Interior design group names Anna Burles new president
Anna Burles named new president of the British Institute of Interior Design for 2026-27 term during Annual General Meeting on 17 September.
The British Institute of Interior Design announced Anna Burles as its President for the 2026-27 term during the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 17 September, succeeding outgoing President Liz Bell. The election was formally recorded in the minutes and reported to members later that afternoon.
Leadership Transition
Burles, founding creative director of the award-winning studio Run For The Hills, brings a multidisciplinary outlook after early work in publishing, journalism and creative marketing. She joined the British Institute of Interior Design in 2010 as a student member, became an associate after graduating from KLC School of Design, and earned registration as an interior designer in 2014. During those first years she contributed articles to the institute’s quarterly journal and helped organise local networking evenings.
From 2015 onward she served on the Membership Committee, chaired it for several years, and later acted as Student Chair. Her involvement includes speaking at BIID events, mentoring participants in the student design competition, and helping produce marketing tools such as the student and career guides and an animation explaining the architect-interior designer relationship.
Burles said, “I’m truly honoured to take on this role. During my term as President, I want to support the BIID in sounding the drum louder than ever about the truly unique set of skills that professional interior designers bring to the table. I also want to support the next generation, bringing industry, educators and students together to explore the future of the profession and ensuring our professional skills continue to grow alongside the changing demands of our industry.”
Debra Kacher, founder of dk Interiors and chair of the Membership Committee, was named President-Elect. Kacher will assume the deputy role in January 2026.
Merit Award Highlights
The BIID presented its 2026 Merit Award to Mathew Freeman, a registered interior designer and founder of Freeman Studio, which focuses on sustainable, circular and regenerative design for residential and commercial projects.
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He previously chaired the BIID Sustainability Committee and helped craft the organisation’s Sustainability Strategy, giving designers clearer guidance on product, material and technology choices.
His work on the British Standards FW/6 Committee addresses fire-safety performance while promoting furniture reuse, repurposing, recycling and responsible end-of-life handling.
He also serves as a site assessor for the BIID Interior Design Awards, traveling across the United Kingdom to evaluate entries.
Freeman played a key role in the BIID joining the European Council of Interior Architecture, raising its profile internationally, and he sat on the Construction Industry Council’s Business Panel.
Earlier in the day, the BIID hosted its Inside Knowledge Conference, gathering members and industry experts for a programme of insight, discussion and knowledge-sharing. The conference featured three keynote speeches, a workshop on biophilic design, and a panel that explored the impact of emerging digital fabrication tools on interior practice.
