In celebration of National Inclusion Week, we hosted the RIBA Inclusion by Design Festival, from Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October.
Find out more about the virtual events below.
RIBA Inclusion by Design Festival 2020 events
The architecture of gender at work with Professor Elisabeth Kelan
Monday 28 September, 12pm to 1pm (BST)
Led by Professor Elisabeth Kelan, an expert in leadership and organisational change, this event focused on the architecture of gender in the workplace. Elisabeth also discussed how cultural change across organisations and professions can be achieved.
Senior figures from the architecture profession also joined the discussion, including Simone de Gale, Sumita Singha and Tim Clark, as well as Adrian Dobson, RIBA Executive Director of Professional Services.
A professor at Essex Business School, University of Essex, Elisabeth’s research focuses on women in leadership, men as change agents for gender equality, generations at work, and diversity and inclusion. She has published three books and numerous peer reviewed articles in academic journals. She has been awarded a Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellowship to study the future of work, digitalisation and gender.
Social mobility and the talent question
Tuesday 29 September, 12pm to 1pm (BST)
RIBA President Alan Jones was joined by a range of experts, including the Sutton Trust, to discuss the vital importance of supporting social mobility in the pursuit of equitable and diverse workplaces, and share tips on how to secure and develop the best talent.
Pride in architecture
Wednesday 30 September, 3pm to 4pm (BST)
Organised in partnership with Architecture LGBT+, this event explored the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship in the workplace. The expert panel included Matthew Todd, writer and former Editor of Attitude Magazine; Paris Lees, writer, campaigner, model, leading the fight for trans rights in the UK; and Moud Goba, an LGBTI and human rights activist and one of the founding members of UK Black Pride.
The big questions on race with John Amaechi OBE
Thursday 1 October, 1:30pm to 2:45pm (BST)
To kick off Black History Month 2020, we welcomed guest speaker John Amaechi OBE. An organisational psychologist, John discussed the big questions around modern racism. With live questions from the audience, he explored the role that senior leaders play in creating an inclusive workplace and profession.
Disability and design: what makes a building accessible?
Friday 2 October, 12pm to 1pm (BST)
How do you create equitable and accessible buildings? A panel of experts who specialise in the design, construction and maintenance of accessible buildings led this inspiring and enlightening discussion, which looked at the need for access and inclusion to be considered from the very outset and through every stage of a building project.
To watch the videos, you will need to create a free RIBA Academy account. You don't have to be an RIBA member to do this.
RIBA's commitment to creating meaningful change
The Inclusion by Design Festival is part of the RIBA’s plans to develop and support equity and inclusion within the organisation and architecture profession. In a blog, Equity, diversity and inclusion: putting our house in order, RIBA CEO Alan Vallance sets out some of the steps needed to create meaningful change on issues of equity and acknowledges the RIBA’s record to date.
