Vincent Choi relocated from Hong Kong to Australia to study Architecture at the University of Melbourne, where he found both a new home and a lifelong passion for design. After graduating, Vincent refined his skills in the Singaporean design market, gaining valuable regional and international experience. In 1998, Vincent Choi returned to Melbourne, and in 2004, he founded Rptecture Architects. He now leads a dedicated team of creative professionals, united by a shared vision of innovative and sustainable design. Vincent is also committed to mentoring the next generation of architects, an endeavour he pursues through the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) mentor program. Beyond architecture, Vincent Choi is a passionate marathon runner and is actively involved in not-for-profit initiatives supporting communities across Australasia. Rptecture Architects’ portfolio includes a diverse range of award-winning residential, commercial, and industrial projects, celebrated for their innovative use of materials, sustainability, and energy efficiency. Recent awards include recognition at the 2024 Paris Design Awards and the 2023 Melbourne Design Awards, highlighting their ability to consistently create spaces that elevate the human experience.

Laila Al-Yousuf is the Partner and Design Director at SAY Studio, an interior design agency she co-founded in 2018. Under her leadership, the company has gone from strength to strength, designing transformative spaces for clients such as Google and LinkedIn that change the way people live and work, while inspiring waves of positive change beyond the design industry. As a designer, a number of her projects have received accreditations such as WELL and LEED, a testament to her holistic approach to individuals well-being, empowering businesses and their people to thrive at their full potential. As a mentor, Laila Al-Yousuf believes that coaching younger generations is a responsibility within a leadership role. She is a key figure in the development and growth of her staff, by incorporating trainings as well as encouraging them to take part in panels and industry events. As a dedicated humanitarian, Laila believes that design has the power to change lives. In 2013, she conceptualized the Surge for Water ‘Design, Dine, make a Difference’ competition that asks designers in the region to design sustainably and raises awareness around the global water crisis in third world countries. The competition still runs today. Laila Al-Yousuf has created a way for design to give back, while inviting people to ponder the responsibilities that we all have in making a difference. This has become so important to Laila, that in 2018, together with her partner, she dedicated her wedding to it and raised enough money to build 3 wells and a bathroom block in Uganda. Her passion for making the world a better place takes her to remote corners of the globe. An advocate for women, she prioritizes equality, diversity, and inclusion through design. She takes an active role in representing the women of the design and construction industry.

Haoming Li is a distinguished designer with a robust academic foundation and extensive professional experience spanning architecture and furniture design. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Tsinghua University and a Master’s degree from Columbia University. Her design journey began at Tsinghua University, where her double chair design garnered widespread recognition and was exhibited on campus. Professionally, she contributed to notable architectural and interior projects at Studio Link-Arc and Grimshaw Architects in New York. Later, her collaboration with renowned artist Norman Mooney on Workspace Editions saw her lead the design and production of innovative furniture and lighting showcased globally. In 2023, Haoming Li founded hm-LI Studio, a practice that seamlessly integrates architectural principles with furniture design, blending Eastern aesthetics with Western modernity. Her debut collection, the Weaving Chair series, won the prestigious Red Dot Award in 2024, marking a significant milestone in her career. Haoming’s work has been exhibited at leading events such as ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) and Design Shanghai. Her designs have also received international acclaim, including multiple MUSE Design Awards and the Design Shanghai Picks Award in 2024. Known for their harmonious balance of form and function, her creations are timeless, emotionally resonant, and deeply inspired by music, art, and nature.

Enrique Néstor Laumann is an accomplished designer and innovator in the field of grilling solutions, renowned for his work with EAGLE Braseros y Parrillas. Educated in Social Work at the National University of Entre Ríos, Argentina, he has combined his passion for design with his social career, contributing over 20 years to the Special School Senderos de Luz in Paraná, Argentina. Enrique Néstor Laumann’s innovations have earned consistent recognition, including awards at the INNOVAR Argentina contests in 2019 and 2021 for his groundbreaking grill designs, as well as international honours such as the Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2022 and the International Architecture & Design Awards 2023. Enrique Néstor also holds a patent for an advanced grill design featuring innovative components, highlighting his focus on functionality and aesthetic appeal in product design. Beyond his design accomplishments, Enrique Néstor Laumann has served as a jury member for prestigious competitions, including the A’Design Award, further solidifying his influence in the design community.

