The AHMM Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Working Group is formed of a small group of volunteer employees who have been working together since 2020 to identify the challenges and opportunities that exist in relation to ED&I at AHMM. Our business exists in the context of a wider system built on structural privileges and prejudices that control opportunity and representation at all levels of society. There is no roadmap for how we can better represent the diverse society that we design for, however it is our shared vision that by positively engaging in discussions surrounding ED&I, AHMM can develop a model for supporting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion that is bespoke to the structure of our business, ingrained in our internal culture, and directly related to the way in which we design and deliver great architecture for the cities and places we serve.
‘A practice that better represents our diverse society, while also promoting an inclusive culture, will become a better informed place of work and, as a result, an even more capable organisation.'
Peter Morris, Managing Director AHMM
In early 2022, the ED&I Working Group published the practice’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report. The report identified a range of recommended activities to help AHMM become a leader in addressing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within our industry and within our business. As an overarching recommendation, the Working Group identified the need to provide dedicated resource that is empowered with both authority and time to drive these priority actions forward. As a result a role was developed for an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, and Rochelle Dalphinis was appointed to the role on a 12 month secondment.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Group
Ashwin Goyal
I joined AHMM in 2014 having worked for a diverse range of practices in the UK, India, Russia, and the Middle East. Being born in India and having had this varied work experience, I bring a different viewpoint to the ED&I group. I am also currently on the leadership group for the Architecture Race Forum and hope to positively contribute and share my knowledge to AHMM.
Claudia Paz Melendez
I joined AHMM in January 2022, after studying at Auburn University. I had the opportunity to participate in the architecture school's design-build program, Rural Studio, where I worked with a team for a few years post-graduation building a project for a non-profit organisation. I was born in Venezuela and have lived in different cities in the United States, Canada, and Italy. This exposure to different environments has given me an appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives. By engaging with the ED&I group I wish to support and contribute the efforts of becoming a more inclusive practice.
Kristen Barnes
I joined the ED&I group to better educate myself and make sure there are discussions taking place to highlight where improvements can be made, how we can make these improvements happen and set some targets. I also sit on the Architectural Race Forum and hope to use this as a bridge the close the gap and share my knowledge to/ from AHMM.
Matthew Murphy
I joined AHMM in 2010 and have worked as an architect across a range of scales and sectors within the practice. I benefit from many privileges, and by working with the ED&I group I have tried to use these privileges to amplify the voices of others within the practice and help create a place of work that promotes a meaningful diversity of thought and action.
Patricia Ribeiro
I joined AHMM in 2005 as an architectural assistant. As a mixed-race person, I became aware from a young age of what it is like to feel a lack of belonging. I helped establish the Gender Pay Gap Working Group at the end of 2018, whose work led to the creation and implementation of AHMM’s Gender Pay Gap Action Plan. Creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and profession requires consistent action by everyone, every day. I hope my experience brings a positive contribution towards AHMM becoming an ever-better place of work for all its employees.
Rochelle Dalphinis
I joined the ED&I group to better educate myself and make sure there are discussions taking place to highlight where improvements can be made, how we can make these improvements happen and set some targets. I also sit on the Architectural Race Forum and hope to use this as a bridge the close the gap and share my knowledge to/ from AHMM.
Stephanie Ruggles
I joined the ED&I group to better educate myself and make sure there are discussions taking place to highlight where improvements can be made, how we can make these improvements happen and set some targets. I also sit on the Architectural Race Forum and hope to use this as a bridge the close the gap and share my knowledge to/ from AHMM.
The Other Box
In 2020 AHMM started working with the diversity and inclusion consultancy The Other Box. In the same year The Other Box delivered a series of Unconscious Bias training sessions for staff with a focus on Directors, Associate Directors, Associates and Heads of Department.
Working with the practice’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Group, The Other Box created a survey to gain a better understanding of the cultural, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds of the people within the practice, and how we as a practice understood the subject of diversity and inclusion at AHMM.
This anonymous survey was compiled by 350 members of staff (69 percent), the results of which were collated and analysed by TOB who then prepared an independent report. The results of this have informed the actions of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Group.
_The Space
In 2020 several members of staff came together to create _The Space, a volunteer group that aims to promote a safe space for open discussion, exploration, and celebration of the different cultures and varied perspectives represented within AHMM.
With an initial focus on race, the group has expanded to include all marginalised groups within the industry. Working with an external consultancy Bridging the Gap, _The Space have hosted forum discussions such as Not all superheroes wear capes; No, you cannot touch my hair; Queer and Muslim: Nothing to reconcile; Conversations with children; When women like me occupy spaces not designed for me; and Allyship.
Women’s History Month
Each March AHMM marks Women’s History Month with a series of talks and events. Most recently, for example, events have included author Jane Hall discussing her book 'Woman Made: Great Women Designers’, A CPD session on the XXAOC Project with Sarah Akigbogun, and a CPD on Platforming Marginalised Voices in the Built Environment with Siufan Adey.
Gender Pay gap working group
In 2019 an independent cross-practice working group, set up through the practice’s Employee Ownership Forum, carried out a review of all of the practice’s policies to identify potential gender bias. As a result, a 16 point Action Plan was developed and approved by the Board and is now being implemented.
The Action Plan has been a catalyst for the practice to take a step back and to look at our processes at all phases of the employee life cycle - recruitment, development, progression, and retention - recognising the things we are already doing that have a positive impact, but also where we can improve. The implementation of the plan will be continuously monitored to ensure that our actions lead to positive benefits in the professional and personal lives of all our employees and, in tandem with this, to further closing our gender pay gap.
Black History Month
_The Space launched their first series of events during Black History Month 2020. These included a series of lunchtime CPDs and talks from people including artist Hamid Maiye, community gardener and activist Carole Wright, and Wretched of the Earth founder Kieran Kirkwood. An online Gambian cooking class was also organised. The month also included the first of the ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ series of Friday Night Presentations, in which staff share their family histories, offering the chance to learn more about the people behind the practice.
LGBTQ+ History Month
2021 saw the practice’s first LGBTQ+ History month programme. A volunteer panel invited guest speakers to join us in a series of online events.
The weekly online talks were accompanied by a weekly newsletter that included staff recommendations for books, films and podcasts created by or about LGBTQ+ people.
One participant responded:
“I am so happy that AHMM did this - so thank you to the individuals who organised everything and gave up their time. I felt like it was really well thought out and tailored to AHMM - not only architects but to all who work here, and it was nice to see different types of events - some where you could fully participate and some where you didn't have to. I really thought it was great...so thank you!”
| Link | Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 27.03.23 | AHMM Poet in Residence | |
| 09.02.23 | UEL School of Architecture Broadgate Prize 1 Broadgate | |
| 09.11.22 | AHMM APPOINTS EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LEAD |
