Clerkenwheels-Post ride wrap up
Multi Story Thinking
Tom Bourne is the Creative Director of Select First, and the co-founder, along with me of Clerkenwheels. Just over two weeks since we completed our ride we catch up to wrap up our thoughts on the ride and its impact and discuss, somewhat nostalgically, how two passionate cyclists navigated their journey from Plymouth to London while raising awareness for a worthy cause. Our journey was made even more special by the support of friends, family, and our wonderful support crew, Toby Kent. Having someone to cheer us on during the toughest moments made all the difference. We want to extend our...
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Julienne Webster
Multi Story Thinking
Julienne Webster, founder of Industry Publicity, is a PR consultant with over 20 years experience. A specialist in design communications working with a wide range of clients, from architects and interior designers to manufacturers. Julienne Webster offers strategic business advice to companies across the built environment sector. Her holistic approach covers events and publicity, with the power of good communication central to how she helps businesses reach their target market and grow. I spoke to Julienne in April 2026 ahead of our Clerkenwheels fundraising ride from the University of...
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Clerkenwheels-Kay Hanson from HLM
Multi Story Thinking
Kay Hanson is the Plymouth Studio Director of HLM Architects. She heads up a multi-disciplinary team working across the architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and sustainability sectors. HLM are keen advocates of social value and delivering thoughtful, transformative places that support communities, our planet, and each other. HLM are supporting the Clerkenwheels ride with a Grand Depart networking event to send us off on day one of our ride. In this episode, we discover Kay's career trajectory from HLM to teaching and back The importance of diversity and...
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Clerkenwheels-Miles Baker-Clarke
Multi Story Thinking
Miles Baker-Clarke is a Director of Strategy and Growth with Fusion Media Services and founder of the Cycling Culture Club With over 10 years of experience in commercial and strategic marketing within the cycling industry, Miles is a skilled and passionate brand marketer, dedicated to bringing cycling to a broader audience and ensuring the sport's diversity and inclusivity for the future. Cycling Culture Club brings together people from underrepresented groups within cycling to share stories and was conceived as a space where all folks can feel welcome, and where the community can breed...
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Clerkenwheels-David Collins Studio
Multi Story Thinking
David Collins Studio - Raaida Hossain, Yeji Son, and Fanta Dembele have all taken part in United in Design’s internship program at David Collins Studio. Raaida is their current intern with both Yeji and Fanta joining David Collins Studio as employees following their internship. David Collins Studio is an internationally renowned luxury interior design and architecture practice, based in London and working across the world. The Studio works with luxury and heritage brands and delivers industry-leading interior architecture and design within the hospitality sector....
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Clerkenwheels-Ali Milam from Porta Romana
Multi Story Thinking
Ali Milam from Porta Romana Ali Milam is the Managing Director at Porta Romana, a Hampshire based company with an international reputation for making beautiful handcrafted decorative lighting and furniture for the interior design industry. Founded in 1988 by Andrew and Sarah Hills, Porta Romana has continuously grown and evolved and produces lighting and furniture with a commitment to craftsmanship and collaboration with talented artisans from around the globe. Porta Romana have supported the United in Design’s internship program from it’s inception in 2020 I interviewed Ali in February...
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Clerkenwheels-Sophie Ashby and Alex Dauley
Multi Story Thinking
Sophie Ashby and Alex Dauley are co-founders of United in Design United in Design (UiD) was founded in 2020 in response to the lack of inclusion in the interior design industry. Recognising the significant barriers that people of colour face in accessing opportunities within the field, they established UiD as a British diversity, equity, and inclusion charity to create pathways for underrepresented talent. I spoke to Alex and Sophie in February 2026 ahead of our 5-day cycle ride to raise funds for United in Design’s outreach program. In this episode, we discover how United in Design grew...
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Clerkenwheels-Special series introduction
Multi Story Thinking
Clerkenwheels is a fundraising cycling journey and a moving conversation about design, inclusion and who gets to shape the spaces around us. Over a series of special episodes, I'll be talking with designers, studios, and creative leaders who believe the built environment should work for everyone. Clerkenwheels is more than a bike ride. It's a fundraising initiative supporting United In Design's outreach programme. Every ten pounds we raise will introduce someone new to the potential of the interior design sector as a career. Along with my friend Tom Bourne, we are cycling from the University...
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Guy Oliver
Multi Story Thinking
Guy Oliver is an interior designer and managing director of Oliver Laws, a design practice specialising in historic or listed buildings and interiors. Guy began his career after leaving the Navy working with Colefax and Fowler and alongside Micheal Inchbald. Guy joined David Laws as Co-Director of his firm and ultimately assumed ownership of the company in 2012 when the name changed to Oliver Laws Ltd. Guy has gained a reputation for a unique creative style backed by a solid understanding of architectural history and artisanal techniques. He was principal designer on the £70m...
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Maggie Swift
Multi Story Thinking
Maggie Swift is the founding partner of Unframed Digital, a bespoke marketing agency based in Denver and Los Angeles, specialising in the built environment and working with architecture and interior design practices, construction, and manufacturing industries. Unframed Digital acts as a partner to marketing teams, specialising in SEO strategies with a data driven approach. Maggie is passionate about optimised foundations, website strategy, customer-first methods, and helping marketers thrive. I spoke to Maggie via Zoom in July 2025. In this episode, we discover how Maggie...
info_outlineAli Milam from Porta Romana
Ali Milam is the Managing Director at Porta Romana, a Hampshire based company with an international reputation for making beautiful handcrafted decorative lighting and furniture for the interior design industry.
Founded in 1988 by Andrew and Sarah Hills, Porta Romana has continuously grown and evolved and produces lighting and furniture with a commitment to craftsmanship and collaboration with talented artisans from around the globe.
Porta Romana have supported the United in Design’s internship program from it’s inception in 2020
I interviewed Ali in February 2026 ahead of our 5-day cycle ride to raise funds for United in Design's outreach program.
In this episode we discover how Porta Romana got involved with United in Design’s Internship program, the profound impact this partnership has had on both the interns and Porta Romana. The unexpected benefits and the importance of fostering connections within the design community, and why, if an idea sounds totally bonkers, it might just be worth getting involved with.
Links
Ali on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-milam-11725559/?originalSubdomain=uk
Porta Romana
https://www.portaromana.com
United in Design
https://www.unitedindesign.com
Clerkenwheels
https://www.clerkenwheels.com
Industry Publicity
https://www.industrypublicity.co.uk/
I want to thank the team from United In Design for supporting our ride, Sophie Ashby and Alex Dorley and behind the scenes, Eman Akbar, who's been working tirelessly to put things in place.
Julienne Webster from Industry Publicity, who's helping us with the marketing and PR of our initiative, and Tom Bourne from Select first, my co-rider for thinking up the idea, coming up with the name and keeping me motivated whilst I try to do my training.
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Thanks for listening. Bye for now.