Professor Dr. Ruffina Thilakaratne is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a qualified environmental professional, with extensive international experience spanning academia, architectural practice, and the United Nations.

Ruffina’s work focuses on advancing sustainable and resilient built environments through net-zero carbon strategies, circular economy principles, and climate- responsive design. As Principal Investigator, Ruffina currently leads a major research project exploring Al-driven adaptive reuse of industrial buildings. She is the Co-Editor of The UN SDGs – Hong Kong Architects in Action. She has contributed to a diverse portfolio of projects, including mixed-use developments, hospitality, and education, science and technology parks. Through her extensive experience, she serves as a jury member for international design awards.

She plays an active leadership role within the profession through her roles as a RIBA Trustee and International Councillor for Asia and Australasia, advisor to the International WELL Building Institute, and faculty member at the Hong Kong Green Building Council.

As a Global Design Principal of Aedas, Ken Wai received professional training in the United Kingdom and has over 35 years of experience in major international practices. Over the years, he has directed the designs of a broad spectrum of architectural projects on both national and global scales and has produced numerous well-acclaimed designs that have earned various awards and honours. His specialization lies in corporate headquarters, R&D centres, holistic mixed-use developments, major infrastructure facilities, luxurious hotels, as well as bespoke private residences.

Ken Wai believes that architecture must be people-centric. Architects should thoroughly understand the scope of the project and apply intuition to go beyond expectations, meeting the needs of the people and creating a positive impact on the community.

Daria Yang Du is a Los Angeles–based architectural designer (LEED Green Assoc. / Assoc. AIA), interdisciplinary artist, and founder of DD Studio. She holds a Master of Advanced Architectural Design from Cornell University and has worked at leading international firms including RIOS, BIG, Gensler, MAD, and Woods Bagot.

Her professional practice spans hospitality, education, cultural, and public infrastructure, with projects realized across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Her works have received multiple international honors, including the IDA Design Awards (Gold), 40 Under 40 Awards, WA Award, LICC Awards, MUSE Design, Loop Design Awards, London and French Design Awards (Platinum).

Her research and creative work focus on sustainability, fluidity, and cultural narrative, using spatial design as a medium for dialogue among society, ecology, and emotion. She was invited to exhibit at the A’ Design 40×40 Exhibition in New York City, Nota Gallery & Fitzrovia Gallery in London, and her projects have been featured by e-architect, Apartment Therapy, Amazing Architecture, Artdaily, China Daily, and China.com.

Invited to represent at the UNESCO Cultural Heritage and Peace Summit, Ms. Du currently serves as a jury member for the Arch Design Awards, TAC World Design Awards, International Excellence Awards, and as a guest critic at Portland State University—roles that reflect her international influence across architectural design, cultural production, and spatial research.

Javier brings a holistic approach to architecture, urbanism, and leadership at KPF. His portfolio includes some of the firm’s most significant large-scale master plans, office repositioning, and hospitality projects, with a strong emphasis on sustainable design, social impact, and inclusive placemaking.

In London, Javier is the Design Director for KPF’s competition-winning design of 8 Canada Square, one of Europe’s most significant transformations in Canary Wharf. The development transforms a mono-use office building into a mixed-use destination including offices, an observation deck, theatres, and retail, while improving operational energy and retaining embodied carbon.

In continental Europe, Javier is leading the design for Entrecampos, a large-scale, mixed-use destination in Lisbon. Awarded the MIPIM 2025 “New Mega Development” award, Entrecampos is a magnet for investment and urban innovation.

Javier has led several large-scale developments in Asia, focusing on placemaking, workspace, hospitality, and retail, including Shangri-La and Kimpton hotels in Shanghai.

As part of the Design Committee, Javier is instrumental in the success of KPF, fostering internal design dialogue, mentorship, and innovation while strengthening the firm’s culture of creativity and collaboration.

Kevin, a passionate interior designer born in Hong Kong, pursued his studies in Australia and has since amassed 20 years of rich experience in design. During his time at a packaging design firm in school, he honed his skills and deepened his commitment to the industry. Afterward, he joined Design Post Tokyo, where he worked on various projects under the mentorship of Yamagiwa Junpei. This exposure to diverse practices enhanced his design sensibilities and practical skills, allowing him to explore and acquire exceptional design techniques through varied experiences.

Throughout his career, Kevin has received numerous recognition in the global design community, showcasing his distinctive creative thinking, attention to detail, and construction expertise. With an unwavering passion for design exploration, Kevin is committed to continuous growth, refining his character through his work, and dedicating himself to his craft.

