
Michelle Blakeley and Leonie Matthews chat about their wide-ranging, non-linear careers across different disciplines and the journeys in unexpected places that led them to architecture.
Our speakers for this episode are Perth architects Michelle Blakeley and Leonie Matthews.
Leonie and Michelle speak about their mirror experiences of exploring other fields of work, and how their skills have transferred across to architecture.
Wide-ranging backgrounds and skills gained from previous work include nursing that provided discipline and empathy, teaching toned listening skills and the ability to articulate and review work, whereas advertising and journalism taught alternative ways of operating in the industry and the importance of communication skills. They detail how their journeys in unexpected places led to their personal growth and career trajectories in architecture.




This session was recorded live on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country at the Perth Autumn Salon. Held at the Brickworks Design Studio on 26 May 2022, it was organised by Suzie Hunt and run in collaboration with #WorkWomenWisdom. Photographs: Kate Drennan.