Alejandro is a Lead Principal Architect at AtkinsRealis, specializing in the design and development of landmark projects in the Middle East. Currently focused on the Mukaab, the world’s largest building set for completion in 2030, his design approach integrates innovation and rationalization strategies to deliver world-class experiences and optimized constructability.

With over a decade of experience, Alejandro's career has been shaped by leading the design and  development of large-scale iconic projects, with extensive proven expertise in building envelopes and complex geometries across all sectors.

Having worked with renowned international firms like Zaha Hadid Architects, he has contributed to globally recognized projects, including the Aljada Central Hub (Dubai), Lake Side District (China), Fin Tech Tower (China), Dnipro Stations (Ukraine), and MercuryHouse (Malta).

Alejandro is an ARB and RIBA Registered Architect , holding a Master’s in Architecture and Urbanism from both the AA Design Research Lab (London) and University of Alicante (Spain). He has been teaching the Design Morphine’s Master program since 2021 and has been actively teaching computational design and digital fabrication workshops internationally since 2017.

Celeste joined Meinhardt Façade Technology (MFT) – Dubai in 2008 and is now MFT’s Technical Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in façade engineering across the Middle East and Central Asia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering and began her professional career in 2005 in the United States, working on military base and civil infrastructure projects before transitioning into façade engineering consultancy with MFT in the Middle East.

At Meinhardt, Celeste has led the design and delivery of a wide spectrum of façade systems, including complex geometry envelopes, working closely with multidisciplinary teams on high-rise, hospitality, and cultural developments. A LEED AP BD+C since 2011, she is a committed advocate for sustainable façade design and contributes actively to the development of low-carbon, performance-led building skins that reflect best-practice engineering principles.

Ed McIntosh is a British-Ecuadorean architect.  He is a Fulbright Scholar and Graduate of Columbia University.

Ed has more than 25 years of professional experience with a long standing trajectory in the design of sport & event venues, stadia, arenas and sport masterplans 

Joining Atkins Realis in 2019, as head of the architecture studio for the Middle East & North Africa,  Ed has won several international competitions including the Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club,  The New Murabba Masterplan and The Mukaab,  currently set to become the largest building in history

He has lectured and tutored in Ecuador, The US, UK, China, Singapore, The Philippines & Malaysia and his projects and articles have been published in Sports focused media such as Panstadia, Evolo Magazine & Digital Diagram amongst others.

Mr. Fan Lee is the founder of Anometal Aluminum Co., Ltd. who has profound expertise in the industry of pre-treated aluminium. Anometal masters the core technology of continuous anodising and has three automatic continuous pre-anodising lines nowadays. With 28 years' experience in the industry, Anometal has grown a product portfolio that includes architecture, solar energy, automobiles, optical lighting, consumer electronics, home appliances, surface decoration, MCCL and cosmetic containers.

Entering the architecture industry hence, Anometal has been working closely with Ateliers Jean Nouvel, CallisonRTKL, UNStudio, SOM, KPF, gmp, Ennead, SHL and almost all well-known design firms; meanwhile, Anometal is also the high-quality supplier of a battery of prominent developers.

Franck Derouen is Business Director – General Industrial Middle East, Africa, Russia, Turkey. In addition to this role Mr Derouen is Axalta’s Global Architectural Segment Director. Mr Derouen has 30 years of experience in the industrial coating industry. Prior to joining Axalta, Mr. Derouen held a number of positions at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings including Marketing Manager Emerging Countries, Segment Manager Architectural – EMEA, Segment Manager GTC – EMEA and Global Marketing Manager Architectural. Mr Derouen has been member of Qualicoat Executive Committee for more than 10 years and President of Qualisteelcoat. He is currently a board member of Quali Middle-East Association. Earlier in his career, Mr. Derouen was Market Manager Ceramic Fibers at Saint-Gobain. Mr. Derouen received his B.A. in Business Administration from ISMV (France). Franck Derouen is based in Dubai - UAE

Giovanni Zizioli is the Middle East Regional Director at Maffeis Engineering, a leading international consulting firm, headquartered in Italy. He has been involved in managing, planning, coordinating and designing projects over a wide range of engineering services and in four different countries, three different continents. Since 2018 Giovanni leads the Middle East Market for Maffeis Engineering, following projects from concept up to construction/installation and with a wide range of façade technical solutions.

