| European Healthcare Design

Aakash Johry

Assistant professor, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Aakash Johry is a design educator, researcher and practitioner, focusing on design of engaging, fun and playful products, experiences and systems. His research looks into the affective and experiential layers of user experience in the context of play, learning and health. He has been involved in multiple international design research projects in Europe and India on the themes of learning, design education, play and inclusion. Prior to joining the Department of Design at IIT Delhi, Aakash was a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. He has worked as an associate faculty and co-coordinator of the Toy and Game Design department at the National Institute of Design (NID). Aakash has also been involved as a guest faculty member for the Play Design programme at Design School Kolding, Denmark.

Abraham Tsur

Head, Sheba Beyond Women’s Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Dr Avi Tsur, MD, is the Founder and Director of the Sheba Women’s Health Innovation Center, a collaborative effort of ARC, the Sheba Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Gertner Institute for Health Policy and Epidemiology. Avi serves as Head of the Sheba Beyond Women’s Health Telemedicine Services providing cutting-edge remote healthcare services across Israel and beyond. Clinically trained in the Hadassah Medical School, Sheba Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center, he serves as attending physician at the Sheba Antepartum (high-risk pregnancy) Department, high-risk pregnancy clinics and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Unit. He also leads a National Ministry of Health Committee, promoting telemedicine in women’s healthcare. Avi holds patents for several predictive machine learning models in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, is the founder of BirthAI.org and was the lead medical inventor of the Lioness, a mechanical device for prevention of pre-term birth, currently commercialised by PregnanTech.

Alexis Carlyon

Programme manager, Women and Children’s Hospital; Deputy associate director, major capital projects, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Alexis has more than 20 years’ experience as a healthcare planner, working across a range of clients – from private companies and construction contractors to public sector healthcare organisations, including the NHS. She has been involved in Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) schemes, private finance initiatives (PFIs), primary care and acute healthcare schemes in both the UK and the Middle East. In November 2021, Alexis joined the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, after 18 years of service with specialist healthcare planning consultancy, MJ Medical where she was a consultant and senior health and equipment planner. She has played an instrumental role in the design for the New Hospital Programme’s new Women and Children’s Hospital for Cornwall.

Alice Daminet

PhD candidate, University of Liège, Belgium

Alice graduated with an MSc in Architectural Engineering (2024) from the University of Liège (Belgium). Her master thesis explored the integrated conservation of industrial heritage sites, examining the meaning of place, community memory and the intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage. Now working as a teaching assistant and researcher, she aspires to pursue a PhD focusing on how the architecture of care environments can impact the mental and physical wellbeing of (cancer) patients and their (in)formal caregivers.

Alison McKay

Professor, University of Leeds, UK

Alison McKay is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the mechanics of materials, particularly the performance of composite materials and structures under complex loading conditions. Her work combines experimental techniques with computational modelling to better understand and predict the behaviour of materials in real-world applications.

Allison Matthews

Experience design lead, Mayo Clinic, USA

Allison Matthews is a healthcare design strategy leader with over 13 years of experience driving large-scale transformation initiatives in healthcare delivery. As Experience design lead at Mayo Clinic, she spearheaded the design and transformational strategy for the $5 billion Bold. Forward. Unbound. initiative, leading a team of 70+ in developing service, spatial and conceptual designs that revolutionised care delivery models. Her work in human-centred design has garnered international recognition, particularly for developing the Ideal CAR-T Patient Experience project, which became a worldwide best practice for patient experience. She established and scaled design practices that successfully bridged the gap between clinical excellence and human experience. Matthews brings a unique perspective to healthcare innovation, having begun her career in medicine before pursuing architecture and design. She has taught healthcare innovation at Mayo Medical School and the Harvard Macy Institute, focusing on the intersection of human-centred design and healthcare delivery. Her research and practice concentrate on relationship-centred design approaches that strengthen the complex web of connections underlying effective healthcare delivery.

Amarjeet Mohanty

PhD research scholar, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Amarjeet Mohanty is an architect and design ethnographer interested in how the design of the built environment affects human health and wellbeing, especially for older adults. His research areas include design ethnography, evidence-based design of healthcare environments, geriatric design (particularly for older adults with Alzheimer's or dementia), flexible inpatient unit design, work environments for healthcare staff (clinical or non-clinical) and inclusive/universal design.

Amelia Swaby

Architectural designer, P+HS Architects, UK

Amelia Swaby is a Part II architectural assistant at P+HS Architects. She is currently undertaking her Master’s qualifications as part of the degree apprenticeship at Northumbria University, meaning that she works 80 per cent of the time in the office and 20 per cent at university, aiming to qualify as an architect in 2026. With over four years of experience at P+HS Architects, Amelia has worked on a number of both residential and healthcare projects and, as a result, has developed a keen interest in designing inclusive sustainable environments with a particular interest in dementia-friendly and age-friendly spaces.

Amy Sickeler

Principal, Design director, Perkins&Will, USA

Amy brings to her work deep empathy for people and the environment while creating beauty. With industrial design and interior architecture training, she is dedicated to partnering with clients and leading teams in the creation of compassionate, healing spaces that inextricably blend research and design theory with health, functionality, aesthetics and performance for the interior of complex architectural projects. Amy’s influence reaches beyond projects and clients. A Principal in the Atlanta office of Perkins&Will, Amy serves as an interior design principal for all the studio's healthcare projects. Amy’s 35+ years of experience include research, visioning, programming, space planning, development of facility standards, interior design, construction documentation, furniture and equipment inventory and colour and design theory. With an intent focus on healthcare design, she has dedicated her career to developing innovative healing spaces for a variety of diverse clients.

Anahita Sal Moslehian

Postdoctoral Researcher, Deakin University, Australia

Dr Anahita Sal Moslehian is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the HOME Research Centre at Deakin University. She holds academic qualifications in Architecture and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to design, deliver, and translate research into impactful design policies and practices. Her work aims to generate knowledge that informs built environment design strategies that not only mitigate harm but also restore and build capacities—promoting healthier lifestyles, enhancing quality of life, and delivering environmental and social value. Anahita focuses on the concept of health promotion in healthcare and housing environments, utilising practice-informed and systems-based research approaches. Her work draws on the lived experiences of diverse end-users, including healthcare patients, aged care residents, individuals experiencing homelessness, apartment-dwelling families, and office workers. She has wide experience in multi-method and mixed-method research and has contributed to several multi-stakeholder projects, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and reports for government and partner organisations.

Andrew Wodehouse

Senior lecturer, University of Strathclyde, UK

Andrew Wodehouse is a Senior lecturer in the department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde. His research encompasses physical-digital interaction and creativity in the design process, and he has previously led a range of EU and UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) funded projects. To this end, he has investigated the use of human-centred design techniques and computational design to realise holistic product geometries, interfaces and experiences. He has collaborated with other disciplines such as drama, bioengineering, history and business to deliver new methods and approaches to support creativity in the design process. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the 'International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation', Co-chair of the Design Society’s Special Interest Group in Design Creativity, and is a Chartered Technological Product Designer.

