In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, we had the honour to interview Professor Amira Osman, a Sudanese/South African Professor of Architecture at the Tshwane University of Technology and the 70th President of The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). 

What is the most inspiring about Professor Osman’s work is her unshakable commitment to building inclusion in some of the most challenging places in the world where in her words, 'separation in the built environment was engineered through hundreds of Apartheid laws'. While the laws are cancelled, their physical manifestation still shapes the way the people live today.  

As the South African Research Chair in Spatial Transformation, Professor Osman believes in positive change in the built environment and the architectural profession's critical role in achieving more inclusive and equitable cities. She believes in architecture as a path to offer people a better chance in life, improving livelihoods and connecting communities. ‘Every project and site level intervention has the potential to be transformational’ she says.

We were inspired by her words, leadership, unwavering optimism and crystal-clear vision to transform the South African urban landscape in service of inclusive urban futures. We hope you will be too. 

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More about Professor Amira Osman  

Amira Omer Siddig Osmanis a Sudanese/South African Professor of Architecture at the Tshwane University of Technology. In 2023 The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) inaugurated Amira Osman as its 70th President. Professor  Osman holds the position of SARChI: DST/NRF/SACN Research Chair in Spatial Transformation (Positive Change in the Built Environment) and is the Joint Coordinator of the international group CIB W104 Open Building Implementation. She is also the Chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 9th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (ICAT), Pretoria, November 2020. Amira obtained a B.Sc. in 1988 and an M.Sc. in 1996 both from the University of Khartoum in Sudan. She has a diploma from the Institute for Housing Studies in Rotterdam (IHS) in 1992 and PhD in Architecture from the University of Pretoria in 2004. Amira hosted and convened the World Congress on Housing in 2005 at the University of Pretoria and the Sustainable Human(e) Settlements: the urban challenge in 2012 at the University of Johannesburg. She served as UIA 2014 Durban General Reporter and head of the Scientific Committee for the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). 

Discover more about Professor Amira Osman: https://amiraosman.co.za/

Find our Host and Executive Producer, Dr Orna Rosenfeld at: https://www.ornarosenfeld.com/