Being president of a national organisation is no mere figurehead task, particularly in the case of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
The RAIA president’s position requires a time commitment equivalent to 50 per cent of a normal working week, and is effectively a vice president’s role.
Hence the organisation elects its national president one year out from commencement of duties, to allow the president-elect to reorganise professional and personal commitments.
Warren Kerr, the 2004 RAIA national president-elect, is doing just that, after his election earlier this month. Mr Kerr’s election recognises his success in achieving the support of all State and Commonwealth Governments to have 2004 designated as the ‘Year of the Built Environment’.
He first proposed the idea in 2002, and has been appointed chair of the State Steering Committee. Mr Kerr is the current RAIA WA president, and a director of Hames Sharley Architects & Planners.
He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia, and also holds a Masters Degree, specialising in hospital design, from the University of NSW.
Mr Kerr has worked on projects in every State of Australia and in New Zealand, and has headed up the Commonwealth Government’s Hospital Planning Group, and the WA Government’s Hospital Design Group.