Schedule

Networking

Delegate registration and networking
Registration and snacks/networking outside the main hall at the Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR, Dubai.

Introduction

MC event introduction and welcome
Paul Godfrey introduces the critical themes of the day’s forthcoming debates, and their social, economic and architectural significance.

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content, ME Consultant

Anastasia Prosina

Keynote address:
Will today’s advancements in space architecture create competitive advantage for Earth-based firms?
Anastasia reviews the terrific spectrum of opportunities for corporations to join the key international initiatives now being set up to create extraterrestrial built environments. The presentation outlines the practical steps businesses can take, in terms of competitive tenders, required skillsets, delivery timeframes and understanding project scope and aspirations.

Anastasia Prosina, Founder and Space Architect, Stellar Amenities

Multi Speakers

Fireside Chat

What is the current state of development for plans to build on Mars? Will the Moon be used as a resource staging-post? How can business participate in this new era for the built environment – and what will be the skillsets, resources and best practices they will need to embody?

Anastasia Prosina, Founder and Space Architect, Stellar Amenities

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content, ME Consultant

Presentation One

How AI is shaping the industry and empowering the quest for Biophilia

The presentation outlines the new opportunities that AI tech is opening up for architectural firms to increase client engagement, offering solutions that are on the one hand cost-effective, while also breaking new ground in terms of their quality, sustainability remit and potential for better risk management.

Maxwell Connop, Design Director, AtkinsRéalis

Ed McIntosh, Design Director, AtkinsRéalis

Panel Discussion One

Skillsets – what are the key skills that today’s newcomers to the profession must have?

At a time when the reliance on AI tech is growing exponentially, surely newcomers to the profession must have a completely new skillset, very different from that traditionally required by architects? The panel session assesses these changes and the new internal initiatives that businesses must use to recruit effectively.

• What is the new raft of qualifications that young architects should be able to demonstrate?
• Are the majority of architectural firms actually well-placed to understand this shift and revise recruitment protocols?
• Once on board, should this new generation of architects be subject to traditional reporting structures and hierarchies?

Moderator

Jerry Ryan, Founder and Executive Chairman, HKR

Confirmed Panelists

Maria Dautant, Senior Associate, HLB Lighting

Dr. Bhakti More, Chairperson & Professor, School of Design & Architecture, Manipal Academy

Drew Gilbert, Lead Design Architect, OBMI

Nicola Trevitt, General Manager, Summertown Interiors

Dr. Rana El-Dabaa, Assistant Professor, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University

Presentation Two

How new materials and evolving construction techniques are opening the door to tomorrow’s built environment

Here, Jerry Ryan looks at the progressive evolution of so-called ‘new materials’ and their practicality, availability and potential value. He explains how dramatic advances in construction techniques are shortening build times – particularly the role of Modular Construction, for which HKR has itself been a prime mover.

Jerry Ryan, Founder and Executive Chairman, HKR

Panel Discussion Two

Bio-Materials – is the science really ready yet?

We are hearing a great deal about the development of so-called ‘bio-materials’, which often involve using plant-based compounds such as Mycelium to replace traditional building materials. But these can be slow to produce, lack tensile strength and can involve significantly higher cost. So, are they really a viable option?

• What is the range of bio-materials currently available?
• Can we say at present that procurement chains can factor in bio-materials as a practical project option?
• How long will it be before bio-materials offer comparable strength and performance value to traditional materials?

Moderator

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content, ME Consultant

Confirmed Panelists

Anastasia Prosina, Founder and Space Architect, Stellar Amenities

Dipali Shirsat, Founder, The Visual Poetry

Delvene Lee, Head of Interior Design, KEO International Consultants

Tiago Sampaio, Design Principal, U+A, part of Egis Group

Maxwell Connop, Design Director, AtkinsRéalis

Mustafa M. Sherif, Design Manager, Thin Line Architects & Interiors

Presentation Three

How AI is leveraging quantum change in design practice and project delivery

Architectural firms are now transforming their creativity, time management and project scope by virtue of an ever-growing raft of AL-led tools, which have taken the advantages of BIM-tech to a completely new level. But what will the next steps be, particularly given present advances in Quantum computing?

Sam Kumar, Principal, Studio Operations, U+A, part of Egis Group

Networking

Lunch Break
Buffet lunch and networking.

Multi Speakers

Fireside Chat

What are the ways in which today’s architectural firms are evolving to embrace a broader range of multidisciplinary skillsets, and how will these help them better excel with project build and client relationships? Kevin Offin gives examples from Graphite’s own history and development, assessing the best paths to successful organic growth.

Kevin Offin, Founding Principal, Graphite

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content, ME Consultant

Presentation Four

Light – the fourth dimension of architectural form

Maria addresses the ways in which the optimum use of light sources can radically transform the user’s experience of a built environment, from the accenting and illumination of interior space, to the nuancing of outdoor, landscaped settings. She also assesses the trends and technologies currently transforming the lighting industry.

Maria Dautant, Senior Associate, HLB Lighting

Panel Discussion Three

Innovations – steps towards the future

This panel highlights the sectors where we can see the most profound changes taking place in the architectural and design spheres, and the technologies and creative innovations driving this transition forwards – effectively building real, substantive bridges to the built environments of tomorrow.

• Shifts toward a new community focus – and how will this combine with a growing tendency to build super-tall?
• The quest for Sustainable futures: is it now becoming the ‘new normal’?
• What are the barriers that we are now seeing broken – will the built environment soon thrive on other planets, or in underwater settings?

Moderator

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content, ME Consultant

Confirmed Panelists

Tiago Sampaio, Design Principal, U+A, part of Egis Group

Ayah Ramoun, Graduate Engineer, Arup Gulf Limited

Nima Shoja, Senior Director – Technical Design, Studioi

Anil Ipekci, Principal, TBH

Dr. Dalia Hafiz, Assistant Professor, Ajman University

Event Wrap-up

MC closing remarks
Thank you for attending the 2025 Future of Architecture Summit!