Meet the people behind Article 25

Experts in humanitarian architecture and global development

For 20 years, Article 25 has delivered resilient schools, hospitals and homes worldwide, combining architectural excellence with project management expertise to support governments, NGOs and communities globally.

Guided by an experienced Board of industry leaders and humanitarian specialists, the organisation ensures the highest standards of governance, accountability, and delivery - creating infrastructure that strengthens societies and lasts for generations.

The Article 25 team

Role: Gemma is responsible for the strategic direction and overall leadership of Article 25, overseeing our ambitious plans for growth.
Experience: Gemma has worked in the charity sector and international development for two decades. She has also held the role of Vice-Chairman of the Westminster Africa Business Group at the House of Commons, since 2014.
Surprising fact: Gemma once walked the 200-mile 'Coast to Coast' from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay, stopping for a beer in every pub en route - in the interests of supporting local business.

Role: Toby joined Article 25 in 2017, where he applies his expertise and commitment to deliver impactful, beautiful buildings that push the boundaries of design and change the way people can live their lives for the better.
Experience: With a strong background in sustainable design and development, Toby honed his skills working with Indian NGO SEEDS in post-disaster reconstruction in Ladakh, and later with Jestico + Whiles in the UK.
Surprising fact: Toby once spent three months walking 1,600km across the Nepali Himalayas.

Role: Branca oversees multiple building projects, from feasibility to completion, including major initiatives like the Yangon General Hospital, Dominica Housing Recovery Project and the New National Hospital in Montserrat, as well as new project acquisitions including bid preparation.
Experience: Branca has vast experience working on large-scale projects and coordinating a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers and other consultants, with previous roles at Howells, Noiz Architects and Adamson Associates.
Surprising fact: Inspired by her friend's stories, Branca joined the Scouts movement at 10 and has remained dedicated ever since. Having been a Scout in multiple countries, she is currently a Scout Leader in East London, supporting over 100 young people gaining skills for life.

**Bea Sennewald M Arch AIA**
Director of Projects

Role: Bea heads up the Article 25 architectural team and has overall responsibility for design and construction management of all projects.
Experience: After more than 25 years of practice, Bea has wide experience in leading international development projects. She is committed to the idea that architecture and building can make a big difference in the lives of families who have no access to healthcare or education.
Surprising fact: If there is ever a real problem with travel logistics, reassuringly Bea has relatives on every continent except Antarctica.

**Malcolm McGowan**
Senior Architectural Advisor

Role: Malcolm provides expert architectural insight and supports multiple technical operations across the Article 25 organisation.
Experience: The former Chair of the award-winning Sheppard Robson, Malcolm has enjoyed a long and illustrious career in the sector.
Surprising fact: Before turning his hand to architecture, Malcolm was a highly successful rower, representing Great Britain at a number of Olympic Games and World Championships, winning a Silver Medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Joe Davis

Senior Architect

Role: Joe is responsible for leading architectural projects and has a strong emphasis on fostering client relationships. He leads multidisciplinary teams and collaborates closely with contractors to manage projects through all stages, from inception to completion. Joe maintains a particular focus on integrating design and sustainable practices to find the best solutions for the client's needs.
Experience: Joe joined Article 25 from Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and has experience of running projects at multiple scales and sizes. He has successfully designed and managed a diverse portfolio of projects, including residential, commercial and healthcare buildings.
Surprising fact: Joe is a keen cyclist and has cycled coast to coast in England, Scotland and Wales.

Debbie Windebank

Operations and
Events Manager

David Hahn

Senior Architectural Advisor – Healthcare

Role: David provides specialist advice on healthcare projects.
Experience: With 20 years running healthcare projects in the UK, David was an associate at a leading practice in the sector.
Surprising fact: David is a qualified engineer as well as an architect.

