Conference Welcome
Hello, Everyone!
Welcome to AIA International’s 2nd Annual Spring Conference: New Beginnings: Embracing Change.
Considering how AIA International’s spring conference concept began, this year’s theme is quite apt. In early 2020, as we were in the middle of planning our yearly conference scheduled for Dubai in the autumn, we were hit with COVID-19. We discussed cancelling the conference, but in the end found a way to host a virtual conference instead. Normally, our widely acclaimed in-person conferences are tremendous, but only attract up to 150 attendees. Our Virtual conference landed more than 3,000 registrants and allowed our members and others to join an important event that is usually out of reach due to travel costs and/or time. Offering this conference free of charge is important to us.
Based on this success, we decided to keep the yearly in-person conferences in the fall and create the Spring Conference as an annual event, thereby expanding our ability to serve our members worldwide.
Our team reacted well to the pandemic and worked hard to develop new beginnings and embrace change, using the video-conferencing technologies that were available and now so widespread.
This year’s conference is chaired by Segene Park, who with our Administrative Director, Genie Khmelnitski, our seven International Chapters and over 20 Country Representatives, have all put together a very compelling, and exciting program, representing the Globe in just three short days.
We hope you will enjoy it.
With warm regards,
Scott Gold, AIA, SAME
President, AIA International
scott.gold@aiainternational.org
On behalf of the Conference Committee, I am pleased to welcome AIA members, friends, sponsors and the general public to the 2022 AIA International Spring Conference (AIAISC). The AIAISC has become a world-wide conference for the professionals from various fields of architecture, urban planning, engineering, sustainability, real estate, investment, and more.
2022 is a new beginning for the AIA International and the AIA International Components. As the title of the conference suggests, "NEW BEGINNINGS" are an initiation of promoting diversity in leadership and strengthening bonds between AIA members and the general public to keep transforming by embracing different perspectives and increasing awareness. I am extremely honored to be the conference chair this year and excited to be part of this new beginning.
As in previous years the AIA International Components have provided global audiences with excellent online sessions to learn about the built environment, latest developments in various fields and their trends, and future of the profession, this year the AIA International Components will also continue holding numerous events: webinars; training programs; lectures; speeches; discussions, in addition, this year’s AIAISC will be a little unique. For instance, we offer a sneak peek of AIA UK's London 2022 conference in September, so that AIA members and the general public from more than 100 countries can have opportunities to see the AIA International's visions about emerging professionals, sustainable architecture and urban planning trends, new technologies, new ways of working and community engagement.
AIAISC has already invited distinguished experts and leaders from five continents, and it is an honor to feature the keynote speakers and guest speakers. The conference offers flexible access to participation in 20 sessions in real time over three days. Anyone can join the AIAISC for free, and it's easy to join from anywhere with a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone via Zoom. Furthermore, all AIA member attendees will receive CES credits as the members' benefit and the general public will receive course certificates upon request. Those sessions will be later available on the AIA International website as free on-demand learning materials for AIA members to earn the credits as well. Each international region is supposed to give one session, so that redundant topics can be minimized. I wish all the conferences very successful and fruitful.
Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the AIA International president Scott Gold, the AIA National president Dan Hart, the AIA Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods, and the AIA International sponsors for their continuous support. Likewise, I would like to thank the International chapter leaders from Canada, China, Continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Middle East, and UK as well as the International Regional Leaders for their best preparation and outstanding contributions. Many thanks to the International Conference Committee and Board Members, especially the Administrative Director Genie Khmelnitski for her tremendous support. This conference would not have been possible without the generous help offered by many people who were involved in organizing this event.
I am looking forward to seeing you virtually in May, during AIAISC’22, to enjoy the most exciting and informative conference together.
Segene Park, AIA
Conference Chair
AIA Japan Chapter Representative, AIA International
segene@segene.com
