Over the past year, I have been proud to be a member of RIBA North East’s Regional Council, representing Future Architects across our region and Northumbria University’s student body.
As a sixth-year student, and now a Part II graduate, this presented an exciting opportunity towards the end of my academic journey to engage with the local architectural community as I transition into practice.
A highlight of this role was the invitation to attend the UK Members Forum at 66 Portland Place this July. It was a fantastic experience to connect with the wider RIBA community and learn more about the activities of different UK branches.
We are so fortunate in the North East to have such an active architectural scene, with Newcastle home to two well-established architecture schools and various practices working locally, nationally, and internationally. As an architecture student, this means that there is no shortage of opportunities to engage with regional activity, from cross-school competitions and social events to exhibitions, building tours, lecture series, and mentoring schemes.
Beyond graduation, we have the Young Architectural Practitioner’s Forum (YAPF), a committee dedicated to supporting early-career architects. The YAPF provide fantastic opportunities to learn, socialise, and build your network across the region and beyond, making the North East an exciting and welcoming place to begin your architectural career.
At the UK Members Forum, I was particularly inspired by RIBA West Midlands’ Matt Blakeley and law student Hamaam Shire, who are involved with the Birmingham Young Person Design Council. This initiative highlights the value of inclusive design consultation that is reflective of place, as Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe.
Listening to Hamaam’s perspective as a law student made me reflect on the benefit of expanding our North East events to include non-architectural students and professionals and introduce more diverse viewpoints.
As a student member of Regional Council, I have participated in our region’s ‘Future Practice’ roundtable discussions. These quarterly meetings bring together architectural students and academics from Newcastle and Northumbria Universities with local practitioners, affording fair and equal space to debate the future of architectural practice and the nuances of doing so within our regional context.
The 'Scanning the Horizon’ session at the Members Forum felt like a natural extension of these conversations on a broader scale. Group discussions on global trends and their implications for architectural practice with members from across the country interestingly revealed shared sentiments and regional differences. There was a collective call to educate clients on the value of qualified architects and ensure sustainable business practices to protect the profession as we look ahead.
The ‘Member Vision for the House of Architecture’ session was equally engaging. As a member of the Future Architects Panel for the House of Architecture programme, I was familiar with the presentation content. However, it was great to hear responses from colleagues across RIBA North who shared our enthusiasm for a broader programme beyond RIBA London and learn more from the programme directors.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as Student Representative on the North East Regional Council, thanks to the supportive and welcoming environment fostered by my fellow RIBA members. Events like the UK Members Forum are invaluable platforms to recognise and celebrate the work of the grassroots volunteers responsible for creating such a positive community within the profession.
