As Senior Executive Partner and Head of Studio, Gerard Evenden’s approach to leading international teams is guided by collaboration, technological innovation, and a commitment to regenerative, ecological design. Gerard studied at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, graduating in 1985, and joined the practice in 1991. Alongside leading the design of a string of high-profile projects, he has built enduring relationships with clients, collaborators, and a trusted studio leadership group, which brings together decades of shared knowledge and expertise. Gerard’s desire to work in new markets has driven Foster + Partners’ broad geographical spread and diversity through projects in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Australia, and the Middle East, including the sustainable masterplan for Masdar City, the UAE’s 2020 Dubai Expo pavilion, and Zayed National Museum, the centrepiece of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi. Early projects include Sarriko Station on the Bilbao Metro, where he subsequently led the design teams on Canary Wharf Underground Station in London and the High-Speed Rail Station in Florence. More recently, his scope has included significant new projects in the UK, such as the Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford, and work in the USA, Africa, and the UAE. Gerard has sought out and thrived on the challenge of working in extreme climates, delivering projects that often combine technological complexity with traditional principles to achieve unprecedented environmental aims. Recently completed projects include The Lana and The Lana Residences, Dorchester Collection in Dubai, a luxury hotel and residential property. He also continues to work on a range of large-scale projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as Laheq, the first residential-led development at The Red Sea, and Nujuma, a luxury resort at the edge of the Al Wajh lagoon. With oversight of the practice’s model-making capabilities, he has applied his passion for technology to advancing the department’s use of the latest tools, materials, and systems. A great believer in the value of travel and a local presence, Gerard has developed a deep understanding of the cultural and social changes in the regions where he has worked. He has been proud to play a part in their sustainable growth and evolution, so much so that Gerard named his children, Florence and Sydney, following two major competition wins in these cities.