148th Edition – Zak World of Façades United Kingdom

This will be the 148^th edition globally, the 10^th edition in United Kingdom and the 3^rd edition in Manchester which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

Official Page

Speakers and Panelists

Vaida Meads

Senior Façade Engineer, WSP

Dami Babalola

Specification Leader UK, Axalta

Dami Babalola currently serves as the UK Architectural Specifications Lead at Axalta, a global leader in the coatings industry. With a background in architecture and a keen eye for design, Dami has seamlessly transitioned into the world of specifications, where...

Ercan Kantarci

Project Director, Erbay Aluminium

I graduated from Yıldız Technical University in Istanbul with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1990. Subsequently, I commenced my professional career in the construction sector, where I have gained extensive experience. In 2011, I assumed the role of Project...

Ana Gonçalves Dias

Specification Manager, Effisus

Ana Gonçalves Dias brings a wealth of expertise to the realm of façade weatherproofing solutions as Effisus’s Specification Manager. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, Ana plays an important role in guiding Effisus’s product development...

Tom Morris

Senior Construction Manager, Far East Consortium

Tom is senior construction manager at Far East Consortium (FEC)’s Manchester office. He leads the quality and compliance management of FEC’s high rise developments in Manchester acting as client’s representative for the delivery team. He is a member of the...

Nicholas Tansella

Associate, Hawkins\Brown

Paul Eaton

Partner, Allies and Morrison

Paul’s skills in design development and communicating with stakeholder groups are essential in guiding some of our most significant projects. He places an importance on learning and problem solving, following a few consistent threads across many projects. He is working...

Sofia Prifti

Façade Engineer, Meinhardt

Dan Gleeson

Sales Director, Schüco UK

With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Dan brings a wealth of expertise to the table. As a specialist façade engineer with a Master’s degree in this field, Dan has a deep understanding of the technical performance...

Simone Miriana

Director - Envelopes, AKT II

As the Envelope team Director, Simone ensures design excellence, manages global client relationships, and oversees commercial and residential projects. His expertise spans diverse markets, including the UK, Australia, the Middle East, and North America. Relocating to the UK in 2014...

Jack Sargent

Project Architect, Make Architects

Since joining Make in 2013, Jack has worked across a broad spectrum of projects, including commercial offices, sports stadiums, luxury hotels and retail. His role within the arts and culture team has been key in developing the Vault of Contemporary...

Stephen Hodder

Founding Director, Hodder+Partners

Stephen Hodder established his architectural practice in 1983, and in 1992 Hodder Associates won the Royal Fine Art Commission/ Sunday Times Building of the Year Award for Colne Swimming Pool in Lancashire. In 1996 Hodder Associates, now Hodder+Partners, received the...

Simon Pierce

Director of Façade Engineering, Meinhardt

Simon has extensive leadership experience in UK and international structural and façade engineering activities. They collaborate with leading architects and designers, combining engineering pragmatism with design sensitivity. In recent years, they have focussed on developing empowered teams with a strong...

Simon Critchley

Partner, SimpsonHaugh

As an effective communicator, Simon balances being approachable, assertive and sociable. Simon’s design awareness helps him maintain a holistic project view, while his strong presentation and personable skills ensure that project teams are clear on what is expected and when....

Shane Kelly

Project Director, CR Construction UK Company

Shane has over 20 years’ experience in the industry as an architect, developer and main contractor. He has managed schemes up to £125m in value across a diverse range of roles, including Head of R&D and Senior Design and Technical...

Lewis Stanley

Business Development Manager – High Rise & Façades, A. Proctor Group

Lewis Stanley joined The A. Proctor Group in 2023 and has specialised in facades in high-rise construction. Lewis has many years of experience in the high-rise sector, focusing on façade design, regulation compliance and innovation. By advocating a systems based...

Lefteris Siamopoulos

Associate - Façade Consultant, FMDC

Since joining FMDC in 2020, Lefteris has worked on a variety of projects, from concept design through to completion on site. His strong background in detailing and in-depth technical knowledge has helped him deliver complex façades including Kings Cross S4...

Graham Smith

Senior Associate, Denton Corker Marshall

Graham is Senior Associate at Denton Corker Marshall’s Manchester office; the practice have delivered numerous projects nationally and internationally including the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, One New York Street and Stonehenge Visitor Centre among many others. Having accumulated over 20...

Alex Edwards

ESG Director, Bruntwood SciTech

Alex Edwards is ESG Director at Bruntwood SciTech. In his role, Alex leads Bruntwood’s response in driving performance of the business’s existing portfolio while implementing and overseeing decarbonisation and energy reduction strategies as part of the firm’s broader goal to...

Aaron Capon

National Façades Manager, Cosentino UK

As a seasoned professional with 8 years of dedicated experience in the UK’s facade industry, Aaron brings a wealth of expertise to his role as a National Facades Sales Manager for Cosentino. Working closely with accounts across the nation, Aaron...

Will Wild

Built Environment Lead, Climate Champions Team

Will leads the Built Environment work at the Climate Champions Team, supporting the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions in accelerating real-world momentum towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. Will was instrumental in positioning the Built Environment in the COP28...

Stephen Tanno

Director Pre-Construction Services, Schüco International

Stephen Tanno graduated from The University of Southampton in 1987 and worked as a Consulting Engineer for the next 16 years, including 5 years with Ove Arup in Sydney and 8 years as Group Director with Buro Happold, where he...

James Hind

Partner, SimpsonHaugh

James is an experienced designer with an excellent eye for detail who works to high standards. He enjoys early project stages and rigorously refining project ideas. When delivering projects, he grasps strategic sequencing and shows clarity of thought. As a...

Sandra Scolastra

Associate, Arup

Sandra has been with Arup for 14 years in the Façades Team and is now based in Manchester. She combines structural engineering skills and detailed knowledge of façades to provide multidisciplinary coordination and solutions meeting both the architectural intent and...

Naoki Woodward

Director - Head of Façade Engineering, BB7

Naoki heads up the façade engineering capability and is part of the senior leadership team at BB7. He comes from a multi-disciplinary background, having led and developed the façade and façade access discipline at a leading multinational consultancy. He...

Mark Pniewski

Engineering Director, Thorp Precast

Conference Agenda