“Women creatives are the pulse of inspiration”

First established in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) takes place every year on 8 March with the aim to raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of women. This year, the theme is to #AccelerateAction towards a gender equal world – a theme particularly relevant to architecture as a historically male dominated industry. 

According to the results of the 2024 RIBA Business Benchmarking Survey, 39% of architects in the UK are reported to be women. While there is still much work to be done to increase the representation of women in architecture, we are pleased to have a higher percentage of women than the industry average within our practice.

This year, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we highlight some of the women at Scott Brownrigg who are making an impact in architecture. Hear from some of our recently promoted colleagues as they share highlights of their career in architecture so far, insight into their role and some of the achievements they are most proud of.

Beth Holt, Head of People & Culture

As Head of People & Culture, Beth is responsible for our people strategy and provides expertise, support and guidance to employees across all our studios.

“I’ve been working in HR for almost 20 years and have held almost every job title possible within HR over that time, so I really have worked my way up over those years.  I’ve always had a particular love for working on staff engagement and benefits and feel proud to work on projects that can positively impact everyone.”

Fiona Grieve, Associate Architect 

As an Associate Architect within our life sciences team, Fiona is not only responsible for the design of high-profile projects, but leads on social value initiatives across the practice, ensuring that people are placed at the heart of what we do. 

“I am most proud of the work I have done to scale up social value in the practice. Embedding it in project processes, establishing and expanding the Community Involvement Programme and leading various charity design projects and initiatives. These efforts have strengthened our social impact, reinforcing Scott Brownrigg’s commitment to equity, community engagement, and creating meaningful, lasting change.”

Nadia Balde, Document Controller

Nadia has worked hard over the past year to transition from her role in studio support to forge a new career in Document Control. As Document Controller, Nadia continues to deliver great support to our architectural designers on project related tasks. 

“While working as a Studio Assistant at Scott Brownrigg, I have developed technical skills by undertaking training with the Document Control team, while at same time improving our guest experience in the studio and providing support to the staff with their project requirements.”

Camilla Whitehead, Bid Manager

As Bid Manager, Camilla is responsible for the smooth management of the entire bid process, from seeking out and assessing opportunities to creating competitive responses to public and private sector bids.

“Managing winning bids for large-scale infrastructure projects and securing places on various public sector frameworks are my proudest career achievements. These bids involved navigating complex requirements and collaborating with diverse teams to develop client-focussed solutions.” 

Millie Achaa, Head of Design Management Unit 

As Head of Design Management Unit, Millie helps to bridge the gap between design thinking and project management and ensure better outcomes on a range of projects in the UK and internationally.  

“As a woman in construction, I am proud to navigate an industry evolving alongside AI and advanced technology where expertise, not gender, defines success. The playing field is shifting, and I am excited to be part of a future where innovation drives inclusivity and excellence.” 

Emily Davies, Compliance & Risk Coordinator

As Compliance & Risk Coordinator, Emily plays a key role in quality assurance, assisting with project audits and documentation while ensuring premises compliance and training in alignment with international standards for quality management systems. 

“I have worked hard to bring transparency to our appointment processes, as well as exceeding project audit targets, meaning more projects are frequently in better shape.” 

Fatima Salman, Associate Architect 

As Associate Architect within our residential team, Fatima coordinates teams on some of our most complex projects, while playing a key role in championing design quality and consistency across the practice. 

“As a woman of ethnic minority, I'm proud to have carved a space for myself in this industry and advocated for my skills and experience. More importantly, I am dedicated to encouraging the growth of others by offering mentorship at universities and practical experience to students, to foster a more inclusive and diverse profession, celebrating the range of vibrant talents within our community.”

Adijat Mobolaji, Senior Document Controller

As Senior Document Controller, Adijat manages complex workflows and supports project delivery at all RIBA stages. Helping the wider Document Control team to promote efficiency and high standards across all our projects. 

‘‘I’m proud of the growth I have experienced in my career, especially in becoming a Senior Document Controller. Some of the achievement that stand out to me include streamlining document management processes, ensuring seamless collaboration across teams, I’m also proud of the trust and responsibilities I’ve gained over time, which have allowed me to lead projects and contribute to the success of the team and organisation.’’ 

Amy Bourne, Associate Project Leader

As an Associate Project Leader within our life sciences team, Amy is not only responsible for the design of high-profile projects but is a skilled project manager and WELL accredited professional – championing the creation of healthy working environments.  

"I am proud to lead the Healthy Environment team, which for me is a commitment to creating lasting change. It is about inspiring action, fostering sustainability, and shaping a future where people thrive."

Find out more about International Women's Day here. 

International Women's Day Talk - Thursday 06 March

On Thursday 6 March, International Women’s Day guest speaker Dr. Joanna Martin will be joining us in our London studio on to talk about the 'New Paradigm Leadership'. We have a limited number of spaces available, however if you are interested in attending, please contact events@scottbrownrigg.com. Find out more here.