Shelley Penn facts for kids

Shelley Jane Penn is an Australian architect, teacher, and urban planner. She helps design cities and buildings, and she teaches others about architecture. She is based in Melbourne.

Learning and Growing

Shelley Penn went to Kilvington Girls Grammar school. She studied architecture at Melbourne University and finished with high honors in 1988. She also completed a course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

What She Does

Her Own Architecture Business

In 1993, Shelley Penn started her own company, Shelley Penn Architects. At first, her company designed homes. Later, it began helping governments and private companies with big public projects starting in 1999. Her work has won awards and been shown around the world.

Helping Government

Shelley Penn has worked in many important roles for the Australian government. In 2014, she was named one of the top 100 Women of Influence for her work in public policy.

In 2006, she became the first Associate Victorian Government Architect. From 2009 to 2014, she was a member and then the Chair of the National Capital Authority. She was also the deputy chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria from 2008 to 2012.

She has given advice and reviewed many projects for the government. This includes co-chairing a big review for the Barangaroo project in 2011. She has also served on many design review panels for different levels of government.

Speaking Up for Architects

Shelley Penn is a very active member of the Australian Institute of Architects. This is a main group for architects in Australia. She has held many positions on local and national committees.

In May 2012, Shelley Penn was chosen as the 73rd National President of the Australian Institute of Architects. She was only the third woman to hold this important role. It was special because she runs her own small business, and not many people who do that get elected to this volunteer job. She is now a Life Fellow of the institute.

She also writes and speaks a lot about architecture. She has been on many public discussions. Her articles have been in magazines like Architecture Australia and Monument. She also writes regularly for Parlour, which is an online place that supports women in architecture.

Teaching Architecture

Shelley Penn is a professor at Monash University and an associate professor at University of Melbourne's Melbourne School of Design. She has taught and guided students at many universities since she graduated in 1988.

Awards and Special Recognition

In 2021, Shelley Penn was given a special award called Member of the Order of Australia. This was for her "significant service to architecture and design in the public realm, and to professional institutes." It means she was recognized for her important work in designing public spaces and for her leadership in architecture groups.

Important Roles She Has Held

• 2019: Jury member for the TAS Chapter Awards, Australian Institute of Architects
• 2017-present: Monash University Architect
• 2017-present: Board member, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
• 2017-present: Panel Member, State Design Review Panel, NSW
• 2012-present: Advisory Panel Member, Women's Property Initiative
• 2012–2016: Panel member, Capital City Design Review Panel, Adelaide
• 2012–present: Panel Member, Victorian Design Review Panel
• 2009–2014: Member then chair, National Capital Authority
• 2012–2013: National President, Australian Institute of Architects
• 2008–2012: Deputy Chair, Heritage Council of Victoria
• 2006–2010: Associate Victorian Government Architect

Buildings She Has Worked On

• Richmond Warehouse, Melbourne (Won an award in 2000)
• Fitzroy Terrace, Melbourne
• Institute of Postcolonial Studies, Melbourne
• Overcliffe House, Potts Point (Won an award in 2002)
• Eastern Beach house, Port Fairy (A finalist for an award in 2008)

Her Writings and Talks

• "Gender Salary Gap Not So Great", ArchitectureAU, 13 February 2013
• "Women in Architecture", ArchitectureAU, 3 July 2012
• "Fitzroy Community School Creative Space", Architecture Australia, (September 2011)
• "Habitat 21", Architecture Australia, (May 2011)
• "Housing in Victoria", Architecture Australia (March/April 2007)
• "Why architecture matters", Architecture Australia (January/February 2007)
• "Urban Parasite", Monument, (December 2002/January 2003)