Panel

  • Veronica Barbaro

    Veronica Barbaro

    MSc, MRTPI

    Diagonal

    Veronica is a chartered Town Planner now working in digital. She has a real interest in sustainable place-making, resilient design, regeneration and community-driven development. Her experience includes over 10 years in private multi-disciplinary consultancy, working on a breadth of major projects, from national infrastructure schemes (including HS2) to complex city centre regeneration sites in Bristol, Bath and the wider South West. Veronica has a robust understanding of the development management process, as well as development economics and viability considerations. She is a visiting lecturer at UWE and has recently become an Academy of Urbanism Academician.

    Inclusive Design, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Lucy Barron

    Lucy Barron

    BArch, BArch, PGCert, CA

    BiBO

    Lucy is an Accredited Conservation Architect who specialises in the care, repair and adaptation of heritage buildings, including the design of new buildings within sensitive locations. Lucy's work includes advising public clients, private clients and design professionals on the impact of development as well as retrofitting and the strategic design of heritage estate and town centres. She has also produced a number of design guides and planning policy documents. Lucy is a visiting lecturer at UWE, Bath Spa, Bath University and Oxford Brookes, and heads up the RIBA group within Bath.

    Climate, Heritage, Strategic Development

  • Austen Bates

    Austen Bates

    BEng (Hons), CEng, MCISBE, BREEAM AP

    Ramboll

    Austen is a consultant with 20 years’ experience in the field of sustainability. Throughout his career he has led a diverse range of projects covering global circular economy and decarbonisation challenges, through to working with design teams and clients to deliver cutting edge sustainable award-winning buildings. Austen has worked with many of the UK’s prominent developers and cultural institutions to support them in their transformation towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

    Climate, Heritage, Strategic Development

  • Alex Bell

    Alex Bell

    BSc(Hons) MArch ARB RIBA CR, Passive House Designer, Retrofit Coordinator

    Chapter 2 Architects

    Alex is an architect and Passive House Designer with 25 years’ experience in commercial practice across a range of sectors. He has come to realise that being a generalist is itself a specialism, and he can offer any new project the breadth of his previous experience in design, problem solving and optimisation. He is redirecting his focus towards retrofit and reuse to make a positive impact on the challenges created by the climate emergency.

    Climate, Heritage

  • 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

  • Juliet Bidgood

    Juliet Bidgood

    MA Dip Arch RIBA

    Juliet Bidgood

    Juliet Bidgood is an architect/urban designer and RIBA Client Adviser. She is experienced in working with communities, enterprises and organisations to envision and shape engaging places. She is expert in design policy, design for public buildings and spaces, and residential neighbourhoods. A design review panel chair since 2010 Juliet led the co-design of the West of England Placemaking Charter. Formerly a senior government advisor at CABE and founding member of the award-winning collaborative practice muf Architecture/Art.

    Inclusive Design, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Georgina Bolton

    Georgina Bolton

    MA

    Bristol City Council / Freelance Arts Producer and Consultant

    Georgina is an experienced Arts Producer and Consultant specialising in public realm projects across the arts, heritage and built environment sectors. Previously at Situations and Trust New Art, she is now Public Art Officer for Bristol City Council, collaborating across teams to strategise, secure and manage cultural investment for Bristol’s public realm via the planning system, advocating for the transformative role that arts and culture plays in our everyday lives. Georgina is a Trustee of Terrestrial UK and a Lecturer on UWE’s MA/MFA Curating programme.

    Heritage, 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

  • Tom Brown

    Tom Brown

    MSc, BSc (Hons), BREEAM AP, CIBSE LCC & LCEA, CEnv

    Hoare Lea

    Since joining Hoare Lea as a Graduate in 2013, Tom has gained over 9 year’s experience as a Sustainability Consultant. Tom has led on a range of project typologies of varying scales, with a focus on office and residential development in the South West region, particularly Bristol. Tom now leads a team of consultants across Hoare Lea offices in Bristol and Cardiff, striving to deliver best in class sustainable assets. Tom joined the Design West panel in 2022.

    Climate