Accidentally! I had applied to various universities to study Maths and Physics, but had one last space in my UCAS form, so I popped in Architecture at Duncan of Jordanstone and was offered a place.

I was completely lured in by the vast studios drenched in natural light, the rows of drawing boards and creative buzz of the art school. I always had a deep interest in creativity and design, and spent much of my childhood creating Lego masterpieces and painting and drawing, so architecture was a natural fit and I have never looked back.

Architecture was never discussed as a career option and I was a first-generation student, with grandparents who didn’t fully understand the point of educating women, so I feel extremely fortunate to be where I am today.

Biggest professional achievement?

It’s creating and nurturing the incredible culture we have at Studio LBA. My director team have been with us from the start and our ambitious associates joined us as graduates.

This home-grown team of truly amazing individuals has really shaped and defined who we are today. Thanks to their hard work and our shared values allow us to support one another, provide excellent customer experiences and create amazing buildings and spaces that transform lives.

Best advice you’ve received?

“Don’t fear failure.”

My parents have always been extremely supportive of any of my life decisions, some good and some really terrible. This unwavering support has made me so much more resilient when taking risks and embracing setbacks.

As a young emerging practice we are nimble, we can pivot, adapt and implement change with ease, which is exciting.    

What do you like most about your job?

I love learning about people, developing a client’s brief with them and gaining a deep understanding of the project requirements. This stage is key to laying a solid foundation for any project and building a lasting relationship with your client.

The creative process of then turning an idea into reality and the problem-solving along the way as part of a collaborative team is the fun part.

Even though I am not on the day-to-day of project running any more, I love checking in on designs, pin-ups and crits, to ensure the quality of information and client service is at the highest possible standards. 

And least about your job?

Our industry is currently facing numerous challenges, in relation to the housing shortage, climate and professional salaries. I feel that there is not enough holistic problem-solving going on in terms of the first two.

With regard to the salaries, we really need more support from our professional organisations in terms of how we set some minimum benchmarks for fees. 

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on and why?

It has to be our own studio in a steading conversion at our farm in Kinross. We acted as architects and main contractor and it was on site during Covid, so was incredibly challenging.

However, we are so incredibly proud of what we achieved on a limited budget and within such financially turbulent times, achieving a Net Zero EPC and lovely creative space to call home for Studio LBA.  

What – or who – tends to be your main inspiration when it comes to your role?

There are two amazing female leaders who our practice work with that I take a massive amount of inspiration and learn from on a daily basis.

One is Colette Grant, who is a friend, client and coach, and an incredible leader and businesswoman. Colette successfully built a property investment company, so has a deep understanding of our sector, she now focuses on mentoring and coaching, and works with myself and our team to help us find clarity in our thinking and in our life and has supported many of us to navigate through lives challenges. She has an amazing talent for storytelling, listening and such a sense of calm, she is such an inspiration for females in any industry.

We are also fortunate enough to be currently supported by Perceptive Communicators, which is led by Julie Moulsdale. Julie’s business insight and joy and passion she brings to every situation is so energising and definitely someone I look up to in terms of how I want to develop as a female business leader. 

Is there a particular project you wish you had delivered or has stood out to you?

In 2024 Chowdhury Walk by Al-Jawad Pike Architects really stood out to me. It is a small social housing project in London that demonstrates that good quality, sustainable and design led housing can be delivered on a modest budget.

The project is playful and high-impact, providing a strong community feel and delivering joy to both the neighbours and occupiers. The project utilised land that was formerly underutilised and used for garaging.

It is a great example of rejuvenating an urban site to create more homes. Our local authorities need to be looking at all opportunities across our built-up areas to address the current housing crisis. 

What are the biggest challenges your organisation has faced since Covid?

Project delays, whether this be due to slow and inefficient statutory processes or government unsettlement, and developers and investors pulling out of the UK. This stop-start nature of work has been really challenging to navigate and my usual approach to managing the finances of the practice has had to adapt.

Alongside this, we have had to become more diverse as a practice and cover multi-sector work to ensure our continued growth and success. 

Has anything changed for the better?

Although our team are in the studio four days a week, we do have the ability to work from anywhere and I feel that this flexibility is essential, particularly for our team with young families, dealing with the daily juggle. I am extremely passionate about encouraging my team back into the workplace after parental leave, in whatever form this takes, and this flexibility certainly makes it easier for them. We do also appreciate the fact that large design team meetings can now be hosted on-line, allowing everyone to be slightly more efficient with their time. 

What are your hobbies and interests?

At the time of applying for university, I also had to choose between a professional equestrian career or going to university. It was one of my toughest life decisions and I chose the latter with the ultimate hope of one day being in a position to get back into riding.

I love being outdoors and connected with nature, and now we live on a farm in rural Kinross, we have introduced two gorgeous horses into our family, Casper and Oscar.

When not out and about competing the horses, we are working outside, whether this be fixing and tidying or gardening and growing our own food or walking the dogs.  

Favourite holiday destination?

It is probably Mauritius – pre-children of course – and we stayed in a Kelly Hoppen designed hotel, which was incredible, absolute paradise! I don’t think I have ever stayed anywhere that truly took my breath away like this trip did.

We also spend a lot of time in South Africa on safari. With family ties in South Africa, we make a trip every couple of years to the Kruger Park, which we all love. It’s a beautiful place and being immersed in nature is something we cherish as a family. The landscapes, wildlife, and culture are unlike anywhere else, and it’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature and recharge.

The ultimate dream, for the next big birthday, would be a safari trip on horseback!

How do you receive your industry news?

Primarily Scottish Construction Now and Project Scotland e-mail notifications for the headlines and LinkedIn for more general industry updates.

We do subscribe to many architectural publications, however these never seem to make it to my desk!

How would you change Scottish Construction Now?

I think it works well and is a useful tool to understand the key headlines of the day. 

Which social media sites do you use, and which do you find the most useful?

LinkedIn for business and industry news, however Instagram for design inspiration and suppliers.