Zak Awards Gala Dinner

As Design Director of the Yazdani Studio, Mehrdad has succeeded in bringing a consistent and clear design sensibility characteristic of small design studios to a broad portfolio of significant education, institutional and cultural buildings both domestically and internationally. He has developed a reputation for design excellence within the often-challenging realm of public architecture and has been instrumental in applying innovative new process strategies to achieve design excellence. His work continues to exhibit the delicate balance between art and function.

Mehrdad has worked on significant projects around the world, marrying cultural sensitivity with the advancement of his clients’ objectives in a thriving global context. His ability to champion a design voice consistent with shared vision crosses cultural and geographic barriers, incorporating local customs, technologies and materials into forward-thinking design. Mehrdad’s work has garnered more than 120 major design awards and publications in national and international media, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Architectural Record, Dezeen, Fast Company, BusinessWeek and more. His work has been exhibited around the world and is held in permanent collections at the Albright Knox Gallery, the Library of Congress, MoMA and SFMOMA.

Achim is responsible for the international markets outside Europe at Jansen AG, Switzerland. With more than 20 years of experience in engineering and management, Achim focuses on technology, sales and marketing at Jansen AG to distribute steel facades, windows and doors in the markets he serves.

Originally from Germany, Achim has lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates for the past eight years. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in various countries in Europe and Asia before discovering his passion for the design freedom that steel façades, windows and doors offer in modern architecture.

Global challenges are a personal incentive for Achim to establish and optimize processes to help architects around the world to continually redefine the limits of steel.

As the Specification & Business Development Manager at Jotun Powder Coating based in Dubai office, Khalid has successfully specified and worked on several high-profile projects in the GCC region as well as Egypt & North America. With over 13-years experience in the Façade Industry, Khalid is not only known for his desire to serve all stakeholders in a thorough and prompt fashion. He has a specific passion in both empowering and enlightening them with the knowledge and necessary tools required to better understand Powder Coating. You might already know him from his weekly educational videos on powder coating through Linkedin. His ultimate goal is to make anyone and everyone ‘POWERFUL’ in ‘POWDER’, which in his terms means “POWDERFUL”.

Irina is from Latvia, where she studied political science and international relations. After moving to UAE in 2012 she obtained Master's degree in Marketing at University of Wollongong in Dubai.

Irina started her professional journey with BOSCH professional audio systems for sports venue applications and in 2016 joined AGC Obeikan Glass when company started its first commercial production.

Marina is AESG’s Associate Façades Director. Since joining the firm in 2017, she has been involved in a varied range of projects such as the writing of thermal insulation guidelines, a residential development with a GFA of 300,000 sqm. In Abu Dhabi or a 5 star hotel in Dubai.

She has over a decade of professional experience in various countries such as Korea, UK, and the UAE. She is involved from the early stages streamlining the façade design process through solid management skills and design flair to tender documentation. She possesses a solid background on façade systems, detailing and materials across these different countries.

Susanna holds a master’s degree in Façade Engineering from the University of Applied Science in Detmold, Germany. In her current position as the Head of Facade Engineering she is responsible for technical and commercial design, competition design documents and managing one of the largest specialist services teams at WSP in the Middle East.

With over 12 years’ experience in the façade industry in both Germany and the UAE, Susanna is knowledgeable of the various façade cladding materials for both commercial and residential sectors and has applied them confidently in practice.

Her specialism is in façade design for sustainable building envelopes and she has a detailed understanding of system development for curtain walls and aluminium windows, including façade testing and construction supervision. Susanna has been the lead façade consultant for several high-end projects in the region. Her understanding of client needs and regional design requirements allows Susanna to execute her skills in international testing and design standards for curtain walling to achieve best practice and adopt the design to local market requirements.

Phil Schneider is Head of Sales EMEA and responsible for the implementation of global sales processes within the Vector Foiltec Group. With a view on technology and engineering, but also on processes, overall solutions, and the clients view, he was a vital part of very successful large scale Texlon® ETFE projects, like King Abdullah Gardens in Riyadh, Al-Rahba Park in Abu Dhabi and the Verona & Cologne Fairs.

The combination of his understanding of the ETFE systems from a technical point of view, a Master of Engineering degree in light-weight structures and his knowledge about the international markets, including a vast amount of time spent in South- East-Asia, gives him a great opportunity to translate German engineering into ETFE solutions for a global market.

Salah Ziat is the assistant manager of sustainability and CSR at Masdar City. He provides expert advice about sustainability and related regulatory and compliance matters. He also participates in corporate social responsibility (CSR) events and initiatives that are aligned with the vision, mission, and strategy of Masdar City.

