Graham’s career at Ridge has taken him from Central Asia and Zambia to Formula One teams and the growth of a national architectural practice. He joined in the mid-1990s, when Ridge was still a business of around 100 people, bringing an academic background in overseas development and a love of travel, to early architectural work for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and British Council.

As that market changed, Graham gained his qualification through a wind tunnel design for the Benetton Formula One team, followed by a British Racing Drivers’ Club project at Silverstone. That work opened the door to a national motorsport client base for Ridge. From there he played a leading role in growing the architectural practice, helping shape the multidisciplinary model that Ridge is known for today. Three decades on, Graham’s approach is still built around listening first: taking time to understand a client’s business, pressures and ambitions before deciding what needs to happen next. It is a way of working that has earned him lasting relationships across many sectors and regions.

A long-standing voice on the executive group, Graham champions thinking beyond the immediate and believes strongly in giving people real responsibility for the areas they lead. He was also an early advocate for treating culture and values as a genuine business priority. His time as chair of governors overseeing the growth of Activate Learning, has shaped how he thinks about governance, accountability and sustainable growth.

Away from work, Graham's time centres on family, a shared love of art history and travel, and an ever-developing interest in sculpture, ceramics and painting.