2024 spring promotions

We are delighted to announce the immediate promotion of five exceptional team members as part of a round of spring promotions.

• Helen Johnson, Hale – Promoted to Associate Partner
• Andrew Rose, Oxford – Promoted to Senior Associate
• Karolina Skonieczna, Oxford - Promoted to Senior Associate
• Irem Adal, Oxford – Promoted to Associate
• Izel Besikci, London – Promoted to Senior Landscape Architect

Helen Johnson’s elevation to Associate Partner will strengthen our Partnership, bringing her invaluable expertise and leadership to further fortify our landscape planning department and operations in the region. This promotion recognises Helen’s expertise, hard work and success in securing and delivering new work for the business, particularly in the landscape planning sector. In her 11 years at Gillespies, she has helped develop the practice’s landscape planning expertise, cementing Gillespies as one of the UK’s leading companies in the design and assessment of renewable energy infrastructure, which is key to delivering net-zero carbon.

Andrew Rose joined Gillespies in June 2014 and quickly established himself as an integral part of the team in Oxford, leading to a promotion to Associate in 2019. During the subsequent 5 years, Andrew has continued to contribute significantly to the Oxford studio, notably with his thorough technical and project management expertise, resourcing, and mentoring skills, which have further consolidated the value he brings. Project highlights include leading the delivery of the Oxford Westgate retail development, followed more recently by the accumulation of an exceptional body of work with the University of Oxford to include the Science Quarter, New Humanities Building, and Institute of Global Health, alongside commercial and residential led projects in Bristol and London. With a passion for delivering resilient, green campus settings for educational developments and Television and Film studios, Andrew will continue to broaden our project portfolio.

Karolina Skonieczna has been a greatly valued member of the Oxford team for almost 14 years, and an Associate since 2019. During this time, she has gained valuable experience across the globe, leading design work in the UK, Middle East, China, Russia and Europe. Project highlights range from award-winning residential schemes in Moscow and transformational public realm redevelopments in Telford to educational campus schemes for multiple Universities and her ongoing work on the stunning Synchro project in Montenegro. Her passion for design and people enriches the Oxford studio. In her new role as Senior Associate she will expand her outreach in Europe further.

Since joining Gillespies in 2017, Irem has been a cornerstone of our team in Oxford, bringing meticulousness and expertise to projects in Russia, the UK, and Turkey. As Principal Landscape Architect, her role in major schemes like the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the Synchro Project in Montenegro highlights her exceptional abilities. Her rise to Associate will be a great addition to our Senior Management Team in Oxford and a testament to her skills and dedication.

Izel Besikci's promotion to Senior Landscape Architect underscores her versatility and dedication in contributing to major projects. Her expertise in technical design packages and her ability to also work across concept design and planning stages have proven invaluable. Notably, she has played pivotal roles in projects such as the onsite delivery and coordination of work packages for Coopers Cross in Dublin, BBC Television Centre, Brent Cross and the West King Street Renewal in Hammersmith.

Each of these individuals embodies creativity, professionalism, and an unwavering dedication to excellence. Their collective efforts have been instrumental in the success of our projects, leaving our clients delighted and guiding our mission to create extraordinary environments that rebalance our fragile planet, inspire brand-new narratives, and enhance lives.