Ziat has an in-depth understanding of passive design, net-zero buildings, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, and sustainable building certifications. He has worked extensively in sustainability consulting for multiple projects in the MENA region, from large-scale commercial developments to residential buildings.

Salah holds a Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'Etat in energy and environment engineering from the National School of Applied Sciences in Morocco. He also holds a chartered environmentalist (CEnv) status, a Carbon Auditing Professional (CAP) certificate, and a wide range of other certifications related to sustainability.

Associate Design Leader for Woods Bagot and a representative of the Global Impact Group, Yoann embodies a commitment to excellence in sustainable construction. With over 12 years of private practice, Yoann specializes in integrating sustainability into the fabric of architectural design, leveraging extensive experience in international projects. His leadership within Woods Bagot and involvement in global initiatives underscore his dedication to advancing sustainable practices. With a keen eye for innovation and a holistic approach to problem-solving, Yoann consistently delivers cutting-edge solutions that prioritize environmental stewardship while meeting the highest standards of design and functionality.

Jochen is working since more than 20 years in the construction & glass industry. Now responsible for high performance interlayers like Trosifol PVB & Sentryglas for laminated safety glass in the EMEA region with an focus on architectural applications.

Ben Runhaar is the Product Manager for LUMIFLON and ETFE Film for AGC in the EMEA Region. In his over 20-year career, he held functions in sales, marketing and product management in different parts of the world. In 2013 he joined AGC in Europe taking the responsible for the sales and marketing of two product lines (LUMIFLON and ETFE FILM), both finding many applications in the Architectural Market. He has been actively involved in the development and growth of powder-coatings passing the highest Qualicoat Class 3 standard, suitable to withstand the harsh conditions in the Middle East. He holds a masters degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Having a master’s degree in in Civil Engineering from the University of Bologna (Italy), Davide is a registered Professional Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the planning, design and construction management, specialized in cladding solutions. Currently working for Florim Ceramiche S.p.A., as Head of Contract Development – APAC, he is responsible for providing technical coordination, consultancies and supervision to architects and designers, in both residential and commercial spaces. He also assists architects and facades’ consultants with technical details and specifications.

Davide is responsible for determining pre-construction requirements, project schedules, operational plans and cost estimates, and planning meetings with stakeholders and conduct site visits in the APAC region to ensure development plans and timeline of the project. He oversees all phases of the project from conceptual design to construction execution to ensure successful and timely completion of the site and conducts finishing check at the end of the project to ensure the brand’s look and feel has been consistently enforced.

Passionate about design and architecture solutions, Davide is currently involved in different facades’ projects in the APAC area.

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

An Architectural Design Manager with Guardian Glass, Karim is originally a sales & marketing specialist from Lebanon, he moved to Dubai in 2010 and has since been working with architects, consultants, and developers in the Middle East region on some of the most interesting façade designs around the world”.

Born in Milan, of Japanese origins, he boasts over 10 years’ experience in the indoor and outdoor solar shading sector, during which he has provided assistance and advice to designers in major international projects, as a result of his profound expertise in the field of glass in combination with blind systems, as well as his fluency in6 languages. At Pellini SpA, he works as Area Manager for Middle and Far East, focusing on internal, external and integrated technical blind systems. Besides management skills of a composite commercial network, Kenzo has a demonstrated track record of coordinating projects, from budgeting to installation, and has led a team of professionals as Managing Director of the Chinese branch of a primary Italian manufacturing company of technical blind systems.

James is a structural and facade engineer with over 20 years of experience. Widely acknowledged as an authority on structural glass, he is perhaps best known for his highly innovative designs for glass envelopes, stairs, bridges and other structural elements in Apple’s iconic retail stores around the world.

He co-founded Eckersley O’Callaghan in 2004, his ongoing interest in the development of structural glass design has led to the firm’s involvement with many challenging and award-winning glass projects around the world. This was recognised in 2010 when the practice won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Innovation.

James is a member of the Design Council Board of Directors, the HS2 Design Panel and a member of the South East Design Panel. He has taught at the University of Portsmouth and is currently a visiting professor at the TU Delft School of Architecture.

In 2016, he received the Milne Medal from the International Association of Bridges and Structures for Excellence in Structural Design, one of the highest distinctions for an individual in the industry. In 2017, he received the Phoenix Award for his contributions to structural glass. In 2018, James was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2019, James was awarded the IStructE Gold Medal.

