The Why: The Architecture of Empowerment
There is a story behind my accent—one shaped by resilience and defined by leadership. Most people see barriers; I have lived through them. I was born in Washington, D.C., but my perspective was forged growing up in Baghdad during the Gulf War. Living through war changes you on a cellular level. It teaches you what it means to feel powerless—and why invisibility is dangerous for Architects.
It also teaches you that resilience is not just a design goal. Sometimes it is a survival mandate. My journey from a $100-a-month start in Germany to founding an international architectural practice across four continents was more than a career path. It was the work of reclaiming my voice. Along the way I learned that empowerment begins when we reclaim our own voice—and help others find theirs.
Today I see our profession facing its own challenge of invisibility. Architects carry immense responsibility, yet too often we are absent from the decisions shaping the built environment. I am running for AIA National President because this moment calls for leaders who understand resilience and know how to turn challenges into progress.
My commitment is to ensure that no architect feels invisible within the systems we serve, and to restore architects to the center of shaping our communities. Because when architects lose their voice, communities lose the full value of design.
Architects at the Center of Public Service. This is my why.
The Catalyst: A Leadership of Scale
I am an architect-practitioner who has built an international firm from nothing and a Global Voice—anchored by a digital advocacy platform of over 123,000 followers—to project our professional value to the world. My leadership is forged in 37 years of outcompeting barriers, proving that I have the experience to navigate and elevate the systems that support us. I am ready to ensure that as our profession evolves through AI and regenerative design, no architect—and no firm—is left behind.
My work embodies the forms of leadership required to navigate the complexities of 2026 and beyond.
Visionary Leadership: Systems of the Future
I lead with the belief that architecture is a catalyst for evolution. The glory of our art is that it can not only survive change, it can lead it. I apply this to our profession by integrating innovation with regenerative urban models, advancing architecture as a system that links sustainability and technology. This includes designing and delivering New York City’s first public green school (P.S. 59) and the Liberland master plan, a winning international competition proposing a regenerative urban model for a 7 km² territory in Europe.
Institutional Leadership: A Global AIA member for a Global Institute
I lead by expanding the Institute’s global impact, a journey that began with the AIA New York Chapter in 2004 and led to my Fellowship (FAIA) elevation by the AIANY in 2019. I made history as the first woman elected to the AIA Middle East Presidency (2016–2018), a term where I established country representation in Jordan and Iraq and served as Curator of the AIA International Conference “10,958 Days.” My leadership service since 2012 includes roles as Director of Events (2012–2016) and Director at Large (2019–present), consistently representing the AIA as a Jury President and Keynote Speaker at global forums.
Strategic Leadership: Bridging Institutions and Global Networks
I lead by uniting institutions, governments, and professional networks to solve complex civic challenges. My leadership is grounded in graduate studies at MIT, where focusing on history, theory, and criticism strengthened the analytical thinking I apply to global advocacy. I served as a UNESCO advisor and Jury President for an international architectural competition in Iraq, ensuring the process met strict UNESCO–UIA international standards. Additionally, I led the advocacy, fundraising, and design of the Iraq Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, securing a vital presence for the nation on the global stage.
Civic Leadership: Empowering Vulnerable Communities
I lead with a fierce humanity, applying architectural purpose to serve society and advocate for vulnerable populations. In New York, I was shortlisted among leading women architects to transform the Bayview Women’s Prison in Manhattan into a hub for women’s empowerment. My global civic commitment includes volunteer workshops to build schools and homes in Tanzania, and the design of the Safe House of Innovation, a facility specifically created to support and uplift homeless children and orphans in Iraq.
The Architecture of My Presidency
These dimensions of leadership—visionary, institutional, strategic, and civic—form the foundation of my 4-Track Architectural Leadership System. This framework is built on continuity; it aligns with the AIA 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, ensuring our institutional momentum is preserved and propelled forward.
I have spent this journey listening to and synthesizing the expertise of AIA leadership and our professional community. I am ready to be the engine that executes—reinforcing our role at the decision-making table by translating our collective blueprint into actionable progress.
The 4-Track Architectural Leadership System
This defines the structural architecture of the framework:
4 Tracks – 4 Pillars – 4 Strategic Commitments.
The four tracks—FOUNDATION, STRUCTURE, ENVELOPE, FUTURE SYSTEMS—define the operating layers of the profession.
Each track is organized around a single core pillar, supported by four strategic commitments.
My presidency will reinforce the profession’s Trust, strengthen Practice, amplify our Voice in the public realm, and advance the Intelligence needed to lead in a changing era of practice.
Track 1 — FOUNDATION
The Civic and Ethical Bedrock of the Profession
■ Trust
The profession’s credibility and public standing, upheld through its rules, standards, governance, access, and responsibility
Ground the profession in clear standards, ethical conduct, and a shared understanding of its role and obligations.
Govern through transparent governance, ethical leadership, and institutional accountability.
Enable equitable access to participation, leadership, and opportunity—removing structural barriers across regions and practice scales.
Protect the profession’s responsibility to the public by reinforcing health, safety, and welfare, clarifying liability, and safeguarding professional scope.
Track 2 — STRUCTURE
Systems That Strengthen Practice
■ Practice
The strength and viability of architectural practice, supported through alignment, continuity, and coordinated systems across the Institute
Connect AIA National, state, and local components into a cohesive system—ensuring continuity across leadership cycles and consistency with strategic priorities.
Coordinate communication, committees, and networks to strengthen collaboration across the Institute and reduce fragmentation in execution.
Support firms across scales—particularly small and mid-sized practices—by connecting resources, knowledge, and networks that strengthen business viability and competitive capacity.
Advance shared capability through knowledge systems, research exchange, and the integration of data, tools, and emerging technologies that support practice excellence.
Track 3 — ENVELOPE
The Public Interface of the Profession
■ Voice
The profession’s presence and influence in shaping public policy, partnerships, and civic impact
Lead on public policy—engaging federal, state, and local stakeholders to shape legislative priorities and regulatory direction affecting the built environment and emerging technologies.
Represent the value of architects—advancing design excellence and communicating the profession’s role in delivering housing, climate action, resilient communities, and high-performance outcomes aligned with 2030 commitments.
Partner with government stakeholders and across the AEC industry—building coordinated efforts that strengthen influence, expand capacity, support disaster response, and align the profession around shared priorities.
Advance policy and procurement frameworks that expand access to work, support small and mid-sized firms, and enable housing, climate, resilience, and regenerative outcomes in the built environment.
Track 4 — FUTURE SYSTEMS
Leading in a Changing Era
■ Intelligence
The profession’s capacity to understand, adapt to, and lead within emerging technological and systemic conditions
Advance digital fluency across the profession—ensuring architects can operate effectively within data-driven and technology-enabled environments.
Integrate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into practice—enhancing design capability, productivity, and data-informed decision-making.
Apply regenerative and high-performance knowledge systems—establishing measurable standards that translate ambition into practical outcomes.
Evolve practice and delivery models through emerging technologies and systems—supporting new forms of collaboration, project delivery, and professional positioning.