Maher is a motivated and enthusiastic Glass and Façade Passionate, a Leader with a wide experience in Management, Projects and Sales operations. 18 years with Guardian Glass during which, great wealth of experience and expertise gained, started in Guardian RAK back in 2007, worked in different capacities, from Sales to technical team to lead sales, specifications and projects, to become since 2021 Director of Sales Operations for AME region & Global Commercial Transformation Ambassador, Completed a Certified Energy Auditor accredited program and a Trainer on how glass can save energy for the Green and Energy chapters in Saudi Council of Engineers across Saudi Arabia. Done many seminars on architectural glass solutions and how to choose the right glass across the region.

Since graduating in civil engineering Oliver is involved in the execution of prestigious construction and façade projects mainly in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. For over 18 years in UAE, he gained an appropriate market experience and developed a huge network. Oliver is a technically minded and performance driven professional with extensive experience in business development. Previously, he worked as a General Manager in an engineering and project management company responsible for the Middle East, Asia and Africa. With his skills in planning, execution and spearheading complex projects, he enabled the sustainable growth of the business in this region. For over 4 years Oliver has been the Managing Director of seele middle east FZE in Dubai, a leading company in the façade industry, and has been handling spectacular façade construction projects in the Middle East. In November 2022 seele has opened its office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is under Oliver’s responsibility too. In his position he is in charge of the success of the business of seele in the Gulf region. Recent projects executed and ongoing by seele in this region are the glass walkway and the all-glass façade of the Apple flagship store Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, 12m high glass screens inside the Holy Mosque in Mecca, as well as special façade areas at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to name a few of them.

Oliver first discovered his passion for unique and challenging projects in 2008 when he first joined the window shading industry as an installer. After graduating from university with a degree in project management, he delved into managing and successfully delivering national rollout programs for fit outs in the retail, commercial, education, hospitality and health sectors. His experience also expanded internationally into multiple areas such as Macau, the Maldives and Port Moresby to name a few. Fascinated by their unique approach to custom based solutions for window shading systems and sustainable facades, Oliver decided to join the Climate Ready Engineering team in 2020. Since joining, Oliver has managed multiple iconic projects and has always championed the vision of the Designers and Architects and brought them to life. Oliver’s background and understanding in window shading system installation and project management makes him the perfect candidate for managing, coordinating and delivering large scale projects.

Tan Cai is a Senior Partner and Design Director at gad, and a RIBA Chartered Architect. With a portfolio bridging serene cultural resorts and iconic supertall skyscrapers, As a core design leader at gad, Tan Cai possesses a visionary global perspective complemented by an acute insight into local culture. His design practice traverses a diverse spectrum of scales and typologies, ranging from serene Oriental holiday retreats to cutting-edge modern supertall landmarks.

Tan champions the design philosophy of "Emotional Modernism." He excels at navigating the delicate balance between rational geometric order and sensory spatial experience. Rejecting singular stylistic labels, he adheres to the principle of "Context as Script." In projects such as Yellow Dragon Valley Tahiti and Kunming Fuxian Lake Xi'an, he reimagines the poetic dialogue between humanity and nature, curating a sense of secluded relaxation. Conversely, in urban landmarks like COLI Shenwan Jiuxu and Dubai LUMENA + LUMENA ALTA, he employs radical facade aesthetics and pioneering construction techniques to address the dual challenges posed by high-density metropolises: elevating living quality while redefining the city skyline.

His work transcends the mere construction of physical space. Through the meticulous articulation of light, materiality, and boundaries, he seeks to evoke daily emotional resonance, transforming architecture into a vessel that holds both life’s ideals and a sense of spiritual belonging.

Tony Abi Gebrayel is a partner at MZ Architects. He is the Projects Director of MZ Architects LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and a chief contributor to the company’s design vision. He has been managing the company for 18 years and has more than 25 years of experience in the field of architectural design supervision, master planning, and project management in the Middle East. He has undertaken projects for both public and private sectors, including works in Qatar, Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon. Tony is an expert in big-scale project management with thorough experience in the field of design supervision and consultancy.

Yu Si is a Team Leader and Department Design Director at gad. Known for his rigorous approach to design realization and spatial storytelling, Yu Si excels at navigating the complexities of diverse architectural typologies.

His philosophy anchors on "Constructed Narrative," focusing on how architectural precision shapes human emotion. Whether crafting the serene, texture-rich environments of Chengdu Yinmachuan Hotel and Kunming Fuxian Lake, or orchestrating the futuristic verticality of the Dubai LUMENA + LUMENA ALTA supertall towers, Yu Si maintains an unwavering standard of excellence.

He possesses a unique ability to synthesize technical logic with aesthetic fluidity. In major urban developments, he balances high-density demands with human-scale experiences, ensuring that every project is not just a visual landmark, but a cohesive, high-quality environment for urban living.