Seidler Session 1: Knowing Harry
Penelope Seidler AO, Colin Griffith, Andrew Andersons AO in conversation
In our inaugural Seidler Session, we engage in a conversation about the life, work, and lasting legacy of Harry Seidler.
Andrew Andersons AO is an Australian architect who designed the extension to the AGNSW in the late 1960s, and extensions to NSW Parliament House and SLNSW in the 1970s. Between 1989 and 2013 he was Director of Peddle, Thorp and Walker, and now works as a freelance architectural consultant.
Colin Griffith is an architect who, as a 19-year-old student, began working for Harry Seidler in 1953 and is responsible for drawing many of Seidler most renowned projects.
Penelope Seidler AO is the widow of Harry Seidler who she married in 1958, she is an architect and manages Harry Seidler Associates architects. She is involved with many cultural organisations.
Seidler Session 2: Sisters in conversation / Thursday October 1
Penelope Seidler AO & The Hon. Elizabeth Evatt AC in conversation
Talk 6pm – 7pm, followed by apéritif. / Register
About our speakers:
Elizabeth Evatt AC was the first Chief Justice of the Family
Court of Australia and served on two UN Independent Committees dealing
with human rights and discrimination against women.
Penelope Seidler AO is the widow of Harry Seidler who she
married in 1958, she is an architect and manages Harry Seidler
Associates architects. She is involved with many cultural organisations.
Seidler Session 3: Art in Architecture / Saturday 31 October 2026
Sue Saxon, Bel Youssofzay and Jennifer Turpin in conversation
2pm – 3pm / Register here
About our speakers:
Sue Saxon is an artist, educator and academic engagement
curator at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, whose career has focused on
creating and interpreting encounters between art and the public.
Jennifer Turpin is an artist with 35 years’ experience working
in the public domain making site responsive artworks at the interface
of art, science, environment and community.
Bel Youssofzay is an architect and co-director of the
architectural practice Youssofzay+Hart who have worked with many
Australian and international art institutions to design galleries and
exhibitions.
Seidler Session 4: Architects on Seidler’s Legacy / Saturday 28 November
Andrew Andersons, Ed Lippmann and Peter Lonergan in conversation
Register here / 2pm – 3pm
About our speakers:
Andrew Andersons AO is an architect who designed the extension
to the AGNSW in the late 1960s, and to NSW Parliament House and SLNSW
in the 1970s. Between 1989 and 2013 he was Director of Peddle, Thorp and
Walker, and now works as a freelance architectural consultant.
Ed Lippmann is an architect who worked in Marcel Breuer’s NY
office before establishing Lippmann Partnerships which has designed
major projects such the Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool, 8 Chifley Square
and the recreation centre at the Rocks.
Peter Lonergan is an architect and co-director of Cracknell
& Lonergan founded in 1984, that works across the fields of
architecture, interior design, heritage conservation, public art,
exhibition curation and publishing.
Seidler Session 5: Seidler, the Sydney Opera House and thin-shell concrete structures / Saturday 5 December
James Weirick keynote
Register here / 2pm – 3pm
About our speaker:
Emeritus Professor James Weirick, holds a Master of Landscape
Architecture from Harvard University, he was director of the Urban
Development and Design program at School of Built Environment,
University of New South Wales, and has published widely on the Griffins.
Seidler Session 6: Inhabiting Seidler / Saturday 30 January 2027
Richard Francis-Jones, Caroline Butler Bowden and Penelope Seidler in conversation
Register now / 2pm – 3pm
About our speakers:
Richard Francis-Jones is an architect and Design Director of
fjcstudio, known for leading the design of major cultural, civic and
educational buildings in Australia and internationally.
Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon is State Librarian of New South
Wales, a published author and curator of architecture and urban history
whose work has focused on connecting people with culture, heritage and
public places.
Penelope Seidler AO is the widow of Harry Seidler who she
married in 1958, she is an architect and manages Harry Seidler
Associates architects. She is involved with many cultural organisations.