Andy Black

Founder, Durrow, UK

A former hospital chief executive, Andy is the founder of Durrow.

Ann Petermans

Associate professor, Hasselt University, Belgium

Ann Petermans is an Associate professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Arts, Hasselt University, Belgium. She co-chairs the Design Research Society's Special Interest Group on Design for Wellbeing, Happiness and Health. Her research interests include designing for experience in designed environments and for diverse user groups, and research related to design for subjective wellbeing and how architecture and interior architecture can contribute in this respect. Ann is editorial board member of The Design Journal and publishes in various high-quality journals and books. She is also co-editor of the books 'Design for Wellbeing: an applied approach' (2020) and 'Retail Design: theoretical perspectives' (2017), both published by Routledge.

Anna Fox

Principal, Studio STH, Australia

Anna is a highly accomplished Principal and Architect. Throughout her 15-year career at Studio STH, Anna has relished the challenge of working in the health care sector. Her knowledge of functional planning and specific health care requirements is derived from projects in Canada, Singapore, New Zealand and across Australia in both the public and private sector. Working predominately within health architecture, including acute hospitals, rehabilitation, mental health and residential aged care, Anna is inspired by a desire to create spaces to better support healing and enhance wellbeing amongst its occupants. She thoroughly enjoys the collaborative approach to design and is constantly striving to enhance her knowledge and improve design outcomes. Working across all stages from master planning through to design and delivery, Anna is a keen problem solver and is well versed navigating complex project briefs, resolving project issues with key stakeholders and formulating innovative functional and design solutions.

Anna Nowacki

Emergency Physician, Assistant Professor, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Canada

Dr. Nowacki is an emergency physician at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto whose work sits at the intersection of clinical care, system design, and the built environment. With subspecialty training in Global Health and Tropical Medicine and a Master’s in Design for Health from OCAD University, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to improving healthcare delivery. Recent work focuses on how spatial, service, and systems design can enhance patient and staff experience in emergency care settings. She has led design initiatives within local hospitals, consulted on emergency department redesign projects, and facilitated international workshops on systems thinking and rapid improvement methods. Dr. Nowacki is particularly interested in how thoughtfully designed spaces and processes can transform the way healthcare is delivered and experienced.

Annabel Frazer

Health planner, Frazer Advisory, Australia

Annabel Frazer is a healthcare and design professional dedicated to advancing care delivery through strategic innovation. A passionate advocate for the health planning profession, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Australasian Association of Health Planners and fostering trusted advisory relationships across Australasia. Annabel is a skilled facilitator, known for promoting collaborative dialogue among service and infrastructure clients, stakeholders and planning and design teams.

Annalise Johns

Associate Director , Institute for Healthy Urban Living, United Kingdom

Annalise Johns is a built environment and health expert. She develops evidence-based designs to improve social determinants of health by combining epidemiological data and population health profiles with cutting edge urban innovations (IOT, biomimicry, circular economy, etc.) to facilitate resilient population health outcomes. Her experience spans public health, transportation, regeneration, urban design and housing innovation. She has produced national policies for the National Health Service, UK, as part of the Healthy New Towns programme, and has developed cutting edge pilots for housing and health for Innovate UK and local authorities across London. She is a co-chair of the Urban Land Institute’s New Housing Paradigm and advises the Women’s Budget Group on gender inclusive transport strategies.

Anne Voor in ‘t holt

Postdoc epidemiologist, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands

not available

Anomali Vidanagamage

Consultant neurologist, District General Hospital Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Vidanagamage A (MBBS, MD) is a consultant neurologist in District General Hospital Hambantota. She is also an active committee member of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists. Her research interest areas are in stroke and epilepsy. Vidanagamage A provided subject matter expertise and reviewed the manuscript.

Anya Shah

Senior Consultant, Turner Townsend, United Kingdom

Anya Shah is a healthcare advisory consultant with extensive experience delivering strategic and operational solutions across diverse projects in the UK and internationally. She specialises in helping healthcare organisations navigate complex challenges, improve performance and drive sustainable transformation. Anya’s work spans areas such as healthcare delivery redesign, service integration and organisational strategy, combining analytics with a collaborative approach to achieve impactful outcomes. Her international exposure has equipped her with a deep understanding of varied healthcare systems and the ability to tailor solutions to local contexts.

Artemis Igoumenou

Clinical senior lecturer, associate professor, University College London, United Kingdom

Associate Professor, UCL Department of Psychiatry and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in the Complex Care Locked Rehabilitation Unit at Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust. S Trust's Research & Development Director and Academic Psychiatry Lead for the Medical School at UCL Research interests include the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals with complex mental health diagnoses, cultural influences in mental health provision and uptake, assessing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mental health services, identifying environmental factors affecting recovery in inpatient mental health units, forensic psychiatry populations, prison populations. She has research and clinical expertise in the assessment and management of risk (self-harm, violence) and other adverse outcomes (wellbeing, quality of life, patient satisfaction) but also ethical issues in mental health practices and public mental health. Active in research including funding from the British Academy, the NIHR and the National Scholarship Foundation (IKY) in Greece. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Auke Brugmans

Lecturer and researcher, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Auke Brugmans has been a Senior lecturer at the Institute of Built Environment in the Department of Real Estate Management at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences since 2016. She is also a researcher in the research group for development and transition management at the Centre of Expertise HRTech. The combination of lecturer and researcher enables her to connect education and research directly and brings more than 20 years of experience to practice. Auke is energetic and creative and loves to bring people from different backgrounds and expertise together. Auke worked from 1997 to 2016 in various commercial companies in the field of real estate. In addition, she held various positions abroad (2001 to 2007). In 2016, she made the switch to higher education. Auke teaches in the field of urban development and scaling futures and supervises students in the Urban Lab Erasmus MC and in multidisciplinary projects.

Bedia Tekbiyik Tekin

Doctor instructor, Cyprus International University, Cyprus

Bedia Tekbiyik Tekin is an experienced Doctor instructor in Cyprus International University's Faculty of Art and Architecture, with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry since 2010. She has an MA in Interior Design from the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. She completed her PhD in February 2024 at Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. She is one of the few people who specialises in healthcare architecture in Cyprus and has acted as a voluntary consultant for the Ministry of Health in Cyprus and involved in the development of hospital projects in Cyprus. She has also attended world congresses and conferences on hospital design. She is a former member of Cyprus Chamber of Architects and INTBAU Cyprus Chapter.

Bhanuka Senasinghe

Senior consultant, Archus, UK

Bhanuka is a medical doctor by training, bringing significant clinical experience to consultancy. He has a passion for improving healthcare for its users and providers. This includes finding innovative solutions for healthcare’s most pressing challenges, using his lived clinical experience to ensure that initiatives are pragmatic and place the patience at the centre. In his work in commercial life sciences, he learnt the importance of working across disciplines with academia, hospital trusts/groups and commercial partners. His work at Archus has included development of clinical strategies, research and development strategies, estates strategies, clinical pathways and options appraisals. Bhanuka has demonstrated leadership to steer these projects and collaborative engagement with key stakeholders to ensure optimum outcomes. He leads on life sciences workstreams at Archus, delivering a number of research, development and innovation strategies.

