Conference Speakers

A well-known and highly respected Healthcare Architect and Practice Director with over 20 years’ experience of delivering exemplar award winning, Mental Healthcare projects ranging from complex refurbishments to major new build redevelopments. Previously head of healthcare for Devereux Architects (1996-2012), Rosemary founded Jenssen Architecture in 2012 to provide independent healthcare design advice. Through her firm… Read more »

Martha is a qualified architect with 23 years’ experience. She is a Preconstruction Manager for Galliford Try working on projects from the early concept stages through to site. Her projects include an ongoing programme of works University Hospitals of Derby and Burton £84.4m across 11 projects and 3 sites and 5 year programme of works… Read more »

Jo is an Interdisciplinary Consultant advocating for lived experience to help shape our world. She is an Interior Architect, Peer Support Worker and Community Researcher, and is also a User/ Survivor of Mental Health services. As the first Interdisciplinary Advisor and stakeholder at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, she has… Read more »

Mark is an Associate Director at Medical Architecture, based in London. He has 15 years of experience in healthcare design and has delivered a wide range of schemes, including acute, mental health and community projects. He is an experienced architect and masterplanner, with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare sector, with previous experience working within… Read more »

Aisling Butler and Darcy Gasson are occupational therapists (OTs) who work for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Both have experience of working as occupational therapists on acute mental health wards, and working specifically with adults with learning disabilities and/or an autism diagnosis. As occupational therapists, they have a particular interest in how people experience their… Read more »

After a childhood full of neglect, abuse and violence, I developed my own demons. I tried ending my life at 19 and went into hospital. Most of my 20s were spent drunk and in and out of therapies. In 2011 at age 32, I lost hope of being a decent dad to my five year… Read more »

Francis Murdock Pitts is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading planners and designers of psychiatric facilities and as a leader in the development of an evidence-based design practice culture in North America He has consulted on more than 150 projects involving well over 20,000 mental health beds in clinical settings located in in all… Read more »

Consultant and associate professor Lisbeth Uhrskov is a teacher, clinician and researcher at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry. She holds a PhD from Aarhus University, Health and an MSc from the London School of Economics. Her main research focus is describing, developing and evaluating the Danish Model of Care for forensic psychiatry. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lisbeth-Sorensen https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisbeth-uhrskov-aarhus-university-hospital/

Dan has worked in the mental health for over 25 years as a clinician manager, healthcare consultant and coach. Dan is passionate about holistic care that promotes patient agency and over the last seven years he has been involved in developing a number of award winning alliance models of integrated care in NE London. The… Read more »

Frank is an Associate at Medical Architecture and an RIBA Chartered Member. He has 24 years of architectural experience with 16 years in healthcare design. During this time, he has gained extensive expertise in mental health, community healthcare and acute health. Frank specialises in all aspects of project delivery and technical design, having worked on… Read more »

A senior medical planner specializing in behavioral health, Jon focuses on improving the design and functionality of large-scale behavioral health spaces. With over two decades of expertise, he uses design as a catalyst to improve the delivery of this specialized type of healthcare for private, public, and government clients. Jon is passionate about leading the… Read more »

In 2000 Roland was appointed Consultant Nurse for Psychiatric Intensive Care and Secure Recovery and became and Approved Clinician in 2012. He was awarded Fellowship of the RCN in 2014. Roland was a major contributor to the National Minimum Standards for PICUE and both editions of the only international PICE textbook. He has published extensively… Read more »

Danielle is an architect with over 20 years’ industry experience. She has extensive experience of designing complex medium to large-scale education and healthcare developments and is passionate about ensuring that her designs are functional, safe, economical, and meet the needs of the client. She fully understands the in-depth consultation process required to create appropriate design… Read more »

A chartered architect, with over 30 years of experience in design and delivery of healthcare facilities. Susan supports Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate, NHSScotland Boards and their partners by providing professional leadership and technical advice in all aspects of healthcare property development, capital planning and design. As Principal Architect she is the custodian… Read more »

Helen specialises in Healthcare design and has worked with Trusts on a number of community facilities including a series of Derby and Leicester LIFT new build projects, Kidbrooke Health Facility, Wednesbury Healthcare Centre, Neptune Health Park and Bilston Health Centre. Helen has a close involvement in projects at all stages and enjoys the challenge of… Read more »

Richard is the founder of IBI TH!NK. An advocate of evidence-based design, Richard creates innovations that positively impact on specific patient groups. Sense Sensitive Design, Emotional Mapping, the Design Prescription, Sensory Plans and Design Heals are a few of the models that he has successfully pioneered. Richard gains great satisfaction from translating holistic ideas into… Read more »

