Like many of you reading this article, I trained as an architect via a traditional pathway as it was the only available route at the time.

As a third culture kid, I took opportunities wherever possible to study, work, and travel abroad, building a diverse and interdisciplinary professional network - which I am still in touch with today. I recognise this is a privilege and it was a combination of these experiences which has helped me reconcile with my inner guilt of being the first generation in my family to access a high-quality education.

Whilst working in studios across Europe and Asia, I learned my strength was bringing international teams and local communities together. This included private and pro-bono practice on commercial and healthcare projects in Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, and more locally in the UK.

It has included working in the heritage and higher education sectors, and community engagement on regeneration schemes. My UK experience includes working with small private clients, large public bodies, and small emerging practices, as well as high-profile large practices in the North West and London.

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