From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

The opinions expressed on RIBA Radio are solely those of the featured contributors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Royal Institute of British Architects (“RIBA”). The contributors’ opinions are based upon information they consider reliable but RIBA does not warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. The broadcast and recordings may contain attitudes, language and opinions which may cause offence. If you are affected by the content in any of the broadcast, please get in touch at inclusion@riba.org.

RIBA Radio

In a one-to-one session, Marsha Ramroop and Sally Leech, Director at Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace discuss how to talk about menopause so that the individual experiencing menopause can comfortably and safely share their experience and find the right support. They cover the ideal approach to addressing menopause in workplaces, exploring the culture, training, policies, guidance, communication and engagement necessary to effectively support people experiencing menopause. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 20: CQ Strategy - Menopause with Sally Leech, Henpicked

London has the highest concentration of architects in the world – and 70% of the income generated by architecture in the UK comes from London and the South East region – so, what does this mean for inclusion and the perception of those who are based outside of London? Grace Choi, Director at Grace Choi Architecture; Sue Emms, North Region Chair of Building Design Partnership; and Elena Marco, Head of Dept. of Architecture and the Built Environment of UWE discuss how to retain architectural talent in different areas across the UK, so that the profession is less centred around London. Proposed creative solutions include ensuring that architectural apprenticeships and higher-education courses were present across all regions in the UK.  

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 19: CQ Strategy - Working outside London

A panel discussion on architecture education with Dr Jenny Russell, Director of Education at RIBA; Charlie Edmond from Future Architects Front (campaign to challenge and end exploitation in architecture); and Paul Crosby, Architect, and Head of Professional Practice Part 3 at AA School. The panel explores how fundamental issues around cost, curricula, decolonisation, mental health and professional support within education are currently being addressed, and propose some more inclusive alternatives.  

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 18: CQ Strategy - Architecture education

Susy Ridout, mentor, author, and trainer in the field of neurodiversity; Pooja Agrawal, co-founder of Public Practice and co-host of SOUND ADVICE; and Dr Binna Kandola OBE, Business Psychologist and co-founder of Pearn Kandola discuss the current recruitment landscape, and evaluate how recruitment processes that are reliable and fair can be created. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 17: CQ Strategy - Inclusive recruitment

Jane Simpson, Architect and access consultant; Ed Warner, government champion for accessible design at Motionspot join Shani Dhanda, disability activist to explore how more can be done to attract disabled people into the profession, as well as how architects and the wider construction sector can better address and serve the needs of people with disabilities. This conversation centers on prioritising awareness of the strategies and guidance that already exist to improve design for people with disabilities in the built environment. Some highlights from this discussion include a call for clear leadership and accountability to champion inclusion in workplaces, the dissemination of design and knowledge and support for designing accessible spaces (or readapting them for accessibility), as well as involving people with disabilities into the entirety of the design process beyond the initial design phases in order to create truly inclusive spaces. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 16: CQ Knowledge - Disability panel

A one-on-one discussion with Shani Dhanda, disability activist, The BBC's 100 Women in 2020. As a keynote speaker and practitioner for inclusion across business, government, non-profit and wider society, Shani discusses her work, explaining how she helps organisations break down barriers and integrate inclusion into their business frameworks.  

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 15: CQ Knowledge - Disability with Shani Dhanda

Guests Adam Nathaniel Furman, artist, designer, and editor of ‘Queer Spaces’, 2022; Dr Joshua Mardell, architectural historian, and editor of ‘Queer Spaces’, 2022; Tabs The Butch Gardener, club promoter, musician, and gardening writer and Christina Riley, Planner and co-founder of Building Equality and Construct-Ability discuss how queerness must be allowed to exist and normalised at every level of the profession.  From education, to practice, planning, construction, ownership, and architectural history, this conversation examines what is being done in these areas, and how to move forward to create safer environments for LGBTQ+ people in the profession and protect existing queer spaces. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 14: CQ Knowledge - LGBTQ+ lives

Chris Hildrey, Director at Hildrey Studio; Jules Pipe CBE, GLA Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills; Philip Watson, Head of Design and Education Sponsor at HLM Architects; and Karen Mosley, Managing Director and DIB Sponsor at HLM Architects discuss how the profession can more effectively work to attract and retain people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Often seen as elitist due to the expense and length of education and the perceived networks required to get ahead in the sector, our guests examine this context, and discuss practical solutions for making meaningful change.  

