HEAD JUDGE

Nicola has developed a reputation over twenty years for the transformation of large, complex sites for workplace-led projects.

Following the success of Here East, the transformation of the London 2012 Olympic media hub, she went on to lead the concept design for Canada Water’s Printworks and complete a research study, ‘Industrial Rehab’ whilst at Hawkins\Brown.

Re-use and innovation are recurring themes in Nicola’s design and written work, with recent projects reworking late twentieth century business parks and commercial buildings to cater for a more diverse tenant mix.

Nicola is a member of the TEDI Industry Advisory Group and a Speaker for Schools. She was a finalist for the Architect’s Journal W Awards for Excellence in Practice 2020, recognising women’s contribution to the architectural profession.

Kudzai Matsvai is an Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) Expert, Architectural Designer, Educator, and Activist with a genuine passion for progressive change for under-represented communities.

Having trained and worked in Liverpool and London, she has a strong track record of authentically engaging with diverse communities through workshops, seminars, roundtables, and other facilitated activities. This work has enabled her to advocate for a wide range of marginalised groups in both architectural education and practice.

Her primary area of academic interest is Black-British history and its underrepresentation in the architectural space, and she is currently pursuing a doctorate in this area as a way of actively shifting prevailing Eurocentric narratives in Western academia.

Simon has been a practicing architect since 2000. He is currently Deputy Head of School and Director of the Undergraduate Programme at Sheffield University School of Architecture.

Simon has held teaching and leadership roles at several Schools of Architecture including Glasgow School of Art, Nottingham University, and the University of Strathclyde and has held External Examiner positions at the Universities of Newcastle, University of Portsmouth and the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Simon has also been a guest academic at the University of Illinois USA, and the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing.

He has lived in the city centre of Sheffield for ten years and has continued involvement with Sheffield Civic Trust and Sheffield Society of Architects.

Kate has 30 years’ experience of working in the creative, cultural and not-for-profit sector and is passionate about developing creative spaces.

As director of Yorkshire Artspace, she devised, developed, delivered and managed two major capital projects: the award-winning new-build Persistence Works with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; and Exchange Place Studios - a refurbishment of an Art Deco beauty. At Manor Oaks and Knutton Road Studios she supported the development of two neighbourhood studio complexes with social enterprise partners.

In 2020 she established Kate Dore Consulting to support organisations during periods of strategic change and growth. She also hosts free surgeries for studio managers across the UK to share good practice and offer mutual support.

Her interest in both contemporary architecture and architectural history guides her work and leisure time. She has been a judge for both the RIBA (North West) and Sheffield Design Awards, and her experience as a client offers a valuable perspective.