Graham Phillips studied architecture at Liverpool University. He received a national RIBA Award for the best Part 1 work and spent his year out working in Toronto, Canada. He graduated with First Class Honours in 1971 and is a member of the RIBA.

In 1975 he joined Foster and Partners taking charge of IBM Technical Park and developing special skills in the field of project management, cost control and contract administration. From its inception in 1979, he was involved in the Hong Kong Bank project and he played a key management role for that project as resident director. He also became a member of the HKIA and qualified as an Authorised Person during this time.

On his return to London in 1986 he became involved in the overall management of the practice as well as the design of projects for Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury at the University of East Anglia. He was made a partner in 1991 and returned to Hong Kong as part of the design team for Chek Lap Kok Airport. Since his return in 1993 he has continued as managing director of the practice concerning its worldwide business and management aspects and maintaining the practice’s highest design standards.

He designed and built his own RIBA award-winning house, Skywood, which was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Foundation Award in 2000. As Chief Operating Officer, he steers the daily running of the practice, combined with a strategic involvement in design as secretary to the Design Board.