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Driving the Narrative: Women in Architecture

Driving the Narrative: Women in Architecture | Annette Fisher

Season 1, Ep. 3

Welcome to ‘Driving the Narrative: Women in Architecture’ a podcast by SB Architects. This series will narrate honest conversations with women in design and delve deeper into what it means to be a woman in architecture. 

 

Jeanette Hoffman, Associate at SB Architects, will be your host. We're extremely excited to introduce you to this incredible series, where we have the honor of chatting with some of the biggest and best names in the business. 

 

Today’s guest is Annette Fisher, Co-Chair at Unionne Limited and CEO of FA Global.

 

Annette is a renowned British/Nigerian architect, CEO of FA Global, and founder and co-chair of Unionne, a consortium of female-led architects’ practices. She is also an accomplished author, having written the popular guidebook "Oyinbo: A Foreigner's Guide to Living in Lagos". Annette is a champion for women and diversity in the field of architecture, and she chairs the Let's Build a Televised forum, which aims to promote greater diversity in practice.

 

Annette has had a distinguished career, having previously served as Vice President of RIBA. She was both the first black woman elected to RIBA Council in 1999 and RIBA Nominated Presidential candidate in 2002. She is also a trustee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects and currently serves as a professional part-time RIBA Part 3 Tutor at Westminster University in London.


Show Notes/Links:


FA Global: https://www.fa-global.co.uk/

Unionne: https://www.unionne.co/

Let’s Build: https://www.lets-build.it/

 

Profile

Co-Chair at Unionne Limited, CEO FA Global, Chair Let’s Build Expert on Africa Published Author

 

Annette Fisher is a practicing international British and Nigerian architect, with her practice FA Global operating in London and Lagos.

 

Fisher started her career working for commercial UK practices, TP Bennett, Rolfe Judd, and Whinney Mackay Lewis before setting up her own practice in 1994. Now her mission and ambition are to use her skills, privilege, position, and experience to motivate others to greater heights and transform other people’s lives. She and her team are spearheading a global mass affordable housing project starting in Nigeria to meet the 25 million housing deficit, and a major UK project showcasing women and minority architects.

 

She’s the founder and co-chair of Unionne a consortium of female-led architects’ practices, the chair of Let’s Build a televised forum championing women and diversity in practice, a part-time professional RIBA part 3 tutor at Westminster University, London, and a former RIBA vice president, nominated presidential candidate and National Council member.

 

Annette was the first black woman to be elected to the RIBA Council in 1999. Whilst also a Commonwealth Association of Architects trustee, former executive council member of the Association of Consultant Architects Nigeria (ACAN), and former Chair of Kush Housing Association and Group board director for Places for People HA.

 

She has also won awards including the Barclays Men & Women of Merit Award, NatWest Award for African Professional of the Year, the Judge Malta Architecture & Spatial Planning Awards, Judge Civic Trust Awards, and Judge IDA and OPAL awards.

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