Ramona Adlakha to speak at Women in Architecture Symposium

March 11, 2026

KPMB associate Ramona Adlakha will speak at “Through the Layers: Women Shaping Architecture Across a Career”, part of the third annual Women in Architecture (WIA) Symposium.

Hosted at Toronto Metropolitan University, the March 12 panel will bring together women from across architecture and the built environment sectors to discuss and share lessons from their respective careers. The event will offer insights and advice for women architects of all experience levels, from junior staff to established firm leaders and entrepreneurs.

The panel discussion will examine five “layers”:

1. “Entering the Profession – Upon Graduation” explores the realities of entering architecture as a young woman, navigating the transition from school to practice, building confidence, and developing a design voice early in one’s career.
2. “Entrepreneurship and Starting a Practice – Early Leadership” focuses on women who stepped into entrepreneurship and leadership, discussing risk-taking, mentorship, and cultivating a design vision while building a client base.
3. “Negotiating Leadership Styles – Experience with Authority” examines how women navigate authority, communication, emotional labour, and expectations shaped by dominant leadership norms.
4. “Beyond Architecture – Stemmed out of the Field” highlights diverse career trajectories beyond traditional practice and reframes architectural education as a launchpad for interdisciplinary impact.
5. “Innovation and Transformative Change – Battling Future Issues” centres on advocacy, governance, and institutional change, positioning women as agents actively reshaping the profession’s future.

Adlakha will discuss “Negotiating Leadership Styles”, exploring how emerging women can leaders can approach leadership and communication.

Ramona’s fellow panellists include Soma Khan, co-founder of Form + Bang Design Studio; Vanessa Fong, founder of VFA Architecture + Design, Paige Crewson, counsel at Kennaley Construction Law; and Camille Mitchell, senior architect at mcCallumSather. The event will be moderated by Jennifer Esposito, assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science.

Event details

Event: Women in Architecture (WIA) Symposium
Presentation: Through the Layers: Women Shaping Architecture Across a Career
Date & Time: March 12, 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Location: Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science, Upper Atrium, 325 Church St., Toronto, Ontario

The event is open to the public. Register via Toronto Metropolitan University.

(Portrait credit: Kian Tang; Scotiabank North Flagship credit: Doublespace Photography)