Accelerating
climate innovation
across industries

Adriana oozes energy and creative spirit in all that she does. A graduate of the Faculty of Interior Architecture and Design from Birmingham City University, UK, Adriana expanded her studies in Sustainability, becoming a LEED Accredited Professional.  Her early career was shaped by her tenure at Perkins & Will and her passion has steadily grown along with her curiosity and drive to push the boundaries for better design making her a design powerhouse and a well-respected professional. With each project Adriana considers how clients experience each moment in the spaces she creates, allowing for unique and customised outcomes.    Moving into the Design Director Position with dwp, Adriana continues to excel in every aspect of her work, as a designer, a leader, a mentor and especially in her ability to build and maintain relationships with clients. Her ability to deliver not only to the clients expectation but to go above and beyond has been evident in all her projects, past and present. Her passion for the industry is evident in everything she does. Her commitment to working towards a more sustainable practice and her leadership role within the company in that respect shows her devotion towards the future of this industry.

Agata Kurzela launched her design practice, Agata Kurzela Studio, in 2020. A blend of contemporary creativity, technological insight, and contextual awareness distinguishes her studio. She transforms client briefs into functional, poetically engaging spaces across various disciplines, including product design, installations, interior design, and architecture. Agata supports her clients from concept to completion with projects of differing scales throughout the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering, specializing in Architecture and Urban Planning, from Gdańsk University of Technology, and has studied Sustainable Community Development through a collaboration between Uppsala Technical University and the Technical University of Gdansk. Her recent Government OfMice in Abu Dhabi received a signiMicant international accolade, the Dezeen Award 2023. She completed the Royal Lounge for the Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi and her current body of work includes collaborations with cultural institutions in the UAE, projects for hospitality clients, and private residences. Her practice also involves working with signiMicant cultural landmarks such as the former Armed OfMicers’ Club in Abu Dhabi, where she juggles the preservation of Emirati heritage with contemporary design reMlecting the forward-looking vision of the client.

Angelica Romanazzi is Vice President FF&E Design for PNC Architects- Sobha Realty. With a global career of more than 15 years, Angelica’s creative language and design vision have been present in the work for renowned international companies. Angelica is a designer in a mission to combine luxury aesthetics with sustainable forms of design, creating a unique style: sophisticated yet clean. Angelica has the skill of translating in design the personality of the project that she works on. Her education and professional career in design and art led her to develop a very unique and human-centred approach to design. She researches and places the perfect materials and pieces as required by the space and the audience she design for. Angelica’s Italian approach to design is inspired by the lessons of Ettore Sottsass and Philippe Starck. Angelica strives to bring honesty, sensuality, excitement and fun into her work. The outcome is an aesthetic where form and function harmonically balance, allowing the users of the space to be at the centre of the project, ensuring their emotions, experiences and feelings are a central element. This perspective is the base for the design language which is minimalist and strongly influenced by sustainability, color therapy and geometry.

Bruce has opened numerous landmark Four Seasons hotels and resorts across 3 continents during his 17-year career with the iconic hospitality brand. He currently leads the Four Seasons Design Services team responsible for all hotel, resort, branded residential and major capital projects in the Middle East and Africa, based in Dubai. He is a strong believer in the essential art of collaboration and continuous learning as the foundation for exemplary works of design and immersive guest experiences. Bruce holds a Master of Architecture degree as well as a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He practiced architecture in Toronto for over a decade prior to answering the alluring call of luxury hospitality and global travel. The shift to the operator's side of the table has simultaneously narrowed and widened his focus on experiential design.

One of the region’s most experienced hospitality professionals, David brings over three decades of leadership expertise to the Advisory Board of INDEX 2026. Since joining The First Group in 2019, he has overseen the strategic development of the company’s expanding hotel portfolio, helping to shape its growth and reputation in the global hospitality sector. A regular entrant in Hotelier Middle East’s Power 50 list of the region’s most influential hoteliers, David also serves as a long-standing member of Dubai Tourism’s Five Star Hotel Committee, reflecting his commitment to advancing the industry at both a regional and international level. Prior to his current role, David was Chief Operating Officer at JA Resorts & Hotels, where he managed an extensive portfolio including nine properties across Dubai as well as luxury resorts in the Maldives and Seychelles. His career also includes extensive experience in advertising, sales, and marketing with some of the world’s leading agencies and hospitality brands. Renowned for his hands-on leadership style, David is dedicated, industrious, and passionate about helping people reach their full potential. He believes hospitality is about creating memorable experiences and leaving lasting impressions, a philosophy that continues to drive his work. In addition, he is a qualified co-active coach, reflecting his deep commitment to professional and personal development. David holds a Joint Honours Degree in History and Social Anthropology from the University of Stirling in Scotland.

