Tara Gbolade

RIBAJ Rising Star Winner, Tara is a Co-Founder of GDS, co-founder of the Paradigm Network, and part of the Architects Declare steering group. Architect by trade and Passivhaus designer by passion, her expertise in design and planning policy saw her lead the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Sustainability Strategy. Tara sits on a few Design Review Panels including; RBKC, Lambeth, and Merton Councils - advising on major planning applications. She is a founding committee member of the Paradigm Network: a professional network championing Black and Asian representation in the built environment, sits on the Public Practice Board as an Alumni Observer, and is part of the advisory committee for the Guys & St Thomas Charity Impact on Urban Health initiative 

Why is it important to support diversity and inclusion?

"Forty percent of Londoners come from a Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, yet only 1.2 percent of our built environment is reflective of this number, with a smaller percentage as Architects. At this important juncture in history, we must all play our part in changing the narrative from a moment to a movement".