Experience

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  Bristol City Council

  • Bristol, United Kingdom

  • Principal Urban Designer

    • Jan 2017 - Present
    • Bristol, United Kingdom

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  Barton Willmore

  • Reading, United Kingdom

  • Senior Designer

    • Jan 2015 - May 2015
    • Reading, United Kingdom

    Housing Layout DesignerHave produced in Britain hundreds of housing layouts. One recently designed was a 670 residential-unit masterplan (2015) on a 26-hectare farm land site with significant constraints and opportunities. Design flair and clear understanding of customer needs and the application of good urban design principles secured the expansion of Persimmon Homes' portfolio in Yorkshire.MasterplannerThe Thurleigh Airfield site offered the twofold opportunity for a major employment centre and extensive new housing. Prepared masterplan options (2015) exploring different configurations of land use components with the vision of transforming the barren and nondescript field into a well-connected and distinctive New Town. could be developed in spatial terms.

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  Design For Homes

  • Design Competition Manager

    • 2015 - 2015

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  Birmingham City Council

  • Birmingham, United Kingdom

  • Senior Urban Designer

    • 2006 - Jul 2014
    • Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Urban Design AdvocateProvided consistent and high quality design advice for submitted developments in Birmingham, ranging from the small to the multimillion investments. In an always busy planning authority, Very active in the bi-monthly Design Review Panel where large scale projects for Birmingham City Centre are under consideration . Prepare urban design frameworks and other design guidance demonstrating future development potential and enhancement opportunities for regeneration in specific areas of the city. In this role, was creative and versatile, responding quickly to the ever-changing needs of the department, the stakeholders and the city.Masterplanner As design leader for the High Speed Railway Depot site, was responsible for this complex, challenging yet exciting masterplan (2014) for the multibillion pound major infrastructure enabler. This plan became the blueprint of best practice in current negotiations for the local authority to secure future contracts from central government as well as employment for the city. The junction of Stratford Road and Highgate Road is a major 'gateway' towards Birmingham City Centre. Prepared the masterplan (2012) with a vision of transforming the unsightly pockets of void and semi-derelict premises into a well contained, coherent and attractive inner city route, extending and enabling social and economic activity. Particularly proud of recent progress where local support towards the vision is driving imminent investment.Housing Layouts Designer Designed a 350 residential-unit outline urban extension (2013) for award winner Birmingham City Council Housing BMHT initiative. Provided detailed design guidance (2013) to the final phase of a community housing-led Perry Common regeneration project. This was a unique opportunity for the BCC Housing Department to transform a difficult edge of a flood plain site into a modern 225 residential-unit extended neighbourhood.

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  MADE

  • Birmingham, United Kingdom

  • Creative Facilitator

    • 2004 - 2005
    • Birmingham, United Kingdom

    As freelance based worker, promoted the role of MADE to Coventry councillors; organised Architecture Centres Network, ACN-CABE Education seminars in Stoke-on-Trent; facilitated Creative Partnerships events in Birmingham and wrote the detailed outlines for events on policy for the built environment for the MADE - ENGLISH HERITAGE Design Champions programme and for the MADE-CABE Education 2005 events.

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  Creative Partnerships

  • Birmingham, United Kingdom

  • Creative Adviser

    • 2003 - 2005
    • Birmingham, United Kingdom

    As freelance creative adviser within this national government initiative, worked in collaboration with artists and fabricators, clear-cut, 8 intense design awareness workshops delivered to school children. Those led to inspiring temporary and permanent transformation of spaces in 4 schools in Birmingham and the Black Country.

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  Rural Community Council

  • Cali, Colombia

  • Chairperson

    • 1999 - 2000
    • Cali, Colombia

    In Cali, Colombia, as elected chairperson (1999-2000) represented residents to the municipality. Their participation in regional planning exercises was encouraged. This was a forum for voicing the aspirations of the rural community. Secured funding for vital infrastructure improvement projects.

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  Sociedad Colombiana de Arquitectos

  • Cali, Colombia

  • Board Member

    • 1984 - 2000
    • Cali, Colombia

    Repeatedly elected board member worked with diverse key personnel in local government and community representatives at all levels in the public and private sector in Colombia. Influenced policy making through guild’s effective participation, promoting peers work and design quality

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  Vasquez & Gomez Arquitectos Asociados

  • Cali, Colombia

  • Co-founder/Co-Manager

    • 1981 - 2000
    • Cali, Colombia

    In Colombia, immediately after graduation (1981) co-founded and co-managed the ground breaking architectural practice 'Vasquez & Gomez Architects Associates' . As the first female-only led firm in Cali, this practice is still leading in the market whilst also opening doors for new aspiring female architects. Over a period of 18 years designed and built an entire range of financial and institutional buildings, industrial and commercial centres and multi-storey housing. Programming activities and budget management were essential to ensure that projects were on schedule and the company remained cash flow positive.