André Romitelli and Martina Brusius are the co-founders of Pistache Ganache, a São Paulo-based design studio established in 2015. The idea for the studio emerged spontaneously while enjoying ice cream at Cadorna station in Milan. Their creative process thrives on unplanned moments, uncertainty, and unexpected discoveries, resulting in designs that are as dynamic as they are meaningful. The duo focuses on creating projects with a strong narrative foundation, crafting objects that bridge emotional connections between users and their surroundings. They introduce the concept of “affective sustainability,” which fosters lasting bonds with objects through empathy and storytelling, redefining the object’s present while offering new possibilities for its future. André Romitelli and Martina Brusius bring over a decade of expertise in retail design, luxury environments, and event scenography. They collaborate with major brands like Hermès, Disney, Levi’s, and Chanel, delivering bespoke projects that range from detailed technical drawings to the fabrication of intricate sets and displays. Their work spans sustainable set production, temporary retail installations, and crafting unique decorative elements, blending artisanal craftsmanship with innovative technologies. Through Pistache Ganache, André Romitelli and Martina Brusius redefine design as a process of exploration, storytelling, and emotional connection, creating projects that are both impactful and enduring.

Erin Denkovska leads innovative lighting solutions for large-scale, high-end international projects. With over a decade of global experience, Erin Denkovska has worked across luxury hospitality, public spaces, premium residential developments, and master planning. She is passionate about light as an immersive medium that shapes emotional and spatial interactions, creating environments that influence how people feel and connect with the world. Erin earned her Bachelor of Design in Interior Design and her Master of Design in Lighting Design from the University of Technology, Sydney. Her career has included roles at Illuminate Lighting Design, Steensen Varming, Elektra Lighting, and Nulty+. Now based in Dubai, she collaborates with world-renowned architects to transform spaces through the art of light, seamlessly blending creativity and emerging technologies. Among her accolades, Erin was recognised for her lighting design in the Selfridges Opticals Department in 2018, was named to Lighting Magazine’s 40 Under Forty in 2017, and received multiple commendations at the Vivid Sydney Festival. She also led a workshop for Lights in Alingsås in 2019 and was awarded the IALD Emerging Lighting Designers Initiative Scholarship in 2013. Erin Denkovska has been featured in global publications and speaks passionately about the intersection of art, technology, and design. Through her leadership, Erin Denkovska continues to redefine the possibilities of lighting design, inspiring teams to innovate and craft experiences that resonate on a profound level.

Hamidreza Khademi is a seasoned construction professional with over five years of experience in Building Information Modeling (BIM). He is highly proficient in Autodesk Revit, Navisworks Manage, BIM 360, and Bluebeam, utilizing these tools to optimize project outcomes through meticulous clash detection and performance analysis. Hamidreza Khademi’s leadership skills enhance team collaboration and ensure project delivery within budget and timelines, often resulting in significant client cost savings. Educated at Iowa State University with a Master of Architecture and Politecnico di Torino with a Master of Science in Architecture Construction City, he has a solid foundation in architectural engineering from Shiraz University. His professional journey includes roles in architectural design and project management across Germany, Canada, and the USA, contributing to his deep understanding of the architectural landscape and its challenges. Hamidreza Khademi’s commitment to excellence and innovation in architectural design and construction management has marked him as a leader in his field, dedicated to advancing sustainable and effective building practices.

Yelin Turer Evcen is a prominent architect and a key figure in Gönye Design, an interior architecture and design office based in Istanbul. Her extensive experience in various projects, including multimix, residential, hospitality, retail, and workplace interiors, highlights her versatility and expertise in the field. Gönye Design, which was given the title of “Design Center” by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in 2017 with the aim of increasing innovative activities that will create added value in the international market, has been awarded by many international organizations in different categories such as European Property Awards, A ‘Design Award, IDA Design Award and Architecture Masterprize and aims to become a global brand with its unique designs in interior architecture. Gönye Design’s expansion into the Middle East and Asia indicates the firm’s success and recognition beyond Turkey. Yelin’s involvement as a jury member and speaker in different organizations and universities, as well as her guest lecturer roles at Bahcesehir University and Istanbul Technical University, underscores her commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting the next generation of interior architects. Additionally, being a member of the Mugla Association of Architects in Private Practice reflects her dedication to professional development and collaboration within the architectural community. Yelin’s multifaceted contributions to the industry, both through her design work and educational initiatives, showcase her as a leader and influencer in the field of interior architecture.