𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 – 𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙀𝘾 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮

As part of International Women’s Day, Foster + Partners is highlighting the theme “Resilience and Leadership,” sharing reflections from women across the practice whose experiences continue to shape the future of the AEC industry and the built environment.

Among them is Retha Swanepoel, Partner and Head of BIM & Design Systems at Foster + Partners, who reflects on a career shaped by diverse cultural experiences and collaboration across global teams. Working at the intersection of design technology, people, and process, her journey has focused on bringing clarity to complex projects while guiding teams through change.

Her leadership philosophy emphasizes adaptability, curiosity, and respect for diverse perspectives, highlighting the importance of listening, alignment, and shared purpose in delivering meaningful progress within the architecture and engineering sectors. The perspective reinforces a key message for the future of the built environment: technology alone does not drive progress—empowered people do.

By fostering environments where professionals can grow, adapt, and lead together, voices like Retha Swanepoel continue to shape a more inclusive and collaborative future for the global design community