UQ alum Dr Kali Marnane, architect, strategic advisor, researcher and educator, is asking an important question for the profession. What does it really mean to be an “emerging architect”? In a recent piece for Architecture, Au, Kali reflects on the tension in the label. While it creates space to recognise early-career architects, it can also unintentionally limit how their expertise and impact are perceived.
Rather than rejecting the term, she reframes it. At its best, “emerging” isn’t about being unfinished, it’s about contribution. It’s about the people actively shaping new directions for architecture, from research and policy to advocacy and community engagement.
Kali’s own work reflects this shift. As an Associate Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UQ, and Associate Director at Urbis, she works across research, strategy and design, using evidence-based approaches to influence policy, planning and more inclusive outcomes. Recently named the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects, National Emerging Architect Prize winner, her career shows how architectural practice can extend well beyond the studio.
It’s a thoughtful take on where the profession is heading, and who is helping lead that change.
Read the full article here
