Anina Mbilinyi is a licensed registered architect – the first African Immigrant and one of the only two Black Women in Wisconsin - with 27+ years of industry experience. The majority of her career as an architect has been focused on large complex, award-winning buildings in the Science and Healthcare fields that provide innovative solutions to save lives across the world. As a Senior Project Architect and Manager, she takes pride in leading and collaborating with internal and external teammates to meet the client's vision. Her expertise includes hospitals, research labs, amenities, workspaces, medical manufacturing facilities, and higher education facilities focused on health sciences, engineering, chemistry, and energy research. Anina is also a champion to find innovative ways for people of the African/Black Diaspora to be encouraged to reach their full potential starting at an early age.

Anina identifies as a Woman, a Working Mother, a Black Person, an Immigrant, and a proud Tanzanian and member of the African/Black Diaspora. This intersectionality gave her unique and compounding challenges in the design industry. Because of this, she uses her lived experiences to empower others, dedicating many hours mentoring within and outside her career. Anina’s ultimate goal is to play a part in alleviating the physical and mental health issues that are caused by discrimination by focusing on overall wellness and creating healing and nurturing spaces that promote holistic success. She advocates for equitable treatment of Black People in the workforce, diverse representation amongst leadership, as well as efficacy in those leadership roles. Anina is using her lived personal, educational, and design experiences to leave behind a “Legacy of Humanity” for future generations of humankind.

Ambassador Since: 2024