“Women are always told, 'You're not going to make it, its too difficult, you can't do that, don't enter this competition, you'll never win it,' - they need confidence in themselves and people around them to help them to get on.”

Iraqi and British architect, artist, and designer

Dame Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi and British architect, artist, and designer. Born in Baghdad in 1950, she became a leading figure in late 20th and early 21st century architecture. She studied mathematics before entering the Architectural Association School of Architecture in 1972. Her work was shaped by Suprematism and the Russian avant-garde, and she used painting as a design tool in place of conventional architectural drawing. Across her career, she was known for an abstract approach that sought new possibilities for modern architecture.