President’s Letter
April 2024
“You are a lost sheep that needs to return to the flock, Yew Kee!”, said Robert Ivy, EVP and CEO of the AIA, at a 2013 gathering of AIA members working in Singapore. Moment of epiphany. Bob was visiting the island republic and wanted to re-connect with a diaspora of US-educated and US-licensed architects. Four years later in 2017, I was welcomed home as the 2017-2018 AIA International Region Board Director for Unassigned Members. Now, I am honored and grateful for the trust to be your 2024-2025 President of AIA International. A lost sheep returned.
Thank you, Scott Gold AIA, for your great leadership and invaluable service to AIA International as its 2022-2023 President. Five presidents have led AIA International since the first seed took root in 2012. The pasture in the field flourished and the flock grew in numbers. Today, AIA International is both a State component and a Chapter component with 3,000 international members in over 100 countries. We are one strong global powerhouse with seven AIA Chapters, four newly minted Sections and a fifth in formation, and 31 Country and Regional Representatives. I am so excited, and I hope you are too.
Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, Segene Park, AIA and Alex Chuang, Assoc AIA receiving Section certificates from AIA National President, Emily Grandstaff-Rice FAIA in Mexico City
A STRONG AIA INTERNATIONAL
As we have crossed a new threshold into our second decade, I firmly believe we need to reposition ourselves to be relevant and future-ready, as we strengthen AIA International’s leadership as a State component and a Chapter component. My vision for my Presidency is:
3V in 24 for Synergistic Leadership
Drivers of Synergistic Leadership
Now, some brief thoughts:
Why synergistic leadership?
To deepen engagement Upstream with National leadership, Across Chapters and Sections leadership, and Downstream with Countries Representatives leadership.
What are the 3Vs, the pillars of synergistic leadership?
VALUE: To add Value, by synergy of engaging National leadership.
VISIBILITY: To enhance our Visibility, by synergy of collaborating across Chapter and Section leadership.
VOICE: To be stronger Voices, by synergy of empowering Country Representative leadership.
I envision a strong AIA International, to lead by harnessing the collective power of our diverse strengths and to amplify these strengths by acts of synergistic leadership. We are at our best when we celebrate the joy of coming together for a common purpose. Two recent examples warmed my heart. Well done on:
Our recent highly successful 3-day virtual Spring Conference. A smashing hit despite the 18 time zones. Truly global in members outreach, diverse in speakers profiles, and inclusive in content creation.
Deliberations on AIA International’s presence at AIA24. It demonstrated we are stronger when we speak up, seek a middle ground and come back together to move forward.
No doubt this vision must be earned. I need your support in coming forward and giving your time and expertise in the spirit of professional fellowship. This fellowship is a special privilege we enjoy as part of our global AIA International family. In the coming months, I plan to engage with Chapters, Sections and Country Representatives in separate zoom sessions to have frank discussions, to listen and to find opportunities for you to be more engaged. So be ready.
WITH THANKS
I am delighted to announce that Genie Khmelnitski has been promoted to Executive Director, effective January 1, 2024. Please join me to congratulate Genie for her years of effective contribution and dedication in service to our Institute. Our activities and administrative responsibilities have increased significantly since we became both a State and Chapter component in 2022, and we have four newly minted sections and one in formation. Helping Genie will be Xenia Capacete Caballero, Administrative Assistant, effective February 1, 2024. Please join me in welcoming Xenia, whom some of you will have met co-hosting the recent Spring Conference. Their services are an investment for the future as we scale up our efforts.
CHALLENGES
The landscape from which we operate has shifted. The state of the economy and volunteerism calls for swift and deliberate actions to address two challenges facing us - sponsorship and leadership pipeline. Both are critical. One affects our capacity to roll out new initiatives and events and pay for our operational expenses, the other to ensure we have a healthy succession of leaders to engage and inspire. Bringing the president of each Section to the AIA International Board is such an attempt to inject fresh energy into the Board. For sponsorship, I have entrusted Scott, Immediate Past President to lead. I will do so for the leadership pipeline. Both challenges are critical. We can and we must act to lay a new foundation for growth and continuity. In return, I urge you to raise your hands to be part of this endeavor. Your leadership matters.
ACHIEVEMENTS
So let me recognize this moment with a celebration of what we have achieved in this Q1 of 2024. These achievements are the sum of each of our efforts, recognized. To each of you who has contributed to these successes, thank you:
New section launched in AIA Latin America; with AIA Sub-Saharan African in formation.
I would like to congratulate and to wish the best for two of our finest AIA International leaders who are standing as Candidates for AIA Elective Offices in 2024:
Lester Korzilius, FAIA, for 2025-2026 Secretary.
Adam Pantelimon-Negrut, Intl. Assoc. AIA, for 2025-2027 At-Large Director.
CONCLUSION
We are at a threshold, a defining moment. Our unique strengths, amplified, as we reposition to meet new challenges and to reap opportunities. Step up. Huddle and double down. Add Value. Enhance our Visibility. Be a stronger Voice.
Keep well, stay connected, and I hope to see you at our AIA International Celebration: A Reception Honoring Global Sections & Design Award Winners event, on Wednesday June 5th, 2024 at AIA24 in Washington DC. Oh yes, please remember to register!
All the best,
Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, MSIA
2024-2025 AIA International President
2024 President, AIA Southeast Asia
yewkee.cheong@aiainternational.org
