Activities
International Activities at Various Organizational Events
AIA International Conference
As part of the AIA International leadership, Segene served on the organizing committee, coordinating with local chapters and regions that won the bid to host the conference. They attended conferences in Mexico and Hong Kong and will attend the upcoming conference in Sri Lanka this October.s
AIA International Spring Conference
Segene chaired AIAISC’22, held in conjunction with the International Union of Architects (UIA) Forum in Madrid and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Japan Spring Conference in Tokyo. Sessions were hosted by the seven International Chapters in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, the Middle East, Shanghai, and the United Kingdom, as well as Country Representatives from Australia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Singapore, and Brazil. Partner organizations included the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), UIA Hong Kong, and UIA North America
AIA International Events in Japan
Segene hosted AIA International events in Japan, with one taking place at Azabudai Hills on April 26 and the other at the 2025 Osaka World Expo from May 29–30. These events were supported by numerous organizations, including the Japan Institute of Architects (JIA), Korean Institute of Architects (KIA), Urban Land Institute Japan (ULIJ), American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), German Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Japan (AHKJ), Korean Institute of Female Architects (KIFA), Architectural Society of China (ASC), and AIA chapters from Japan, Taipei, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
For AIA International, these events marked a milestone: not only bringing AIA’s mission to a global stage and strengthening international partnerships, but also generating revenue for the organization for the first time.
Sustainability Activities
Participated in the 2019 Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C., as a representative of AIA Illinois, engaging in congressional advocacy through the Architects Take Action initiative. Delivered a speech at the Saudi Green Building Forum’s (SGBF) virtual side event during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in July 2021, and participated in the 2024 sustainability signing ceremony alongside the leadership of the International Union of Architects (UIA), AIA National, and AIA International.
International Activities
Segene was invited as a guest to both the JIA and KIA Conventions, which brought together architects from Japan, Korea, and abroad. The three-day JIA Convention in Okinawa marked the 50th anniversary of the region’s reversion, focusing on conservation, heritage, and cultural identity. He was also invited to Korea’s largest cultural festival in Sinan during the 2023 Culture Month, set against the backdrop of tidal flats and 1,004 UNESCO World Heritage-designated islands. At its center was the 100+4 piano, symbolizing Sinan’s Sandai culture, with performances and installations that bridged generations, traditions, and modernity, creating a world-class cultural stage.
Academic Activies
ULI Japan and AIA Japan annually conduct UrbanPlan workshops with universities in Japan, where Segene serves as a committee member and instructor. Since 2020, he has also hosted lectures and, this year, facilitated university exchanges between Japan and China.
The AIA Japan Activities
AIA Japan 2021 President | Board Of Directors since 2016
Became a president of AIA Japan (AIAJ) in 2021 after serving over four years with AIAJ as a board member, secretary, and vice-president. He is still a active board member of AIA Japan & AIA International / Chair of H&F Council, Strategic & Accreditation Committee, Design Awards Committee. Keynote speaker for the Saui Green Building Forum`s (SGBF) Virtual Side Event Part Of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), featured as one of the panelists for Young Leaders Group Forum in ULI Asia Pacific Summit, guest at ZAK World of Facade Conference, etc.
The AIA Japan Design Awards
Committee Member since 2019 and Committee Chair since 2022
The mission of the AIA Japan Design Awards Program is to encourage excellence in architectural design and planning, and to provide an avenue through which architects may gain recognition by their peers and the public. The ultimate goal is to raise the standards of architectural design excellence for both the architectural community and the public.
Club Activities
