A progressive advocate for studio-based architectural education and industry-engaged research has been appointed as the incoming Head of School and Professor at The University of Queensland’s (UQ) School of Architecture, starting today.
Professor Sandra Kaji-O’Grady, previously Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney, joins UQ with an impressive record.
She has been Head of School at both the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and lecturer at Deakin University and the University of Melbourne, and more recently was the Creative Director of the Australian Institute of Architects' National Conference in Melbourne this June themed around the subject of 'material'.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology (EAIT), Professor Graham Schaffer welcomes Professor Kaji-O’Grady to the University and the Faculty.
“Professor Kaji-O’Grady is nationally renowned for her commitment to architectural research and education,” Professor Schaffer said.
“Both the School of Architecture and its students will benefit from this appointment, through Professor Kaji-O’Grady’s drive for continual improvement and evolution in architecture education.”
During Professor Kaji-O’Grady’s time as the Head of School at UTS, she led a major repositioning of the School’s direction including a curriculum restructure to enable intensive research and practitioner-led design studies.
"I'm delighted to be joining the architecture school at UQ,” Professor Kaji-O’Grady said.
“It has a very strong reputation in both research and teaching.
“Recent appointments have added international experience to deep local knowledge, making it a very exciting place for both staff and students.”
Professor Kaji-O'Grady will also continue her contributions to the design professions through criticism, advocacy and curation.
Media contact: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or +61 7 3365 8525)
