Helen Lochhead facts for kids

Helen Marian Lochhead is an important Australian architect and urban planner. She helps design and improve cities. She has held many big jobs in government, universities, and the building industry. For example, she was the head of a faculty at UNSW Sydney. She was also the national president of the Australian Institute of Architects. She has helped shape how our cities look and work.

Helen Lochhead's Early Life and Studies

Helen Lochhead studied architecture at the University of Sydney. She also earned a master's degree from Columbia University in the United States. She is officially registered as an architect, a landscape architect, and a planner. This means she can design buildings, outdoor spaces, and plan how cities grow.

For over 20 years, Helen has worked on big projects. These include designing public spaces and large city renewal projects. She has worked in both Australia and the United States.

In 2013, Helen won the special Marion Mahony Griffin Prize. This award is for women architects who have done great work. The award recognized her efforts to make sure buildings and cities are well-designed. She worked hard to improve design quality in big government projects. Helen also helped other women architects. She mentored young graduates and taught at universities. In 2016, she started a group called "Engaging Women in Built Environment." This group helps connect women working in building and design. For her work helping women, she won the Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize in 2019.

Helen has won many awards for her contributions to architecture. She also studied at Harvard University in 2013–14. There, she learned about how to design cities that can handle climate change. This includes making coastal cities safer from rising sea levels.

Helen Lochhead's Career Journey

From 1996 to 2006, Helen Lochhead ran her own company. It was called Helen Lochhead Urban Projects. She created big plans for areas like Rozelle Hospital and Rouse Hill Town Centre. She also worked on public spaces and housing projects.

From 2004 to 2007, she worked at Sydney Olympic Park Authority. She focused on making the park more sustainable. In 2007, she became the Deputy Government Architect in New South Wales. This meant she helped guide design for government buildings and projects.

Helen also taught at the University of Sydney from 2011 to 2016. From 2012 to 2013, she worked at the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. There, she helped develop areas around Sydney Harbour.

In 2015, Helen made history. She became the first female dean of the Faculty of Built Environment at UNSW in Sydney. In 2020, she also became the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Precincts at UNSW.

Helen was a national leader for the Australian Institute of Architects. She was elected to their council in 2013. From 2019 to 2021, she was the national president. During this time, she also led efforts on climate action and sustainability.

In 2019, she received the Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize. This award is named after another important Australian architect, Paula Whitman.

In 2022, UNSW Sydney named her an emeritus professor. This is a special title for retired professors who have made great contributions. In 2024, she was appointed to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. This group looks after important harbour lands.

Helen Lochhead's Personal Life

Helen Lochhead has lived and worked in both Australia and the United States.

Awards and Recognition

• 2024: Officer of the Order of Australia (a high honor in Australia)
• 2022: Emeritus Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, UNSW Sydney
• 2020: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Presidential Medal
• 2020: American Institute of Architects (AIA) Presidents Medal
• 2020: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) President's Medal
• 2019: Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize, Australian Institute of Architects (for promoting fairness for women)
• 2019: 100 Women of Influence, The Australian Financial Review
• 2019: Life Fellow, Australian Institute of Architects (LFRAIA)
• 2019: RAIA NSW Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design for Harold Park Precinct, Sydney
• 2019: City of Sydney Lord Mayor's Prize for urban design excellence for Harold Park Precinct, Sydney
• 2016: Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
• 2015: Bogliasco Fellowship, The Bogliasco Foundation, Italy
• 2015: AIA Presidents Prize for her contributions to Sydney's design, education, and the profession
• 2013: Loeb Fellowship, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
• 2013: Lincoln Fellowship, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge
• 2013: Australian Institute of Architects Marion Mahony Griffin Prize (for a woman architect's important work)
• 2011: AILA National Award for leadership in adapting to climate change and promoting sustainable Australian cities
• 2010: AV Jennings Winston Churchill Fellowship
• 2009: National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Vision Award for leadership
• 1996: Landcom Design competition winner
• 1995: Australian Postgraduate Award
• 1993: RAIA Merit Award for Urban Design
• 1991: The Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship
• 1986: William Kinne Fellows Travelling Scholarship, Columbia University, New York
• 1985: Fulbright Fellowship
• 1985: University of Sydney Hezlet Bequest Travelling Scholarship
• 1985: Stephenson Turner Scholarship & Medal
• 1984: NSW Board of Architects Medallion
• 1982: Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship