Panel

  • Laura Alvarez

    Laura Alvarez

    BArch (Hons), PG Dip, MAUD, UDGRP, PhD

    Urban Design Group

    Laura practiced architecture and urban design for over two decades. In her Nottingham City Council role, she was the creator of the award-winning Design Quality Framework and its Co-PLACE engagement platform. She is a guest lecturer at various UK universities and she conducts research in practice and has numerous publications on social sustainability, design quality and community engagement; including the recent A Beginner’s Guide to Urban Design and Development: the ABC of quality, sustainable design.

    Density, Housing, People & Place

  • Pepper Barney

    Pepper Barney

    BA(Hons), BArch, PGCert

    BiBO

    Pepper is an architect and masterplanner with a post-graduate specialism in urban regeneration. Previous project experience included working on strategic housing allocation sites as well as smaller rural brownfield infill sites for private developers. Recently, her work has focused on town centre regeneration and supporting landowners with rural diversification strategies.

    Housing, Inclusive Growth, Landscape, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Tom Bell

    Tom Bell

    Ba (Hons), MArch, PGDip, ARB, RIBA

    Ridge & Partners LLP

    Tom is a Chartered Architect at Ridge & Partners LLP, the RIBA Wessex Regional Chair, and was shortlisted for the RIBAJ Rising Stars being described as a ‘rare balance of big ideas and drive’. Representing 2600+ members across the Region, Tom has established an array of initiatives that champion design excellence, advocates and upskills on climate literacy, and working with client groups, policy-leaders and central government promotes policy-led improvements; from planning to procurement; to facilitate better buildings and outcomes. Within his day job, Tom is an Architect at Ridge & Partners LLP, a multi-disciplinary practice with 800+ property and construction professionals nationwide, an AJ100 and Building Magazine Top 20 Building Consultancy. Working predominantly between the Bristol and their Cheltenham office, Tom is part of the project team for the £2.6bn Gigaplant in Blyth - a UK first, and the fourth largest building in the country - alongside a number of more regionally-focused commercial, office, healthcare and residential projects. Tom values working for a multi-disciplinary practice as he considers collaboration to be key to challenging the Climate, Biodiversity and Ecological Emergencies, facilitating sustainable innovation across disciplines, and to design and deliver better buildings for clients, occupants and future generations.

    Climate, Health, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Rob Beswick

    Rob Beswick

    BA Landscape Arch, Dip LA, CMLI

    B|D Landscape Architects

    Through a broad and diverse background Rob has worked on a range of internationally acclaimed and award-winning projects for design practices in Bath, Bristol, London and Chicago. As founder and director of B|D Landscape Architects Rob’s interest lies in innovative contemporary landscape design that leaves a sustainable legacy for the future. Rob is a Landscape Institute Committee member for Awards & Competitions, External Examiner and visiting Lecturer for Leeds Beckett University, a Trustee for the Cheltenham Design Foundation and a Design Council Expert.

    Housing, Landscape, People & Place

  • Graham Bizley

    Graham Bizley

    BArch BSc(Hons)

    Prewett Bizley Architects

    Graham is a director of Prewett Bizley Architects, a practice specializing in low-energy and low-carbon residential design. He is a part-time teaching fellow at the University of Bath and is a visiting reviewer at various UK schools of Architecture. He is a regular contributor to the architectural press and the author of two books on architectural detailing.

    Climate, Density, Heritage, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Adriana Bonilla Barragan

    Adriana Bonilla Barragan

    MSc UD-Arq-Part II (ARB, RIBA exemption)

    Thrive Architects

    Adriana is an urban designer with a background in architecture. She has over 25 years of experience delivering design quality through masterplans and urban design projects of various scales and complexity. Adriana’s work involves creating compelling development visions and masterplans that can become successful places that benefit all. She believes in the value of good quality holistic design that can only be achieved through collaboration, a robust understanding of context and the economic and development process.

    Density, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Chris Borak

    Chris Borak

    BSc PGDip MIOA

    Hydrock

    Chris has two decades of experience in engineering and 16 years as an Acoustic Engineering Consultant. He has provided design advise and assessments for a diverse range of projects from nationally significant infrastructure to local arts venues. He has specialised in the control of noise & vibration and acoustic design of buildings, collaborating with design teams across sectors, including: education, music & arts, film & TV, industrial, defence, research, energy, leisure, residential, health care and education.

    Highways & Transport, Housing, Strategic Development

  • Matt Brown

    Matt Brown

    BA (Hons), MArch, ARB

    Bristol City Council

    Matt Brown is an Architect and Development Manager with a history of working across art, architecture, planning, development, and urban design. He currently works in the public sector as a Development Manager in Bristol City Council's Housing Delivery Team. He has previously worked for Croydon Council, East, public works, Alex Schweder, and Freehaus, and is skilled in design, fabrication, development management, teaching, and policy development.

    Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Yuli Cadney-Toh

    Yuli Cadney-Toh

    BA(Arch) Hon Dip Arch RIBA

    Chair

    Yuli is an architect with over 25 years’ experience in international architecture, leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver design-led buildings in Europe, the USA and Australia. Her architectural career has involved design and management of projects from inception to completion, and includes commercial towers, airports, residential spaces and workplaces. In recent years her emphasis has been on working with cross-disciplinary teams on residential and mixed-use urban regeneration schemes in the UK, integrating architectural, urbanism and landscape principles.

    Density, Housing, People & Place