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Dorian is an accredited conservation architect and, since 2025, the Chief Executive of Donald Insall Associates. Having joined the practice in 2011, he established the practice’s York studio in 2021 and rapidly grew the team there while overseeing a range of large-scale heritage projects for local authorities, charitable trusts and private owners. He is a communicative, hands-on leader with a track record of successfully guiding clients through complex procurement, contractual and on-site challenges; he is also a valuable partner to large charitable organisations where funding conditions dictate programme and project parameters.

Simon is a Chartered Architect and an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). He serves on the AABC’s Board of Trustees. His passion for the historic environment is reflected in the projects that he has successfully delivered for clients since he joined the practice in 2000. He has helped to bring several important sites back to life through restoration and reuse, and finding the most sustainable, most financially viable solution.

Simon’s experience and enthusiasm, coupled with detailed technical knowledge, help clients to obtain consent for sensitive sites and deliver projects through to completion. Simon enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams on challenging projects and has a practical approach which adds real value.

A passion for the historic environment led Simon to specialise in conservation early in his architectural training at the University of Liverpool, and steered his coursework and reading so as to equip him for a career in the field. His dissertation explored the creative reuse of buildings, beginning with the work of 19th century restorers such as Gilbert Scott, followed by the emergence of the conservation movement and subsequent legislation. It finished with an analysis of today’s best practice and was awarded the annual dissertation prize.

Helen joined Donald Insall Associates in 2013 from English Heritage (now Historic England), wherein she worked as an Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas; prior to this she was a Senior Conservation Officer at Westminster City Council. At DIA, Helen initially worked in London, advising on major schemes for clients as diverse as CapCo and the Grosvenor Estate. In 2017 she set up a new branch of the practice in Oxford, and can now count the Colleges of St Anne’s, Nuffield, Lincoln, Hertford, St. Hugh’s and Wycliffe Hall amongst her clients, as well as many private individuals and developers.

Helen is a highly respected conservationist, with over 20 years’ experience in the planning and development sector, and has an outstanding track record of negotiating consent in respect of sensitive and complex sites. She has lectured extensively at universities and conferences on conservation planning and architectural history and is a member of the Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee and a Director of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

Jenny joined the Practice in 2018, as Legal Counsel.  Jenny is a solicitor, and has experience in large City of London legal practice, advising in relation to projects, development, and funding.  She also has experience working for and with grant funding bodies and charities.  As a Director and Company Secretary, Jenny works across the practice advising colleagues in relation to risk, regulatory and strategic matters.

Francis is an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC); he joined Donald Insall Associates in 1991, qualifying as an architect in the following year. He became a Director in 2014 and is based in our London office, focusing on specialist conservation repair and Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) to guide the whole process of historic buildings management. He has a particular interest in traditional building materials, their repair and conservation, and writes regularly for specialist publications.

His technical understanding of historic buildings construction permits an authoritative approach to conservation work for buildings throughout all sectors. As well as those listed above, his clients include the National Trust, English Heritage, the Church of England dioceses of Canterbury, London, Chelmsford and Durham, various London-based Local Authorities, as well as private owners of listed buildings.

Francis is regularly appointed as a specialist conservation consultant to heritage projects abroad, particularly the Caribbean.

Robin joined the Practice in September 2019 to lead the finance team. CIMA qualified, Robin has extensive experience in leading the finance function to partner with the business to deliver better project and financial outcomes. Working in both listed and privately owned companies, Robin has spent most of his career working the construction sector with both professional service companies and contractors. This includes operating across Europe, establishing new entities as well as joint ventures.

Matthew leads the architectural teams in Donald Insall Associates’ Birmingham and Oxford studios. Well versed in both modern and traditional construction techniques, Matthew is particularly skilled at analysing and reordering complex buildings whilst pragmatically balancing the needs of historic conservation with those of sustainable revenue generation, and making traditional buildings fit for day-to-day use.

Matthew’s portfolio features a diverse mix of heritage and design-led projects, from contemporary new builds to transformations of Grade I-listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments. He is an AABC-accredited conservation architect, and on the RIBA Principal Designer Register.

He co-chairs the Birmingham Civic Society, and is a member of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Diocese of Worcester and the Fabric Advisory Committee for Birmingham Cathedral.

Matt leads our Conwy studio, guiding clients through all project work stages. A conservation-accredited architect (AABC) with an MSc in Sustainable Building Conservation, he combines expertise in sustainable design with a deep passion for historic buildings to work collaboratively with clients to unlock the opportunities present in every site, no matter the challenges and perceived restrictions. Beyond practice, he is actively supporting the industry and helping to shape the next generation of architects. He currently chairs the RSAW Large Practice Network, is a member of the RIBA Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (EDI) Group and an external examiner for both the RIBA and the Manchester School of Architecture at Part 3. He is also a guest critic at the Welsh School of Architecture for their MArch course.

Cordula joined the practice in 2008. She is now Practice Director and leads our Heritage Consultancy in London. She has twenty years of experience as a heritage and design advisor, and has led heritage and townscape strategy, design development and planning negotiations for many complex sites in London and nationally. Among her clients are London’s Great Estates, including The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, private developers, and charitable and cultural organisations. Cordula is a Chair of the London Borough of Islington’s Design Review Panel, and she sits on the Design Review Panel for the London Borough of Lambeth. She was educated at the Bartlett School, the Sorbonne in Paris and Berlin’s Humboldt University. Cordula has a special interest in the architecture of the twentieth century.

Cordula has been a member of the IHBC for most of her career. She was previously a project director for Publica, a conservation officer at Islington Council and an advisor for the Twentieth Century Society. Cordula has written on new architecture and on building conservation for a range of British and European magazines and publications.

Edward is an AABC & RIBA-accredited conservation architect and the London architecture studio lead at DIA, where he is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team. A respected and technically accomplished architect, his expertise lies in successfully delivering complex projects at in-use Grade I-listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments, often within World Heritage Sites. He is leading DIA's work at Blenheim Palace, including the major re-roofing initiative; he also directs Parliamentary frameworks and key projects such as the Victoria Tower, alongside projects at Kensington Palace Orangery, Barrington Court, and Brighton Museum. Edward has a proven track record of over a decade of continuous work at the Palace of Westminster, overseeing notable programmes including the Europa Nostra award-winning Westminster Hall, the Courtyards Conservation Programme, and the Encaustic Tiles programme.

Kate leads Donald Insall Associates’ Manchester office and Northern Heritage Consultancy team, providing detailed advice and guidance in respect of development proposals in a range of different contexts and assessing their impact on heritage assets in accordance with the NPPF and local policy and guidance.

Kate is a full member of the IHBC, a trustee of the Greater Manchester Building Presentation Trust, is chair of the Victorian Society (Manchester Region) Committee and sits on the Places Matter Northwest Design Review Panel and the Manchester Heritage Panel.

Andrew is an historic buildings architect with over 40 years in the industry. His team from Ferrey & Mennim, a practice with a 100 year history in York, merged with Donald Insall Associates in 2024 and he now directs the York office. He has been Cathedral Architect for St Magnus in Kirkwall for over 20 years and along with Hull Minster is architect to over 150 churches in the York, Leeds and Sheffield dioceses. He is also an Architect Advisor to York and Sheffield DAC's and sits on the Fabric Advisory Committee of Durham Cathedral.