Profile

I love architecture and am infectiously passionate about architectural education, research and practice.

I have been fortunate to spend my adult life collecting varied academic, industry and personal experiences exploring the built environment across a broad range of cultural and physical topographies. I received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Iowa State University (USA); a MEng degree from The University of Tokyo (Japan); and a PhD from Loughborough University (UK).

I am the founding partner of RaRe (Radical Realism), a mission-driven design practice focused on reframing our everyday relationships between humans and the planet – in an era of climate crisis, inequality, and systemic complexity, the practice focuses on design interventions that reshape systems, relationships, and long-term change. I have practiced architecture for prestigious and award-winning architectural firms in the USA, including Herb Beckhard and Frank Richlan (HB+FR) and OPN Architects. As an architectural designer, I have extensive experience co-designing community centres in New York and other public institutions including museums & libraries.

At Loughborough, I have had the privilege to lead the foundation and development of architecture (BArch & MArch).  I currently teach design thinking, architectural design and systems-based approaches to the built environment and lead the Adaptable Futures Research Group. I have served on an educational committees and accreditation panels nationally and internationally. I am a visiting professor at Beijing Institute of Technology in China and Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil. I have the pleasure of regularly being invited to speak at professional and academic events around the world.

There is no doubt I love architecture and its transformative potential, but this emotion is coupled with an incredible passion to give back to others; to my students, colleagues, profession, communities and society. This excitement to inspire, support, transform and impact others and our built environment drives me professionally, in my teaching, research and leadership and forms a powerful basis for my work. It’s my desire to be a creative leader and responsible ambassador for the University’s continued success, to establish world-leading research with strategic global partners and through my ambitious work, help shape our global fight against climate change, create vibrant and inclusive communities, improve our well-being and enable a new generation of critical practitioners, who can reflect, challenge and open up new possibilities for our profession. 

External activities

  • Visiting Professor, Federal University of Pernambuco, 2026
  • Visiting Professor, Beijing Institute of Technology, 2025-2027
  • Scientific Committee, (From) Adaptive Reuse (to) Adaptive Architecture, Carleton University, 2026
  • Scientific Committee, The Built Environment and Beyond: A special focus on Circular Economy, IIT Bombay, 2026
  • External Academic, Teaching and Learning Committee, Architectural Association, 2021-2024
  • Member, RIBA Educational Publishing Advisory Panel, 2019-
  • Judge, Fit Out Awards, Business River, 2024-2025
  • Secretary, UIA / UNESCO Validation Panel, University of Pecs, Hungary, 2024
  • Secretary, UIA / UNESCO Validation Panel, The University of Cairo; Egypt, 2022
  • Guest Editor, Fluid Regions, Special Issue in Architecture and Culture, 2022
  • Organising and Scientific Committee, Region, AHRA 2021 Conference, Loughborough, 2021
  • External Examiner, Architectural Association, 2020

Public Lectures & Exhibitions  

Invited Speaker,

  • Adaptable Building Conference, Rotterdam, NL, 2026
  • Invited Speaker, Adaptable Offices, Mute Design, Warsaw, Poland, 2025
  • Guest Lecturer, Adaptability & Circularity, Capable Research Project (collaboration between UK and Indian universities), Liverpool John Moores University, 2025
  • Invited Academic, Adaptable Urban Commons. Lectures, Design Studio and Research consultation, BNCA, India, 2025
  • Invited Speaker, Trivandi Webinar, Repurposing Venues for Major Sporting Events, 2025
  • Invited Speaker & Panelist, Clerkenwell Design Week, Adaptable Design, London, 2025
  • Invited Speaker and Panel Moderator, Circular Economy Week, ReLondon, London, 2024
  • Invited Academic, Lectures & Design Studio, South China University of Technology, 2024
  • Invited Speaker, Healthy Living Symposium, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China, 2024
  • Guest Lecturer, RaRe (Radical Realism) - speculative design thinking for critical practice, Central Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, 2024
  • (Re)Collections Installation. RaRe Design Lab (w/Lewis Foster-Jeapes & Cameron Wiles). Materials Matters Fair. London Design Festival.
  • Guest Lecturer, Neuroarchitecture: emotion as a function of the design, Guangzhou University, 2024
  • Guest Lecturer, Shenzhen University, School of Architecture, 2024
  • Guest Lecturer, LU-Arc: The future of Architectural Education, RISEBA University, Lativa, 2024

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including: