BFA co-directors
BFA was established in 2018 and is currently co-directed by Neba Sere and Selasi Setufe. Formed following a chance meeting at an architecture event, BFA was initiated in response to the need of visibility for black women in architecture and the built environment. Since BFA’s inception, the BFA co-directors have been working with a team of volunteers, advisors and supporters who have been integral to the journey of the organisation so far.
SELASI SETUFE
Co-director
Selasi Setufe MBE is a registered architect with an interest in exploring socially responsive approaches to design, architecture and placemaking with particular focus on cultural and environmental issues.
She is a Public Practice Alumni and previously worked as a Senior Architect and Innovative Sites Manager at Be First where she championed high-quality design and project management across various projects. Selasi is currently a Principal Project Officer within the GLA’s Place Unit.
Passionate about challenging the status quo and creating opportunities for the disenfranchised to thrive, Selasi has held positions as a Council Member at the RIBA, Chair of the NLA’s NextGen Sounding Board and as trustee of Street Space CIC.
Selasi was awarded an MBE for her services to diversity in Architecture in the Queen’s 2022 Honour’s List
@selasi_setufe
NEBA SERE
Co-director
Neba Sere is a Spatial Practitioner, Associate Professor as well as Director of Decolonising and Decarbonising at the Bartlett, UCL.
She is a graduate of RWTH Aachen University & Central Saint Martins.
She is co-lead of decosm collective working to decolonise city-making.
She was previously a Senior Project Officer within the GLA’s Regeneration team, worked at Penoyre & Prasad Architects managing stakeholder engagement on large scale civic master plans, and led on design & construction projects with young people at Build Up Foundation where she now is a Trustee.
Her interest lies in understanding the process of decolonising the architecture profession and thus the built environment, specifically looking at how citizen-led initiatives can have a long term impact on the spaces we inhabit.
@nebasere
THE TEAM
Over the past seven years BFA has been working with an incredible team of designers, architects and creatives from our network.
We’re thankful to our co-director of 7 years, Akua Danso who has been part of the very first steps of our journey, from that spark of connection in 2018 to building a global community of 550+ Black women in architecture. From championing our members, supporting the next generation, leading two powerful mentoring cohorts, to shaping our contribution to the Venice Biennale 2023, Akua’s care and commitment have been at the heart of BFA.
We’ve had the joy of working with Melissa Haniff, Aaliyah Lawal, Iara Silva, Ranti Ehinmola, Sahar Ibrahim, Eniola Sonusi, Shukri Bihi, Nompsy Chigaru, Hanifah Sogbanmu, Noella Nibakuze, Seyi Adelekun, Paris Albert, Umi Lovecraft BP, Lyndah Katusiime, Chun-Li Reid, Diana Phiri-Whitty, Yeni Ope-Ewe in our Committee Team 2019-2020.
More recently we’ve had Ama Ofori-Darko (Project Manager), Ayomipo Odedina (General Team Assistant) as freelancers.
Our current team is made up of Tioluwalase Olojede (Social Media Assistant), Nompsy Chigaru (Membership Assistant), Alice Farmer and Stephanie Adebayo (Mentorship Programme Leads).