What does a diverse city look like? How can the built environment be more diverse when the design professions in Ireland are not diverse themselves? Join us in a conversation about how to advance diversity in Dublin and who gets to discuss and decide its design.

Open Table 2025 empowers people to participate in expert-led discussions on the topics of Diaspora, Diversity, Design, Demolition and Democracy. 

Our first table will be hosted by Sarah Adekoya and Manijeh Verghese. Sarah Adekoya is an graduate architect with a BArch in Architecture from Technological University Dublin, currently developing a practice that seeks to broaden and diversify the architectural field in Ireland, inspired by her awareness of the underrepresentation of Black female Irish architects. She is a member of the RIAI Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and a GAP Lab participant with the Irish Architecture Foundation, where she contributes to initiatives that promote equity and innovation within the profession. In 2025, she took part in the Nomadic African Studio in Morocco, a collaborative program exploring how African identity, culture, and heritage can shape new approaches to architectural design. Across her work, Sarah is committed to ensuring that inclusivity is central to both the architecture sector and the way the built environment responds to diverse communities.

Manijeh Verghese (she/ her) is the CEO of Open City. She is also one of the Mayor of London’s Design Advocatesand an External Examiner for the M.Arch programme at The Bartlett, UCL. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Architecture Foundation and a member of the advisory board for The DisOrdinary Architecture Project. She was co-curator of The Garden of Privatised Delights – the 2021 British Pavilion at the 17th International Venice Architecture Biennale and was the interpretation specialist for the South Asia Gallery at the Manchester Museum in partnership with the British Museum that was co-curated by a collective of over 30 local experts.

The Open Table series takes place at IAF House at Charlemont Square, Dublin 2. Places are limited so book early. Lunch will be provided.

Open Table events take place at IAF House, Charlemont Square, Dublin 2. This is a temporary use space and does not have direct access to toilet and washroom facilities inside the space. Participants and visitors have full use of toilets, including an accessible toilet, located in a separate adjoining building approximately 100 metres away in distance. The space and doorways open wide and the venue does not have any steps or stairs.

Please contact us at bookings@architecturefoundation.ie if you require ISL interpretation or have any access requirements.