Originally founded in Germany more than a decade ago, the AnA event series has seen more than 75 events across 12 countries to date, with approximately 200 renowned architects sharing their stories.

“AnA has become a cornerstone of international architectural discourse,” says event organiser Fermín Tribaldos. “And this milestone event in Auckland represents an extension of AnA’s mission to connect architects and enthusiasts worldwide through storytelling and meaningful dialogue.”

On April 2, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Christopher Kelly, founding principal of Architecture Workshop Aotearoa; Elisapeta Heta, principal and kaihautū Whaihanga Māori Design Leader, Jasmax principal and leader of Waka Māia, Aotearoa; and Sally Ogle, director of Patchwork Architecture as they share their personal journeys and reflect on the pivotal moments and life experiences that shaped their paths in architecture.

Event details

Wednesday 2 April, 6pm
Under the Dome, Te Ao Mārama Auckland War Memorial Museum 
Price: Standard tickets $45; students $40 (tickets include a welcome drink).
5.30pm – Doors open, drinks
6pm – Introduction
6.15pm – First speaker (20-min lecture + 10-min interview)
6.45pm – Second speaker (20-min lecture + 10-min interview)
7.15pm – Break and canapés
7.45pm – Third speaker (20-min lecture + 10-min interview)
8.15pm – Round table and Q&A
8.30pm – 9.30pm – Drinks and finger food in the lobby

Tickets can be bought here.

About the speakers

Christopher Kelly has been an architect for 40 years, returning to Aotearoa in 1992 after his apprenticeship abroad to found Architecture Workshop in Pōneke Wellington.

He is contributes regularly to Architecture NZ, his most recent piece being  #architecturenzohvienna, proffering 10 supply and demand-led solutions to Aotearoa’s housing inequity. Kelly has served on the NZIA National Executive and the Awards Jury. Architecture Workshop has been recognised by its peers, winning the Prime Minister’s Built Environment Award in 2006 for the Oriental Bay Enhancement, the NZIA Gold Medal in 2011 for the Waitomo Caves Visitors Centre and, in 2019, the WAF Hotel and Leisure Category for Lindis Lodge in the South Island’s Ahuriri Valley.

The Otago Peregrine Winery was a co-winner – alongside Tezuka – of the 2004 AR Emerging Architect prize. At the invitation of Architecture Review editor Peter Davey, this entailed a presentation of AW’s work at the 2005 RIBA  Spring Lecture Series in London. Other keynote speaking events include the AIA National Conference, Sydney 2003 and the Stadelschule Alumni Conference Frankfurt 2008. In that same year, Kelly was one of the international judges of the inaugural World Festival of Architecture in Barcelona. 

Elisapeta Heta is a principal and Kaihautū Whaihanga - Māori design leader at Jasmax, playing a pivotal role in guiding the practice to become authentically bicultural. As the leader of Waka Māia, established in 2015 to amplify Māori design voices within the firm, Heta has made significant cultural contributions to key projects while advocating for change on international platforms. She offers valuable Māori and Pasifika perspectives, emphasising the importance of place in both design and cultural identity.

Drawing on her lived experience, Heta strives to create pathways for future generations of indigenous designers and inspire young Māori and Pasifika individuals to balance career and community commitments. Her portfolio includes notable projects such as the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020, the redevelopment of Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea and the City Rail Link.

Since joining Jasmax in 2015, Heta has become a respected change-maker in the design industry, receiving the prestigious NZIA President’s Award in 2022 for her cultural leadership. She has also contributed to the profession through roles such as co-chair of Architecture+Women (2017–2018) and a director on the NZIA Board, where she helped establish Te Kawenata o Rata, a historic alliance between Ngā Aho and the NZIA. 

Sally Ogle is a director of Patchwork Architecture, an award-winning Wellington-based studio founded by Sally and Ben Mitchell-Anyon in 2012. The practice was formed following a year spent physically building the Dogbox house in Whanganui – and taking the practical building knowledge back to the drawing board. In the more than a decade since then, Patchwork has won a reputation and several awards for bold and innovative architecture, often crafting modest materials to create surprising spaces. Patchwork projects are characterised by a combination of ingenuity and wit, together with the confidence and technical ability necessary to take on the challenges of often difficult sites. Ogle is interested in the betterment of our urban environment, and the role that architects can have in shaping the places we live, from the individual through to the civic scale.

For more information about the event series and to view past events, click here.