Brendon Noble

Director, Institute for Healthy Urban Living, University of Westminster, UK

Working in medicines development and healthcare, Brendon developed his work in Cambridge University Medical School and co-founded the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Edinburgh University. He has served on a range of boards, including as a hospital governor, in charities and in industry. He has founded companies and chaired Local Enterprise Partnership and EU Enterprise Groups.

Carolyn Garman

Head of communications and engagement, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Carolyn Garman is the Head of communications and engagement, major capital projects, at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. One of her key areas of focus is to support the construction of the Women and Children's Hospital, which is part of the New Hospital Programme. This is a much-needed facility that will enable the Trust to provide outstanding care for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for years to come.

Caterina Frisone

Scientific director, Università Iuav di Venezia, Italy

Caterina Frisone is the founder and Scientific director of the Master in Architecture and Health, a course that she designed after five years of experience (2017–2022) in the healthcare sector in England. For her PhD in Architecture of Care at Oxford Brookes University, she tested the hypotheses of her research by visiting hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country and lived for four months in three different Maggie's Centres (cancer care centres) where she carried out her fieldwork, personally testing the therapeutic role that high-quality architecture has on people. Exploring this theme and investigating the interdisciplinarity between architecture and neuroscience, her book 'The Therapeutic Power of Maggie's Centre' (Routledge, 2024) aims to inspire architects, doctors, students and all those who research the relationship between architecture and health.

Catherine Elsen

Professor, University of Liège, Belgium

Catherine is Professor at University of Liège (ULiège – Belgium) where she teaches architectural studios as well as user-centred and participatory methods to students enrolled in the architectural engineering curriculum. She received her PhD in Engineering Sciences in 2011 (ULiège), a Master in Social Sciences in 2009 (CNAM, Paris), and an MS degree in Architecture and Building Engineering in 2007 (ULiège). Her research interests cover design processes (in architecture, design and engineering) and, more specifically, the impact design tools and methods have on specific cognitive processes (participation; integration of end-users’ needs; creativity; co-operation between team members).

Cathy Junda Lester

Principal and Digital health lead, Stantec, USA

Cathy Junda is a Principal and Digital health lead at Stantec, specialising in integrating healthcare technology, facility design and strategic planning to create equitable and resilient health ecosystems. With expertise at the intersection of healthcare innovation and architecture, Cathy focuses on addressing systemic inequities through holistic approaches that blend design, technology and community engagement. In addition to her professional achievements, Cathy is a certified health and wellness coach, leveraging her expertise and personal experiences to support patients navigating challenging health journeys, including serving as a 'chemo buddy' to those undergoing similar treatments. This perspective informs her work, grounding innovative strategies in empathy and lived experience. Cathy has led transformative projects globally, contributing to initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and improve access to care. Her work emphasises creating adaptable solutions that meet the evolving needs of healthcare systems while promoting health equity and sustainability. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Informatics, a Master’s degree in engineering, and certifications in public health (NBPHE) and project management (PMP). Cathy’s thought leadership in healthcare design and innovation continues to drive forward-thinking strategies that redefine care delivery and planning on a global scale.

Catsou Roberts

Director of creative health, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK

Catsou Roberts is the Director of vital arts, which she joined in 2009. She brings decades of experience as an art professional to Barts Health. She advocates for raising the standard of arts and health, regularly writing and lecturing on the topic for both cultural and clinical audiences. Catsou is the patient experience judge for the Building Better Healthcare Awards, focusing on art, interior design and landscaping projects. She has juried other awards, prizes, residencies and public realm design competitions for the Wellcome Trust, City of London, Outset, William Morris Gallery, Contemporary Art Society, Clyde & Co and others. She has served in various art advisory roles, including for Maggie’s, Culture Mile, Tate Exchange, Venice Biennial of Architecture 2021, Dementia Connect, Architectural Association and others. Previously, Roberts was Senior curator at Arnolfini, Bristol where she brought an international programme and exhibited under-recognised artists. Roberts has served as a visiting lecturer at Goldsmiths, Portsmouth School of Architecture, QMUL, Central St. Martins, Royal College of Art, Birkbeck, Slade, Westminster, Kingston, Royal Danish Academy, Konstfack, Stockholm, Art Academy Helsinki, Kunsthogskoken Bergen, Kunstakadmiet iTrondheim and IUAV Venice, and has presented papers at international conferences in Zaragoza, Copenhagen, Peccioli and elsewhere. She is a long-standing elected member of AICA (International Association of Art Critics) and IKT (International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art). Roberts has lived and worked in the USA, France, Germany and Japan, as well as the UK.

Chen Cohen

Partner, DIALOG, Canada

Cohen is a Partner and Interior Designer at DIALOG, recognized for creating inclusive, human-centred healthcare environments across Canada. Her work integrates light, materiality, and intuitive wayfinding to reduce stress and support the wellbeing of patients, families, and care teams, grounded in accessibility and universal design principles. She has led interior design for major healthcare projects, including the Toronto Western Hospital Surgical & Patient Tower and Markdale Hospital, guiding concepts through to completion with a rigorous, hands-on approach. Cohen is a strong advocate for equitable and culturally responsive spaces that foster healing and contribute to positive clinical outcomes.

Chenyixue Ma

PhD researcher, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

Chenyixue Ma is a first-year PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Humanities at the University of Groningen, Netherlands (RUG). Her research project, ‘Curate to Cure: Visual Arts in Hospitals’ explores visual art collections in hospitals and their impacts beyond health benefits. She holds a Master’s degree in Art, Media and Literary Studies from the RUG, where she investigated engagement with visual art among older adults. She is interested in the relationship between art and wellbeing, as well as cross-cultural communication in the visual arts.

Chiara Lago

Architect, Università Iuav di Venezia, Italy

Chiara Lago graduated from the University Iuav of Venice in architecture for sustainability in 2006. After various specialisation courses, she now works in the hospital construction office of the Veneto Region (Italy), dealing with the construction of new hospitals and healthcare facilities in the area. In 2024 she attended the Master in Architecture and Health programme, graduating with the thesis 'Consent to organ donation. Places of the communication: feelings and perceptions between architecture and neuroscience', which addresses the topic of communication between doctors and family members regarding the end of life and organ donation. Proposing a dedicated room that should be a mandatory technical requirement for every hospital, she turned to neuroscience, convinced that knowledge of human biology and brain functions in relation to the built environment are crucial aspects of support in the user experience, especially in situations of great stress.

