Voices in Design: Girls, Inclusion, and the Built Environment

I was delighted to take part in the Voices in Design: Girls, Inclusion & the Built Environment event, held in collaboration with Building Female and RIBA YAPF in Leeds in October 2025.

The event brought together a multidisciplinary panel to explore how inclusive design can create safer, more accessible, and inspiring spaces for young people, while supporting lifelong learning.

I was involved in a panel that included a range of experts from the design industry. I shared research showing how parks often overlook teenage girls and how this affects their sense of belonging in public spaces.

Leah Stuart highlighted the importance of inclusive street and transport design, encouraging us to consider who benefits from spaces and how active travel can be accessible for all.

Vicky Casey shared her expertise in healthcare design, emphasising that inclusivity must sit at the heart of every project. She works across multiple sectors and has been a key advocate for inclusive design within the firm, highlighting the power of stakeholder consultation in shaping people-centred spaces.

Alanis Burgess explored how gendered urban planning reinforces spatial inequalities and encouraged designers to take action to create more equitable environments.

Thank you to A huge thank you to Building Female and RIBA YAPF for organising this event. Thank you to the organisers for making me feel so welcome – Sarah Parry Grace Ellinor Lana (Maison) Ismail Roisin Daly-Mannion. And so great to meet my fellow panellists Vicky Casey Leah Stuart and Alanis Burgess and hear about their areas and experience.

The event was sponsored by RIBA Yorkshire for sponsoring and hosted at Arup offices in Leeds.