Announced during The RSA AGM in the UK and alongside the FAHM in the US, Luis will unite architecture and art with sustainability and civic leadership—connecting Fellows and global communities as Programmatic Councillor for Social Connections.
(Isstories Editorial):- Chicago, Illinois Oct 16, 2025 (Issuewire.com)Â –Â During Filipino American History Month, US-based systems-thinking architect Lira Luis is appointed as one of only three Programmatic Councillors at The RSA, focusing on Social Connections across the global built environment
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In recognition of Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in the United States–and aligned with The RSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 15th in the UK—Lira Luis, FRIBA, FRSA, NCARB, RA, LEED AP, a Filipino American systems-thinking architect and advocate for the fusion of architecture and art, has been appointed to a second three-year term at The RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce)–this time as one of only three Programmatic Councillors.
The RSA is a UK charity with a global Fellowship–one of the world’s largest–including Nobel Prize, Pritzker Architecture Prize, and Gold Medal laureates. Reflecting the strength of the UK-US alliance, Luis–based in the United States–will collaborate with RSA staff to support RSA programmes of work, offering expertise to inform and strengthen programmes and connect and embed Fellows within them. As Programmatic Councillor for Social Connections, she will link The RSA with the global built environment and its sustainability, bridging practice, policy, and public impact across borders.
“I accept this role as both honor and obligation. The FAHM-AGM convergence is coincidental; its coincidence is a cue from our shared human purpose to activate Social Connections–linking architecture and art, sustainability, and civic leadership across borders.” — Lira Luis
A practicing architect and systems thinker, Luis has engaged widely across international networks. She curated and published extended interviews with global leaders–including Gold Medal laureates and the Presidents of the UIA and RIBA–informing cross-border dialogue on resilient, equitable places.
Sources: https://liraluis.substack.com/p/designing-for-truth-and-trust-in | https://liraluis.substack.com/p/architects-in-the-age-of-god-like
Statement from the Chair of the Fellowship Council
Neil Beagrie, Chair of the RSA Fellowship Council, said:
“Many congratulations to Lira Luis on her re-appointment to the RSA Fellowship Council and to all Filipino Americans celebrating and honouring the leadership contributions of their community to the USA and globally this month! RSA Fellowship Councillors bring invaluable senior-level expertise and international perspectives to the RSA’s work of enabling people, places and the planet to flourish.“
Statement from the Chief Executive Officer
David Joseph CBE, Chief Executive Officer, The RSA, said:
“The RSA’s advantage lies in the creative tension between tradition and disruption–we’ve remained open, curious, and generous with ideas while championing innovation and enduring values. In a divided world, this is where a potter can talk to a programmer, and someone designing buildings can sit next to someone designing policy.“
Patron’s Perspective
As RSA Patron, HRH The Princess Royal has highlighted the importance of social infrastructure, noting that “one in 20 people in the UK say that they have no close friends” and that levels of trust in people and institutions have fallen dramatically–underscoring why strengthening social connections matters to people’s lives. In her opening remarks at the 2025 RSA Patron’s Lecture (“The I/We/I century”), she added that “the RSA has always understood that social infrastructure is just as vital as physical infrastructure, and that strong communities built on relationships and mutual support are fundamental to tackling the things that affect people’s lives.”
Reference: https://www.thersa.org/articles/blog/patrons-lecture-the-i-we-i-century/
Why This Matters During FAHM
FAHM honors over a century of Filipino contributions in the United States. Luis’s systems-leadership role elevates diaspora influence in climate action and cultural innovation, strengthening ties between the Global North and Global South and advancing knowledge exchange for communities on the front lines of climate risk–from policy frameworks to programme delivery.
Focus of the New Term (Programmatic Councillor — Social Connections)
- Collaborate with RSA staff to support and refine programmes that advance sustainability, circularity, and resilience in the built environment.
- Offer specialist expertise to help inform and strengthen programme strategy and delivery.
- Connect and embed Fellows across regions worldwide–spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the global diaspora–in line with The RSA’s UK base and global remit.
- Convene leaders and partners from industry, academia, and civic sectors to translate ideas into policy pathways and practical pilots.
About Lira Luis
Lira Luis, FRIBA, FRSA, NCARB, RA, LEED AP is a systems-thinking executive working at the intersection of architecture and art, innovation, and strategic leadership. She has led sustainability-forward projects at scale, secured competitive funding, managed P&L, and built high-performing teams across AEC, consultancy, and research. A recognized voice on sustainability and DEI, she contributes to governance and public discourse through boards, juries, and high-level convenings. The first AAPI Filipino American architect elected to the RSA Fellowship & Council–and among the youngest AAPI architects elevated to FRIBA–Luis is also the first Filipino architect to graduate from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As one of three Programmatic Councillors focused on Social Connections, she advances resilient, equitable strategies for public infrastructure and civic trust.
About The RSAÂ
Founded in 1754 and based in the UK, The RSA is a charity with a global mission. With one of the world’s largest Fellowships–including Nobel, Pritzker Architecture Prize, and Gold Medal laureates–The RSA’s programmes span regenerative futures, creative democracy, place-based transformation, and social connections, mobilizing people and ideas across geographies to tackle complex challenges.
More: https://www.thersa.org/press

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