Ian Shepherd

Ian has been involved with architectural practice on a professional level since qualifying in 1990. He was a one of the founding partners in Birmingham based D5 Architects LLP where he remained as a consultant until April 2017. In addition to his commitment to architecture and the built environment through the practice, he is also interested in architectural education. In particular the symbiosis between education and practice and how we best equip students with the skills necessary to transfer the quality of design thinking and theoretical exploration in to practice. Ian has been involved with Birmingham School of Architecture and Design for many years in various capacities, most recently as a visiting tutor on the BA course, as a Professional Examiner for the Part 3 course and as the Teaching Practice Coordinator. In September 2013, he took up a full-time teaching post at BCU as Director of Professional Studies to further develop his commitment to architectural education.

As part of his interest in education in a wider sense Ian is currently a co-opted secondary school governor. This gives him further opportunity to work in the community and develop an understanding of school management and secondary education delivery.

He is also a board member and trustee with Groundwork West Midlands, a charity organisation working to transform disadvantaged communities through quality regeneration programmes within the region.

In Ian’s current role as Director of Professional Studies he is responsible for the Management of the Part 3 course (PG Dip in Architectural Practice) and for managing and integrating the delivery of the Professional Studies modules across all disciplines within the School including Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture and Product Design.

Ian is also a professional examiner for the Management of the Part 3 course (PG Dip in Architectural Practice) at the University of Westminster and London South Bank University and an External Examiner for Management of the Part 3 course (PG Cert. in Architectural Professional Practice) at Nottingham University.