A Mechanical Engineer by vocation with over two decades of experience, Eddy started his career in Lebanon heading commercial roles for manufacturers in the Power generation and HVAC sectors.

2006 saw a change of base to the UAE to handle the Middle East operations for a leading manufacturer of glass processing machinery.

The shift from manufacturing to retail distribution began with his role as Middle East Sales Director of German kitchen appliances brand Miele. Five years later, enriched by considerable B2B and B2C market experience during the course of his career, he went on to successfully co-found Studio 971, a multi-brand home furniture and modular kitchen solutions brand based in Dubai. In 2017, he joined global surfaces leader Cosentino. As the brand’s Middle East & India Regional Director, Eddy continues to play a decisive role in fostering strategic partnerships with the construction and design industry and expanding Cosentino’s footprint in the region.

Khaled Raslan joined Vitro Architectural Glass as the Senior Manager for GCC region back in September 2018. Raslan carries an MBA, and with more than 28 years’ experience in the region, he has extensive experience in the commercial construction, automotive industries and in the sales, marketing and supply chain functions.

Raslan has worked for several multinational cooperations in the Middle East and moved up from being a Market, Product & Logistics Analyst to a Supply Chain Manager, to a Certified Sales & Marketing Manager, to Regional Sales Manager, to Senior Manager.

Raslan continues to hone his skills in the glass industry and commercial construction.

He works directly with architects, façade engineers, curtainwall manufacturers and glass processors to deliver high performance glass facades and glazing solutions.

Agnes Koltay has a Masters degree in Architecture (Hungary, USA) and in Façade Engineering (UK) and worked with award winning architects and multidisciplinary engineering companies before founding Koltay Façades, a boutique façade engineering consultancy firm, in 2011. She is the lead façade consultant on a number of prestigious high-rise projects, such as Skyviews, Burj Vista, The Opus, The Address Boulevard Hotel.

Benjamin has been working as a façade professional for 20 years with projects around the world and long-term positions in Stuttgart, London, New York and Dubai. After building up and heading the Dubai office of Werner Sobek in the position of Executive Vice President, Benjamin joined the Werner Sobek Head Office in Stuttgart, Germany and acted as Team Leader for Façade Engineering. In 2012, he joined Meinhardt Façade Technology in the role of Technical Director. After being Head of Façade at Ramboll Dubai from 2018 to 2020, he re-joined Werner Sobek in the position of Façade Director. His contributions to international façade conferences include being conference session chairman, conference moderator and speakers at various events. He was author of various façade engineering technical publications and currently acts as the chairman of the Middle East Region of the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE).

A professional with 20 years of extensive experience, and solid technical knowledge, covering the design, specification, construction, testing and commissioning of building envelopes.

Mr. Abbas holds dual major degrees in engineering, a Master’s degree in Façade Engineering, and a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering. Both with Academic Distinctions.

A Member of the Society of Façade Engineers, and the UAE Society of Engineers, as well as being an accredited Certified Energy Manager (CEM) by the Association of Energy Engineers.

Mr. Abbas is the CEO of IBECE with branches in UAE, KSA and Lebanon, offering services in two major disciplines: Façade Consulting & Engineering; Building Energy Saving & Sustainability;

Mercedes is a highly accomplished professional in facades and building envelope design. She is a qualified architect with a Ph.D in Architectural Technology. With her comprehensive technical knowledge and understanding of façade systems, materials, and construction techniques, she has seamlessly translated the visionary designs of many prominent architects into reality while effectively incorporating technical requirements.

Her design management skills and commercial acumen ensure a harmonious balance between artistic aspirations and performance objectives. With a strategic mindset and problem-solving approach, she consistently identifies innovative solutions to optimise efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance overall project performance. Her exceptional work on Regent Street W4 with AHMM garnered the prestigious International Award for Façade Engineering Excellence in the Refurbishment category in 2016.

Mercedes' excellent communication and collaborative abilities foster strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and team members. She is committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in façade technology and sustainable practices to help shape the future of the built environment.

Kourosh Salehi is the Design Director for LWK + PARTNERS. He is a British Architect, Urbanist and educator with over 25 years international experience.

He has designed and successfully delivered a range of award winning multidisciplinary signature projects in the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Kourosh has established a comprehensive portfolio of constructed and award winning projects in London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Doha and Dubai amongst others, covering a wide spectrum of projects.

As a Design Director, he has designed a diverse range of projects from concept to detail design including mixed-use of various scales, hospitality, high end luxury and low cost residential projects.

