Overcoming the ‘local experience’ hurdle
16 May 2025
12.30–1.30pm AEST
What is local experience? Does it matter? How might it be rethought and reframed? Lynette Apostolou and Matthew Graham join Debjani Sarkar and Lameesa Yousuf for another thought-provoking conversation On the Verandah!

This session of On the Verandah turns attention to the hurdle of ‘local experience’, with Lynette Apostolou, Chief Operating Officer of AJC, and Matthew Graham, architecture and design recruitment specialist at ACRWORLD.
What does local experience mean in the context of Australian architecture? How can practitioners whose primary experience is elsewhere navigate this hurdle? How can they translate and represent existing knowledge in ways that can be understood by Australian practices? Conversely, how can Australian practices better recognise and interpret relevant international skills and experience?
Australia’s architectural identity is shaped by diverse narratives – Indigenous heritage, colonial influence, climatic diversity and a growing commitment to sustainable and inclusive design. Yet, within the profession, many talented individuals – especially migrant women of colour – continue to face significant roadblocks when trying to enter the industry. Two persistent challenges stand out: the difficulty of acquiring local experience, and the undervaluing of experience gained overseas. Both are underpinned by entrenched assumptions around what constitutes “relevant” experience.
Join us On the Verandah for an important conversation exploring techniques and strategies for showcasing experience in all its diversity, and encouraging the industry to reframe “local” experience.
When & where
Online, Friday 16 May 2025
12.30–1.30pm AEST
12–1pm ACST
10.30–11.30am AWST
Make sure you are logged in to your account to access all Parlour Collective pricing. Group discounts are applied automatically.
Tickets
$30 Parlour Collective
$45 General
$15 Collective concession
We offer additional group discounts for Parlour Collective practices.
A note about pricing: We understand that circumstances ebb and flow, and we don’t want costs to be a barrier – so if you are not in a financial position to purchase a ticket at the moment, send us a quick email and we will give you a complimentary ticket, no questions asked.
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One hour of formal CPD on completion of the CPD questions.
See here for the Learning Objectives for the series.