Sydney Open Symposium

An overview of the architectural intent and design of 1 Elizabeth, including its integration with 50 Martin Place.

Immersive sound- and lightscapes, bold suspended sculptures and reinstated heritage works: hear the story of the Martin Place precinct’s ambitious art program. 

The Macquarie Group Collection has been supporting emerging Australian artists for more than 35 years by acquiring and displaying their works in Macquarie offices around the world. Hear about the collection from the Macquarie art committee, a staff-led group who select the new acquisitions, with a focus on the current exhibition in The Art Space, as well as works located across the client spaces in 1 Elizabeth and 50 Martin Place.

1 Elizabeth is designed to be 100 per cent electric in normal operations. From below ground to equipment rooms at the very top of the building, this tour provides insights into environmentally sustainable strategies, showcasing how a 6 Star Green Star design rating was achieved.

Hear from the heritage architects responsible for the refurbishment and adaption of 50 Martin Place, focusing on the conservation management plan and significant heritage features.

Bob Carr is the longest continuously serving premier in NSW history. During his tenure (1995–2005), the NSW Government set new records for spending on infrastructure, became the first government in the state’s history to retire debt, hosted the ‘world’s best Olympics’ in 2000 and achieved the nation’s best school literacy levels.

As premier, Bob received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award for creating 350 new national parks. He introduced the world’s first carbon trading scheme and curbed the clearing of native vegetation. He was a member of the International Task Force on Climate Change and was made a life member of the Wilderness Society.

Bob has served as Australia’s foreign minister (2012–13), and as Director of the Australia–China Relations Institute, and is Professor of Industry in Climate and Business at the University of Technology Sydney. In July 2024, he was appointed Chair of the Australian Heritage Council.

Bob Carr is Chair of the Museums of History NSW Board.

Graham has led city planning and urban renewal at the City of Sydney since 2009. He leads the design excellence program, strategic planning, development assessments, heritage & urban design, building compliance, environmental health, and construction liaison teams. He has participated in over 90 architectural competitions.

Graham has served as State and National President of the Australian Institute of Architects. He received the UTS Alumni Award in 2011, an Order of Australia in 2012, the AIA NSW President’s Prize in 1998 and 2016, and was the Planning Institute of Australia’s NSW Planner of the Year 2016.

Hugh Lawson is the Head of Customer, Operations & Outcomes at Sydney Metro, responsible for the successful ongoing delivery of metro rail operations, project sponsorship, business cases and project development, as well as metro customer and product outcomes.

Until October 2024, Hugh was the Project Director for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, responsible for leading the successful delivery of the $21.6 billion second stage of the transformative Sydney Metro program which extends metro services from Chatswood to Bankstown through the Sydney CBD.

In August 2024, Hugh and his team successfully opened to the public the incredible City section of the metro, extending metro services from Chatswood to Sydenham. Carrying over five million passengers in the first month and exceeding all performance targets, this game-changing addition to Sydney’s public transport system has received universally positive feedback.

Hugh joined Sydney Metro in early 2017 from Transport for London, where he previously spent 10 years leading the delivery of infrastructure projects and enhancements across the London Overground rail network.

Matthew Morel is a Director at Sydney-based JPW, one of Australia’s leading design practices. 

In over 25 years of architectural practice, Matthew has led a diverse range of projects that have received both international and national awards. 

He believes that innovation, creativity and collaboration enable every project to positively impact our communities, cities and the environment. 

In addition to 1 Elizabeth and 50 Martin Place, his projects include the renewal of Sydney’s first skyscraper, the historic AMP Building at Circular Quay; the A by Adina Hotel in Sydney; and the Strategic Building Plan for the Sydney Opera House.

Annette joined Museums of History NSW as Chief Executive Officer in October 2024. Annette has previously held senior leadership positions in government, the private sector and not-for-profit organisations, including CEO of Create NSW and Group Director of the NSW Buildings and Places business in global design firm AECOM.

Annette is passionate about art, culture and architecture, and is deeply interested in activating heritage assets, leveraging them to tell stories that are important to our community identity and finding ways to enable adaptive reuse and public engagement. She has led a number of transformational civic projects, including the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne, The Gunnery, Theatre Royal, Connecticut Science Center and the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre.

Jess Scully is an advocate for an expanded civic imagination to create a fair and sustainable future. She has served as Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney and as an elected councillor, and has worked as a policy advisor, cultural strategist, public art curator, editor and radio host.

Jess was the founding director of Vivid Ideas, Australia’s largest creative industries festival, and supported emerging talent through the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards. She is a World Bank consultant and a Senior Associate at the Sydney Policy Lab. Her book, Glimpses of Utopia: Real ideas for a fairer world (2020), illuminates solutions to the climate and inequality crises.

Michael is an Executive Director at Macquarie and has held numerous roles since his commencement in 2003. He is a senior real estate professional with global expertise in real estate.

Michael has extensive experience in delivering complex projects all over the world. Past roles have included Project Director for the Metro Martin Place Development. 

Philip Thalis is principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, a practice recognised for its independent standpoint and design expertise across a range of project types and scales. Working equally for public and private clients, the practice has won more than 100 state and national awards, commendations and competition prizes for architectural, urban, public space and heritage adaptation and interpretation projects. In 2019 Philip was made a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and in 2024 was awarded the AIA Gold Medal.

Philip actively promotes the culture of architecture and city making, combining practice with teaching, research, publication, public lectures, community activism and architectural criticism. He has lectured extensively at universities across Australia and internationally, with a particular focus on urbanism and the architecture of the city. He has taught throughout his career, and has held a fractional professorship at UNSW since 2017. His substantial book Public Sydney: Drawing the city (co-authored with Peter John Cantrill) was published to acclaim in 2013.

Philip served as an independent councillor for the City of Sydney between 2016 and 2021.

Entries closes Saturday 23 August.

Each member ticketholder will receive one entry into the Sydney Open Symposium: Members Competition. Not a member? Become a member for benefits immediately.

Sydney Open Symposium: Members Competition Terms.

Item 1
Entry is only open to members with Sydney Open Symposium ticket purchases aged 18 years or over.

Item 2
To enter, entrants must purchase a Sydney Open Symposium ticket between 7 July 2025 and 23 August 2025.

Item 3
Winner must have a current Museums of History NSW membership at time of draw.

Item 4
Promotion commences
Date: Tuesday 26 August
Time: 12pm AEST

Item 5
Winner will be contacted by email.

Item 8
Prize to be awarded include:

• One (1) membership renewal to the same value of current membership (valued at up to $145)
• Two (2) Sydney Open (Sunday 2 November 2025) tickets (valued at up to $88)

Total value of prize: up to $233

Item 9
Unclaimed Prize Draw
Date: Tuesday 2 September 2025
Time: 11am AEST