On September 24, the AIA Women in Architecture committee hosted a global event as part of our annual Women Design Leaders Series, Design Leaders Without Borders. Taking advantage of the current situation where we’re all attending sessions virtually, WIA had speakers from the Netherlands, Canada, Thailand, and Tanzania. The panelists—Astrid Piber, Partner of UN Studio, Betsy Williamson, Principal at Williamson Williamson, Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Founder of Landprocess and Porous City Network, and Victoria Marwa Heilman, Principal at VK Green Architects—spoke about diversity efforts in their country, their sustainability approach, and how their education in the US has affected their work. The work shown by these four architects shows the great impact of women practicing around the world! Hana Kassem, AIA LEED BD+C, Principal at KPF in New York, did an incredible job navigating between the broad range of topics, ending on a note about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the terrible loss of one of the greatest advocates for women’s rights in US History.

If you missed this engaging presentation and dialog, a video of the event will be posted to this site in 2-3 weeks.