Open House Melbourne: Challenging Heritage or Heritage Challenges?: A Panel Conversation

Amid a housing and climate crisis and in light of evolving social values, how can heritage adapt to contemporary challenges while safeguarding what we love about Melbourne? This conversation will explore the complexities of achieving meaningful heritage outcomes. It will examine how we can safeguard and care for our city's heritage—protecting its character and identity—while ensuring heritage places remain relevant to today's needs and for future generations.

In partnership with City of Melbourne, Open House Melbourne is running consultation activities for the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy: Stories of People and Place. 

Join Kerstin Thompson, Director + Principal at KTA, Patrick Kennedy, Principal at Kennedy Nolan, Dr James Lesh, Founding Director of Heritage Workshop in conversation with Jo Cannington, Director City Strategy at the City of Melbourne as they share and unpack challenges facing heritage.

Date: Thursday 5 June, 6.30pm—8pm

Location: Solidarity Hall, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street, Carlton VIC 3053

Cost: Free, bookings required

Kerstin Thompson—Director + Principal, KTA

Kerstin is the design director and leader on all projects undertaken by KTA, supported by a dedicated and skilled team. In recognition of her work and contribution to the profession, Kerstin was elevated to Life Fellow by the AIA in 2017. In 2022, she was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and, in 2023, she was awarded the Gold Medal, the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour.

Dr James Lesh—Founding Director, Heritage Workshop

Dr James Lesh is founding director of Heritage Workshop. He is an award-winning historian, heritage specialist and writer, who is inspired by the potential for heritage to strengthen places and communities. He developed the people-centred heritage framework adopted by the draft City of Melbourne Heritage Strategy.

Partick Kennedy—Principal, Kennedy Nolan

Patrick Kennedy is a founding partner of Kennedy Nolan. He helped establish and continues to lead the practice’s distinctive design direction. Patrick has delivered a number of public lectures on design around Australia and New Zealand and has taught in the Masters program at the University of Melbourne. He has been a juror for the Australian Institute of Architects, the New Zealand Institute of Architects and many other design competitions. Patrick is an active member of the Australian Institute of Architects, serving on Committees and most recently was on the editorial committee for The Australian House: The Robin Boyd Award. He is a founding member of the Boyd Circle and is also on the board of the Robin Boyd Foundation and Chair of the Affinity Quartet.