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keynote at the Sustainability Summit

November 26, 2025

I had the privilege of delivering a keynote at the Sustainability Summit yesterday, and wanted to share my gratitude for such a meaningful day.

A huge thank you to Bianca Hall, Branko M., Yvonne Haber, Raj Nandan, and the entire Indesign team for an exceptionally well-organised and well-run summit. It was an honour to be part of the keynote program with Rob Stokes and tone wheeler – both constant sources of insight and provocation in our industry.

My keynote, “Lessons of Resilience – Climatic, Social, and Cultural Learnings from Country and First Nations,” explored how cultural knowledge and community-led design can guide us in responding to climatic, social, and cultural challenges with strength and continuity. Reflecting on our experience learning from First Nations communities whom Kaunitz Yeung Architecture has had the privilege to work with, I spoke about how co-design, heritage, and cultural stewardship are foundational to shaping a more equitable and sustainable built environment — and how these teachings continue to guide pathways for the broader industry.

What I value most about the Sustainability Summit is its breadth. It brings together the latest thinking across design practice, industry, institutions and policy, creating a rare space where designers can learn from emerging research and innovation, and where suppliers can gauge where the bar is heading and what is being demanded of them to stay ahead of the curve. The conversations flowing between disciplines – from policy to product, from academia to practice – are what make this summit so impactful.

It was also a wonderful opportunity to connect with people doing inspiring work across diverse fields — and to reconnect with old friends.

Feeling grateful for the conversations, the energy in the room, and the collective commitment to shaping a more sustainable, equitable future through design.

Sustainability DesignLeadership BuiltEnvironment CircularEconomy RegenerativeDesign Architecture IndesignSustainabilitySummit

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