HKS has appointed Julianne Ilebode-Akisanya (pictured right) and Sophia Hami as health advisory leaders and vice presidents in its UK office, as the firm continues to invest in its existing research capabilities to meet growing client demand for operational and strategic insight.
HKS is known for its evidence-driven approach to design, delivering health facilities that are efficient and flexible to accommodate continuous innovation and changing needs.
The practice’s advisory team draws on a diverse range of expertise, including architects, engineers, clinicians, and financial analysts, to offer strategic advice to clients on the viability, planning, and design of projects.
New recruits Ilebode-Akisanya and Hami bring complimentary clinical, operational, and consultancy skills and experience to the team, as well as close networks of public and private sector contacts.
They will work with HKS clients to solve critical strategic and operational challenges and navigate the biggest issues facing the healthcare sector today, including modernising existing estates, improving access to services, decarbonisation, digitisation, and staff and patient wellbeing.
They will also drive new business development for the practice in the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Jane Ho, principal and director of health at HKS London, said: “Health trusts, investors, owners, and developers are increasingly seeking end-to-end partners that can problem solve and advise on strategy and commercial viability alongside attractive design.
“We’re expanding our advisory team and building on our existing insight capabilities to respond to that, and Julianne and Sophia are an important part of our growth plans.
“They bring complimentary clinical and consultancy skills, and their indepth understanding of how healthcare facilities are used, managed, and perform, will be invaluable for HKS clients.”
Ilebode-Akisanya joins HKS from her role as general manager at ENT UK at the Royal College of Surgeons, where she created strategic alliances and strategies with providers within the NHS and the private sector.
Prior to that, she worked at GE Healthcare Partners where she was focused on process improvement, cost optimisation, and imbedding customer centricity in healthcare organisations and facilities.
Hami (below) has worked for more 13 years in operational roles in both the NHS and private sector and has a keen understanding of the UK health market, clinical needs, healthcare business planning, regulatory frameworks, and revenue targets.
For the past two years she held a board level position at OneWelbeck Women’s Health, working with clinical partners to set up the women’s health centre and deliver gynaecology and breast outpatient consultation, procedures, and imaging services to patients.
She also worked for 10 years within the Imperial College Healthcare Trust across a range of disciplines including gastroenterology and hepatology, gynaecology and children’s services.
Ilebode-Akisanya said: “Across the world, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of flexibility, adaptability and innovation in healthcare delivery.HKS has been leading the way on how this can be applied to the built environment through innovative design and research and I am looking forward to working with our healthcare clients as we collectively recover from this pandemic and prepare for the unknowns of the future.”
Hami added: “From working on the ground, I understand the challenges that NHS trusts are facing with large, complex estates and the impact that is having on staff and patient wellbeing, as well as wait times.
“It is the thread that runs through all trust decisions and the biggest obstacle to improving productivity and efficiencies.
“HKS is uniquely placed to help both public and private sector partners tackle such issues, blending high-quality design expertise with hands-on sector experience and quality research.”