Today, I’m joined by a true industry trailblazer, Smith Mordak.

Smith is an award-winning architect, engineer and writer, working across disciplines to realise a regenerative economy and built environment.

As former Director of Sustainability & Physics at Buro Happold, a one-time steering committee member at Architects Declare, and a current board member of the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy (to name just a few of their past and present roles) – Smith has a long-standing reputation for driving industry action on climate change.

Their work in this field began a new chapter in July 2023 when Smith was appointed Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).

In this episode, we talk about driving forward strategies for an equitable transition to a sustainable built environment, some of the cultural and political levers needed to enable change, and the importance of breaking down industry silos.

Smith also offers up some valuable tips for maintaining personal optimism and resilience in the face of global crisis.

Hope you enjoy the listen.

Resources

• The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) https://ukgbc.org/ 
• UKGBC Systems Change Programme https://ukgbc.org/news/turning-the-tide-against-business-as-usual-ukgbcs-systems-change-programme/ 
• Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity https://cusp.ac.uk/ 
• Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom https://www.waterstones.com/book/governing-the-commons/elinor-ostrom/randall-calvert/9780521405997 
• The Dawn of Everything – A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/314162/the-dawn-of-everything-by-wengrow-david-graeber-and-david/9780141991061 
• Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey https://thenapministry.com 
• The Nap Ministry @thenapministry on Instagram

LinkedIn: Smith Mordak, UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)
Twitter: @SmithMordak @UKGBC
Instagram: @smithmordak

About Stand Tall

Stand Tall with Rachel Bell is conversations about life, careers, and defining moments with people blazing a trail across property, architecture, engineering and construction.

The podcast is brought to you by Stride Treglown - an employee-owned AJ100 architectural practice and a Certified B Corporation.

Please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. And reach out to us on social media: @rachelj_bell @StrideTreglown #StandTall

Welcome back to Stand Tall. This episode’s a bit different to our usual conversations. Today, I’m excited to share my own stand tall moment with you.

Back in April 2023, I travelled to Malawi to lead a Women’s Partnership Challenge trip with Orbis Expeditions, a travel company specialising in sustainable tourism.

The 10 day trip is for women, of all ages and backgrounds, who itch to have real purpose in their adventure.

From a wildlife safari and eco-island stay to partnerships with female entrepreneurs and students - each experience is designed to benefit the local people, economy, and environment.

But the trip also aims to take travellers out of their comfort zones with personal challenges including a hike up Malawi’s highest mountain.

This really was a trip of a lifetime and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to share my experiences with you. I hope you enjoy listening to the moments I captured during my time there.

Resources

• Orbis Expeditions https://www.orbis-expeditions.com/
• Sign up to The Women’s Partnership Challenge to Malawi in April 2024 https://www.orbis-expeditions.com/womens-partnership-challenge-malawi
• Stand Tall with Rachel Bell: Kate Webb, Owner of Orbis Expeditions & The Responsible Safari Company https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007620/12643659
• Blantyre: Malawi’s second largest city https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/south-malawi/blantyre-limbe/
• Thyolo (pronounced “Cho’lo”) Fair Trade Tea Estate https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/south-malawi/thyolo-tea-estates/
• Mount Mulanje https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/south-malawi/mount-mulanje/
• Liwonde National Park https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/south-malawi/liwonde-national-park/
• Rainbow Hope Secondary School – STEM Build Malawi Documentary by IET https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agj3Msy7wqk
• Lake Malawi https://www.malawitourism.com/experiences/lake/
• Blue Zebra Island Lodge https://bluezebra.mw/

Twitter: @OrbisExp
Instagram: @orbisexp

About Stand Tall

Stand Tall with Rachel Bell is conversations about life, careers, and defining moments with people blazing a trail across property, architecture, engineering and construction.

The podcast is brought to you by Stride Treglown - an employee-owned AJ100 architectural practice and a Certified B Corporation.

Please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. And reach out to us on social media: @rachelj_bell @StrideTreglown #StandTall

I’m thrilled to welcome Neil Pinder to the show today. Neil is an award-winning educator and activist on a mission to demystify and diversify the architectural profession. 

For over 25 years, Neil has taught in a number of inner-city schools and is currently Head of Product Design and Architecture at Graveney School in south London, where he introduced Architecture to the curriculum.

He is a trustee of Thornton Education Trust and Blueprint for All (formerly the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust). He’s an honorary professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and also an Arkwright interviewer for a prestigious engineering scholarship.

However, Neil is perhaps best known for the many initiatives he has spearheaded to inspire and support a new and diverse generation of young designers into the creative industries. These include Celebrating Architecture, HomeGrown Plus, GLAM (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Architecture and me) and the transatlantic architectural exchange programme NY-LON.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of creativity in education, the power of early role models, plus why networks matter. And, we of course dig deeper into Neil’s wonderful world of initiatives designed to make architecture more accessible and representative of wider society.

Resources 

• Architects’ Journal, Neil Pinder wins AJ100 Contribution to the Profession award https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/neil-pinder-wins-aj100-contribution-to-the-profession-award-2022 
• Report - Developing the next generation of Black and Global Majority leaders for London schools by Rosemary Campbell-Stephens https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257922356_Developing_the_next_generation_of_Black_and_Global_Majority_leaders_for_London_schools 
• Education, Architecture and the Trojan Horse by Neil Pinder for the Roca Gallery http://www.rocagallery.com/education-architecture-and-the-trojan-horse 
• Thornton Education Trust  https://www.thorntoneducationtrust.org/ 
• Blueprint for All https://www.blueprintforall.org/ 
• Open City https://open-city.org.uk/ 

Neil’s Initiatives 

• HomeGrown Plus https://homegrownplus.co.uk/ 
• NYLON https://homegrownplus.co.uk/project/ny-lon-2022/ 
• Celebrating Architecture  https://architecturefoundation.org.uk/events/celebrating-architecture 
• GLAM Goes Global https://homegrownplus.co.uk/project/glam-goes-global/

LinkedIn: neil-pinder-817786a3 
Twitter: NeilPinder5
Instagram: @homegrownplus @celebratingarchitecture @glam_goes_global

About Stand Tall

Stand Tall with Rachel Bell is conversations about life, careers, and defining moments with people blazing a trail across property, architecture, engineering and construction.

The podcast is brought to you by Stride Treglown - an employee-owned AJ100 architectural practice and a Certified B Corporation.

Please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. And reach out to us on social media: @rachelj_bell @StrideTreglown #StandTall