Merton Annual Equality Conversation

The 13^th Merton Equality Conversation took place on Tuesday 10^th March 2026. Our speakers this year were Stephanie Kyle, Senior Architect at Floyd Saski Architects, in conversation with Dr Laura Ludtke (Stipendiary Lecturer in English). Stephanie is a Senior Architect and Inclusive Design Consultant at Floyd Saski Architects and Assistant Professor of Architectural Design at the University of Nottingham. She was the first winner of the AJ100 Change-maker of the Year Award, and is co-author of the AUDE Neurodiversity Design Guide for Higher Education. Laura is an early career researcher and Stipendiary Lecturer in English, specialising in literary and cultural studies of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth century, with a particular focus on the intersection between modernity, technology, gender, and aesthetics in the city. 

Stephanie spoke on Architecture, Accessibility, and Inclusive Design, with a particular focus on designing educational and learning spaces for equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, thinking both about physical and non-visible disabilities. A discussion followed, enabling participants to think through how we might apply the principles explored in our college environment, including the challenges of working within the context of historical buildings. The event was well-attended, with representation from across the College, including Fellows and staff.