Elizabeth Akamo – Level 7 Apprentice and Architectural Assistant – has won this year’s AJ100 New Talent (Part 2) Award.

Among an exceptional shortlist, Elizabeth stood out. And rightly so. Her award-winning presentation didn’t just showcase talent – it reflected her drive to shape a more diverse, inclusive, and open profession. She’s not waiting for change. She’s leading it.

At Scott Brownrigg, we’ve seen this first-hand. Elizabeth balances academic life with practice, all while taking an active role on our Employee Ownership Trust Committee. Both within Scott Brownrigg and externally, she’s championing mentoring as a tool for growth, presenting her ideas to the wider industry at the RIBA Interface: Education + Practice event.

She’s also helped shape our paid internship programme – helping open doors to those who might not otherwise have access to architecture. Her academic research is already informing our design work, particularly in intergenerational housing. And through her work with Let’s Build, she’s ensuring inclusion isn’t just a principle – it’s embedded in the process.

One AJ100 judge described her as a “serious thought leader.” Another noted her “determination to include everyone.” We couldn’t agree more.

Elizabeth’s win is more than personal recognition – it reflects what’s possible when values meet action. We’re proud to work alongside her and excited to see what she does next.

Congratulations, Elizabeth.