Chloe Piper

PhD candidate, Deakin University, Australia

Chloe graduated from Deakin University with a Master of Architecture in early 2011. Subsequently, she gained four years of experience with prominent architectural firms in Melbourne, contributing to various local and international projects. After completing Part III of the AACA Architectural Practice Examination, she pursued opportunities in London and Chile to expand her expertise across diverse projects, including cultural, educational, health, office, residential and mixed-use developments. Upon returning home (and inspired by some compelling literature), she decided to explore some of the 'how' and 'why' we are intrinsically a part of – and influenced by – our surrounding environments. Drawing on new understandings of wellbeing and the interrelationship between mind, brain and body, her PhD research investigates how knowledge derived from scientific findings can be utilised to inform the design of architectural and built spaces that are sensitive to the impacts and effects of trauma, and responsive to the needs of individuals in recovery.

Chris Turner

Director, Archus, UK

Chris has undertaken programme and project management roles and delivered numerous projects across all health sectors in the UK for nearly 15 years – including ten years as Director of the Midlands region. From a health operational perspective Chris’ experience includes interim director of estates roles through to department restructuring and turnaround. Numerous multi-million pound projects have been delivered from business case development through to operational commissioning – all of which have been delivered at both Project manager and Project director level. Chris’ current team specialises in the pre-construction strategic development of estates strategies and business cases across all health sectors, with specialist emphasis on the emergency department/front door. Construction-phase programme, project and contract management services are also delivered, with experience of delivery using P21, P21+ and P22 procurement vehicles. He also regularly delivers estates assurance reviews and has delivered numerous on a national basis and across all health sectors, providing reports to Trust Board and Executive level and advising on the status of performance of the estate in its function of providing a safe and secure environment for staff, patients and members of the public.

Christine Chadwick

Managing Director, Archus Canada, Canada

Christine Chadwick is the Managing Director of Archus Canada with 30+ years of experience in healthcare, including many executive and leadership roles. Christine brings system-wide expertise and skills including strategy/visioning, equipment planning, health services planning, masterplanning/programming, functional programming, lean thinking, digi-physical visioning, stakeholder engagement at all levels and input into healthcare planning. She has led major hospital and long-term care projects across Canada and internationally, with a focus on ensure that the clients receive price certainty and value for money whilst maintaining the highest level of patient care and staff safety. Christine is Co-Chair of the CSA Z8005 Digital Infrastructure & digital technologies in healthcare facilities. She also sits as a Voting Member of the CSA Health Care Facilities Technical Committee (Z257 TC). Alongside her technical expertise, Christine is a passionate advocate for developing the next generation of healthcare leaders. She is a Mentor in Residence and sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine & Innovation, a mentor for the Women’s Infrastructure Network and Founding President of the Canadian Women’s Circle of Healthcare (CWCH) (which is a national non-profit organization).

Christopher Parshuram

Staff physician, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Canada

Christopher Parshuram graduated from Otago University of New Zealand in 1990, with prizes in medicine and pharmacology. Following a residency in paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, he moved to Canada where he completed specialist fellowship training in paediatric critical care medicine and clinical pharmacology. He completed his doctorate in clinical epidemiology in 2005, on the subject of patient safety. He was appointed as a Staff physician in the Department of Critical Care Medicine in The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in 2003, and is a senior scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences in the SickKids Research Institute. In addition to formal training in systems of healthcare delivery, he has expertise in cardiac arrest prevention, medication safety and fatigue in healthcare professionals. He has received over CAD$9 million in peer-reviewed research funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Cindy Walker

Manager, facilities programming, Vancouver Coastal Health, Canada

Cindy Walker, B Sc., BID, is a designer by background and the Manager of the Facilities Programming Team at Vancouver Coastal Health. She has developed a team within the health authority to support the planning documentation and programming requirements for a variety of services across the region. She is committed to fostering innovation, incorporating new insights and advancing quality outcomes in all aspects of her work.

Clarine van Oel

Associate professor, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Clarine van Oel is an environmental psychologist and Associate professor in the Department of Management in the Built Environment, TU Delft. Her research focuses on how visualisations of buildings, spaces and places facilitate communication between professionals and lay users, such as residents and patients. Visual tools, such as virtual reality (VR), act as boundary objects (BOs) that bridge diverse stakeholder perspectives during participatory design and decision-making processes. She leads two NWO projects exploring VR’s potential to empower social housing tenants during sustainable renovations. In uVital, VR modules were developed to enhance tenant engagement in collaboration with Acantus and international partners. VR-Renovate complemented this by refining VR tools for immersive visualisation and feedback. Both projects are now nearing completion. Clarine co-founded the Health@BK graduation lab, where students work with care providers to explore patient-centred healthcare design. She also collaborates with Erasmus MC to replicate Ulrich’s (1984) study on the benefits of greenery views for patients, leveraging the hospital’s roof gardens. With over 15 years of experience in public health and psychiatry, Clarine’s interdisciplinary expertise enriches her work at the intersection of environmental psychology and the built environment.

Cressida Toon

Partner, Sonnemann Toon Architects, UK

Cressida has spent the majority of her career in healthcare architecture and has been involved in the design of numerous large public finance initiative (PFI) hospitals, community projects and mental health facilities. These include the award-winning schemes of the City of Coventry Healthcare Centre, the European Scanning Centre and the refurbishment of Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital. Cressida also enjoys working with clients on the establishment of design standards to enable the application of consistent specifications across diverse healthcare estates. Internally, she has focused on the practice’s development of technical standards and has lectured at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on quality assurance for the architectural profession.

Dagan Dror Mochly

President and CEO, Mochly-Eldar Architects, Israel

As a lead architect of MEA's studio, with more than 30 years of experience across the world, Dagan Dror Mochly's global experience has been marked by leadership in numerous significant projects across various sectors, including health, workplace design, high-tech and scientific research facilities. The company's work is accompanied by his research experience, exhibitions, national and international conferences and workshops, membership in scientific and professional unions, publications and professional awards. Academic: ICCROM, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property Scholarship from the Italian government – one year of studies, Rome, Italy C.N.R. (National Council of Research), colleague researcher, Rome, Italy Roma II University, guest researcher with an inter-university research group, Roma, Pisa and Genova, Italy M. Arch Architecture and Town Planning, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology B. Arch Architecture and Town Planning – cum laude, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Daniel Nguyen

Project lead, Patient Watch, Northern Health, Australia

Daniel Nguyen is a physiotherapist currently employed by the Patient Watch department in the Hospital Without Walls Division at Northern Health in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Daniel has more than 20 years of clinical experience working in public hospital settings, predominantly in community-based therapy and in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the emergency department. In the last five years, Daniel has led several clinical improvement projects, including the introduction of a back pain assessment and management service to reduce neurosurgery clinic waiting times. In the last five years, Daniel has been the operational lead in the development and implementation of Patient Watch.

Danielle Simpson

Principal, Arcadis, USA

Danielle serves the healthcare sector as an experienced project manager and Architect Principal in Arcadis' Los Angeles office.

