CONTEXT 188 : JUNE 2026 47 Kirstin Mackenzie CONTEXT 186 : DECEMBER 2025 43 Elaine Walters New member profile My conservation career began as a town planner in local government. I appreciated the diversity of heritage assets and found that historic environment cases required careful research and a problemsolving approach. Following my MSc in historic conservation at Oxford Brookes, sponsored by Winchester City Council, I moved into a historic environment team post and volunteered on the Winchester Diocesan Advisory Committee. I set up my own consultancy in 2021 and have worked as the principal historic conservation officer at New Forest District Council since 2023. At the beautiful district of New Forest the range of historic environments, heritage assets and applications is varied and interesting. Under the theme of transportation infrastructure, we recently granted listed building consent for the relocation of a D-Day Whale Bridge, a vital component of the Mulberry harbours used during the Normandy landings in 1944, from Town Quay in Southampton to the Marchwood Military Port. A D-Day Whale Bridge being relocated (Photo: Associated British Ports) We work with the policy team on the emerging local plan, implementing a conservation area review programme and drafting historic environment retrofit guidance, which forms part of the evidence base. Our heritage at risk register is being reviewed with the help of our graduate planner, and we have helped to secure conservation repair work to the council-owned Grade II* listed Eling Tide Mill, to allow it to mill again. Applying for IHBC full membership did take time to draft but this was a useful reflection on my career to date, directing my CPD. I am grateful for the professional expertise and support of Chris Reynolds, my MATE mentor, and my My interest in conservation developed early, influenced by my mother’s small architectural practice in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands of South Africa, where I accompanied her to site visits and assisted with measured surveys of historic buildings during school and university holidays. My professional career began as an intern in the City of Cape Town’s heritage and environmental planning department, following my graduation from architecture school. I then worked as an architectural assistant for Sally Hugo-Hamman (Hugo Hamman Associates), who trained at Insall Associates in London. Her work included the conservation of privately owned houses and nationally significant buildings such as the Irma Stern Museum and Glenara House. After I completed my Part 3 in South Africa, she encouraged me to pursue a specialised master’s degree in conservation. After registering as an architect in South Africa, I established a small practice in Cape Town, focusing on domestic-scale conservation projects. Alongside this, I undertook heritage consultancy work and chaired the local architectural heritage society, where I contributed to consultations on listed building and conservation area applications, building on my earlier experience at the City of Cape Town. I moved to the UK in 2020 to take up a place at the University of Strathclyde’s IHBC-accredited MSc in architectural design for the conservation of built heritage. This course, specifically designed for architects, gave me a strong philosophical and technical grounding. The course was led by Cristina Gonzalez Longo, who has continued to mentor me since graduation. I currently work as a heritage consultant at John Gilbert Architects in Glasgow, an awardwinning practice recognised for its work on A-listed buildings, including Provand’s Lordship and the Gallery of Modern Art. My role has provided the opportunity to apply ICOMOS principles alongside a rigorous, evidenceled approach to conservation, particularly in the context of retrofit. I am currently working on several A and B listed buildings within Glasgow’s city centre. Working in multidisciplinary teams, we develop pragmatic responses to complex historic environments, balancing building performance, material integrity and cultural significance. Every intervention is significance-led, and we work to diagnose the causes of decay rather than merely treating the symptoms. I joined the IHBC to engage with a network of experienced professionals and to benefit from its wide-ranging CPD opportunities. I particularly value its multidisciplinary membership, which supports a holistic approach to conservation. As I continue to develop my practice, I am keen to contribute to the Scotland branch, and to play a role in advocating for the careful stewardship and conservation of Scotland’s historic environment. Kirstin Mackenzie is a new full member of the IHBC.
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