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 13: CQ Knowledge - Socio-economic diversity

Award-winning science journalist and author Angela Saini joins Architect and Director of Urban Architecture, Ming Cheng and founding committee member of the Paradigm Network, Lanre Gbolade to discuss some of the issues faced by people from underrepresented racialised groups in the profession, and some positive steps that can be taken to support them.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 12: CQ Knowledge - Race panel

As part of a women's panel, Structural Engineer Roma Agrawal MBE, and Architects Farshid Moussavi OBE and Melodie Leung, discuss a variety of topics from pay gaps and sexism, to women supporting women, examining some of the challenges women in the profession today face.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 11: CQ Knowledge - Women's panel

A discussion about specific diversity and inclusion challenges where focused initiatives are leading to real change. Zaimal Azad, Senior Campaigns Officer at Fawcett Society; Dr Annabel Sowemimo, Doctor and founder and Decolonising Contraception; and Clare Nash, Director at Clare Nash Architecture explore the issues behind the gender pay gap, the assumptions that maintain it, and strategies to tackle it effectively. During this rich conversation, flexible work, improved accessibility, and feedback mechanisms are highlighted as being key priorities to ensuring autonomy at work for people with childcare commitments and those experiencing reproductive conditions, illnesses, acute events, or disabilities - essential to normalise accommodating for these needs.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 10: CQ Knowledge - Women/Gender pay gap/Reproductive health/Flexible working

An inspiring discussion featuring Magid Magid, activist, organiser, founder and Director of Union of Justice; Thomas Young, British paralympic athlete; and Sammi Kinghorn, world champion Wheelchair Racer - a trio who relish the challenge of taking on difficult tasks, as their extraordinary careers show. They share their stories and give listeners practical tips on how to become motivated in the face of adversity.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 9: CQ Drive - Motivating yourself

While statistics and numbers are difficult for most of us to wrap our heads around, Ellie Stathaki, Architecture editor at Wallpaper*; Mac Alonge, founder of The Equal Group; and Emma Weber, learning transfer and evaluation specialist at Lever explore some ways in which data can motivate us to act around EDI, and can also be used to motivate people to go further, by mapping the stories we tell, and providing metrics of change.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 8: CQ Drive - Data as a driver for change

This open discussion featuring antiracist consultant and clinical social worker Robin Schlenger, Architect Jim Rooney, and Director of Open City Phineas Harper, focuses on ways in which defensiveness is a common reaction when dealing with aspects of discrimination, especially racism, sexism and ableism. The panel observe ways in which they have leaned into discomfort, especially around “white shame”, to move through this and learn and grow.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 7: CQ Drive - Discomfort and white shame

Why do we sometimes feel fearful that we might get it wrong when working with people who are different from us? Hamza Shaikh, Architectural designer and producer of Two Worlds Design podcast; Jason Boyle, Architect and founder of the Global Architect Alliance; and Paul Zara, Director of Paul Zara Architects talk about cancel culture, past mistakes within their experience in the profession, and their reflections on finding effective strategies for dealing with challenging situations in the future.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 6: CQ Drive - Getting it wrong

A panel consisting of Sumita Singha OBE, Architect and RIBA Councillor; Tom Guy, Architect and founder of Architecture LGBTQ+; and Muyiwa Oki, Architect at Grimshaw Architects assess where the architecture profession is on its road to inclusion. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 5: Overview - Inclusion in architecture

Architect & Development Manager Yemi Aladerun, and Vice President for Students & Associates at the RIBA Maryam Al-Irhayim, reflect on the RIBA’s own Inclusion Charter and discuss what it means to ask people to commit to a transparent, inclusive culture within the architecture profession, by discussing the context, actions, measures and outcomes they’ve experienced and witnessed so far.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 4: Overview - The RIBA Inclusion Charter

Dr Pragya Agarwal, behavioural and data scientist, consultant, speaker, and author of ‘SWAY’ and ‘Wish We Knew What To Say: Talking with Children About Race,’ explains the nature of bias and explores how we can challenge it.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 3: Overview - Unconscious bias with Pragya Agarwal

David Livermore, President of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ Center) introduces the CQ behavioural framework - through which we can strategically use cultural differences to come up with innovative solutions, and explains how this can be applied to architecture and the built environment. 

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

RIBA Radio, Episode 2: Overview - What Is CQ with David Livermore

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).