Daryia Palityka

PhD student, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London (UCL), UK

Daryia Palityka is a PhD student at UCL's Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, researching the impact of art and design on patients in healthcare facilities. Trained as a paediatric surgeon in Belarus, Palityka participated in research projects in paediatric surgery, ophthalmology and public health. Her interest in research led her to Finland, where she worked in a multidisciplinary group on developing AI tools for eye disease diagnostics. Palityka also has a passion for art and architecture. During her medical studies, she was curious about how the built environment affects treatment processes. This curiosity brought her to pursue an MSc in Healthcare Facilities at UCL with the support of the Chevening Scholarship, a prestigious award from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Her Master's thesis on accessible hospital artwork for the visually impaired showcases her commitment to interdisciplinary research.

Debajyoti Pati

Professor and Rockwell Endowment Chair, Texas Tech University, United States

Dr. Debajyoti Pati is a Professor and Rockwell Endowment Chair in the Department of Design, Texas Tech University. He has published widely in the areas of health and healthcare design. He has been listed on the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List and twice voted among the 25 most influential people in healthcare design in the US. He is currently serving on the editorial board of HERD journal, and on the International Advisory Board of the Swiss Center for Design and Health, among others. He is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects.

Debbie Beck

Principal and Healthcare operations and strategic planning executive, Perkins&Will, USA

Debbie has 30+ years of experience as a clinician, healthcare executive and consultant specialising in the planning of complex healthcare spaces – including inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory and community settings. Her domestic and international experience encompasses a wide range of healthcare models for both medical and behavioural health services, serving adults, paediatrics and newborns. With deep expertise in clinical operations and patient care, Debbie partners with clients to create functional and efficient environments that promote healing, brain health and safety. Her proficiency in planning and programming spaces supports effective therapeutic interventions and staff collaboration. Debbie’s background in behavioural health informs trauma-informed designs, creating spaces that foster safety and wellbeing while addressing immediate operational needs and long-term goals. Leveraging her emergency management training and extensive crisis management experience, she integrates effective preparedness into facility planning, providing resilient, safe and efficient environments that support both routine care and unexpected situations.

Deborah McInerney

Head of transformation, Archus, UK

At Archus my role involves, utilising clinical and operational background, combined with extensive experience, to lead transformation across complex programmes from inception to delivery. Working across a range of sectors including acute, community and within the ICS structure.

Deborah Wingler

Global Practice Director, Applied Research , HKS, United States

Dr. Deborah Wingler’s research focuses on improving the patient and staff experience. As Global Practice Director of Applied Research for HKS, Deborah collaborates with research and design teams to develop and implement research initiatives that drive innovation and achieve measurable impact across the healthcare practice and firm, globally. Through her research, Deborah has had the opportunity to work with some of the most forward-thinking Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations, manufacturers, and design firms in the industry to support their respective research agendas. Both in practice and academia, her research has focused on the integration of research into the design process.

Deepa Rajkumar

AHP Clinical lead and physiotherapist, South of England Rehabilitation Centre, UK

Deepa is a passionate allied health professionals (AHP) clinical lead and physiotherapist with experience in both India and the UK. Practising in the UK since 2008, she is dedicated to innovative rehabilitation, keeping patients at the heart of care. She played a key role in the design and development of the new rehabilitation unit as a centre of excellence for rehabilitation services at the South of England Rehabilitation Centre. With extensive experience across acute and community services in Southampton, Hampshire and Portsmouth, she has built strong professional networks to enhance patient flow and system efficiency. Deepa collaborates closely with senior executives to ensure governance and seamless therapy services across four wards. Her leadership skills enable her to inspire teams, navigate complex challenges and drive performance improvement. She is committed to fostering a culture of integrity, expertise and compassion, ensuring high-quality patient care and ongoing professional development.

Deirdre Casella

lecturer and research supervisor, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Deirdre Casella is a lecturer and research supervisor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Following her Master of Arts in Development Studies and Demography at Erasmus International Institute of Social Studies (1999) she worked as an educator, researcher and advisor in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene services in universities and policy and applied research institutions in Europe, South and East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. In 2021 she defended her PhD dissertation (Delft University of Technology) on the role of social learning in sustainable water services delivery from a socio-technical systems perspective. Her research drew on more than 15 years of field experience and action research into the contribution of multi-stakeholder learning initiatives to achieving sustainable public services in urban and rural contexts. Deirdre is a faculty member of the Real Estate BSc programme at the Institute of the Built Environment where she co-coordinates the Erasmus MC-Hogeschool Rotterdam Urban Lab where students work collaboratively on graduation research projects related to the strategic campus development projects of Erasmus MC.

Diana Nicholas

Associate professor, Drexel University, USA

D.S. Nicholas (Dee) established the Drexel Design Research for Health (DRDR4Health) Lab, an umbrella lab that houses interdisciplinary research and scholarship, in 2013. She is a tenured Associate professor and the Founding director of the MS Design Program at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She also oversees the Sustainability in the Built Environment minor. Dee holds a BArch from Carnegie Mellon, an MFA from The University of the Arts, and a Social Science PhD From Antioch University. Her work as a mentor, researcher, teacher and colleague is primarily concerned with the health-supportive possibilities within our environments through biodesign, evidence-based design, creative co-design and community-engaged practice. Her current work focuses on ageing in place, including hospital retrofits for those with dementia, an evidence-based measure, the Mantua Creative Standard for Aging in Place (MCSAP), to retrofit spaces to support ageing-in-place.

Dominic Hook

Architect director, BDP, UK

Dominic is an Architect director in BDP's multi-disciplinary London studio and and has spent most of his career principally focusing on the design of public healthcare projects. Dominic particularly thrives on the challenge of working on large projects with complex sites and briefs. He was the design team leader on the multi award-winning 60,000 square metre Alder Hey Children’s Health Park in Liverpool and is the co-design lead on the 165,000 square metre New Children’s Hospital in Dublin. The project, due for completion in 2025, is the largest, most complex and significant capital investment project ever undertaken in healthcare in Ireland. Dominic was the Project director of the new Oak Cancer Centre for the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, south London which completed in 2023. The building is a new clinical care and research facility and was funded by charitable donations. It contains a new day care unit principally composed of 66 chemotherapy infusion bays which are arrayed in a sweeping crescent facing a new richly landscaped garden. Located within the heart of the facility is a floor dedicated to dry lab research. The project has strong links with the adjacent Institute of Cancer Research headquarters (the Royal Marsden's principal academic partner) and sits in the centre of the emerging London Cancer Hub master plan. Current projects include a new specialist emergency care hospital for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust on a site immediately adjacent to the Oak Cancer Centre, part of the New Hospital Programme, a new cancer centre for the Royal Free Hospital, and the redevelopment of Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon replacing the existing RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) estate.

Donald Campbell

Division director (Medical), Northern Health, Australia

Donald Campbell is a general and respiratory physician by training, with a formal qualification in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics and a Research Doctorate in Immunology. He is a past president of the Adult Medicine Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand. His clinical and research interests are devoted to furthering the role of systemic design in innovation in healthcare generally.

