My career in Architectural Technology commenced in the ‘Life on Mars’ era of 1976 when I enrolled at the Leeds College of Building, on a full time general buildings course. After completing the course, I was initially employed as a Junior Architectural Technician in a small rural practice where I was able to develop my drawing skills and progressed my education with part-time courses in constructional studies.

To progress my career, I moved to Gillinson Barnet and Partners, a large practice in Leeds, where I was able to specialise in the new swimming pool leisure centre developments throughout the UK, as a team member involved in the design development and detailing. However the recession hit hard in 1982 and I moved back to a small rural practice where I developed an interest in conservation of older buildings.

I joined CIAT (SAAT as it was then) and successfully passed my interview to become a Chartered Member in 1983 and actually went back to full time education to study architectural design. After completing my second year, I was offered and accepted a position in Sydney, where I was employed with Peddle Thorpe and Walker to work on multi-storey city office developments including the twin tower maritime centre in Sydney Harbour. I also worked on an historic bond warehouse conservation project in Darling Harbour, which I was directly responsible for the design development.

Returning to the UK after my visa expired, I moved to the Channel Islands to work with a practice specialising in the conservation of historic Guernsey farmhouses. After several years, I was granted an Australian work visa and I returned to Perth, where I was employed in a practice specialising in large marina complex developments in Australia and Asia.

Unfortunately, the recession hit Australia and I moved back to the UK and worked with Martin Stancliffe Architects in York, a prominent conservation practice, where I was personally responsible for numerous historic building projects. I also assisted with work on major alterations to the Crypt at St Paul’s Cathedral and quinqennial reports on the cathedral building fabric.

At the start of the millennium, I moved to the Carey Jones Architects in Leeds, a large multi discipline practice, where as a Chartered Architectural Technologist, I performed the role of Project Architect for a number of large commercial projects including the conversion of a large industrial mill complex into a multi use business complex.

I then worked with Pearce Bottomly Architects, again specialising in conservation, As a Chartered Architectural Technologist I am the Project Administrator working on numerous projects including the repairs of Grade I listed buildings and external and internal refurbishments. I also undertook the full building renovation of a Grade II listed watermill building including change of use to my own domestic dwelling.

In 2006, I moved back to Carey Jones Architects as a Project Administrator on a large Casino project in Pompano, Florida, USA which I am currently working on and involves frequent site trips to the USA!