International Women's Day 2020
MARCH 2020
Top Row L-R - Alyssa Hughes, the MODE Darwin Studio, Erin Warner
Bottom Row L-R - the MODE Auckland Studio, Esther Kim, Jessica Lawrie and Maria-Nella Di Mauro
At MODE, we celebrate the success of all of our designers, some of who happen to be women. We don’t define the success of our team based on their gender, but on days such as International Women’s Day we take the time to recognise the 42% of females who contribute every day to our business.
As MODE continues our journey, we will actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate achievements. Gender equality is essential for economies and communities to thrive, and we look forward to recognising the achievements of our teams in this ever-changing landscape.
Alyssa Hughes, Group Marketing Manager | Operations Team
“I strive for a day where we don’t need to talk about equality. A day that diversity in the boardroom relates to personalities, opinions and what we have achieved. A day when we are hired, respected and included on our merits and not held back because of our gender. Each for equal is not only about how we can succeed as women, but how we can all work together regardless of gender to achieve a world of possibilities.”
Our Darwin Studio
“We have on occasion been commended on having an all-female practice in Darwin but it’s not something that we have strived for and it has occurred naturally over time. We have also refrained from publicising our female ratio as it doesn’t really change what we do and, more to the point, over the years we have had to consider whether it would be more beneficial if we weren’t know for it. Gender parity for women is a serious issue, one that is the reverse in our office, and we often wonder whether our work prospects are pigeonholed because we are known to be an all-female office. The split is roughly 80-20 but this is not often known, with clients often referring to us as the ‘girly lot’, but it really shouldn’t matter. In the construction industry the gender parity is not where it could be and being a practice that is beyond gender parity in favour of women it is not without concern for the practice, there is fear that clients will have a misconception that we are a practice who specialises in traditional female roles, when we have a diverse range of employees with different skill sets, design aspirations and practical know how. Our portfolio is across various Architectural sectors of Remote, Education, Defence, Commercial, Hospital and Residential and includes multidisciplinary works in Interior Design, Master Planning, Landscape and Graphic Design. What we do well in our office is support and grow staff, having a female Studio Director is a positive, as a female mentor to junior female staff and more importantly as a mentor for all staff with her 20 plus years in the Territory. Staff are given opportunities to work on projects that have great meaning within the architectural profession particularly remote projects responding to real issues that can be improved by appropriate design and working closely with different cultures, which is a huge draw card for working in the Territory. It is with some trepidation that we put this to the public but after repeat instances of being called ‘a girl’ we wanted to reaffirm it doesn’t matter to us and we hope it doesn’t matter to you.”
Erin Warner, Associate | Perth Studio
“Having an equal and diverse workplace to me means not only balance in gender but also age, personalities and skills. Not everyone in a workplace is the same and this is what makes a business great and nobody should be judged unfairly. I have personally had comments about my gender and age bought up throughout my career and would love to broaden some of the old school mindsets on what a young woman can achieve in the world. I look forward to the day these discussions aren’t required because it is a given that we are living and working in a gender equal world.”
Our Auckland Studio
“We are the Registered Architects in MODE’s Auckland Office - 80% are women, a fact that we are proud of. In NZ only 20% of ALL Registered Architects are Women. Equality is an essential part of a sustainable construction industry globally. We are committed to mentoring and encouraging the next generation of Architects to ensure the balance is redressed in a proactive and expedient way.”
Esther Kim, Group Operations Manager | Operations Team
“Each for Equal means people of all backgrounds, ages and religions, working together to achieve success.”
Jessica Lawrie, HR Assistant and Maria-Nella Di Mauro, Receptionist | Operations Team
"When women support each other, incredible things happen."
An equal world is an enabled world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world. Let's all be #EachforEqual.