Tiiu Korjus
Tiiu Korjus | |
|---|---|
 Korjus in 2020 | |
| 11th Head of the Avengisian Council | |
| Assumed office June 1st, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Lennart Kass |
| Member of the Council of Avengis | |
| Assumed office June 1st, 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Pronunciation | [tiu kɔrdʒəs] |
| Born | Tiiu Lill April 11, 1977 Careon, Nyx, Avengis |
| Nationality | Avengisian |
| Political party | Agrarian Progressivists Party (Since 2010) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (Until 2010) |
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Spouse(s) | Uudo Korjus (m. 2004) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Andronikos University of the Arts |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Salary | CQS₵93,339.09 |
| Net worth | ≈CQS₵5 million |
| Awards | AUA Student Merit Award (1997) NAA Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design (2008) NAA Award for Excellence in Urban Renewal (2012) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | tiiukorjus.av |
Tiiu Korjus (born 11 April 1977) is an Avengisian architect and politician, as well as the current Head of the Avengisian Council. Korjus' political career began with her entry into the 2008 Avengisian general elections in a bid to represent her home region of Nyx on the Council of Avengis, running as an independent. Korjus would join the Agrarian Progressivists Party in 2010, which she remains a member of today.
Contents
Personal life
Early life
Korjus was born on April 11, 1977 in the coastal city of Careon, located in the northern areas of Nyx. She was the third child born to Illar Lill, a commercial fisherman, and Aasa Lill (née Pihlak), a homemaker.
Korjus came from a modest family background. Her father, Illar, operated a small fishing boat, harvesting seafood from the cold waters of the Tassitud Sea to support the family. Her mother, Aasa, was responsible for maintaining the household and caring for the children. The Lill family lived in a small home near the harbor, which Korjus would recall as a major constant of her early childhood.
As the youngest of three siblings, Korjus often found herself in the shadow of her two older brothers, Ivari and Juri, who were more boisterous and adventurous in their youthful activities. While her brothers spent their free time exploring the nearby forests and cliffs, Korjus preferred quieter pursuits such as reading, drawing, and observing the daily routines of the Careon fishing community. A few years after Korjus's birth, the family had a fourth child, another son named Rasmus.
The Lill family was deeply rooted in the traditions and faith of the local Christian community. Korjus attended services at Saint Vasilius Eastern Orthodox Church from a young age, eventually serving as an altar girl and developing a strong sense of spiritual devotion that would carry through to her adult life.
Education
Korjus stayed in the public schooling system in Careon from pre-primary school to her graduation from Vene Secondary School in 1995. Throughout her time in primary and secondary school, Korjus excelled academically, maintaining high grades and participating in various extracurricular activities such as the school's debate club and art club.
After graduating from Vene, Korjus opted to take a one-year sabbatical to travel across Ecros and Ostlandet, during which she studied the architecture and urban design of several major cities in those regions. This experience abroad reinforced her growing passion for architecture and inspired her to apply to the Andronikos University of the Arts.
At AUA, Korjus pursued a Bachelor of Architecture degree, taking courses in architectural design, structural engineering, urban planning, and architectural history. Korjus also participated in several student organizations, including the university's chapter of the National Architects Association. Korjus graduated cum laude in 1999.
Following her undergraduate studies, Korjus was accepted into the Master of Architecture program at AUA. Over the next two years, she specialized in sustainable design and urban renewal, completing a graduate thesis on integrating green infrastructure into historic city centers. Korjus graduated with her Master of Architecture degree in 2001.
Architecture career
After completing her graduate studies, Korjus began her professional career as an architect. She joined the Sidewinder-based firm Sidemia in late 2001, where she worked on a variety of commercial and residential projects throughout Nyx. Some of her early commissions included the redesign of the Careon City Hall, the expansion of the Tassitud Maritime Museum, and the design of the geriatric ward of Retrovertiigo Mercy Hospital.
In 2005, Korjus founded her own architectural practice, Koevvia, in Careon. Koevvia has since undertaken a number of projects in Nyx, specializing in sustainable design and urban renewal. Some of Koevvia's most notable projects include the renovation of the Careon Theater, the design and oversight of the Nyx Ecovillage, and the redesign of the Avengisian National Library.
Korjus has received several awards for her architectural work, including the NAA Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design in 2008 for her work on the Nyx Ecovillage and the NAA Award for Excellence in Urban Renewal in 2012 for her work on the redesign of the Avengisian National Library. Korjus has also been featured in several publications, including the Avengisian Journal of Architecture and the North Ecros Building Design Catalogue.
Private life
Korjus is married to Uudo Korjus, a retired Avengisian National Guard officer. The couple met in 1997 at a fundraiser at Saint Vasilius Eastern Orthodox Church and married in 2004. They have two children together, a son named Tõnis (born 2006) and a daughter named Liisa (born 2008).
Political career
Korjus' interest in politics began during her time at university, where she would frequently attend rallies focused around advancing left-leaning policies, such as abortion and LGBT rights. Korjus has admitted to participating in the Sunshine riots of 1997, though claims to not have engaged in any violent behavior.
Korjus' first experience with campaigning for elected office occurred in 2000, when she assisted the then-current Head of the Avengisian Council, Kerti Määtö, with his re-election campaign. Her efforts helped Määtö win his re-election, with Consilium estimating that 3.4% of Määtö's share of votes were a direct result of Korjus' actions.
Korjus decided to run for elected office herself in 2008, entering the race as an independent to represent her home region of Nyx on the Council of Avengis. Though she lost her bid, she was able to gain a staggering 25.8% of the votes cast for Nyx's seat, an unusually high number for a first-time candidate.
In 2010, Korjus joined the Agrarian Progressivists Party, and would continue to run under its banner from that point onward. Korjus would attempt to secure the Nyxian council seat again in 2012, but narrowly lost the APP primaries to Juho Kuutel by four points.
Korjus successfully secured her place on the Council of Avengis during her third attempt to win the Nyxian seat, coming in first in the 2016 election and securing 31.8% of the vote. During her time on the council, Korjus has been an advocate for environmental conservation and LGBT rights, with her work on the latter assisting in the culmination and passing of the Equal Union Act of 2017, a bill that legalized same-sex marriage and adoption in Avengis.
Korjus would win reelection in the 2020 election, and subsequently won the Council election to become Head of the Avengisian Council with a vote of 6-3, the closest a vote for the position has gotten. Korjus would successfully defend her seat as Head in the 2024 Council election.
