Architects Declare thanks our Student Ambassadors for their year of commitment and support

In September 2024, UK Architects Declare invited our first volunteer student ambassadors - Amy Thompson and Anushka Gupta - to join us and provide the perspectives of architectural students. This felt particularly significant as we marked our first five years and wanted to ensure our next phase of work is informed by and remains relevant to a wide range of current and emerging thought on architecture’s place in tackling the planetary emergency.

Amy and Anushka have spent their year as Student Ambassadors defining the role and its development, making connections with academics in regenerative education, and helping to shape our events and guidance. They have made a tremendous contribution to Architects Declare over the year since we created this new volunteer role.

Here, Amy and Anushka offer their personal reflections on the year that's now coming to a close - and what is ahead.

Amy Thompson: "Over the past year, the Student Ambassador role has been an enjoyable and eye-opening experience that has opened doors to a network of likeminded individuals (students, practitioners, and educators) united by a shared urgency to do more in the face of the climate crisis. Working with Anushka, these interactions have sparked both challenging and inspiring conversations that helped us explore not just what this role could be, but what it could do.

"I believe that as this ambassadorship evolves, it has the potential to become a powerful tool for change, elevating young voices and fostering two-way learning between future architects and those already shaping the profession. What began as a question of impact has grown into a vision that I am excited to help the next generation of ambassadors build on.

"On a personal note, this opportunity with UK Architects Declare has allowed me to attend events that broadened my knowledge, deepened my involvement in regenerative design, and strengthened my connection to climate-focused thinking. My passion for regenerative design has not only enriched my academic work at the University of Bath, it has also been shaped by it, each feeding the other.

"As the next cohort make the role their own, my hope is that it becomes a true launchpad for Next-Gen voices; shaping the future of both education and practice in architecture."

Anushka Gupta: "When Amy and I first met, we had many discussions about architectural education, navigating the impact we could have in the role, what might the role be, or even just getting a grasp on what Architects Declare was doing. Now with the Theory of Change, we have solidified all those discussions into a clear direction the new Next-Gen ambassadors could take.

"Before I joined Architects Declare, my thinking was firmly shaped by Doughnut Economics, and acronyms like RAI flew over my head in the meetings. Now, I tell everyone everywhere I go about AD! To understand AD better, I embedded the themes of Create a Just Space for People, Co-evolve with Nature and Be a Good Ancestor into my university project to test regenerative design principles. I even read Flourish, and started reading Donella Meadows to get a better grasp on systems thinking, which is a language I am much more fluent in. Despite not knowing much about being a good ancestor, organising events to do with the theme helped me constantly reflect on the topic, and learn through organising. To anyone interested in the role: you don't need to be an expert! In fact, it was being part of AD that helped create a solid foundation of my understanding of Regenerative Design.

"Although it seems like my time at Architects Declare has come to an end, in some ways, it feels like it has only just begun. The end of organising events meant meeting the team in person, which made my connections to the Steering Group members much more real and genuine. The Steering Group are a really kind, encouraging group of people. If you are passionate about making things happen, I'm sure you will flourish here!"

A particularly important outcome of Amy & Anushka’s time with us is that we now wish to build on their success by reframing the role to represent more widely the next generation of built environment professionals, whether studying, on placement or in practice. We are therefore inviting emerging members of the profession to volunteer as Next-Gen Ambassadors. See our parallel news story: Architects Declare invites Next-Gen Ambassadors to help shape our work.