People
Director
Carol Botten
Carol joined Northern Architecture in April 2009. Her background is in development within the cultural and voluntary sectors with previous roles focusing on management, fundraising and communications. She is a graduate of Newcastle University, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts and Cultural Management from Northumbria University.
Projects Officer
Lowri Bond
Lowri graduated in Fine Art from Newcastle University and has worked for various cultural organisations throughout the North East. She was appointed as Projects Officer in May 2004, having worked as Community Arts Officer for the City of Sunderland Council and Arts Development Officer for the Mid Northumberland Arts Group.
Education Officer
Sara Cooper
Sara has a background in Fine Art and Design and is trained as a teacher. With extensive experience in formal education she has most recently taught Art and Design at FE and HE level. She has in the past worked in both the creative industries and voluntary sector. Sara joined Northern Architecture in January 2008.
Marketing Officer
Kate Percival
A graduate of History of Art at the University of Leeds, Kate joined Northern Architecture in November 2005 from a self-employed background in the cultural sector. Kate works to promote awareness of Northern Architecture's activities and to support the organisation's development.
Office Administrator
Ian Bain
Ian joined the Northern Architecture team in March 2010 to support the administration of projects and the organisation's development. Ian has a background as an administrator in the commercial and private sector with qualifications in I.T and public service.
Education Officer
Emma Kench
After several years in dance education and marketing, Emma launched domus, the first dedicated contemporary design shop in the North East, before embarking on further studies in Interior Architecture and an MA in Design. On graduation Emma became a lecturer for the University of Teesside’s Spatial Programme before a period working in public relations focusing on architecture, interiors and the arts. Emma joined Northern Architecture in November 2008.
Board Member
Nigel Jenkins
Nigel has practised as an architect in the North East for 30 years. He set up Jenkins Partnership with his wife Catherine in 1979. They recently moved their practice from Gateshead to Rothbury, Northumberland.
Board Member
John Laverick
CHAIR of Northern Architecture - John is a Director of Turner & Townsend, based in the Newcastle upon Tyne office. John is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years experience of managing and delivering projects across a wide variety of sectors. Most recently John has become more involved in large regeneration projects across the North East and particularly within the city centres of Newcastle and Sunderland.
Board Member
Leon Mexter
Leon is chief executive of the Regional Youth Work Unit - North East. The organisation, based in Gateshead, promotes and supports the development of youth work across the North East. Leon joined the Unit seven years ago, and he has worked in the voluntary youth sector for over 20 years. Although born in the South of England, Leon has strong ties with the North East, being half Geordie, on his mother’s side. Leon received his full time training in youth work at the University of Durham, and has lived back in the North East for the past 18 years. As well as the opportunity to take part in cutting edge youth work, Leon was inspired to make the move back to the region because of the balmy weather and access to a decent football team. Prior to moving to the North, Leon worked and trained in the South East.
When not immersed in strategic development, Leon likes to indulge his twin passions of cricket and salsa dancing. He is hoping to one day combine the two into a new sport.
Board Member
Les Southerton
Les is an Economist and Chartered Town Planner and has worked on Teesside since 1970. Working for Middlesbrough Council in various capacities since 1984 he became Chief Executive of Middlesbrough Town Centre Company. In June 2007 he retired from this role to take up a part-time role as Director of the Stockton Middlesbrough Initiative.
Board Member
Adrian Stanley
Adrian is a Senior Office Partner at the Newcastle office of Eversheds law firm. He specialises in urban regeneration schemes for both the public and private sectors.
His recent experience includes acting for Tees Valley Regeneration and English Partnerships with regard to the proposed mixed use development at Middlehaven on Teesside which is to be lead by BioRegional Quintain Limited. He has also been advising Sunderland arc, English Partnerships and One NorthEast with regard to the various regeneration schemes being undertaken by Sunderland arc and in particular the schemes at the former Vaux site and Holmeside.
Board Member
Stephen Stokoe
Stephen Stokoe is an architect and the Design Services Manager at Middlesbrough Council. With a background working overseas, and in the private and public sector, he brings experience of managing a public sector multidisciplinary practice, and development of public sector procurement policy and probity. Stephen is also one of CABE’s regional representatives and is involved in the Sea Change, BfL and Spaceshapers initiatives.
Board Member
Neil Taylor
Neil Taylor is an architect and has been a partner at FaulknerBrowns since 1986. He is an active member of the RIBA Visiting Board and RIBA Validation Board, has been a Visiting Professor at the School of Architecture, Newcastle since 1992 and is an advisor to the School at the University of Northumbria for RIBA Accreditations. He is a member of the Urban Design Group and British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA).
Board Member
Emma Thomas
Emma Thomas is the Head of Learning at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead beginning there in 2000. Her background is in education delivery and management and she has recently completed the North East Cultural Leadership Programme, a Government funded investment in excellence in leadership across the creative and cultural industries. Emma has a particular interests in socially engaged art practice and communication technologies and has undertaken numerous international research visits on these themes.
Board Member
Nicky Watson
VICE CHAIR of Northern Architecture- Nicky Watson is an architect and has been a Director of Newcastle based practice Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall Ltd since 2000. The majority of her architectural work is in the North East Region and spans many sectors including housing, education and commercial projects. Nicky acts as External Examiner at Newcastle University for the Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management.