Role: Debbie provides strategic operational and administrative support to the Chief Executive, contributing to the smooth running of executive functions. She also plays a key role in managing the More Than a Building partnerships, collaborating with design, architectural and engineering firms that underpin Article 25’s impactful work worldwide.
Experience: Debbie holds formal qualifications in Business Management and Communications from the University of the Arts London. Her career spans a diverse range of industries, including energy, mining, global public relations and international television broadcasting. Across these sectors, she has cultivated deep expertise in communications, stakeholder engagement, investor relations, and project and event management, working effectively across private enterprise, government and international organisations.
Fun fact: Despite a fear of heights, Debbie completed an overland trek to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest single-drop waterfall. The journey involved navigating rugged terrain, crossing streams, and ascending the notoriously steep and humid “Oh My God” mountain, aptly named for the exclamations it inspires from climbers.

**Georgia Pearce**
Director of
Communications

Role: Georgia leads Article 25's multi-channel communications strategy, promoting the organisation across all platforms to engage clients and partners.
Experience: Holding a law degree from the University of Bristol, Georgia has worked with the award-winning global ad agency Wunderman Thompson and refined her communication and client relationship skills during eight years at a B2B marketing consultancy.
Surprising fact: With a keen interest in languages, Georgia speaks fluent Spanish and has a 600+ day Arabic streak on Duolingo.

**Mark Webb**
Site Architect – Montserrat

Role: Mark oversees site work, coordinating between the client, contractors, and design consultants for the Montserrat National Hospital. Previously, he held a similar role for the Dominica Housing Recovery Project.
Experience: With a background as an architect, design manager, and safety advisor, Mark has worked on major projects in multiple countries, including Crossrail and mixed-use developments for Canary Wharf Group and Ballymore.
Surprising fact: Mark contributed to the Vijayanagara Research Project, spending several years surveying and drawing medieval temples in South India. This archaeological survey spanned 40 years, documenting an entire city—the former capital of a South Indian empire.

**Paulina-Shari Stanley**
Site Architect – Tanzania

Role: Paulina-Shari leverages her expertise to oversee the construction and development of a sustainable built environment for the Kao La Amani children's village in Boma Ng’ombe, Kilimanjaro.
Experience: With nearly five years of experience, Paulina-Shari has honed her skills in developing sustainable humanitarian projects across Tanzania and other parts of Africa.
Surprising fact: At just 17, while a student at Kilakala Girls' Secondary School, Paulina-Shari volunteered to coordinate and participate in renovating her government school library. The project's success led to her and her friends being chosen to represent the school at a special lunch in Dar es Salaam with the former Prince and Princess (now King and Queen of England) during their visit to Tanzania.

**Pascalia Harold**
Site Architect – Tanzania

Role: As a site architect, Pascalia’s role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities that are critical to the successful execution of building projects. This includes supervising the construction, managing projects, and overseeing the design - ensuring accessibility standards and stakeholder collaboration.
Experience: Pascalia started her career in 2020 as an Architecture Assistant at Article 25, working on the construction of a disability school. This role enhanced her skills, deepened her technical knowledge and hands-on experience, while also reinforcing Pascalia’s commitment to creating inclusive environments.
Surprising fact: Pascalia has an identical twin in medicine, leading to amusing career mix-ups. Despite the occasional confusion, they share a special bond in their commitment to improving lives.

**Blasius Venance**
Site Architect – Tanzania

Role: Blasius supervises site activities, coordinates with contractors, and reports daily to the Article 25 team.

Experience: With over ten years of experience in design, supervision, and project management, Blasius excels at handling diverse, complex projects. A skilled architectural technologist, he effectively manages multiple project aspects.

Surprising fact: Blasius has visited every region in Tanzania.