Based in Dubai, Diane is the Director of Design for Accor’s Premium, Midscale, and Economy (PME) brands, where she oversees projects across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. In this role, she drives the Interior Design vision and ensures brand guidelines are applied consistently across new builds, conversions, and refurbishments. With a Master’s degree in Interior Design and 15 years of experience in leading design studios, Diane brings extensive expertise in translating brand values and strategic objectives into distinctive hotel experiences. She places strong emphasis on the role of location and its relationship to the surrounding community. Diane believes that thoughtful design fosters human connection and social interaction. By creating immersive, engaging spaces, she aims to elevate the guest journey while opening opportunities for authentic encounters and memorable experiences

Esra Lemmens is an accomplished Design Strategist who heads her own agency, The Esra Lemmens Agency. With degrees in Fine Arts and Design, she embarked on a career path that involved collaborations with fellow designers and design labels, ultimately leading to her groundbreaking book, Conceptual Commercialism Commercial Conceptualism. In this book, she explores the future interface between conceptual designers and commercial companies. Esra has a unique mission at the helm of her agency: to empower designers and architects, helping them reach their full potential and align themselves with the 4 C’s in “CC-CC.” With her background in Fine Arts and Design, she excels in connecting with clients and transforming their visions into reality. She tailors her representation to each client, customizing and optimizing their presence through partnerships with studios, cultural institutions, events, labels, museums, galleries, governments, and other relevant resources. Esra’s career is built on discretion, and she focuses on empowering contemporary designers and artists worldwide while providing clear business perspectives. She represents some of the industry’s biggest names and has facilitated numerous successful collaborations with major companies. Under her guidance, many contemporary designers and architects have earned prestigious awards and become influential figures in the field. Esra’s work has a global presence, bolstered by her ongoing lectures and workshops. As the founder and director of the Esra Lemmens Agency, she is a respected figure in the design community, known for her deep understanding of design concepts, history, and business perspectives. She is an ambassador for contemporary design and has been recognized for her leadership skills. Her expertise in design management and communication adds substantial value to her contributions. Her strategic thinking and organizational capabilities are honed from extensive interactions with key players in the design industry. Beyond her roles as a business professional and author, Esra delivers lectures at prestigious design institutes worldwide, leveraging her extensive experience in the Middle Eastern design industry. Her innate artistic sense and knowledge enable her to observe and promote new mindsets and approaches for empowering designers. Esra’s design management skills are crucial in motivating contemporary designers worldwide. Her dedication to being a source of inspiration allows her to address various topics and lead discussions effectively and comprehensively. As the author of Conceptual Commercialism Commercial Conceptualism, Esra is no stranger to conversations about the multifaceted aspects of design. Her numerous collaborations with renowned designers enrich her ability to engage in discussions on various forms and content. Her impressive track record in these collaborations bolsters her position as a moderator in wide-ranging discussions. Leading her agency offers Esra the opportunity to engage with diverse clients regularly. Her clientele in the complex design industry comprises designers with varying principles and mindsets. Her exposure to these distinctive viewpoints gives her an advantage in participating in discussions on a multitude of topics. In summary, Esra embodies a versatile blend of organizational prowess and in-depth knowledge of the complex design industry. Her international acclaim as a Design Strategist and influential public speaker reflects her continuous pursuit of innovative ways to maximize designers’ potential and secure our future. Her analytical skills, creativity, and expertise in Design Management and Design Communication have garnered recognition from industry leaders, government organizations, and cultural institutions. Esra’s work highlights design’s omnipresent influence in addressing complex problems across various facets of our lives.

