Report from the Strategic Council

2025 Updates from Jason DeMarco, AIA

2024 Updates from Jason DeMarco, AIA

Council News

STUDY GROUP UPDATES

AIA OF THE FUTURE
This group is streaming through the S.W.O.T. analysis materials received from multiple AIA components. They are also assessing ways that AIA can increase its impact and influence through a broader and wider reach without dilution the voice of the architect. Finally, they are exploring issues of governance in collaboration with the 10 Year Valuation committee.

ARCHITECT OF THE FUTURE
Check out their persona video and share your thoughts on what inspirations will drive a future architects career, what types of communities or clients future architects will work with, and what values will guide our future design philosophy. Survey is open until 7/30/25.

CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN & LEADERSHIP
    This group continues to research and release its monthly Climate Corners, and the entire study group is collaborating to tackle the various topics chosen.

 

ENHANCE YOUR SUSTAIN-ABILITIES this June with resilience and climate risk assessment - a threat assessment protocol for designing buildings that can perform at the highest level with regards to mitigating the most pressing threats; contextual to its geographic region, and the subsequent "priority climate risks".  Link to the PDF can be found here.

 

The July effort will begin to investigate the 'hot topic' of regenerative design, and how defining this can help us build a trajectory for future study.

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
This study group is developing a needs matrix to address how architects – specifically public architects – can meet the needs of communities (of all sizes) through leveraging existing resources, identifying case studies for cross collaboration, and developing solutions that enhance the role architects play in public life through design thinking. The needs matrix will assess components of housing, technology, and equitable community development.

DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE
With the affirmative vote on the AI resolution at the Annual Business Meeting, this study group is focusing efforts on their research into the impact of AI on business practices, AI equity between large and small firms, and the relationship between AI and the environment. This group is also coordinating ongoing efforts with AIA’s AI Task Force.

RESILIENT PRACTICE MODELS
This group continues to dive into external, internal and professional pressures on practice. Their survey seeks input from business leaders in firms and will remain open until 7/30/25.

In the next few weeks, this group will wrap up their initial exploration into the impact of the recent executive orders on practice and send that report to the AIA Board.

10-YEAR VALUATION & FUTURE BLUEPRINT
The final slate of interviews has just concluded. Over the next two months, this group will assess, synthesize, and identify areas of consensus from the interview feedback which will then inform their recommendations to the Governance Task Force and the AIA Board.

Feedback

We value your input! If you have questions or ideas for the Strategic Council, email us at StrategicCouncil@aia.org.

To learn more about the work of the Strategic Council, please visit the Strategic Council webpage at AIA.org.

Get Involved

Strategic Councilor Position with AIA National

The AIA Strategic Council (“Council”) is a diverse group of over 60 forward-thinking leaders, charged with exploring new ideas and solutions to significant issues facing the profession of architecture and its role in society. The Council seeks to prioritize and make advancements by informing the National AIA Board of Directors and other Institute bodies about important professional issues and opportunities.

The Council is not an AIA governing body, which allows it the freedom to explore issues outside of current constructs. The Council’s primary focus is the future of the profession. A recent and profound example of this is the Council’s effort, along with the Board of Directors, to create the 2026–2030 AIA Strategic Plan.


Your 2026–2028 AIA Hawaii Strategic Councilor is Wayne Goo, AIA

Ideal Characteristics of a Strategic Councilor

While the form and operation of the Strategic Council have continued to evolve since its inception in 2015, engaged and effective Councilors over this time have several shared qualities.

We are seeking individuals with the following characteristics:

  • A true representative of our state’s members, that can bring forth the diversity of perspectives within our various communities.
  • An exemplary communicator, a listener, and advocate who will capably serve as an active conduit for information and ideas to and from our members.
  • A natural leader, able to inspire, collaborate and work with others, who possess a bias for action.
  • A reflective thinker who offers expertise, experience, insight, and/or unique perspectives.

The AIA Bylaws do not require that state representatives be Architect members.

Commitments and Expectations of a Strategic Councilor

Click here (PDF) to review the latest Handbook for the Strategic Council.

  • The Councilor must be an engaged, active AIA member who is able to provide significant volunteer hours throughout the three-year term of service. The Strategic Councilor is to be a representative of Hawaii state’s members, capable of bringing forward the diversity of perspectives representative of our community.
  • The Council meets face-to-face at least twice a year, in addition to teleconferences. Council meetings are known as “Assemblies.” AIA funds attendance at these Assemblies and events. Councilors are expected to attend Council meetings, quarterly AIA Hawaii State Council meetings, local component meetings, and AIA National events (such as the annual conference) per year.
  • The Council’s structure also includes a variety of standing committees (Steering, Strategic Planning, and Best Practices), to which Councilors are assigned on an annual basis.

Application Requirements

  • Must be an AIA Hawaii member in good standing.
  • Provide a personal statement, limit 2 pages, to include reasons for seeking election. Utilize the prompts here for the personal statement.
  • Provide personal resume, limit 2 pages, highlighting areas of service and leadership.
  • Submit at least one letter of recommendation from an individual/ entity you feel represents your volunteer and leadership capabilities.

Deadline

August 1, 2028.

Selection Process

The AIA Hawaii State Council Selection Committee will review applications and short-list several candidates for recommendation. The Selection Committee will make its recommendation to the AIA Hawaii State Council to take action for approval at its fourth quarter meeting.

AIA Knowledge Communities

Join an AIA Knowledge Community and connect with others who share your passions and commitment—and start a project that advances the profession and your work. Sustainability, emerging technologies, small business, starting or managing a firm—no matter your interest, there is one or more of AIA's 21 Knowledge Communities for you.

  • They're your source for information - With webinars, workshops, white papers, newsletters, in-person events, and active discussion boards, you will find the information you need to stay on top of your interest areas.
  • They’re about connections - Share your reports, help students, develop grants, conduct courses and presentations, lead a forum, and more with more than 94,000 members from around the world.

To learn more about which AIA Knowledge Committees are available, please visit the signup page at AIA.org.