Donna Fitzpatrick

Director, Lexica, UK

Donna has 19 years of experience as a client-side project manager in the higher education, healthcare and science sectors, developing strong leadership skills and the ability to manage large- and small-scale projects from conception to close-out of defects. Donna has a collegiate approach to managing projects and has extensive experience in planning and control, risk and issue management, reporting, procurement and change control. Donna is a knowledgeable contract administrator with experience in all major contracts including GC Works, NEC and JCT. With a proven track record delivering successful projects, from critical programme capital works, to a £104 million new-build hospital in central London, Donna is particularly skilled at engaging with multiple stakeholders and developing strategic goals to achieve successful project outcomes. She has extensive experience in developing and delivering against information requirements to support BIM mandates, helping NHS clients realise the benefits in an inclusive way, generating an organisational level of understanding of BIM.

Dorina Cadar

Reader in neuroepidemiology and dementia, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK

Dr Cadar is a Senior lecturer in neuro-epidemiology and dementia at the Centre for Dementia Studies at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the Director of the Cognitive Epidemiology, Dementia and Ageing Research (CEDAR) lab. Prior to joining the Centre for Dementia Studies at BSMS, Dorina worked for ten years at University College London (UCL) as a Senior research fellow in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health. Research interests and expertise are in the field of neuro-epidemiology and dementia, including immunology, biomarkers, socioeconomic inequalities, psychosocial factors and other modifiable risk factors, such as lifestyle behaviours, social isolation, cognitive and social resilience.

Eddy Davelaar

Professor of psychology and neuroscience, Birkbeck University, UK

Eddy Davelaar is Professor of psychology and applied neuroscience at Birkbeck University. He conducts research on cognitive ageing, with a particular focus on supporting healthy ageing and preventing/slowing cognitive decline. This work involves experimental testing and population-level statistical analyses. Ongoing work is in collaboration with the target audience with whom he co-designs intervention studies. Another area of his research involves neuro-feedback for enhancing cognitive performance and mental wellbeing. Within that topic, he leads the way for understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms involved in successful brain training.

Eduard Boonstra

Sector Director Healthcare, Deerns, The Netherlands

Eduard has extensive experience in design, project management, and strategic consulting within the healthcare sector. His focus is on delivering added value for the client, understanding the diverse needs of customers and stakeholders, and fostering connections between project partners. In his role as Project Director, he is strongly motivated to deliver successful projects for clients and involved partners, while introducing new, innovative ideas and insights. In addition to his project work as a Strategic Advisor, Eduard serves as International Sector Director within the Deerns Group and is actively engaged in innovations related to sustainability and Smart Hospital Building.

Eivor Oborn

Professor of healthcare management, The University of Warwick, UK

Prof Eivor Oborn is a Professor of healthcare management in the area of innovation and organisational change at Warwick Business School, UK. She earned her PhD at Cambridge Judge Business School, the University of Cambridge in 2006, and is currently an honorary Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School and Fellow at the Cambridge Digital Innovation Centre (CDI). Eivor is Senior editor at Information Systems Research and has published work in leading journals, including 'Academy of Management' Journal, 'Organization Science', 'Information Systems Research' and 'MIS Quarterly'. Her scholarship has won numerous awards including best published paper from the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and Academy of Management (AOM). Her research interests span the fields of healthcare, online communities, digital innovation and ICTs, as well as entrepreneurship in ecosystem contexts. She teaches in the area of change management, strategic health leadership and corporate entrepreneurship.

Eleanor Green

Senior Consultant, Currie and Brown, United Kingdom

Eleanor Green is a Senior Consultant at Currie & Brown with over a decade of experience in healthcare. She began her career in clinical medicine and transitioned into healthcare consulting, bringing expertise in healthcare planning, business case development, and target operating model design. Eleanor has worked across Primary and Secondary Care (Including Mental Health), and Medical Education. Her recent roles include healthcare planning for major NHS and international projects, with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and strategic transformation.

Eleftheria Savvopoulou

Architect, independent researcher, SynThesis Architects, Greece

Eleftheria Savvopoulou is an Architectural project manager and architect at Synthesis Architecture and Wellbeing, Greece. Eleftheria completed her MSc in Architectural Project Management at the University of Edinburgh in 2011. She now practices as an architect and project manager specialising in the design and delivery of healthcare facilities in Europe and has been involved in several research projects and consultancies on health policies, funded by the European Commission, the Japanese Government and the NHS in collaboration with Dr Evangelia Chrysikou.

Elisa Cecilli

Senior Associate Strategic Foresight, Perkins&Will,UK and Portland, United Kingdom

Elisa Cecilli is a strategic foresight consultant at Perkins&Will and Portland Design with over 15 years of experience decoding socio-cultural change and its implications for business. With a background in economics, she distills complex trends into actionable strategic recommendations for the built environment. Her client portfolio includes the UK Government, Chatham House, Moody's, CNN, Samsung, Diageo, LinkedIn, and Transport for London. She leads international research and discovery programmes, applying futures thinking and design methodologies to unlock growth opportunities and help companies respond strategically to emerging shifts in technology, culture, and end user behaviours.

Ellie Nahirafee

Assistant professor, South Dakota State University, USA

Elnaz Nahirafee, PhD, is an Assistant professor of interior design at South Dakota State University. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Industrial Design from the Art University of Tabriz and IAU Tehran, Iran, respectively. She earned her PhD in Interior and Environmental Design and an MS in Environmental Design from Texas Tech University. Dr. Nahirafee’s research explores healthcare design, behaviour-driven design and salutogenic design. Before transitioning to academia, she gained over five years of professional experience, holding senior interior design roles at renowned firms in Iran.

Espen Alexander Lindkjølen

Market director sustainable cities, Arkitema, Norway

Espen is Market director and Partner for sustainable cities at Arkitema in Oslo. He has a Master in Architecture from Aarhus School of Architecture 2013 and broad experience in urban and housing development, especially within sustainable residential and commercial buildings. He focuses on good processes for design and concept development. Previously, he led the work on structuring and implementing innovation processes and business development at group level in OBOS. He participated in building up OBOS's living LAB, a modern living laboratory, and developed, for the largest housing developer in Norway, the architectural and design guide 'Development of housing projects where the elderly can live safely, comfortably and independently'.

Esther Galler

Head of gynecology and midwifery, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Esther Galler is a certified nurse midwife (CNM) and the Head of gynecology and midwifery at Sheba Beyond, the first virtual hospital in Israel, part of Sheba Medical Center.

Euan Winton

Assistant professor of design, Heriot-Watt University, UK

Dr Euan Winton is an Assistant professor of design at Heriot-Watt University. Through 20 years of academic and professional practice he has imbedded collaborative practices to generate designs to empower users and to transform situations encompassing health and wellbeing, public services and environments. His research looks at the opportunities afforded to ordinary people when they work with designers, design approaches and techniques. This practice, often referred to as co-design or co-creation, has been utilised in the creation of lighting and artworks in urban environments, healthcare interventions, dementia support and care and debates around health and wellbeing.

