About Femi Oresanya
Femi Oresanya is a senior architect and recognised leader in the design of complex public-sector environments, with more than three decades of experience shaping major civic, heritage, scientific and educational projects across the UK. He is currently UK Regional Leader for the Government and Justice sectors at HOK, where he provides strategic leadership on national programmes focused on resilience, public service delivery and long-term social value.
Before studying architecture at Cardiff University, Femi achieved A-levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry - an academic foundation that has shaped his strong analytical approach and enduring appreciation of scientific principles.
A committed champion of science, learning and public engagement, Femi was part of the design team for the Francis Crick Institute, which opened in 2016. Working closely with the client team, he helped embed “science on display” principles within one of Europe’s leading biomedical research centres. His work consistently emphasises openness, accessibility and the integration of science into the public realm, values closely aligned with the mission of the Royal Institution.
Femi is deeply engaged in professional governance and the cultural life of the built environment. He is an Honorary Professor at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, External Examiner at the Department of Architecture at Cambridge University and has served as a two-term elected Councillor, Trustee and Honorary Treasurer at RIBA. A former Chair of Architects for Change, advising RIBA on equity, diversity and inclusion, he currently sits on the House of Architecture Programme Steering Committee, contributing to the redevelopment of RIBA HQ at 66 Portland Place and the creation of a new Museum of Architecture.
Beyond professional leadership, Femi is strongly committed to community service. His voluntary roles include being a Warden of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects, Trustee of three charitable foundations and Club President of Streatham Croydon RFC, where he also serves as Safeguarding Officer and Head Coach of the Minis and Juniors section.
Femi brings to the Ri Board a long-standing dedication to education, public engagement and the transformative power of scientific and cultural institutions. His combination of strategic governance experience, design leadership and lifelong public service strongly supports the Ri’s mission to inspire people to think more deeply about science and its place in society.
What the Ri means to Femi
The Ri represents the very best of public service through knowledge: a place where intellectual rigour meets openness, and where complex ideas are shared with clarity, generosity and civic purpose. I value its long tradition of making discovery accessible, and its belief that institutions earn trust by inviting curiosity rather than guarding expertise.
Shaped by a career bridging architecture, science-led environments, education and governance, I see the Ri as a model of how enduring institutions can remain relevant, championing evidence, experimentation and interdisciplinary exchange in service of society.
This page was last updated in May 2026.