Yvonne is an accomplished architect with 5 years of experience in healthcare design. She has a diverse background in residential and commercial projects, and in recent years has worked on a range of private and public healthcare projects of varying complexity. She played a key role in the design of the multi-award-winning Blossom Court, an… Read more »

Danish Architect MSc. Stence Guldager, business area manager and associated partner in Arkitema. Stence has worked with architecture in the healthcare sector for the last 13 years and has experience with large hospital, psychiatric and care facilities in general. In her work with mental health design, Stence has been involved in two award-winning psychiatries in… Read more »

Lynn is a highly regarded Interior Designer and Studio Associate Director with a wealth of experience designing Healthcare buildings, particularly Mental Health. Having worked on an extensive range of projects Lynn has hands-on experience designing very specialist interiors, specifically for mental health facilities encompassing older people and dementia, adult, children and adolescent units, low, medium… Read more »

Maria has a passion for designing healing environments and she leads on Floyd Slaski’s mental health portfolio. Previously a Partner at GA architects, Maria specialised in design for autism friendly environments and has written papers for various groups including the National Autistic Society. She has been an active representative of the ‘awareness of the importance… Read more »

Mark joined the NHS in 1988, and qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 1991. He graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BSc in forensic mental health nursing 2001, and has completed post graduate studies in primary care at the University of Glasgow. He has also trained as a business coach. His early… Read more »

Cath is a hugely experienced Architect, and an energetic supporter of all Stakeholders; Experts by Experience, Families and Staff. She is passionate in her commitment to improving healthcare environments, particularly those concerned with mental health and dementia. Cath became a Director at P+HS Architects in 2013 and provides Director lead for mental healthcare work across… Read more »

Raf Hamaizia is a leading mental health and social inclusion expert within the United Kingdom, with a track record in engagement, policy, quality improvement, campaigning and organisational culture change. As an Expert by Experience Raf uses his perspective as a former service user, to aid his professional and academic experience within a variety of organisations… Read more »

Morten Deleuran Terkildsen is a senior researcher at CerF (Centre for forensic psychiatric Research and Development) at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry and DEFACTUM in Central Denmark Region. Morten has a PhD degree in anthropology from Aarhus University. He specialises in qualitative studies of forensic psychiatric practices, focusing on staff and… Read more »

Ruairi Reeves is an Architect and Director of Medical Architecture, based in London. He has been designing healthcare environments for over 20 years both in the UK and internationally, and he is an Executive Member of Architects for Health. Ruairi is particularly interested in how a patient’s environment can contribute to their wellbeing and recovery…. Read more »

Jonathan Campbell is a professionally Chartered NHS Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities with over 20 years’ experience of mental health, acute and community services. He is a firm believer of how important the environment is for recovery and that safe, robust and secure environments must also be therapeutic and healing. As part of his… Read more »

Hannah Chamberlain, the new CEO of Design in Mental Health Network, is a long standing member of the DIMHN community. From 2012 – 15 she was a member of the organising group, speaking at conference, shortlisting awards, and introducing lived experience speakers to the Network and the conference audience. She has a background as an… Read more »

Steven Brown is Professor of Health and Organizational Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. He researches service user experiences of secure care settings and the psychosocial dimensions of remembering and distress. He is the co-author of Vital Memory and Affect (2015); Psychology Without Foundations (2009) and The Social Psychology of Experience (2005).

Bernard J. Fox suffered his first major psychotic episode in 2004. Sectioned, he spent time both in PICU and Acute care. Over three main admissions, Bernard has had direct experience of two PICUs and four Acute Wards. Since joining the NAPICU Executive Committee, Bernard has visited numerous PICUs across the country with NAPICU interest in… Read more »

Over the last 14 years I have worked predominantly in Acute mental Health Throughout my career. I am responsible for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants, they provide cover across 16 wards, including male psychiatric intensive care and both male and female acute mental health wards. I work collaboratively with ward managers and service leads… Read more »

Aisling Butler and Darcy Gasson are occupational therapists (OTs) who work for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Both have experience of working as occupational therapists on acute mental health wards, and working specifically with adults with learning disabilities and/or an autism diagnosis. As occupational therapists, they have a particular interest in how people experience their… Read more »

Mathew is a mental health nurse who has spent his career working in the west of England. Having clinically specialised in inpatient services, he has undertaken research and published widely on a range of topics. In senior management Mathew has focussed on transforming services and improving quality and performance. In his current role he manages… Read more »

Dr Rodriguez-Labajos is a senior researcher with extensive academic and industry research experience in the healthcare-built environment and construction fields. This work spans from project initiation and development to evaluation and publishing. She worked for 4 years as the principal researcher for the collaborative program between Glasgow Caledonian University and Health Facilities Scotland conducting research… Read more »