Kevin takes a hands-on approach, ensuring every detail is meticulously customized through active involvement in all project stages. As a dedicated designer, he not only focuses on the aesthetics but also engages deeply with clients to understand their needs. From site measurement and thoughtful design planning to selecting unique materials and overseeing execution, he is committed to delivering high-quality outcomes that meet user expectations.

Since establishing Minus Workshop in 2014, Kevin has specialized in creating bespoke residential units and restaurants, each with its own unique narrative. His ventures into the food and beverage industry, such as operating restaurant and cafe, have enriched his understanding of F&B design, emphasizing brand storytelling, functionality, and operational practicality.

ARTA Architects co-founder Tat Lai Wong believes that through their work in a wide range of design disciplines from architecture, interior, art installations and furniture design, they are continually inspired by each typology in their ongoing quest to evolve and expand their creative minds.

In pursuit of his vision and goals, he has completed a diverse range of project typologies each with its own unique and creative design concept, ranging from the newly completed iconic design of the Hong Kong Maritime Anchor Plaza, the celebration of historical elements and nautical themes in the revitalization of Aberdeen Boat Club, the stylish and hip renovation of Vega Suites hotel, to the design of Tai Kwun Chairs that tells the story of the site’s mix of old and new architecture.

With over 15 years of experience, the A&D 40 under 40 award winner in 2022 continues to be inspired by the pursuit of exploring new concepts in design. Since its founding in 2021, the team has won numerous awards such as the FRAME Furniture of the Year 2024, Perspective A&D Gold Award, as well as the Special Award at the HKIA Annual Awards 2024, and continue to take on more challenging and complex projects in their pursuit for originality and creativity.

Andrei Martin is a partner at PLP Architecture with over 20 years’ experience of residential, commercial, and master planning projects in the UK, Europe, USA, China, and the Middle East. He is a co-founder of PLP Labs – a design research platform that operates at the intersection of people, technology, and the planet.

Andrei is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster and a European Living Concepts Council Member at the Urban Land Institute. He is the editor of Another Kind: A Survey of the Possible City (Actar, 2021) and has published, lectured, and exhibited internationally.

As a designer, researcher and educator, Andrei is interested in the potential of the built environment to transform human experience and reshape contemporary culture.

Andrei’s experience includes a wide range of program types and project scales. He is particularly interested in hyper-mixed smart buildings – hybrid typologies that redefine the architecture of contemporary living and working.

Prior to co-founding ARTA Architects in 2021, Arnold was trained at renowned architectural firms including SANAA (Tokyo & Paris), UNStudio (Amsterdam, Hong Kong & Shanghai) and Aedas (Hong Kong), where he worked as lead designer for architectural projects including theatres, museums, hotels and shopping malls.

Arnold has also received numerous design awards, including being a winner of the prestigious “Hong Kong Institute of Architects Young Architect Award”, the PERSPECTIVE 40 Under 40 Award and the DFA Awards Hong Kong Young Design Talents. He was also a recipient of The Wharf ArchDesign Resource Trust.

He has also been actively promoting the design and architectural industry to the public. His works are exhibited internationally and locally such as the HKIA Urbanism and Architecture Exhibitions for Excellence, the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021, DeTour 2020 and UABB 2019.

Apart from his daily design routine at ARTA, Arnold served as an Assistant Lecturer teaching Master of Architecture design studio at the University of Hong Kong.

Barrie Ho obtained his Master of Architecture with distinction in 1996 from The University of Hong Kong.

He has won over 160 major international design awards from USA, UK, Dubai and the Asia Pacific region.

In 2011, he was awarded the Order of the Medal of Honour by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Ho serves as a member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and, is a member of the Hong Kong Design Institute Advisory Board under the Vocational Training Council’s Institute of Vocational Education.

Barry is an urban planning specialist who has consulted on hundreds of development projects across four continents, with a focus on Hong Kong and mainland China, for nearly 30 years.

An experienced landscape architect, Barry splits his time between industry roles including the presidency of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, academic endeavours at the University of Hong Kong and his own firm Barry Wilson Project Initiatives.

He sits on various government advisory committees and in 2012 was recognised for his contribution to China’s urbanisation transformation. In 2019, he won the Reed & Mallik Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in UK.

He is also the author of “Futureproof City: Ten Immediate Paths to Urban Resilience” published in 2021.