As an urban designer, he has lead the design process for urban skyline, large scale master planning like “Qetaifan Island” in Doha and was the team leader for compiling the Architectural Design Guidelines for the Emirates of Sharjah.

As a Principal and Design Director at AE7, Erik has lead the design of some of the firms most high profile mixed use developments, residential, hospitality and high rise building projects regionally and across the globe. His range of design interest and expertise varies from visioning and ideation, architecture, urban design and masterplanning all with the aspiration of creating exceptional environments for people to inhabit, recreate and enjoy. He has made a brilliant ca¬reer throughout his more than 30 years of hands-on experience resulting in delivery of award-winning projects with well-established architectural design firms from North America and the Middle East. Erik’s passionate and intuitive approach to design combines with a focus on interdisciplinary integration among architects, engineers, and landscape and interior designers resulting in rich project solutions.

Lars Anders is the CEO of Priedemann Façade Experts and Façade-Lab Research & Development Center, which accomplishes tasks relating to the façade or building envelope. In this role, He manages and leads along with his managing partners, a team providing all services in façade planning, consulting, and engineering as well as other project-related assignments like product research and functional development.

Lars is a seasoned engineer and holds a degree in Civil Engineering (University of Applied Sciences, Berlin 1985). Inspired by building skins and their limitless possibilities, Priedemann provides interdisciplinary services to investors, developers, architects, consultants, main contractors, and fabricators, which have enabled them to achieve higher levels of efficiency, quality, and cost certainty in the development and execution of their façade projects

Mohammed Adib serves as the Chief Design Officer at Dewan Architects + Engineers, having joined the firm in 2018. He holds a degree in architectural studies from the AA School of Architecture in London and pursued interior architecture studies at EINA University School of Design and Art in Barcelona. In his role, he is responsible for establishing the firm’s design language.

Mohammed Adib serves as the Chief Design Officer at Dewan Architects +Engineers, having joined the firm in 2018. He holds a degree in architecturalstudies from the AA School of Architecture in London and pursued interiorarchitecture studies at EINA University School of Design and Art in Barcelona.In his role, he is responsible for establishing the firm’s design language.

Mohammed Adib serves as the Chief Design Officer at Dewan Architects +Engineers, having joined the firm in 2018. He holds a degree in architecturalstudies from the AA School of Architecture in London and pursued interiorarchitecture studies at EINA University School of Design and Art in Barcelona.In his role, he is responsible for establishing the firm’s design language.

With over 35 years’ experience at the offices of Foster and Partners, Squire and Partners, PRP Architects LLP and Broadway Malyan, Jeff has played a strategic design role on several iconic UK and International award-winning architectural schemes.

He spent 15 years at the London studio of Squire and Partners where he was made Partner in 2002. In 2010 Jeff joined PRP as Global Design Director operating in the UK, Russia and China.

In 2003, Jeff set up Aquaria Developments, a development company responsible for land acquisition, design management and development of bespoke homes with projects in the Caribbean, Japan and London.

Jeff is an experienced recreational Scuba Diver and has also worked as a Divemaster, wreck guide and instructor in the Pacific, Indian and Caribbean Oceans since 1990.

Lukasz Zagala was born in 1972 in Zabrze. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. After graduation, he worked in the office of P.P. Pabel Architekten in Berlin, Germany and at the Odile Decq / Benoit Cornette studio in Paris, France. In 1997 along with Przemo Lukasik he established Medusa Group. He has been a professor at Silesian University of Technology at Faculty of Architecture for over 10 years.

In 2005 he obtained PhD in architecture writing his thesis about “refurbishment of post industrial buildings and objects as important trend in contemporary architecture”. Having a strong foothold in Europe for the past 25 years, Medusa Group has a new office base in Dubai since 2023 and is currently undertaking projects in the Middle East. The studio is currently working on a highrise waterfront project in Abu Dhabi.

In 2005 he obtained PhD in architecture writing his thesis about “refurbishment of post industrial buildings and objects as important trend in contemporary architecture”. Having a strong foothold in Europe for the past 25 years, Medusa Group has a new office base in Dubai since 2023 and is currently undertaking projects in the Middle East. The studio is currently working on a highrise waterfront project in Abu Dhabi.

Christine Jetten designs architectural ceramic glazes and explores new possibilities by testing materials to uncover their full potential. In her 26-year practice, she created groundbreaking, award-winning glazed surfaces, serving as a vibrant medium in contemporary architecture (Wasl Tower Dubai, Museum of Arts and Design NY, Corporate Headquarters in Beijing, Shenzhen, London, Washington DC).

