In April 2023, The Architects’ Journal reported that the gender pay gap has widened at top practices. Does the root of this issue lie in family life choices? Or is it an endemic industry-wide problem? Join us to engage in a lively debate with our panel of experts whose expertise spans HR, EDI, recruitment, operations, entrepreneurship, and practice management.
The conversation will also discuss how we can collectively advocate for equal pay as individuals and as a group and will be followed by networking drinks sponsored by Buro Happold.
With:
Del Hossain, Associate Professor at Bartlett School of Archiecture (Chair)
Hazel Whittaker, Founder of Curio
Marsha Ramroop, EDI Strategist and Author
Julie Bramsdon, Head of People at Purcell
Pepper Barney, Co-founder of BiBO
Suzanne Ross, Head of Operations, Corstorphine & Wright
About this event
The 2023 statistics reported a widening gender pay gap within the Architecture industry across all levels of seniority. ‘The Gender pay gap has widened at top practices, 2023 figures show’, reported the Architects Journal on its front page on the 13th of April 2023.
This unfair trend has been pushing more women out of the profession, and young girls are currently questioning whether even to qualify. Other career paths seem more appealing, fairer, and more profitable. This will impact the future numbers of women reaching senior positions within the practice and the availability of mentoring and role models to future generations. It will also continue to impact our ability to design spaces better suited to the needs of women and girls.
Women in Architecture (WiA UK), representing the largest network of UK’s Women Architects since 1991, is addressing this equity problem at UKREiiF and examining the causes behind this issue, with input from Human Resources and Recruitment professionals as well as other professional women in the industry, from architecture to engineering.
Join us at this fringe event and engage with an expert panel examining whether family life choices are the root or whether it is an endemic industry problem. The conversation will also discuss how we can collectively advocate for equal pay as individuals and as a group.
The panel discussion will be followed by a networking and drinks event at Buro Happold Leeds office.
Speaker biographies
Del Hossain is a Career Coach, an Assoc. Professor of Architecture Practice Management & Entrepreneurship at the Bartlett, UCL. He is a Trustee of the LSA and Chairman of The People Committee’. Del is the Founder of 'THE WOW MIND,' a personal development / leadership training consultancy and podcast, and a founder of Adrem, one of the first architectural recruitment companies in the UK. Del is a qualified Wellbeing Psychologist and studied Business at Warwick Business School, and was a practicing Architect, and was the RIBA's Executive Editor in their Business books series.
Del has lead and developed companies and teams for over 25 years and was awarded London Business Mentor of the Year. He has been involved with start ups, supporting and growing businesses and teams across different industries including architecture, recruitment, property development, hospitality, marketing and across several countries including the UK, Dubai, Shanghai, HK and Bangladesh.
Hazel Whittaker is the founder of Curio, a recruitment agency that looks beyond the titles and CVs. After spending 10 years in the design industry, she switched to recruitment, working large agencies before seeing the need to create a consultancy that had a platform to represent all race, nationalities and genders. Curio was established to break the mould of the traditional recruitment process. Using our personal and human approach we match the right people with the right places.
Marsha Ramroop is a global award-winning Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategist, and Founder Director of Unheard Voice Consultancy Ltd. She has formulated a culture change methodology which has been recognised as successful with an international prize from the UN-backed conglomerate of best practice for personal and organisational development, the IFTDO, and with Brandon Hall HRD Gold Medals. As well as running her consultancy, Marsha works part-time as the Executive Director of EDI for Building People CIC, a hub that’s pulling together EDI resources and insight, as well as career pathways for underrepresented groups in the built environment.
Julie Bramsdon is Head of People at Purcell, providing full People remit to 280 employees, in the UK and Asia Pacific. Having worked across a variety of sectors including fashion, education and the built environment, Julie has worked in the architectural industry for the past seven years. She has seen the industry evolve, helping to establish more inclusive recruitment opportunities and to initiate outreach and community initiatives to help break down barriers for entry into the architectural profession at earlier stages.
As part of an MSc in International Human Resource Management in 2016, Julie initiated a project to explore the factors that affect career progression for Women in Architecture. A long-time supporter and advocate for women achieving their full potential in their professions, Julie has, for many years, been coaching, facilitating, and encouraging women through work transitions; seeking promotion, returning to work post a career gap, life stages.
She is an active member of Architectural HR Network, mentor to women in construction, involved in outreach projects working in schools to promote Architecture and is passionate about working with people from underrepresented groups.
Pepper Barney is an architect, masterplanner and educator with a post-graduate specialism in urban regeneration. She is a co-founder of BiBO - a collaborative multi-disciplinary practice bringing people together to design and develop more inclusive, resilient and sustainable places. To explore more inclusive modes of placemaking, BiBO have ended up developing an "urban room" in a rural town intended to gain a deeper understanding of commercial, economic, social and political contexts which influence the making/un-making of place.
Suzie (Suzanne) Ross, Head of Operations at AJ100 Top 15 Practice Corstorphine & Wright Ltd, oversees the People and Culture department for the 300+ team of Architectural, Technical and Operational experts. Suzie spearheads the Practice’s ED&I strategy, leading on an evolving and dynamic framework of ED&I initiatives to ensure that the Practice plays a leading role in stopping the outpouring of female talent from the architectural profession. Suzie intends to shine a spotlight on the various opportunities available to women within the industry, for the benefit of all.
Event Details
Inclusion statement
This event is designed to be inclusive and equitable, welcoming individuals of all gender identities and those from underrepresented and marginalized communities to participate. All are welcome and will be treated with dignity and respect.
Accessibility
If you require any adjustments to make your experience of this event more inclusive and equitable, please contact hello@wia-uk.org. We will do our best working with the venue to put effective adjustments in place.
Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or questions at hello@wia-uk.org
Recording & Photography
This event may be recorded or photographed. By entering the venue, you consent to being photographed or filmed as part of this event's recording and photography activities.
The event will open at 5:30pm for a prompt 6.00pm start.
Capacity
Tickets will be on a first-come-first-serve basis and will be limited to the first 80 attendees only.
Sustainability
No printed marketing material will be produced. There will be online registration and marketing of the event, no name badges or marketing materials.
Waste management at the venue will be through provision of mixed recycling and general waste bins.
We will aim to minimize as much waste as possible, with minimal food packaging, using ‘in-season foods.’ Provide as healthy and nutritious food as possible, serve appropriate portion sizes to prevent uneaten food, using non-disposable plates, cups, glasses and other utensils for serving.