Originally a hospital architect for 20 years, achieved a Masters from MARU; and have been working as a healthcare planner since. Passionate about improving the healthcare environment through biophillic architecture; with a strong focus on patient & staff well being. I have a passion for designing innovative & sustainable healthcare solutions. Currently focused on enhancing… Read more »

Matthew is a Chartered Landscape Architect with over 16 years’ experience. He is currently the Technical Director of Iteriad, a landscape architecture practice specialising in the design of outdoor spaces for mental healthcare and healthcare environments. Matthew’s particular skills are the design, visualisation and development of mental health projects from feasibility through to delivery. He… Read more »

Kai Xin was promoted to Associate in 2022 having joined fleet architect in October 2018 after completing her Part II in University of East London, where she gained a distinction. She was awarded the RIBA East London Society Architects Award for her fifth year portfolio. She worked in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for her Part 1… Read more »

Professor Reavey’s research is concerned with the relationship between psychological processes (namely memory, emotion, mental health), cultural practice and environments. For the past 20 years, she has conducted research in a variety of inpatient and community mental health settings, across general and secure psychiatric environments, and has worked as part of interdisciplinary research and clinical… Read more »

Karen is a Chartered Landscape Architect with over 35 years’ experience. She is currently Managing Director of Iteriad, a landscape architecture practice specialising in the design of outdoor spaces for mental healthcare and healthcare environments. Karen’s particular expertise is creating sensory spaces that focus on touching nature and that capture a special sense of place… Read more »

I am a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist working in Pebble Lodge, a 10 bedded General Adolescent Unit located in Bournemouth, Dorset. I joined Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust in 2003 after completing my training in the Oxford Training Scheme. I have had two periods as Lead Consultant for CAMHS and am currently the… Read more »

Current Positions Consultant Psychiatrist, Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust, Ipswich Department of Justice, Medical Member, First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia Assistant Editor Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care Current Clinical Post Primary Care Consultant Psychiatry and Assessment, East Suffolk (since 2018) Previous Clinical Posts Psychiatric Intensive Care Consultant Suffolk… Read more »

Emma Shakespeare BSc, CIOB Senior Design Manager. Emma has been working in the Healthcare Sector on Mental Health Facilities for 4 years. She is passionate about working with the Project Team and Trusts to deliver sympathetic yet robust and workable solutions for these challenging environments for all stakeholders. “These facilities offer respite and care for people… Read more »

Karl is an associate architect with Scott Tallon Walker Architects, Dublin. He has extensive experience as a senior design Architect in the Healthcare Division with a reputation for the successful delivery of fast-track large scale projects. Recent projects completed include the National Forensic Mental Health Hospital, comprising of nine buildings on a 12-hectare site in… Read more »

Mark, a partner at TB+A and a chartered mechanical engineer, has worked for over 15 years in leading global engineering consultancies in the building sustainability field. Within these roles, Mark leads teams to drive sustainable innovation into projects, often global firsts and award-winning. Having worked in multiple countries and sectors for a range of clients,… Read more »

Having struggled with complex mental health issues since her teens, and the accompanying hospitalisation throughout her twenties, Katharine uses her lived experience to help others in similar situations and improve the provision of mental health and social care. Katharine works with Peabody Housing Association to co-design and facilitate recovery focussed mental health training for its… Read more »

Emma used her Lived Experience to found The Recovery Foundation a charity based in Birmingham that provides peer support groups and training to individuals and organisations. She is passionate about helping individuals to find, grow and sustain hope, as an essential component to recovery from mental illness. She lectures at The University of Birmingham and… Read more »

Dr Claire Iveson is an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical and Strategic Lead for Suicide prevention in Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Claire has worked in clinical practice in a range of settings for more than twenty years and has further training in specialist psychological approaches specifically for those who self -harm or are at… Read more »

Vicky is an experienced Interior Designer, who has spent 19 years working in the Mental Health sector. Following 14 years as Lead Interior Designer and later an Associate with Gilling Dod Architects, Vicky Joined Teal Furniture in early 2018 as Area Manager for Mental Health projects in the North. With a passion for furniture design,… Read more »

Chris Dzikiti joined Care Quality Commission in October 2022 as Director of Mental Health, following time as a Deputy Director for National Retention programme at NHS England. Previously Chris has also worked as a Programme Director leading on mental health transformation in London. Chris is a multiprofessional leader, registered mental health nurse and an experienced… Read more »

Andrea Harman MSc. is Concept Developer for Healthcare for Saint-Gobain Ecophon, manufacturers and developers of acoustic solutions that contribute to improving interior environments. She has worked in the field of room acoustics for over twenty-five years helping to create spaces that acoustically link design to both the needs of users and the activity taking place…. Read more »