Christine holds a Master degree in Art and Ceramic Design, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Technology. She is specialized in creating glaze qualities with industrial waste, while retaining rich textures, variegated colours and reflective surfaces.

She co-creates with architects and is consulted by ceramic manufacturers worldwide to realize the architectural design.

Abdullah Faza is the Director of Fire and Life Safety in AESG Middle East, and he holds Bachelor of Science with Honour degree in Fire Safety Engineering University of Central Lancashire, UK, 2014 with Associate Membership in Institute of Fire Engineering, UK. He is ex perienced fire engineer with high skills and knowledge in fire & life safety design, construction and operation stages and he is specialist in Façade Fire Safety consultancy services. He delivered landmark projects in the Middle East working with Architect s, Consultants, Contractors and Developers such as Expo 2020, Al Wasl Tower, Hatta Hydropower Plant, Red Sea Airport, NEOM and Al Ula various Projects . His Fire & Life Safety expertise is demonstrated by strong relationship with different authorities in t he region.

Andy has over 25 years of experience in the field of Building and Construction, ranging from structural testing within the nuclear industry to fire testing. Having established the Dubai Cladding Technology Centre and Laboratory, and operated it for 10 years, he has particular knowledge of heavy structures testing and weather tightness testing of cladding, curtain walling and building envelope systems.

He has carried out many consultancy projects as a third-party specialist in the field of building envelope technology.

Andy has a long-standing association with the CIOB. He is currently the Chairman of the Dubai and Northern Emirates Center and he is also an experienced candidate mentor.

He continues to provide input into the UAE code and is a regular speaker at industry technical seminars such as this one.

Ayesha Ahmad is an accomplished architectural Specialist with expertise in EIFS, facade design and Paints & coatings. With over 17 years of experience in the paints & coatings industry, She has worked in on a diverse range of projects, from historical renovations to contemporary skyscrapers as a EIFS & Coatings Expert.

Ayesha led the design and implementation of facade systems for several high-profile projects worldwide. Also stablished specification technical divisions for famous international paint brands. She spoke for EWA/Bahrain Civil Defense Conference 2017. She served as a guest lecturer at prestigious university in Pakistan, sharing insights on colour, coatings facade design and engineering.

Ayesha is known for her engaging and informative solution provider approach to the design industry. She combines technical expertise with real-world examples to provide practical insights into facade design and evacuation strategies to Architects and Façade designers. Areas of Expertise: EIFS, Paints, Acoustics and Facade design solutions; Design intend incorporation of EIFS installation for high-rise & Low-rise buildings; Integration of EIFS technology and sustainability in facade design; Historical perspectives on architecture and urban planning.

Alina is a visionary leader and Architect, serving as the founder and design director of Valcarce Architects. With an unwavering passion for innovative architectural forms and groundbreaking designs, Alina continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the built environment.

Her innate ability to create structures that are both unique and captivating has left an indelible mark on numerous cities around the world. Having lived and worked in diverse locations such as Cuba, the UK, Spain, China, India, Vietnam, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Alina brings a truly global perspective to her work. Her international experiences have not only enriched her understanding of different cultures and architectural traditions but have also enabled her to seamlessly integrate local nuances into her designs.

Sumaya Dabbagh is a Saudi architect educated in the UK. She founded Dabbagh Architects in 2008. Since setting up her practice, Sumaya has completed a number of significant projects that demonstrate her interest in the subtilties of notions of memory, identity and belonging.

The multi award winning projects such as Mleiha Archaeological Centre building as well Gargash Mosque have been globally recognised as a significant example of a new emerging approach to Architecture in the UAE. The Al Ain Museum, currently under construction is another example of to their renowned portfolio of sensitive, contextual designs.

Sumaya is passionate about bringing more awareness to the region on the value of socially and environmentally sustainable and relevant design. She is an advocate for cultivating a design environment that is anchored in the land, one that reflects the regions heritage through a contemporary architectural language. To Dabbagh, contextual architecture is one that is driven by homegrown talent, using local materials to become connected to place. This definition has been demonstrated throughout the practices body of work, and more recently amplified in her recent installation “Earth To Earth”, presented as part of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial second edition opened from Nov 23 -March 24 in Sharjah, UAE.

Sumaya has also made it her mission to break stereotypes and limiting believes about women in the architecture profession. By demonstrating what women can achieve, and how much they can influence change, she has become a role model to many aspiring architects.