Eva Hernandez-Garcia

PhD student, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London (UCL), UK

Eva Hernandez-Garcia is a PhD candidate at UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction. Eva completed her MSc in Integrative Physiology in the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology at the University of Barcelona in 2018. She was also trained in research methods of evidence-based medicine and medical statistics by Centre for Evidence-based Medicine staff (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford). Eva has conducted several systematic reviews and meta-analyses across a range of healthcare research projects. She is current researching spaces as supportive environments for cancer survivors with multi-morbidities through the documentation of surrogate disease biomarkers and behaviour patterns.

Evangelia Chrysikou

Associate Professor, Programme Director MSc Healthcare Facilities , University College London (UCL), United Kingdom

Dr Evangelia Chrysikou is Associate Professor at BSSC UCL and Founder/Program Director of the MSc Healthcare Facilities. Multi-awarded RIBA architect and healthcare planner. She has published widely and has won several prestigious grants and fellowships including Horizon 2020, UKRI, Wellcome, British Academy, Royal Society of New Zealand, Sasakawa Foundation. Her research interests lie at the spectrum of inclusion in relation to design, spanning across the disciplines of Built Environment, Health, Digital Technologies and Social Science. Her UK, EU and International research, grants and external engagement total £2.5M. She has linked her work on inclusion and vulnerability to a new international standard, as a key author and Committee member of ISO 25553 (BS). Member of the National Accessibility Authority, Hellenic Republic by invitation from the Greek Prime Minister, led the working group on access and accessibility healthcare. She was the coordinator of the Environment Section of the EIPonAHA, EU and has worked as a consultant for international government bodies such as the Japanese MOFA, Peru Reconstruction Mechanism and the British Government for projects related to healthcare planning and architecture. Elected Former Vice-President of the Urban Public Health section of EUPHA. Invited ULI Life Sciences and Healthcare Council Leadership Committee Member.

Eyal Zimlichman

Chief transformation officer and Chief innovation officer, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Prof. Eyal Zimlichman is an internal medicine physician, a healthcare executive and a researcher focused on assessing and improving healthcare quality and value, patient engagement and patient safety. He currently serves as Chief transformation officer and Chief innovation officer at Sheba Medical Center, Israel's largest hospital. In this position he oversees the transformation efforts carried out at the medical centre as it aims to redesign healthcare in order for it to be focused on patients, while being more effective, efficient and equitable. For these reasons, Eyal Zimlichman founded Sheba’s global innovation program (ARC – Accelerate, Redesign and Collaborate). Prior to this he held the position of Chief medical officer, and before that, as Chief quality officer, both at Sheba. He is a founding member of the International Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care, and an International expert at the International Society of Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). He also served as an advisor to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Femke Feenstra

Architect · Director, Gortemaker Algra Feenstra architects, The Netherlands

Femke Feenstra: Femke Feenstra is an interior architect, architect, and partner at the architecture firm Gortemaker Algra Feenstra. She trained at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture. Femke believes it is important for a designer to look beyond their own discipline. “How can a designer contribute to the future of healthcare, wellbeing, and the built environment? How can a space support your health and overall wellbeing? An environment that supports what you do is essential.” She feels a strong social responsibility and combines a high level of conceptual thinking with practical solutions and an eye for detail. Currently, Femke is working on several projects for people with disabilities, as well as various healthcare and assisted-living projects. Her past work includes the outpatient centre for Rijnstate Hospital in Elst, an expertise centre for Ipse de Bruggen in Nootdorp, and a residential building for Humanitas for people with intellectual or physical disabilities. In addition to her projects, she is also responsible for research within GAF, such as the study: The Outpatient Clinic of the Future.

Fernando Loizides

Reader/Associate professor, Cardiff University, UK

Dr Loizides is Reader (Associate professor) in computer science and informatics at Cardiff University and the Director of the Data Science Academy, UK. He also holds an Honorary professorship at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. His main area of research and development lies in information interaction and user experience (UX) with a large focus on decision making and accessibility. He has extensive experience in user study design and facilitation using cutting-edge technologies, eliciting user requirements, performing systems evaluation and developing working systems. He has extensively published in internationally leading journals and conferences. He has secured and completed EU and nationally funded projects, edited several books and proceedings, and successfully graduated several PhD candidates. He also serves on academic committees, such as being an expert member of the International Federation for Information Processing on the TC-13 Human-Computer Interaction Group. He has been actively involved in the creation of three new state-of-the-art computer science research labs from the ground up. He has over 15 years of industry experience, as a developer creating start-ups, managing teams and consultancy. His work has been featured on the BBC, radio, online magazines and several social media outlets.

Fion Ouyang

PhD student, University of Toronto, Canada

Fion Ouyang is a PhD pre-candidate in architecture, landscape and design at the Daniels Faculty, University of Toronto. Grounded in architecture and building science, Ouyang is interested in the effects of building performance on human wellbeing. Specifically, she focuses on architectural design strategies with emphasis on human comfort and performance simulation. Through appropriate use of daylight, she aims to develop design strategies to optimise indoor environments to enhance occupant health and quality of life. Ouyang is currently researching and evaluating the performance of daylight metrics.

Flavia Simonetti

Architect expert in neuroscience, Università Iuav di Venezia (Italy), Chile

Flavia is an architect specialising in the application of neuroscience to healthcare environments. She holds a Master´s in Neuroscience applied to Architectural Design from Iuav in Venice, Italy and has developed a research-based methodology aimed at improving people´s wellbeing in oncological spaces. Her primary objective is to lead projects that integrate neuroarchitecture, evidence-based design and digital tools to mitigate environmental, psychological and neurobiological risk factors across diverse settings. Her work experience includes: hospitals, mixed-use buildings, urban planning, residential architecture and applying BIM methodologies to ensure efficient and innovative design. Flavia has been recognised in national competitions, and her work has been featured in prominent exhibitions. She is passionate about the intersection of architecture, neuroscience and human wellbeing, and continues to explore how spatial design can enhance healing and patient experiences delivering creative and impactful solutions.

Francesca Dinelli

Physician, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (AOU) Pisana, Italy

A medical doctor and specialist in public health, Francesca Dinelli graduated in 2003 at the University of Pisa, and gained experience in hospital medical management in a range of Tuscan hospitals, dealing mainly with hospital organisation and production (DRG). She has carried out audits on data quality of the Italian Piano Nazionale Esiti, managed by Italian Agency AGENAS, and checked production appropriateness and the quality of the clinical documentation of accredited private structures and Tuscan AOUs. Since 2020, she has worked at the AOU Pisana co-ordinating the health requirements and new requirements – including emerging new standards following Covid outbreak – in the high surveillance structure of the contracting authority for the realisation of the Nuovo Santa Chiara in Cisanello, a 1,100-bed university second level (according to Italian classification) hospital. Currently she deals with verifying the level of the standards of the project, the relationship between design changes, according to the fast innovation in healthcare organisation, and supporting and training clinicians in readiness for the transfer.

Galia Barkai

Director, Sheba Beyond, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Dr Galia Barkai is the Director of Sheba Beyond at Sheba Medical Center in Israel.

