Australian architect Pat Pinder has been announced as the winner of the 2016 Architects Board of Western Australia Award.

The Board Award is given to architects registered in Western Australia, whose personal contributions to the profession and community have enhanced public confidence or awareness of the architecture profession.

This prestigious award recognises and honours Pinder’s 50-plus years of professional architectural experience in Australia. Moving from Adelaide to Perth in 1977 to establish the local office for Hassell, he became a registered architect in WA and then went on to establish his own practice, Pinders Architects. This firm merged with Sandover Architects in 1995 to become Sandover Pinder.

A life fellowship of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects was given to Pinder in 2006 after he served as a chapter councillor and WA chapter president. While at the Institute, Pinder was responsible for establishing and running the Practice of Architecture Learning Series (PALS) program to assist graduates seeking registration as an architect. He is still a PALS tutor to this day.

His professional achievements include chairing the Institute’s National Education Committee and overseeing the development of the new architecture program accreditation procedure. He has also served the Architects Board of Western Australia as an examiner for the architectural practice examination.

Pinder is now a senior sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal as well as an assessor for the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia and a member of the City of South Perth Design Advisory Committee.