Methila Ganasooriar

Part 2 Architectural Assistant

Role: As an Architectural Assistant at Article 25, Methila supports the senior architects on global projects. She is currently working on the re-design of a school in Tanzania.
Experience: Methila completed her Part 2 studies from Cardiff University. As part of her thesis, she gained experience carrying out urban research on the global south, focusing on Kozhikode, Kerala. Before this, she worked in London and Paris supporting various projects which led to her interest in humanitarian and sensitive architecture.
Surprising fact: Outside of architecture, Methila teaches French to secondary and A-level students, and can say for sure that exams have become a lot harder than when we did it.

Role: Ecem assists in the design and refurbishment of ongoing Article 25 projects. Specifically in Tanzania, where she collaborates with the team to develop the Kao La Amani school.
Experience: Recently graduated with a Master's from the University of Edinburgh, Ecem has experience working in residential projects in the UK, Germany, and Turkey. She is passionate about using architecture as a medium to transform and enhance communities.
Surprising fact: Ecem has lived in 7 countries in the last 15 years, making her an expert in visa processes.

Rita Martinez Romero

Architectural Assistant

Role: Rita is a London-based architectural designer with a focus on community engagement, participation and inclusive spatial practices. Her work explores ecological thinking, regional and new vernacular approaches, and more-than-human perspectives in architecture.
Experience: Rita has contributed to architectural and community projects across Mexico, Cuba, France, Belgium and the UK. With a background in architectural design and theory, she collaborates with institutions, universities and grassroots organisations—always seeking to bridge design with people through critical reflection and dialogue.
Surprising fact: Though naturally introverted and quiet, Rita enjoys acting - not for performance, but as a way to explore imagination and creativity, and how play connects architecture with art, design, fashion and philosophy.

Abigail MacKinnon

Part 1 Architectural Assistant

Role: Abigail is currently working as an Architectural Assistant to support the design and coordination tasks for the ongoing project in Montserrat.
Experience: Abigail completed her Part 1 at Oxford Brookes, where she focussed her dissertation on the post-disaster reconstruction after the 2012 Haitian earthquake. She also gained experience in conservational architecture, helping to preserve historic structures in the UK.
Fun fact: Outside of architecture, Abigail is an avid reader on track to read over 50 books this year.

Sohana Khan

Part 2 Architectural Assistant

Role: Sohana assists senior architects on global projects, especially in healthcare. She brings her passion for community-driven and humanitarian architecture, helping to deliver impactful design solutions that improve lives.
Experience: Sohana completed her Master of Architecture at London South Bank University (2025). With over 8 years of practice in humanitarian architecture, she has worked across Bangladesh and the UK on projects that focus on inclusive design, sustainability and modular design for marginalised communities. Her work combines academic research with practical engagement, contributing to resilient, people-centred environments.
Surprising fact: Sohana loves solo traveling and never shies away from a dramatic adventure. Once, she went on a 2-month road trip through Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh with 20 strangers from around the world, no social media, no network, just mountains, stories, sketchbook and the thrill of the unknown.

Ollie Petch

Part 1 Architectural Assistant

Role: Ollie is currently working as a Part 01 Architectural Assistant on the Design Development and Spatial Coordination of a healthcare building in Laos
Experience: Ollie has just completed his Part 1 at Queen’s University Belfast. During his Bachelors he had the opportunity to work on projects and competitions in Belfast, Munich, Singapore, Hamburg and Houston. He is particularly interested in understanding the diversity of different cultures design approaches and how they can be applied together for a sustainable and social built environment.
Surprising fact: Ollie loves to cook and spent most of his summers at university working as a food vendor at music festivals across the UK and Ireland.

The board

Norman Foster

Patron,
Article 25

Profile

Lord Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, is the Founder and Chairman of Foster + Partners, a global architecture firm established in 1967.

With a Master’s degree from Yale University, Foster has shaped the architectural landscape for over four decades, leading projects that range from urban master plans to iconic buildings like the Reichstag in Berlin, Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong, and the Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt. A recipient of over 400 awards, including the Pritzker Prize (1999) and multiple Gold Medals, Foster was knighted in 1990 and made a Life Peer in 1999 as Lord Foster of Thames Bank.

