Mparntwe Speaks
"Mparntwe Speaks" is a series of talks that brings together leading voices in design, architecture, art, culture, and research. The common thread? Creative thinking that emerges from living and working in Central Australia.
These events are made possible through the support of the NT Emerging Architects and Graduates Network of the Australian Institute of Architects, Dogspike Design and Architecture, Sue Dugdeale and Associates and Tangentyere Design. Thanks to local radio station 8ccc for spreading the word! The key organisers for this talk series are Tonielle Dempers, Owen Kelly, Bobbie Bayley and Andy Davis.
If you would like more info about this or the speakers, please get in contact.
Mparntwe Speaks #1
28.06.24 | Flynn Carr - ‘Flynn Carr on the Dulux Study Tour’
@ Elbow Workshop, 8 Hele Cres, 0870
Alice's very own esteemed architect and Dulux scholar is back from a whirlwind tour of Tokyo, Berlin and Madrid. Flynn won the chance to go on an incredibly competitive all-expenses-paid study tour to learn from world class architects, landscape architects, artists and urban thinkers. He will be sharing some of the stories, learnings and insights from an immersive and impressively packed schedule of some of the best design and architecture from across the world.
You can read more about,
The Dulux Scholarship participants | Their time in Berlin | Their time in Madrid
Mparntwe Speaks #2
15.08.24 | Marni Reti & Mary Grimwade
@ Elbow Workshop, 8 Hele Cres
Marni Reti
A proud Palawa and Ngāti Wai woman, Marni is one of just a handful of Indigenous architects working in Australia today. As a result, her work brings an important perspective to this often-Eurocentric field – and she’s also using her voice and considerable talents to raise the profile of Australia’s rich Indigenous architectural traditions. This perspective and knowledge led to Marni being named the Emerging Sustainable Architect/Designer at the 2022 Sustainability Awards.
Marni is based at Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, a Sydney-based firm known for delivering architecture projects with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These include the Punmu and Parnngurr Aboriginal Health Clinics in the Western Australian, the walu-win wellbeing centre in Orange, and the award-winning PAMS Healthcare Hub in Newman, WA.
See more in: Newman Health Hub
Mary Grimwade
A Community Development Officer at the Central Land Council who has worked closely with community on the Ngurrju Mani-njaku Ngurra (Making Yuendumu Beautiful) murals project. A group of talented Warlpiri artists, including Jason Japaljarri Woods, Robin Quinsten Jampijinpa Brown, Selina Nakamarra Hunter, Mahalia Nampijinpa Hargraves, and Cherylyn Napangardi Granites, have teamed up with visiting street artists @kaffeinepaints, @brontenaylor and @jeswri to create some vibrant murals around the community. This project was funded by Yuendumu's Granites Mine Affected Area Aboriginal Corporation community committee and produced by @redhotarts with support from the Central Land Council. Mary will talk generally about the community development profession, its role here in Central Australia and the value of projects such as this in increasing the liveability and beauty of remote communities.
Mparntwe Speaks #6
10.04.25 | Sandra Meihubers - People and Process from Pipalyatjara to Bhattedanda
@ Hartley School Museum, 39 Hartley Street, Alice Springs
Sandra has spent much of her dental career working with Aboriginal people in Australia and has a deep commitment to delivering dental care and training to communities considered outside of the “mainstream”. She has been instrumental in establishing and running remote area Aboriginal community controlled dental services, training Aboriginal Health Workers in dental care and prevention, advising governments on policy, developing materials to support remote area dental practitioners, and creating national and international networks of like-minded practitioners.
Sandra has taught in TAFE and university dental programs and derives great satisfaction from watching the growth and development of confidence in people who sometimes undervalue themselves.Since 2000 her skills and experiences, with a strong focus on projects developed and grounded in the target communities, have spread to projects in Nepal, Timor L’este and Bangladesh.
In 2017 Sandra was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia AM.
Mparntwe Speaks #7
16.05.25 | Ray Mahoney & Sophie Wright-Pedersen - CSIRO and Tangentyere Council Thermal Comfort Project in Town Camps
@ Hartley School Museum, 39 Hartley Street, Alice Springs
CSIRO has been collaborating with the Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation (TCAC) to investigate the thermal comfort of houses in Town Camps in Alice Springs. This project aims to support TCAC’s ongoing advocacy for suitable and safe remote housing for Aboriginal people in Central Australia. CSIRO will present on the codesign process, challenges of data collection from Town Camp houses, preliminary findings, and the next phase of this project.
Professor Ray Mahoney (Indigenous Science Research Director, CSIRO) is a Bidjara man with family ties to Central West Queensland. Professor Mahoney has worked extensively to co-design, develop, implement and evaluate best practice public health and prevention programs to close the gap in health and wellbeing between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Australia.
Ms Sophie Wright-Pedersen (Research Scientist, CSIRO) has a background as a Public Health Dietitian in regional and remote areas of New South Wales and the Northern Territory and is the Project Leader for the Thermal Comfort Project.
Mparntwe Speaks #8
12.06.25 | Andrew McPhee - A night with Andrew McPhee- Pyramids, People and Place
@ Hartley School Museum, 39 Hartley Street, Alice Springs
Andrew’s visionary work helped shape the built environment of Alice Springs and remote Aboriginal communities from the 1960s through the 1980s. His architecture goes beyond buildings — it’s grounded in a deep understanding of place, people, and culture.
In this special event, Andrew will reflect (virtually) on his remarkable career, sharing stories of collaboration, cultural exchange, and design strategies shaped by the Central Australian context.
See more at: https://architectureau.com/articles/housing-4/
Mparntwe Speaks #3
31.10.24 | Miriam Wallace & Vanessa Davis - Out of Area. Out of Mind. Remote (lack of) certification for buildings // On Town Camps
@ Elbow Workshop, 8 Hele Cres
The incredible Miriam Wallace, Australian Institute of Architects NT Chapter Present and Senior Associate at Susan Dugdale and Associates. Miriam is rolling in straight from several days in the desert to talk about out-of-areas (lack of) certification in the NT.
The amazing Vanessa Davis, Senior Aboriginal Researcher at Tangentyere Council talking about her experience in town camps.
Mparntwe Speaks #4
07.11.24 | Andrew Broffman
@ Gosse Street heritage house
Andrew is a Principal at The Fulcrum Agency and leads the Sydney agency, reinforcing their national presence and ability to deliver projects in diverse locations. For 14 years, Andrew was Managing Director at Tangentyere Design Architects in Alice Springs, one of Australia's most respected Aboriginal owned, not-for-profit architectural businesses. To TFA he brings considerable experience in cross-cultural engagement, strategy, policy making and advocacy. He has a reputation for excellence in client management and brokering positive relationships with all levels of government and bureacracy. Andrew always works for the benefit of community - sustaining culture first and foremost - whilst delivering award-winning
Mparntwe Speaks #5
21.07.24 | Michael Klerk
@ Hartley School Museum, 39 Hartley Street, Alice Springs
Michael is responsible for some pretty seminal research around remote housing, town camp infrastructure, repairs and maintenance, energy insecurity and thermal performance including partnering with University of Newcastle Architecture students to run Alice Springs based electives to develop work for the Town Camps. His latest project is partnering with CSIRO installing data loggers to monitor temperatures of town camp houses and monitoring power usage to build up an proof of their sub-par nature, not fit for providing refuge from the climate – see link here.
