3 minute read
01. The Last Word
The Last Word
By Dominique Hunter, President, Design Matters National, 2018-2020 a structure capable of supporting us well into
I remember, before I started my Presidency, Lindsay Douglas made a comment that I am now reminded of. He asked me what my legacy would be and I rattled on about promoting Members and their work; and how much better off a project is with collaboration; how we needed to encourage wider networking; and so on.
He suggested I not get disappointed when my goals were not met as it was typical to be swept away with issues of the time rather than systems to support Members more
implementing goals. This was not the first thing he was right about.
My path had been set in motion years ago when Alastair McDonald and Lindsay Douglas started to question the future of our association.
They had been noticing changes to business and regardless of the prosperity of our industry, identified potential and real threats to the profession. They started a wave of actions that look forward and stay nimble will ensure we
took the Committee of Management from dealing with day-to-day issues, to being a proactive team who began to look at the future as a priority.
It was through their questioning and strategic thinking that we identified what we needed to do to stay viable. We spoke with Members, association, looked like now and what we were perceived as being going forward. We spoke with industry groups and researched issues, like the future of associations. We talked with students and sponsors and looked at where technology and workplace was heading. This research resulted in our new brand, whose aim it was to show us for the confident, capable and strong industry group we are.
Thanks to Alastair McDonald and Lindsay Douglas, this way of thinking developed into a brand which has helped to open us up to a new future. A future open to new designers and stakeholders who take design seriously. A future in which we’re seen as equals to our overseasallied associations. A future of recognition and respect from government and education divisions. A future where we can build our businesses with like-minded colleagues we can learn from and grow with. The last two years has also seen a changing of the office team and structure. We have lost some sentimental favourites, but with that came a host of new faces and personalities. We can proudly report our team is in the very capable hands of new Chief Executive Officer Peta Anderson, who has transformed the systems and back end into the future. The Design Matters National team has since:
Implemented a long-overdue new website and community hub we can build on Strengthened our national alliances Created unique and borderless-content CPDs Brought in new accounting and CRM efficiently, and Revitalised the internal culture to encourage promotion and career direction.
Building on already solid foundations, the reset we needed, I believe, has succeeded in allowing us to get ready for our future goals. Our ability to workshopped ideas about what we, as an
identify early any opportunities to promote the profession and the potential of Building Designers, going forward.
I look forward to supporting Ingrid Hornung as the next President. Ingrid will bring both a calm wisdom and solidity to the Committee of Management and membership. She is a proven creative and a respected Building Designer. Her experience running an award-winning small business means she can relate to the journey most of us have and our young designers hope to experience.
Finally, I want to thank both Alastair McDonald and Lindsay Douglas for their continued and loyal support. This role has been challenging at times, especially being a sole practitioner, but the friendships, lessons and knowledge I have gained could only have happened once I was thrown in the deep end. If it wasn’t for the men who sent me on this journey, the relationships developed with individual members of the Committee of Management who have helped me laugh and learn, and Peta and her team of remarkable women, the road would have been much harder. I ask you to consider contributing your own time and experiences to the association, as there is so much to be gained by all of us.
