DIA Honorary Fellowship induction, DIA NSW Chapter: Schiavello, Surry Hills, 17 September 2026

Simone LeAmon, CEO, Design Institute of Australia

Thank you so much for celebrating with us, everyone, and a big congratulations again to all three Fellows:

Sarah-Jane Pyke (Arent and Pyke)

Anne-Maree Sargeant (Authentic Design Alliance)

Tim Phillips (Tilt Industrial Design)

They are recognised for their practice, leadership, contribution to design, and, more importantly, commitment to their profession. And of course, it helps a great deal if they’re also committed to the DIA.

Becoming a Fellow is much more than an acknowledgement of an individual’s achievements. It’s recognition from a design community, from peers, of a contribution to what we call Australian design.

The DIA and “Write Designer” Campaign, Census 2026

Moments like this are also an opportunity to remind ourselves that fellowship carries a continuing role: to lend experience, authority, and voice to the profession, and to mentor those still on their journeys. That helps strengthen the Australian design community, and it feels particularly important right now.

We learnt that through the “Right Designer” campaign, when we asked designers from across the country to do something they’d never really done before: to stand up and proudly identify as designers. And they did. It was extraordinary.

That campaign showed so powerfully that when we recognise ourselves, and recognise that we are part of something much larger than ourselves, we become a profession with shared interests. That’s powerful, because every movement begins with people recognising what they have in common. I guess I’m trying to start a movement, and I hope you’ll all come along for the ride.

What DIA Fellow means

Our Fellows, Life Fellows and Honorary Fellows all play an important part in this. They tirelessly advocate, mentor, challenge, and help strengthen the profession. Tonight is one of those rare occasions, and believe me, they are all too rare, when we get to recognise the people who lift us up as a community.

It’s our opportunity to simply say thank you, with a little framed certificate. It’s a humble gesture, but it’s one bestowed by an 88-year-old organisation, and that is no mean feat. Globally, we are one of the few enduring design organisations. So tonight, we thank those we’ve honoured for all they’ve given to our profession. Congratulations.

I’m not going to announce them, because that is Eloise’s job. Thank you all for coming, and thank you for supporting the DIA.

Eloise Cleary, DIA Deputy Chair, NSW Council

Thank you so much, Simone. Tonight we are honouring three Fellows who embody the spirit of design and community: Tim Phillips, Sarah-Jane Pyke and Anne-Maree Sargeant.

Each has made a distinctive contribution to our profession, and it’s a privilege to recognise them among their peers and fellow members of the Design Institute. I’ll now read the citation for each recipient as they receive their award, and invite them in turn to receive their certificate and say a few words.

Citation: Anne-Maree Sargeant, Honorary Fellow

We formally induct AMS in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Australian design profession through sustained advocacy for original design, intellectual property protection and industry reform.

Through her leadership of the Authentic Design Alliance, she has transformed a long-standing industry initiative into a nationally recognised voice for authentic design.

She has championed stronger protections for designers while educating the industry, government and the public on the cultural, economic and environmental value of original design.

Beyond her public advocacy, Anne-Maree has mentored emerging designers and guided the industry, fostering collaboration, sharing her extensive knowledge and helping strengthen the Australian design community.

Her unwavering commitment to ethical practice, design excellence and the advancement of the profession has made a lasting and significant contribution to Australian design. Congratulations, Anne-Maree.

Anne-Maree Sargeant, FDIA (Hon), Director, Authentic Design Alliance

Like Tim, we were just told to say a few words.

I trained as an interior designer. My first job was at Bates Smart under Jeffery Copolov, and I practised in interior design for a few years before moving into the furniture industry for Kevin Jarrett at Artes Studio. That led me to help him start Space Furniture and spend much of my career in the furniture sector.

Having worked both sides of the fence, as a specifier and within the high-end furnishing sector, I saw problems that started as a trickle become a flood. They really needed to be dealt with.

So I kept badgering the group I very fondly call “the Pants Club: Richard Munao (Cult) and Vincent Aiello (Euroluce), who are both here tonight, along with Anthony Collins from Stylecraft, Aidan Mawhinney from Living Edge, and Mark Swanton from Ke-Zu. They founded an organisation called the Authentic Design Alliance in 2010.

In 2015, the ADA’s governance passed to me.

We took a little idea and turned it into a medium-sized idea. Now we’re relaunching in May with a much bigger idea: an expanded program, an expanded remit, and expanded governance with our first board, supported by the ADA Advisory Council. We’re launching a Specifiers’ Code of Conduct and an ADA-led mentor program.

From May next year, we look forward to ADA 3.0.

Thank you to the New South Wales chapter of the DIA for the nomination, to NSW Chair Nila Rezaei, and to Deputy Chair Eloise Cleary. Also, thank you, Schiavello, for hosting us tonight.

Finally, we look forward to the Authentic Design Alliance and the DIA holding hands a lot more closely in the future. Thank you very much.