An evening panel discussion and interactive forum with Clare Nash, Chris Simmons and Tania Ihlenfeld on running a small practice

An evening panel discussion and interactive forum focused on the unique challenges and strategic opportunities of running a small architectural firm. The session brings together practitioners and experts to share actionable skills that drive business growth and elevate design impact.

The discussion will centre around three main structural themes:

Financial & Business Sustainability:

Managing cash flow, profitable pricing models, building long-term commercial resilience, and design highly profitable, flexible firms....

Practice Identity and influence:

Developing a distinct brand voice, finding a market niche, and marketing design philosophies effectively.....

Leadership:

Building small, effective teams, mastering client and stakeholder relationships, sharpening decision-making and taking calculated risks.

Clare Nash

In 2011, Clare Nash founded Clare Nash Architecture Ltd (CNA) in Helmdon, South Northamptonshire, specialising in rural design, particularly barn conversions, eco-refurbishment and new build. The practice is run by a small, dedicated team and is pioneering in its adoption of a flexible and efficient working model.

Clare has a master’s from Oxford Brookes University, where she undertook research into the vernacular in Bolivia, Papua New Guinea and China. She has also lived and worked in architectural practice in Germany and Liechtenstein and has been an Associate Lecturer, teaching architectural business at Oxford Brookes University. She is author of two books: Contemporary Vernacular Design: How British Housing Can Rediscover its Soul (RIBA Publishing, 2016) and Design Your Life: An Architect's Guide to Work/Life Balance (RIBA Publishing, 2021). She has been recognised as an RIBA Role Model.

Alongside Clare Nash Architecture, Clare runs The Business Space, a mentoring programme for Built Environment Business Owners, sharing what actually works in the architectural industry through the lens of her experience with business mentors.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarenasharchitect/

Chris Simmons

Chris Simmons is an architect, presenter and creator entrepreneur exploring what a contemporary career in architecture can look like.

Alongside running his own architecture practice in the Kent countryside, he speaks and writes widely about architecture, the value architects can bring, and what it means to build a meaningful, resilient career in the profession today. Having built an online audience of more than 60,000 people, Chris is particularly interested in how architects can use new forms of communication to share their ideas, build influence, and create opportunities beyond traditional practice.

He is the founder of Architects Instruction, an education platform for architects; the creator of Highlighter, a media and communications agency for the built environment; and host of the Bespoke Careers Podcast, where he shares the stories and experiences of leading people across the industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-simmons-architect/

Tania Ihlenfeld

Tania Ihlenfeld is an architect, entrepreneur, and author with more than 23 years of experience leading, observing, and innovating within multidisciplinary teams. She has led small-scale residential projects through to large-scale national infrastructure projects in Australia and the UK.

Her passion for effective leadership and keen eye for what works has been honed through roles as a designer, chief motivator, inspirer, negotiator, facilitator, and conduit between design teams, stakeholders, and the client. She is convinced there is a more courageous way to lead and enjoy projects. Tania founded Ede Enablers to develop and support formidable built environment leaders to do just that. She has written Build Success, created a dedicated APP for next-gen leaders, launched the Courageous Leadership Podcast and established an event series featuring industry changemakers and their candid stories of making an impact.

Tania’s goal is to help build a future-fit industry where high-quality projects are achieved without compromise, and leaders, along with their teams, don’t experience burnout in the process.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-ihlenfeld-98a03b67/

Filming and Photography

By accepting an invitation or purchasing a ticket you have consented to being photographed, filmed or recorded as a visitor attending the event for all general purposes in relation to the event including without limitation, publicity and promotional purposes. You consent to us using your voice, name and/or likeness, without compensation, for exploitation in promotional and publicity materials, online, books, newspapers, newsletters, magazine articles and social marketing whenever we choose to do so, in perpetuity.

Ticket prices

We charge a nominal fee for our tickets. However, if you are suffering hardship or financial constraint, please email us and we

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