Gilbert Khalil started his professional career in architecture a few years before obtaining his Masters of Advanced Studies in Architecture with High Honors as a recipient of the Distinguished Founder’s Prize “PRIX ALEXIS BOUTROS”, in 2008, from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) in Beirut, Lebanon. Early in his career, in his home country Lebanon, Gilbert worked as Senior Design Architect in several prestigious and award winning architectural consultancies such as HM Architects, Pierre Basil Architects, Jean Marc Bonfils Architects and Atelier des Architectes Associés. His role was to manage the entire process of many projects located between the Middle East and Africa, from concept creation to detailed design to coordination with consultants across disciplines as well as conducting site visits for execution control and quality assurance. In 2015, even though he was still attached to the world of Architecture, Gilbert quit his job in Lebanon so that he can explore his dream career: Automotive Design, which has been his passion since the day he was able to hold a pencil in his hand and draw sketches during his teenage years. By using his computer software skills and sketching abilities, he was able to create the design of a concept super car, put it in a portfolio and applied for a Master’s in automotive design to four Top 10 rated design universities in Italy. Even though, one could only apply for this kind of Master’s if he only had a BA in industrial Design or a BA in automotive design, Gilbert was admitted in all four universities: SPD (Scuola Politecnica di Design), IAAD (Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design), Politecnico di Milano and IED (Istituto Europeo di Design). Unfortunately, upon doing his research, Gilbert realized it was too late for him to go into this field and had to drop this dream, because between spending 2 years to finish the Master’s, having to do a free 1-year internship and finally starting from a junior designer position, it was obviously a bad decision at this stage, both financially and career wise. Gilbert still wanted to do & create more as well as widen his career perspective, so he moved to Dubai, UAE where he led the design department and managed projects from ideation to completion as Head of Design at A3 Design, where he mainly worked on high end & top of the line exhibition. A few years later, he took the position of Project Director with the Sahara Centre Mall, to manage the execution of their new extension as operator representative, with a cost of 380,000,000 AED that includes additional mall retail and F&B spaces as well as a healthcare center on top, within One Million Square Feet of built-up area. Finally in 2020, he joined Sunset Hospitality Group, a leading hospitality investment and management company as Director of Design and Technical Services to develop the creation of METT a new, now award winning hotel concept in Bodrum and Marbella, which will also be located within more locations in the GCC, Europe and Africa. In addition to that he has managed & is still managing the design & execution of international brands such as SUSHISAMBA, SIGNOR SASSI & MOTT 32 around the world, as well as new brand Restaurants, dinner show concepts, Beach Clubs, Gyms and Club houses, which include L’AMO, ISOLA, SACHI, LUUM, AMÉLIE, DREAM, ATTIKO, RAISE, AZURE, FOLIE and many more. In addition to his passion for architecture, Gilbert has never stopped exploring in his free time other fields in Design like Automotive and Product Design.

Indu Varanasi is an award-winning architect and designer based in Dubai for over the past 30 years, she is the founder of an Interior Architectural studio, IRD Design, based on a philosophy of ‘Design Consciousness’. Born and brought up in India, her ability to melt aesthetic design, function and technical know-how, from ideation of concepts to actual construction, lays the foundations of good design practice. She has a degree in Architecture from JNTU in Hyderabad and a Masters Degree in Design and Architecture from the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, in 1993. Starting her career in Architectural practices in India and Dubai for a few years in 2004, she set up her design practice and has since been considered among one of the Middle East’s top 20 designers. Her design studio has done projects in the GCC, India, East Africa, China, and Italy with various collaborations across various industries in understanding the multi-faceted nature of the industry and bringing expertise. She also mentors young construction professionals and runs a program called Re-join for women architects who re-entered the profession after a gap. The studio’s tagline encompasses the guiding principle _ Inspired in Design, Disciplined in action, learning from local influences behavioral patterns and blending them with modern construction practices.

Janus Rostock is a visionary design leader with over 25 years of international experience in architecture and urbanism. Throughout his journey, Janus has held senior leadership positions including Vice President of Design, MENA Practice Lead for Urbanism + Planning, Cities Lead, and Head of Concept-Architecture. His Scandinavian design ethos—rooted in simplicity, functionality, and environmental harmony—has shaped award-winning projects across Europe and the Middle East. Notable works under his leadership include Dubai Harbor, Dubai Opera, NEOM Regional Plan, and Riyadh Complete Communities. Since joining AECOM in 2018, he has led a multidisciplinary team of professionals, driving design excellence across master planning, landscape, and architecture. Janus’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready cities has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of the Middle East’s top architects for three consecutive years. His new role reinforces his influence as a key figure shaping the built environment across the region and beyond.