Behind the Vision: Connections and Collaborative Leadership Strengthen Our Chapter

Leadership is part of the value of membership in AIA, at any phase in practice. AIA Seattle leaders help shape the profession locally, regionally and nationally, while actively learning from peers across the Institute.

Connection across national AIA Chapters strengthens our shared work

Peer connection, collaboration and knowledge sharing across AIA Chapters directly benefits the membership experience, provides fresh ideas and strengthens our work.

This month, volunteer leaders and staff of “Big Sibs,”(the 20+ largest ‘sibling’ chapters of AIA, AIA Seattle being the 5th largest), convened in Los Angeles for knowledge sharing, exchanging ideas to further the profession and supporting membership communities.

AIA Seattle President-Elect Tyler Schaffer AIA attended to learn from peers and gather context for how AIA Seattle fits into the national landscape.

AIA Seattle Executive Director Melissa K. Neher presented a session on Advocacy as a system, highlighting the AIA Seattle approach of developing long term influence based on strategic advocacy priorities with member knowledge and expertise at the forefront of those efforts. AIA LA and AIA Austin contributed to the session with transparency to their advocacy models, which brought forward a robust response and many chapters leaving with new perspectives and tools to accelerate or deepen their own chapter advocacy.

Additionally in 2025, inspired by AIA St. Louis’s Equitable Practice Assessment, our Justice and Equity for Diversity and Inclusion (“JE:DI”) Council collected information from just over 200 members about equity-related workplace experiences. We will be reporting out on this survey in the months ahead.

How we ensure clear, connected and collaborative leadership locally

Our Board of Directors work collaboratively to drive change and provide strategic leadership of AIA Seattle’s mission, vision, values, and strategic imperatives. They meet monthly to collaborate and are involved in specialized Steering Committees.

In September, we welcomed our new and returning volunteer leaders of the AIA Seattle + Seattle Design Festival Board of Directors to our new space in Smith Tower for a full-day New Board Onboarding session, a time dedicated for connection, expectation setting, and digging deep into the strategic role of the board and the tools we use to further our shared vision for equitable, resilient, thriving communities. From onboarding to our annual Board Retreat, these strategic thinking sessions help ensure clear, connected leadership.

How we prepare our communities to lead

Preparing our communities to lead is one of three core themes of our strategic plan and is embedded in our work. Educational programming, peer networks, board leadership, and amplification of community leadership opportunities all work towards this goal.

Our Business of Architecture program, held earlier this week at the National Nordic Museum, is a programmatic example supporting this goal. Designed to support new, emerging, and current firm leaders in strengthening their business strategy and skills, building equitable firms, and shaping the future of practice, this program provided practical tools, actionable steps, and peer knowledge sharing for attendees.

Leadership opportunities offered through AIA National:

In addition, over multiple years, members from our chapter have been selected for AIA National’s Next to Lead Cohort, a leadership development training program for a diverse cohort of women leaders in architecture. Congratulations to AIA Seattle Board Member Zining Cheng Assoc. AIA, selected for the 2027 Next to Lead Cohort.

Upcoming leadership opportunities include:

AIA Leadership Summit: Call for Proposals | Submit by October 9
Women’s Leadership Summit 2026 | November 1-3 in Kansas City

Interested in taking a leadership role at AIA Seattle? Looking ahead:

The call for nominations to serve on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors will be open in early 2027. Learn more about leadership paths in AIA Seattle and keep an eye on future messages to nominate a peer or yourself for local service!

More about Behind the Vision

Learn more about Behind the Vision, a communication series to provide our AIA Seattle community with information about activities that steward our mission, vision, and values forward. See past editions here.