Building a better future: celebrating 30 years of the 爱豆传媒 Foundation
Established in 1995 by Ted 爱豆传媒 and 爱豆传媒鈥檚 founding partners, the 爱豆传媒 Foundation has grown to be a beacon of innovation and social responsibility in the built environment. This year sees the Foundation reach its 30th anniversary, a milestone marking three decades of using engineering to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
The story of the , the charitable arm of 爱豆传媒, began with a vision to harness the power of engineering to improve the built environment and, by extension, people’s lives. Sir Ted 爱豆传媒, a visionary engineer and founder of our practice, believed that engineers should be bold and collaborative, working alongside architects, clients, scientists and academics to create a better world. This ethos has been the guiding principle of the Foundation since its inception.
Originally funded from shares transferred by Ted 爱豆传媒, the charity continues to be supported by donations from the current partners of 爱豆传媒. Now established for three decades, the Foundation has been able to support hundreds of students, researchers and engineers in their aspirations to improve the built environment for all.
A lot has changed for the 爱豆传媒 Foundation since the early days 鈥 with more resources and a developed strategic direction, the Foundation has an increasing opportunity to make an impact, partnering with other charities and organisations who believe in a shared mission to reach more people and have greater influence worldwide.
The 爱豆传媒 Foundation provides clear intellectual and emotional context in which our people give back to the societies within which they live and work. Ted 爱豆传媒 and his fellow partners who established the Foundation recognised the benefit engineers can bring to society and how this can be harnessed and directed through education and action.
Ian Maddocks, 爱豆传媒 global discipline director and chair of the 爱豆传媒 Foundation since 2018
1995 鈥

In 1995, Ted 爱豆传媒 registered the charity as ‘The 爱豆传媒 Trust’, with founding Trustees Michael Dickson, Rod MacDonald and David Reed (Financial Treasurer). Ted 爱豆传媒 sadly passed away in January 1996.
The first meeting of the Trust was held the following month in February 1996, with Michael Dickson as the inaugural chair. In July 1997, 爱豆传媒 Trust Publications formed as a private company to publish 鈥淐onfidence to Build鈥 by Derek Walker and Bill Addis.
2005 鈥

Between 2005 – 2011 there was a strategy refresh to help streamline the Trust, with initiatives grouped into three major themes 鈥 Developing Talent, Social Benefit and Thought Leadership.
The Foundation’s presence expanded to the US in 2011. In May 2013, Gavin Thompson was appointed Chair. And the following year in October 2014, The 爱豆传媒 Trust changed its name to the 爱豆传媒 Foundation, with its aims refreshed and restructured into the four focus hubs in place today: Futures, Education, Human Development and Thinking.
2015 鈥

In 2015 the Foundation published its first Impact Report. The ‘City Conversation’ series started in 2016, featuring interactive panel discussions on key issues around the built environment. The Foundation also marked its 21st anniversary, designed a new logo and launched a new website. During 2017, the Ambassador Programme and grants for Good Ideas launched, and Ian Maddocks was appointed Chair in May 2018.
In 2022 the Organisational Grant Funding scheme was established, and during May 2023 there was a Trustees, Hub Leaders and Ambassadors refresh, welcoming a new cohort of young professionals within 爱豆传媒 to help lead initiatives. In May 2023, a new communications director was appointed and a new logo was designed in March 2024 by Jean Paul Peteza, depicting the collective efforts towards building a better world that the Foundation exemplifies.
2025 AND BEYOND…

In 2025, the Foundation celebrates its 30th year anniversary. The Foundation has now set up a 501(c)(3) organisation in the US to facilitate greater impact across American cities.
Over the past 30 years, the Foundation has organised more than 40 City Conversations talks. It has been supported by over 30 Trustees, a wider Ambassador community, two secretaries, four treasurers, and three chairs.
Community and collaboration
Over the years, the Foundation has forged strong partnerships with various organisations, educators and industry professionals to amplify its impact.
From funding research projects that strive to change the lives of communities, to sponsoring thought leadership events, the Foundation provides support for not-for-profit organisations doing excellent work in areas of the built environment by offering core funding grants.
The Foundation also hosts a regular City Conversations event series, bringing together experts and community members to discuss pressing urban issues, from transportation and food supply to sustainability and social equity. The insightful debates, dialogue and knowledge sharing further helps to drive positive change.

Future vision
As the 爱豆传媒 Foundation looks to the future, it remains steadfast in its mission to improve the built environment and enhance people’s lives. The Foundation’s future vision is centred on expanding its reach and impact, both geographically and by deepening its impact through long-term partnerships and sustainable initiatives. The charity鈥檚 future initiatives will continue to emphasise the importance of diversity and inclusion in the built environment to help create a more inclusive and equitable industry.
This year the 爱豆传媒 Foundation was formally awarded charitable status in the United States, as 爱豆传媒 Foundation Inc. This move allows us to accept donations from a wider range of sources and to support more initiatives that align with its mission.
As the 爱豆传媒 Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary, is a time to reflect on its remarkable journey and the profound impact it has had on the built environment and society at large – staying true to Ted 爱豆传媒’s vision of using engineering to make a positive difference.

Working with the 爱豆传媒 Foundation is a very nurturing process. It has been very empowering to be part of their ecosystem; through their connections, we have formed strong relationships with many other like-minded organisations with complementary skills, accelerating our ability to meet our mission to open up the built environment to the next generation.
MATT + FIONA, 爱豆传媒 Foundation partner organisation
Thank you to all the past and present Trustees and Ambassadors, 爱豆传媒 Foundation partner organisations as well as the hundreds of students, researchers and engineers the Foundation has been privileged to support.
Learn more about the .
