Parlour On the Verandah 8: Reimagining career

The event, convened under the “On the Verandah” series, examines fundamental shifts in how careers are navigated within the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors. Moving beyond the traditional notion of career progression as a steady ascent up a predefined ladder, the discussion focuses on the “career lattice” model—one that values flexibility, lateral movement, reinvention, and pauses, acknowledging the diverse and non-linear journeys that professionals increasingly undertake.

The central theme involves understanding how individuals forge meaningful, sustainable careers outside the confines of conventional structures such as established firms, institutions, or corporate entities. Rather than departing from the industry entirely, many professionals are choosing to exercise agency and imagination in redefining their roles, making conscious choices to align their work with personal aspirations and life circumstances. This approach addresses the limitations of standardised career pathways, which often do not reflect the diversity or complexity of modern professional lives in the built environment.

The event is relevant to professionals across architecture, engineering, and construction, particularly those interested in exploring alternative approaches to career progression, flexibility within practice, and the dynamics of professional reinvention. It also addresses those who may be considering non-traditional paths or seeking examples of agency within established fields.

The discussion brings together the following speakers and moderators:

In conversation with:

Each participant is explicitly listed as part of the conversation. The inclusion of these figures signals a commitment to multi-perspective discussion about the professional trajectories available within, and adjacent to, the architectural and built environment professions.

Within this context, the event highlights both emerging opportunities and ongoing challenges as the sector continues to evolve. It emphasises the importance of adaptation, personal agency, and structural change in creating fulfilling and resilient professional pathways. Overall, the initiative reflects broader recognition that redefining success and diversifying approaches to practice are pivotal for the sustainability and richness of careers in architecture and related disciplines.