We are pleased to host a Crossing Borders Workshop as part of the WIA UK Mentoring Programme.
Careers in architecture—and the communities we serve—are increasingly global. Yet stepping into a new culture, market, or way of working can feel equal parts thrilling and daunting. In this session, we’ll hear from women who have literally and figuratively crossed borders: practising on different continents, leading multicultural teams, adapting to unfamiliar regulations, and designing for contexts far from home.
Through candid stories of courage, mindset shifts, and unexpected breakthroughs, our speakers will unpack questions such as:
How do you build trust when every meeting happens in a second (or third) language?
What does “good design” look like when local customs, climate, and codes all change?
Which skills travel well—and which ones need reinventing on the road?
Whether you’re eyeing an overseas move, collaborating with an international client, or simply curious about broadening your cultural toolkit, this workshop offers practical insights and fresh perspective. Expect an open conversation, space for Q&A, and take-away tips to help you navigate cultural crossings with confidence, curiosity, and respect.
Speakers:
Dr Amal Abuzeinab - Interdisciplinary Architectural Academic, School of Art, Design & Architecture De Montfort University, Leicester (mentor)
Theresa Pan - Director, Pascall + Watson, London (mentor)
Sara Ibrahim - Architect and researcher, Paris (mentor)
Carolina Lopez Blanco - Founder, CLB Studio, London (mentor)
Facilitated by Tania Ihlenfeld, founder of Ede Enablers and WIA Mentoring Programme Lead.
Get to know the inspiring guest speakers for our WIA UK Mentoring Programme Workshop on Crossing Borders:
Dr Amal Abuzeinab is an experienced interdisciplinary architectural academic and advisor at De Montfort University, Leicester School of Architecture (LSA). She has more than 12 years proven experience within the leadership, research and education of the Architecture and the Built Environment across 3 UK universities. Amal is a certified facilitator since 2019 of the "Business Model You"; workshops supporting workplace growth for individuals and organisations. Dr Abuzeinab advises on Net Zero/ circularity /regenerative strategies and SDG sustainable development goals implementation internationally, with ongoing & completed advisory projects & exchanges in the UK, South Africa, Germany, Finland, UAE, KSA, Qatar, Canada, and the USA.
She is the founder of ARK studio: Accessible Research andKnowledge for architecture, built environment, and planning funded by Research England: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) Institutional Support Grant (ODA) and Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) Home | My Site 5 (greenbusinessmodels.net).
Theresa is Project Director with extensive experience across the aviation, education, residential, leisure, and hospitality sectors in Australia and the UK. She excels in project management, from technical specifications to budget and stakeholder engagement. A mentor for Women in Architecture, Theresa shares her expertise and knowledge with the next generation, supporting their growth in the industry.
Sara is an architect and researcher of Iraqi, Swedish, and Canadian origin. She is passionate about research as a tool to shape narratives and inform design.
Currently, she is Head of Research at LINA GHOTMEH — ARCHITECTURE in Paris and has worked with firms including Adjaye Associates, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, Studio Joseph, and Henning Larsen Architects.
Her work moves between architecture, research, and supporting artists. As a researcher and GIS analyst at the Smithsonian Institution, she helped develop a digital preservation plan for Neo-Assyrian artefacts destroyed by ISIS in Nimrud, North Iraq.
She is also co-founder of SUSA, a sister-led architectural studio exploring digital fabrication, hybridity, and the unexpected through curious research.
Carolina López Blanco is an architect graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. She holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Urbanism from the Architectural Association and a Diploma in Professional Practice and Management in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London, UK.
She worked at Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) for 11 years, where she worked on a diverse range of projects, including residential, cultural, hospitality, office, and infrastructure developments, as well as master planning, urban design, and landscaping. She led the planning, production, and coordination processes from concept through to construction.
Before joining ZHA, Carolina gained valuable experience at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), Will Alsop @ RMJM in the UK, and Parque Central Bavaria in Colombia.
She is the founder of CLB Studio, an architecture, landscape and urban design practice based in London, focused on Biophilic and Regenerative Design applied to public realm projects.
Carolina is a registered architect with the ARB and RIBA in the United Kingdom, as well as in Colombia and Spain.
Online event access
The Teams link will be emailed to registered attendees ahead of the event.
The Teams lobby will be open at 12:25pm for a prompt 12:30pm start.
The workshop will be recorded and links shared on Women in Architecture website.