think. Chris has taught at prestigious architecture schools, run practices in the UK, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and invented a prefab building product called Click-Raft. His latest project is a community centre in Christchurch inspired by a giant shellfish. Find out why architects don’t need project managers, how the power of communication lies in our hands, and what really went on behind the camera of Gr ..read more

Helen Lochhead sends a refreshing jolt of energy through the architecture profession. As the first female dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at UNSW Sydney, national president of the Australian Institute of Architects and one of the Australian Financial Review’s top 100 women of influence, she’s ambitious, resilient and inspiring. Helen shares insights on communicating ideas within private practice, the public sector and academia. Find out how to impress a design review panel, how to beat imposter syndrome and embrace your own leadership style, plus essential tips for student present ..read more

Greg Grabasch models a new role for landscape architects – as design facilitators. In 2006 he founded UDLA design studio in Fremantle, Western Australia on strong principles of social and environmental justice. Greg talks about holding the middle ground – building and maintaining trust with communities while delivering outcomes for developer and government clients. Find out how Greg became the go-to landscape architect for the trickiest projects in the toughest towns and why he thinks designers need to listen more than they speak ..read more

Jennie Officer’s life is immersed in architecture. She practices as co-director of Officer Woods Architects, teaches at the University of Western Australia and writes about architecture in the dead of night. From tongue-tied recent graduate to award-winning architect, Jennie reveals how she learnt to stand up, speak up and back up her opinions. Find out how open, honest collaboration can produce unbelievable results, how to call out gender bias and key communication tips that will save you hours of time. www.officerwoods.com.au ..read more