26th Edition – Zak World of Façades UAE

This was the 26th edition globally and 6th edition in the Middle East. It showcased the latest innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to building envelopes and the latest technological solutions.

Speakers and Panelists

Imran Manasawala

Director, Future Architectural Glass

Imran has done his BBM from Singapore and is one of the founding members of Future Architectural Glass. He offers exceptional service & support to architects, consultants and fabricators in ensuring the right product selection when it comes to Glass,...

Abdullah Sulaiman

Executive Director, Lacasa

Abdullah possesses over 20 years of experience working on projects across all tender stages. His expertise lies in overseeing all aspects of the project including contracts, finances, quality, procurement, risk, and delivery. As the Executive Director of LACASA, his role involves overseeing...

Elie Gamburg

Director, KPF

Elie Gamburg is a Director at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates with over 15 years of experience and LEED AP certification. Since joining KPF in 2004, he has worked on designs for a wide range of projects in the United States,...

Alex Dantziguian

Managing Director, Technoform

Alex Dantziguian is the Managing Director of Technoform Middle East DMCC, based in Dubai since 2006. TECHNOFORM, is the global leader based in Germany with worldwide know-how on thermal insulation of doors, windows, & facades for over 50 years. With...

Robert Stephens

Executive Director, Inhabit Group

Robert Stephens is the Executive Director for Inhabit and is responsible for group operations in the Middle East and Europe. He has over 20 years of façade construction experience in Europe, the Middle East and Far East. For the last...

Andy Dean

Head of Specialist Services, WSP Middle East

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,...

Ewa Juszczyk

Senior Associate Director, Benoy

Following graduation in 2003, Ewa Juszczyk has gained extensive experience working in architectural practices around the world. She has worked on numerous projects from concept design, schematic design, planning application submission, detailed design through to the delivery of construction documentation....

Nabeel Zabad

Segment Manager - Façade, Hilti Middle East

Nabeel has more than 12 years in the Façade and Aluminium Industry. He has undertaken various roles from façade engineering, contracting and business development experience. His roles have enabled him to meet and work with the most renowned architects, façade contractors...

Benjamin Beer

Managing Director, Werner Sobek Dubai

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...

Agnes Koltay

CEO, Koltay Façades

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...

Micha Pawelka

Chief Operating Officer, Priedemann Façade Experts

Micha Pawelka, who has an academic qualification in Wholesale Management and Foreign Trade, gained over 20 years of experience in the Glass and Facade Industry in Europe. He was a Sales Director in the Schollglas Group in Germany before relocating...

James Law

Chairman & CEO, James Law Cybertecture

James Law is a nominated Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum as well as a pioneer in the new design of Cybertecture. He founded James Law Cybertecture International in 2001 to create a company to design the world...

Belen Nemi

Associate, Gensler

As an Architect and Associate based in Gensler’s Abu Dhabi office, Belen has successfully worked on several large-scale high-profile projects in South America, Europe and the Middle East. Since joining Gensler in 2013, she’s worked on a variety of projects...

Chris Jones

Partner - Europe and Middle East, 10 Design

CHRIS JONES is Partner of IO. He has over 18 years of international experience on major projects throughout the Middle East, Asia, the UK, and the US. He has lived and worked in New York, London, Istanbul, Edinburgh, and is...

Markus Plettau

Marketing Manager - EMEA, High Performance Building Solutions, Dow Performance Silicones

Markus Plettau is Marketing Manager – EMEA, High Performance Building Solutions at Dow Performance Silicones. He is based in Wiesbaden, Germany. Markus leads the marketing activities for High Performance Building Solutions in Europe which look at developing and implementing silicone and silicone based...

Steven Dietrich

Head of Architecture, Obermeyer

Mr. Dietrich is a design and construction professional with over 30 years experience serving in various roles. He’s lead large international design and construction efforts for projects to $3.5 billion. Has managed multi-disciplinary International design efforts from the US and...

Kenneth Turner

Director, Callison RTKL

Kenneth Turner is a Director at CallisonRTKL Dubai and delivers projects with 28 years of architectural design experience. His ability to find solutions through cutting edge technologies make Kenneth a great match for clients looking for progressive design. He believes...

Osama Abbas

CEO, IBECE Group

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...

Deepak Dinesh Prabakaran

Managing Director, PNC Architects

With an association lasting more than a decade, Deepak is a highly self-driven person who has led and delivered several high-profile projects for the Sobha Group in India and Dubai. Under his leadership, PNCA has evolved into an organization with...

Prabhanjan Kambadur

Director, RSP Architects

Prabhanjan Kambadur with over 20 years of experience in Master planning and Architecture, he is a director in RSP Dubai, bringing in the critical skills for planning and delivering large scale and complex projects. His experience ranges from Master planning...

Efthimios Zizos

Projects Manager, Elval Colour

Efthimios Zizos is a Civil Engineer and he is for the last 7 years, Projects Manager of Elval Colour. He has more than 17 years’ experience in the field of building constructions and specifically in envelope façades/roofing. His current role...

Sanjoe Rodrigues

General Manager - MEA, Serge Ferrari

Sanjoe Rodrigues is the General Manager of Serge Ferrari ME. He’s a civil Engineer by profession and has been associated with the field of tensile membrane architecture for over 15 years. He has been in the building industry since 2000...

Dr. Werner Jager

Director Application Technology and Project Sales International, Hydro Building Systems

Werner Jager, Dr.-Ing., has over 20 years of international experience in the creation and management of multi-location teams as well as profound competence in the engineering and design of building envelopes. Since 2017, he is the Director of Technical Marketing...

Yahya Jan

President & Design Director, NORR

Yahya Jan believes that Great Design, done right, can solve many of humanity’s problems. For this to happen, he believes that our efforts must always be inclusive, inviting opinions in an open-minded search of possibilities. An exploration where owners, users...

Tatiana Masalska

Segment Manager - Facade, Hilti Middle East

Currently META Regional Segment Manager for Facades in Hilti, Tatiana’s area of responsibility is to develop and implement strategy across the facade markets, support the development of global & regional contractors and consultants, advise on new market opportunities and new...

Maria Malo

Business Development Manager - MEA, Akzonobel

old speaker

Stuart Clarke

Associate Director | Middle East Façade Engineering Leader, Arup

Stuart is the Facade Engineering Leader for Arup the Middle East. Stuart has been with Arup for 21 years in Dublin, London, Singapore and has been based in Dubai since 2006, Stuart is a Fellow of the Society of Facade...

Arif Mehmood

Director, RMJM

Arif has over 30 years’s of professional experience and proven skills in handling projects as he oversaw the completion of several award-winning designs both at RMJM and in previous roles. In his extensive career he has worked on projects as...

Steve Swales

Chief Commercial Officer, Siderise Group

Graduating in Building Construction then Architectural Science in the early eighties, Steve was immediately employed by the Welsh School of Architecture to develop specifications for fire resistant external cladding and facade systems. This lead to a position with Rockwool where...

Conference Agenda