Speakers

I am nominating Ben Channon for the Pioneer category as a genuine trailblazer who has fundamentally changed the way the built environment industry approaches designing for mental health and psychological well-being. He is the very definition of Pioneer, having discovered and brought into practice a new frontier that was not previously well developed in design 10 years ago – the impact that buildings have on our mental well-being – bringing this to the forefront of the industry’s attention through passionate voluntary advocacy work. Ben has championed this important issue on many fronts. He has written two highly successful RIBA Publishing books; and shared his research and ideas at universities, with businesses and local authorities, from Auckland to Wyoming. His TEDx talk on the topic has been viewed over 8,000 times on YouTube and shared widely. Ben’s significant contribution to the industry does not stop there. He voluntarily supports students who are looking to introduce his ideas into their work, patiently conducting interviews every year in his own time. His expertise has led him to sit on advisory boards for the WELL Building Standard and Future of London’s Health & Housing Impact Network. He is also ensuring that these ideas are not just academic, but are being delivered in physical buildings and masterplans through his work at Ekkist, where Ben has supported clients, design teams and contractors in creating some of the healthiest projects in not just the UK, but the world. Despite being just 35, Ben has already established himself as a global expert and thought leader in this new frontier. His work has previously seen him named a RIBA Journal Rising Star and a RESI Trailblazer. Ben exemplifies what it means to be a Pioneer in our industry, and I wholeheartedly believe he would be a deserving winner of this award.