In this interview, Mitakshi shares her journey from architecture to sustainability engineering, emphasising the importance of education, collective action and systemic change in the built environment.

Could you tell us a bit about your background and what motivated you to pursue a role in sustainability?

I began my career as an architect, and I absolutely loved it in the early years. My journey since then has been a blend of chance, intentional focus and invaluable support from others.

Over time, I found myself drawn towards the scientific and climate-related foundations of design. I began to question why certain materials and technologies are used, what drives design choices and how buildings, spaces and urban forms are influenced by climate across different geographies. Recognising gaps in my knowledge, I came to realise that my true interest lies in exploring beyond the aesthetic appeal of the built environment.

I was fortunate to work in Chicago with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), where I supported a landmark policy bill related to energy data gathering. It was then I realised the importance of a strong foundation in understanding built form through science and engineering, and I wanted to equip myself with the technical knowledge needed to create practical solutions in the built environment. This experience, along with guidance from many valuable mentors, motivated me to pursue further training and become a sustainability engineer as well.

I was thrilled to find that this choice aligned my underlying passion with my profession. After completing my master’s at UCL’s Bartlett School, I became a sustainability consultant, working across various scales within the built environment to address policy and design. The learning curve was steep and challenging at times, but incredibly rewarding. Joining Broadway Malyan was intentional and serendipitous in equal measure, and the support I have received here has been incredibly motivating to my work.

With the rise in extreme climate-related events, what proactive steps do you think businesses can take to mitigate impact and strengthen resilience?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are clear ways organisations can make a difference. First, it’s crucial to understand where your impact lies, where you have control—both as an individual and as a team—and identify the incremental steps that can address these areas. Secondly, sustainability shouldn’t fall to just one person or department; it must be embraced collectively, with enthusiasm and purpose. A big part of achieving this is through education efforts within organisations, helping everyone engage in the process.

Another key aspect is understanding and addressing an organisation’s relationship with fossil fuels and other high-carbon impact sectors. For designers and architects, this means focusing on design for a low-carbon or post-carbon economy— enabling a shift away from carbon-intense solutions. Businesses are now also evaluating how this relationship extends beyond their goods and services, defining their own decarbonisation journeys and taking steps to transform operationally to reduce their impact – just as we are at Broadway Malyan.

Besides this, it is my fundamental belief that building resilience comes through education and collective action—bringing yourself and everyone along on this journey. I often say, “bring your activist to work,” and I will say it again now, hopefully without the risk of being doused in paint anytime soon!

As an industry, how do you think we should respond to climate change?

There are two key actions: education and lobbying. By lobbying, I mean conducting research, sharing insights within your profession and advocating for stronger regulations or industry best practices. Effective regulation has significant impacts on how we approach design challenges, though sometimes it risks becoming lip service. I’ve seen firsthand the positive effects of policy and advocacy, which is why I believe they’re so important.

On the other side, there’s the need to bring everyone along through education. Businesses and organisations should invest in helping people understand how their daily work can positively address the climate crisis and contribute to resilience and regeneration. This collective understanding is crucial for fostering a more sustainable approach across the board – and I’m happy to say we are constantly exploring ways to engage and use our platforms to bring this aspect to the forefront!

How does Broadway Malyan educate and engage its team in sustainability practices?

At Broadway Malyan, we have BM Academy, an interactive global programme that our team engages with. Through this programme, our long-term aim is to build comprehensive competency and excellence in sustainable design, and we’ve already seen enthusiastic participation from our colleagues worldwide.

We’ve previously conducted climate literacy sessions and are currently discussing net zero carbon in the built environment. Our extensive global network allows us to exchange ideas and collaboratively develop tools and guidance, bringing best practices to our colleagues across the world.

Our programmes such as the Design Hackathon in 2023 and the Borderless+ event in September 2024 further support this mission, facilitating the sharing of design solutions and innovative concepts through internal design competitions.

What innovations in sustainability are you most excited about?

I could go on forever about this particular question! There are so many different aspects to consider, from renewable energy integration in buildings and regenerative materials to biodiversity in urban spaces, innovation in water management like desalination, climate-responsive urban design and many more.

I’m most excited about transforming linear systems within the built environment—the traditional "take, make and waste" model—into a circular economy for construction. Shifting our approach to construction materials beyond business-as-usual and reducing waste in all forms is crucial for our industry at a practical level, and I’m genuinely enthusiastic about contributing to these systemic changes.

Another crucial aspect is Carbon Capture and Storage, particularly Direct Air Capture. Building-integrated carbon capture technologies are gaining momentum, allowing us to implement systems that can address legacy emissions, or even capture carbon before it enters the atmosphere. However, these innovations need to scale rapidly to have a significant impact on the climate crisis, and they shouldn’t replace our efforts to reduce emissions. It’s vital to focus on minimising our impact in the first place – and as urbanists, we play a significant role in making this happen.

And finally, could you share some specific ways you incorporate sustainable practices or address climate change in your daily life?

This is a challenging issue, and I identify as an "imperfect activist." Living a fully sustainable lifestyle can be difficult for many reasons, especially because the systems around us are not set up for low-impact living and are often beyond our direct control. While we can make some impactful consumer choices – changing our diets, eliminating plastic, avoiding driving, repairing, reusing and reducing waste – these actions are still a part of wider, flawed systems. I would certainly not criticise these actions; I just think there’s more work to be done on a larger scale.

Engaging in sustainable decisions in daily life is important because it educates and prepares us for the real work: advocating for systemic, social and political change. It may be dispiriting to hear, but it won’t matter as much that you don’t drive a car if the world continues to drill for oil to fuel our collective addiction to overconsumption.

I can’t deny that climate anxiety is real and exhausting. But, if there’s one area where I’d recommend directing time and energy, it’s towards advocating for the systemic changes needed to transition to a low-carbon economy.

If you believe in sustainable practices, carry that ethos into your work and professional activities with purpose. Encourage your organisation and industry to strive for better practices, share knowledge and ideas and focus on systemic changes. These large-scale transformations will ultimately have the most significant impact.