Amy Francis-Smith is a multi-award-winning Disabled architect, inclusive designer and access consultant, project lead at Pinnegar Hayward Design and the outgoing Vice-President of the Birmingham Architectural Association. Campaigning for legislative change, her work and research focuses on providing improved accessibility for people with Disabilities in the built environment. 

Named as a Design Council specialist in accessible environments, providing expert advice on accessibility, policy, design and top-level strategy. Amy has experience across design and construction, particularly with residential schemes, multi-million-pound healthcare projects as well as access consultancy for buildings and new product development. 

Fighting for improvements on access policies around accessible housing and the Building Regulations, she gives talks and lectures to educate students and professionals on their social responsibility, sits on the advisory board of  Habinteg  (an accessible housing association), lobbies the government, is an ambassador for the Architect’s Benevolent Society and has worked with companies such as the Financial Times, BBC, British Council, Coventry City of Culture, City A.M., Wallpaper* and the Architects Journal. 

Her third year being featured on the Power 100 list, she also has been shortlisted from 62,000 as a National Diversity Award Positive Disability Role Model, a RIBAJ Rising Star in Architecture, an Archiboo Activism winner, a UK Construction Week Role Model, Birmingham Live’s 30 Under 30.

Her determination stems from witnessing the experience of friends/family as well as her own ill health. Amy was previously bedridden with life-threatening, severe chronic illnesses and disabilities, most notably Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Crohn’s, a hearing impairment and CPSTD.