HKS Announces New Director of Social Equity
In our continuous efforts to lead the industry in sustainable, ethical and equitable business practices, HKS is proud to announce that Ashli Pettigrew has been appointed to Director of Social Equity, a new position on the firmwide Strategy team.
In this role, Pettigrew will spearhead efforts to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion across all business practices, elevating outcomes for our clients, partners, colleagues and the communities we serve.
For Pettigrew, social equity is best illustrated by the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Going together means connecting HKS’ 29 global offices and more than 1,600 employees with a shared vision of authentic belonging to create a richer, more dynamic firmwide culture.
An esteemed member of HKS for 18 years, Pettigrew has long been a driving force for equity and inclusion. She has led community engagement initiatives, hosted educational events, actively recruited diverse talent, attended conferences such as NOMA (the annual conference of the National Organization of Minority Architects) and co-founded HKS’ BLACK Collective Affinity and Inclusion Group. With the full support of the HKS Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, Pettigrew will increase her significant impact on a global scale.
“Our top-performing and most innovative design work results from intentionally building integrated, diverse teams,” said Dan Noble, HKS CEO & Chairman.
“We’ve seen how multifaceted teams drive agility, innovation and community engagement. In this new role, Ashli will help us realize our commitment to equity as a cornerstone of our success.”
This appointment underscores HKS’ mission to foster a supportive, inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to do their best work. We believe in recognizing individuals not only for their contributions but also for who they are.
“Diversity goes beyond visible differences,” said Pettigrew. “It’s about embracing each person’s unique identity, background and lived experiences. These perspectives fuel innovation and growth within our firm and for our clients and communities.”
As Pettigrew shared, “By taking this journey together, we can create meaningful impact – not just through what we design, but through the values we embody and the change we inspire.”