HLM Architects is marking the new financial year with a raft of appointments and promotions, including five appointments at leadership level who will head up the practice’s education, healthcare, living & communities, justice & emergency services, masterplanning and urban design sectors, plus a new Head of MMC Delivery.
These appointments will strengthen our leadership team and help support the direction and success of our growing portfolio. Together they bring unrivalled experience and sector insight, but also passion and excitement for what they do.
Claire Wakelin has been appointed to the role of Head of Education, Philip Watson will remain Board Education Sponsor. Claire joined HLM in 2018 as the practice’s London Studio Director and Education Lead for London and the South East, bringing a collaborative and creative approach to designing new buildings, masterplanning, and repurposing existing buildings.
As a specialist in the education sector, Claire has worked on a diverse portfolio of projects and was recently appointed alongside modular construction manufacturer Reds10 to the Department for Education’s (DfE) £3 billion Offsite Schools framework and the £32 million London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) project at King’s College London.
In another internal move, Anne Daw will take up the role of Head of MMC Delivery. Since joining HLM in 2009, Anne has worked across multiple sectors including education, residential and defence where she developed an in-depth knowledge of MMC and led several research and development projects.
As Head of MMC Delivery, Anne will be responsible for driving HLM’s ongoing integration and implementation of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and digital delivery across all studios and sectors as part of its ‘Think: Offsite’ approach.
HLM is also bringing in a new external hire to lead its healthcare team. Melanie Jacobsen Cox is joining the practice as Head of Healthcare from ADP Architecture where she was an Associate Director.
In her new role, Melanie will work nationally from HLM’s London studio to sustain the practice’s profile and success in the healthcare sector, which continues to go from strength to strength. She will work closely with Director and Board Healthcare Sponsor, Nick Beecroft as she transitions into her new role.
In further developing HLM’s Living & Communities sector, Anna Kiho has been appointed Head of Sector. Anna has contributed significantly to the sector over the last seven years, developing an excellent understanding of the various markets, working with a range of clients building expertise in alternative residential typologies and trends.
Steven Lennon has been appointed as Head of Justice & Emergency Services following almost 15 years at HLM, during which time he has helped to develop and lead the practice’s Emergency Services work including the delivery of a range of Tri-Service Stations as part of several nation-wide, new station programmes. He has worked closely with the Ministry of Justice and Home Office, leading a variety of innovative new community justice facilities focusing on rehabilitation and transformational change.
Stepping into the role of Head of Master Planning & Urban Design is John Richards, an experienced development masterplanner, urban designer and architectural designer with a proven background in the delivery of award-winning masterplan projects. John has worked with HLM on projects for more than 15 years and joined the practice as an Associate and Masterplanning Lead in June 2021.
In addition to the newly appointed sector leads, HLM has promoted four new associates: Alex Pullin, Adam McAvoy, Noor Itrakjy, and Olivia Jackson.
Richard O’Neil, Chair, HLM Architects, said: “These appointments will strengthen our leadership team and help support the direction and success of our growing portfolio. Together they bring unrivalled experience and sector insight, but also passion and excitement for what they do.
“We are always looking for the best talent so we can continue to deliver the outstanding work we’re known for, which means investing in our people and bringing in new skills where we need them. It’s our pleasure to reward those who helped us get to where we are today, and we’re excited to see them thrive in their new roles.”
