More about Catherine

Catherine Donnelley’s deep commitment to co-envisioning regenerative futures is informed by her experience as a Mother, Freedom Rider, Teacher, Coach, Energy and Systemic Therapist with a First Class Honours degree in Architecture.

Expanding on an APA Scholarship for a trans disciplinary PhD at Sydney University, Catherine asks how ‘Architecture, from the metaphysical to the literal, can play a role in raising awareness towards healing our relationships with ourselves, First Nation Peoples and Country. Catherine explores these new and emerging possibilities through co-creating Spaces of Hope and Transformation.

Catherine has collaborated with people who are ability challenged and has presented two collaborative papers on Inclusive Co-design focusing on enhancing Local Government Councils relationship with communities, while also co-presenting at ASID conference3. Most recently, Catherine has co-founded a Collective4 and an Alliance 5 for Uluru Statement from the Heart advocacy, aiming to activate the Humanities as a tool for Environmental change. She has taught design by invitation at USYD, UNSW in undergraduate and Graduate Masters level by invitation for over 20 years and guest lectured at NYU. Over the last 7 years teaching LIMINAL NEXUS a course, she authored and designed for Masters Graduating Architecture Students co-envisioning with Indigenous Communities.

1 Architecture Bulletin Publication by invitation ‘States of Awareness’ 2019 https://catherinedonnelley.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/architecture-bulletin-regional-issue-vol-75-no-3-january-2019-catherine-donnelley-article.pdf

2 Sydney Environment Institute Symposium presentation paper ‘Weaving Inclusive Spaces’ by invitation https://sei.sydney.edu.au/events/re-emergence-nature-culture-ii/attachment/nature-in-culture_program-final-2/

3 ASID Presenter in UTS Co-Design Research Team Adelaide 2019. 2 papers and poetry publication https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/63510861/ida-vol-41-issue-2-asid-june 2020

4 Liminal Nexus founder of Collective for humanities 2020 website currently in development University of New South Wales Masters Architecture Design Studio 2020 social agency author and studio design; Amplifying Uluru Statement from the Heart https://liminalnexuscurato.wixsite.com/mysite

5 ‘Voice from the Heart Alliance' has 33 organizational members and amplifies the call made in the Uluru Statement from the heart through Political Advocacy, Public Awareness and Networking

6 Warm Data Lab: Uluru Statement from the Heart as seminal for conscious conversation https://events.humanitix.com.au/warm-data-lab-what-is-learning-in-a-rapidly-changing-world-how-do-we-relearn

Catherine’s experience as a Freedom Rider in 2015 informed her Architecture Bulletin Article “States of Awareness”1. Initially recognised for her capacity for systems thinking in design, she was mentored by renowned Architect Philip Cox early in her career. For over two decades Catherine has been invited by Universities to teach courses in the Built Environment including Architecture, Environmental and Landscape Architecture and is respected for her dedication to deep listening, inspired thinking and care. Her approach recognises ecologies and processes of decolonisation, restoration and expanded consciousness. While addressing the complex and interdependent systemic issues causing Indigenous inequity. This thinking is reflected in her paper “Weaving Inclusive Spaces” 2 presented at the Sydney Environment Institute in 2020 discussing relationships with various ecologies.

Architecture for EMBODIED HOLISTIC SYSTEMIC WELLBEING

As an accredited International Bateson Institute Warm Data and People Need People host and certified Systemic constellation therapist, Catherine continues to inspire personal radical responsibility, heart led systemic change. She co-led a public conversation in 2019 in Darling Square on the Future of Education6 and more recently a Community hall reflection for over 100 Mackellar volunteers post referendum. She currently co-facilitates a public advocacy group, Peace Meditation groups and holds regular community circles while also working with Community organisations including the Woman’s Reconciliation Network Redfern7. Catherine curated a public participatory exhibition, supported by local council and community wellbeing through her business Synergetic Circles. She was an invited co-host at The Ethics Centre public forum in 2023. Catherine facilitates at the Womans Resilience Centre and recently for CSIRO for a Sustainable Futures project 2024 and is an invited committee member of the MWP Aboriginal Support Group where she regularly is invited to speak at public events. NGALIA design studio was a collaborative project with Indigenous artist Delvene Cockatoo Collins and were part of the 5 finalist teams by invitation of SCALE ARCHITECTS for the Powerhouse re-location global competition.

Motivated by a passionate call for holding space to listen from our hearts and walk together to demonstrate deep respect for all sentience.We have an invaluable opportunity to co-create vibrantly rich life and become worthy ancestors. The time is now.