Keynote speakers

Jeremy Myerson is Director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art. He holds the Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design with a remit to encourage 'design that improves quality of life'. In recent years he has focused this interest on the design of the office environment, writing a trilogy of books on the subject with technologist Philip Ross, the latest of which, Space To Work, was published in October 2006. He continues to research in the areas of inclusive design and workplace design, in an increasingly interdisciplinary way.

Andrew Kane, Partner in Faulkner Brown joined the practice in 1993 and has a long-standing interest and experience in major R&D; projects in both academic and government fields, as well as extensive research into space utilisation with HE institutions. Recent projects include several academic research and commercialisation facilities for universities including Newcastle, Lancaster, Salford and Sunderland. These have included a wide range of projects, many focussing on student facilities and a number including the innovative design and redesign of library and learning spaces.

Steve Dickson, Director, joined the Faulkner Brown practice in 1985 to establish an interior design facility. He has an in-depth knowledge of various market sectors including libraries, offices, commercial mixed use schemes incorporating leisure and retail, and is committed to the achievement of design excellence. Steve has led the work that we have undertaken recently for several of the London boroughs in creating public libraries relevant to the 21st century and to our multi-cultural society. He has led on academic library design innovation including projects at the University of Sunderland, the University of Teesside and the University of Sheffield. Steve has also contributed to a variety of CABE documentation including 'Better Public Libraries' and '21st Century Libraries, Changing Forms, Changing Futures'.