Listen to this wide-ranging conversation about life balance, gender roles, the importance of equitable workplace conditions, collaboration and women in leadership with Chi Melhem and Eva-Marie Prineas – recorded in Sydney just weeks before the pandemic hit Australia.
Our conversationalists for this episode are Chi Melham and Eva Marie-Prineas. Eva-Marie is director of Studio Prineas. At the time of this recording, Chi was a director at Tzannes. She has since established a new practice, EM BE CE.
In this engaging conversation Chi and Eva-Marie explore how they have navigated family and work, the need for sharing responsibilities at home and being mindful of maintaining balance around hours and commitments. They discuss the shared migrant experience of their parents, being inspired by fierce mothers and supportive fathers who told them to go out and follow their ambitions, and the need to model positive gender roles at home.
When the conversation pivots to the workplace, they discuss the critical need for appropriate fees and paid overtime (but only “as a last resort”), for being discerning about projects and being prepared to say no. They talk about mentoring young women in architecture, and the push towards better working environments for the next generation.
This discussion is a fantastic look into the complexities of life balance and the modern workplace.
This Salon was recorded live on Gadigal Country at AJC in Sydney in Summer 2020. It was convened by Justine Clark. Photos Nic Bailey.
