Press Releases August 18, 2026

Signaling Continued Investment in Talent Development, Perkins&Will Appoints New Director of Learning and Development

Alison Richardson brings nearly two decades of experience in developing talent and leading strategic initiatives within large, complex organizations in the U.S. and U.K. Under her leadership, Perkins&Will aims to create the industry’s preeminent in-house learning and development platform.
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NEW YORK—Alison Richardson, an established leader in strategic talent development that propels business success from the inside out, has joined global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. In her new role as firmwide director of learning and development, Richardson is charged with shaping a culture of excellence in continuing professional education—one that holistically supports the firm’s employees in reaching their true and full potential.

“When done right, learning and development not only benefits individual employees; it also enables organizations to achieve their business objectives by building targeted capability. This results in a highly motivated, high-performing workforce,” Richardson says. “Perkins&Will understands this well and is committed to building a robust L&D ecosystem. I’m truly delighted to help lead the way.”

A Collaborative Model

Richardson will partner with firm leaders at the local and global levels to design and implement contextualized learning programs that match the way Perkins&Will teams work: creatively, collaboratively, and rigorously. She’ll also work with leadership to identify where L&D can help close business performance gaps, support strategic succession planning, and cultivate leadership qualities in next-generation talent.

“A smart, motivated team is a consistently successful one, and investing in the growth and development of our talent keeps us competitive,” says Phil Harrison, Perkins&Will CEO. “Our goal is to create the most impactful in-house L&D platform our industry has to offer, and we’re excited to see where Alison’s collaborative approach takes us.”

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Experience That Resonates

Richardson brings nearly two decades of experience driving learning and development and leading strategic initiatives inside large, complex organizations in the U.S. and the U.K. Her work has spanned government, education, and global marketing, where she designed enterprise learning infrastructure, leadership development programs, and culture initiatives aligned with business strategy.  

She holds three master’s degrees: a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education, and a Master of Philosophy in Sociology from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY).  

“Alison’s track record for building high-impact learning and development programs for diverse talent groups is a testament to her leadership,” says Amber Hamilton, Perkins&Will’s chief talent officer. “Not surprisingly, she has earned a reputation as an ‘unflinchingly thoughtful’ partner in her work, and for inspiring collaboration through invitation. I have no doubt her approach will resonate with our talent at every stage of their career.” 

A Global L&D Footprint

Based in the firm’s New York studio but serving as a global leader, Richardson will focus on building out bespoke learning and development programs firmwide—from the Americas to Europe, the Middle East to Asia.

“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to join a firm like Perkins&Will, whose purposeful work around the world inspires me,” she says. “From the firm’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and well-being, to its unwavering leadership in diversity and inclusion, to its love and care for life at all scales—there’s so much to admire. As much as I will be helping learners here, I, too, will be learning from them. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

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