Life beyond Radford
Alex Slater
- Bachelor Degree, University of Canberra, Architecture, 2008-2010
- Certificate, Canberra Institute of Technology, Advanced Architectural Drafting, 2009-2010
- Masters, The University of Melbourne, Architectural, 2014
- Teacher's Assistant, Radford College, 2008-2012
- IT Support Staff, Radford College, 2008-2010
- Project Designer, Geoff Driscoll Architects, 2010-2018
- Director (self-employed)
- Cycling in aid of a Cambodian School. Keeping good friends with great and excellent people., 2012
- Changing the way we understand design - now and to the future., 2017
- Public Speaker about Building Physics and Building Sensibly., 2024
- More Public Speaking about same stuff!, 2025
What does life look for you now?
School was a great foundation. Moved into Uni, then CIT (TAFE) and then Uni again! Learnt a lot on the Internet about other bits and pieces (never take 'No' for an answer and keep learning stuff which satisfies your own curiosity).
I now work as an architect and building physics nerd on some pretty cool projects and on top of that I am studying kinesiology and getting more in tune with the body.... watch this space!
Tell us what you are passionate about?
Being helpful and useful to society.
Combining passion and community service is the only way to sustain yourself to a point where you can help others. Being a decent human being is something which Radford encourages. Just keep it up after school.
When you were young, what were you hoping to be when you grew up?
A Builder.
I kind of am now, being a builder of dreams.
What is your favourite Radford moment?
Definitely Co-Curricular. So much on offer and lots of things to let my mind wander and wonder about the 'what if'. Choirs, Bands, Jazz Festivals, early morning Rowing Sessions and perhaps even a season or two of Basketball.
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure from Radford or now?
So many! I partly took my path because of Engineering Studies and Woodwork. Woodwork kept me sane through College and a great place to hang! Teachers at the time were Messers Stroh, Wagstaff and Pennicook.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
Just try something. Being wrong is impossible that way. Also, no need to fit-in. So yes, quite easy; one thing leads to another. Feel free to reach out about this if you feel you're not on the 'norm', 'status quo', 'standard deviation', 'typical'... whatever you want to call it... that conformity thing.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you'd planned?
Yes, because my plans adapted and responded to what the universe was sending through.
What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you were at Radford?
I knew I was not just a number, however, had I known that uni was not the only path for a curious dude, life may have still been as it is, though I probably would have been a builder. 😉
What advice do you have for current students?
Be you, everyone else is taken. Make mistakes, perfect people are boring. Be kind, kindness is a superpower in a confusing world. Find your 'we' in 'weird'.
Anything else that you would like to share?
Heaps, though please reach out.