**Maxwell Hutchinson**
Founder & President,
Article 25

Profile

Maxwell Hutchinson, a founder of Article 25, served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) from 1989 to 1991. Notable projects include Skylines on the Isle of Dogs, JS Pathology’s Headquarters at Camden Lock, Aztec Row in Islington, and Pink Floyd’s recording studio in Britannia Row.
Maxwell has been a visiting professor at the University of Westminster, the University of Nottingham, and Queen's University Belfast. As a practicing architect, Maxwell is also a regular broadcaster. He has created and presented series for Discovery TV, BBC Two, Channel Four, and Carlton Television, among others. Additionally, Maxwell frequently contributes to BBC Radio Four, BBC Two’s Newsnight, BBC London, and LBC radio.

**Denise Bennetts**
Chair Of Trustees & Founding Director, Bennetts Associates

Denise co-founded Bennetts Associates in 1987 with Rab Bennetts, shaping its strategic design direction. With studios in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester, Bennetts Associates is a leading UK practice known for sustainable, enduring architecture across cultural, workplace, and educational projects. The firm's diverse portfolio, ranging from masterplans to small historic buildings, has garnered over 150 awards in 30 years.
A respected architectural critic and assessor for several award schemes, Denise is a member of the RIBA National and International Awards Group. She serves as an external examiner at architecture schools across the UK and is a member of the British School at Rome’s Faculty of the Fine Arts. Denise oversees the practice’s financial and legal affairs and led the transfer of ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust in 2016. She studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art.

**Phil Hudson**
Consultant,
Price & Myers

Phil graduated from UMIST with a degree in Civil & Structural Engineering. During the 1980s, he worked on various projects in the UK and internationally for both large and small practices. Joining Price & Myers in 1988, he became a Partner in 2001 and served in this role until 2020. Now, Phil focuses on supporting client and architect contacts and engaging more deeply in engineering. He has led numerous award-winning collaborative projects, with two being shortlisted for the Stirling Prize.

**Damian Delahunty**
Trustee,
Article 25

**Natalie Thingelstad**
Founder & Principal, Government Experts Group

Natalie Thingelstad is the founder of Government Experts Group and an expert in international development. She provides legal and regulatory guidance, governance consulting, and advises on corporate responsibility, compliance, and internal control programs. For nearly 20 years, Natalie has worked with both for-profit and non-profit organizations to ensure compliance with regulations, including anti-bribery and anti-kick back statutes, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, OFAC sanctions, and the U.K. Charity Commission.
Previously, Natalie served as Division Chief of the U.S. Agency for International Development Compliance Division and as the chief compliance officer at Save the Children-US. She holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an undergraduate degree in Government Affairs and Psychology from Georgetown University. She has extensive field experience in international development, particularly in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

**Phil Coffey**
Founding Director,
Coffey Architects

Phil Coffey founded Coffey Architects in 2005 to pursue a passion for architecture, natural light and the environment. He is a hands-on studio leader and enjoys the process of building strong client relationships to deliver exceptional projects, both large and small that inspire and delight. Phil’s involvement runs from design conception through to completion. He has led Coffey Architects to win numerous major design awards and recognitions. Phil is a regular contributor to the debate on architecture and urbanism, including public speaking and written and broadcast commentary for press.

**Paul Clark**
Retired Audit Partner,
BDO LLP

Recently retired from BDO LLP, Paul spent 20 years as an audit partner at Moore Stephens LLP and BDO LLP. Paul specialised in supporting larger family and listed companies, particularly in property and construction, and advised pension scheme trustees on a variety of matters. Now, Paul assists a number of occupational pension scheme trustees, is a trustee of four charities and is available to advise small family companies on strategic matters.

Meet the people behind Article 25

Experts in humanitarian architecture and global development

The Article 25 team

The board

Contact us