Gareth Banks

Head of Healthcare and Director, AHR, United Kingdom

Head of healthcare and director at AHR, Gareth Banks is an experienced architect having designed and delivered a number of innovative healthcare projects, which have transformed communities. Including the ‘Hospitals Transformation Programme’ in Shrewsbury, the large, state-of-the-art Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and he is currently working on the NHP program. As head of healthcare, he is dedicated to delivering intelligent, futureproof healthcare spaces, which prioritise the health and wellbeing of patients and staff and are built to last. An example of this is the UK’s first building approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, the Countess of Chester Hospital Women and Children’s Building. With experience both in the UK and internationally, Gareth is an advocate for sharing knowledge to advance patient care and is also secretary of Architects for Health.

Ged Couser

Principle, BDP, UK

Ged’s work is primarily focused upon healthcare and science and technology. He has extensive knowledge and experience of leading the design and delivery of major and complex projects in these sectors, from initial concept stage through to completion. He has a meticulous design approach and enjoys creating innovative solutions for the challenging problems that sometimes occur on both healthcare and sci-tech projects. He is currently the project director for the new major Christie Paterson Research Laboratory in Manchester and was the project director for the multiple-award winning Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool, which was handed over in June 2020. Both projects are major healthcare facilities with supporting pathology and production pharmacy services within them. He was also the architect project director for the NHS Nightingale North West hospital at Manchester Central Convention Complex which delivered a 750-bed regional Covid-19 emergency hospital in just two weeks. Ged is on the Places Matter North West Design Review panel and in 2015 was appointed as a Built Environment Expert (BEE) by Design Council CABE. He is also a committee member of Manchester’s Forum for the Built Environment and is a former president of the RIBA Manchester Society of Architects.

Gesine Marquardt

Professor of social and health care buildings and design, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gesine Marquardt is an architect and Professor of Social and Healthcare Buildings at the Faculty of Architecture, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany, a position she has held since 2015. She has served as the liaison officer for students with disabilities at TU Dresden since 2019 and became Dean of the Faculty of Architecture in 2022. Previously, she led the independent Emmy Noether Junior Research Group funded by the German Research Foundation from 2012 to 2017, following postdoctoral research at the Johns Hopkins medical institutions in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Her academic and design work focuses on developing innovative architectural solutions for the healthcare sector, specifically addressing the challenges of an ageing society.

Gonzalo Vargas

Healthcare Practice Lead, Perkins&Will, United Kingdom

Gonzalo’s passion lies in healthcare architecture, where complexity and functionality intersect with the human experience. Over his 20-year international career, he has successfully led creative projects across the UK and Europe through a client-focused approach. From inception to completion, he delivers excellent design outcomes—creating spaces that optimize patient care, streamline workflows, and promote healing through thoughtful layouts, consideration of operational and maintenance factors, and innovative, sustainable solutions. Gonzalo sees hospitals as deeply emotional spaces, where people face uncertainty and thoughtful design can make a meaningful difference. For Gonzalo, it’s not the scale of the project that matters, but the opportunity to create environments that serve patients, staff, and communities with dignity and purpose.

Gourab Kar

Assistant professor, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Gourab Kar, PhD, is an architect, designer and human factors researcher based in New Delhi, India. His areas of design expertise include human factors and ergonomics, sedentary behaviour and health, universal design, environment-behaviour research and body-conscious design. Gourab teaches design at the Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Previously, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces at the University of California Berkeley. Gourab has a PhD in Human Behaviour and Design from Cornell University and has taught design at Cornell University and at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Hala El Khorazaty

Senior healthcare designer, Perkins&Will, USA

Hala is a Senior healthcare project designer at Perkins&Will, bringing over 13 years of experience with the firm across multiple countries. She is a thoughtful designer with a diverse range of research interests, focusing on wellness and sustainable design across various markets. Hala is also one of the firm’s Living Design Champions and an expert researcher on brain capital.

Harris Eyre

Neuroscientist, entrepreneur, economic strategist and author, Baker Institute, USA

Harris Eyre is an Australian neuroscientist, entrepreneur, economic strategist and author. He is focused on advancing the brain economy – aka the brain-positive economic transformation – to stop and reverse the loss of global brain capital. It is believed the world is increasingly relying on brain capital, where a premium is put on brain skills and brain health (e.g. individual’s cognitive, emotional and social brain resources), and that investing in building brain capital is fundamental to meeting modern societal challenges and to driving innovation.

Harry van Goor

Professor of surgical education, Radboudumc, Netherlands

Harry van Goor, MD, PhD, FRCS is a Professor of surgical education and innovator at the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc). He leads several technology tracks in the ‘less bricks, more bytes, different behaviour’ programme to improve the care and wellbeing of patients and healthcare workers in and outside the hospital, including intuitive personalised wayfinding, continuous monitoring with wearable devices and predictive analytics, VR therapy and VR education, ambient intelligence and personalised healing environments in the hospital and at home. He runs a project of home-facilitated VR (p)rehabilitation (e.g. long-Covid rehab) and VR4Pain management in a virtually connected care solution. Harry has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers in a broad field of surgical care, medical device development and digital technology-supported care innovation. He coaches several start-up companies in the field of digital technology-supported healthcare and design in a ‘learning by doing’ and ‘digital by design’ way. Harry was awarded Digital Innovator of the Year 2022 in the Netherlands. He is a Frank Lloyd Wright connoisseur, living with his wife in a FLW-designed Usonian house.

Helen Hobbs

Director and Specialist neurological consultant therapist, Hobbs Rehabilitation, UK

Helen Hobbs is Director and Specialist neurological consultant therapist at Hobbs Rehabilitation. She is a member of the BioMedEng Association and co-founder of Hobbs Rehabilitation, which provides specialist neurological rehabilitation for adults and children across the south of England. Hobbs Rehabilitation actively engages with the use of technology within clinical practice, education and research. Her early years at Greenwich, Brook and Kings College Hospital saw her gain experience in acute neurosurgery, neurology and neurorehabilitation. She has gained international scholarships and fellowships taking her to the USA and South Africa.

Helena Beckman

Architect SAR MSA, LINK Arkitektur, Sweden

Helena is a senior architect and healthcare specialist with 25 years of professional experience, 18 of which have been in healthcare architecture. She has extensive experience as project manager and lead architect on highly complex projects within healthcare, technology, logistics, as well as sports and educational facilities—ranging from primary and secondary schools with community centers and libraries to university buildings. Helena is a communicative professional driven by a passion for creating sustainable and high-quality spaces. She leads early-stage processes and is highly experienced in facilitating operational dialogue and workshops. In recent years, her focus has primarily been on the early stages of projects, though she has also led design phases for numerous projects—either for procurement or in collaboration with contractors—and has followed up on projects during construction and with end-users after occupancy. She is particularly passionate about reuse and sustainable materials, and strives to inspire clients to achieve a high utilization of the square meters being built, with architectural quality that ensures long-lasting functionality and longevity.

Hezi Rosenberg

Management engineer and programme manager, Samson Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital, Israel

An experienced professional in programme and project management within the healthcare and technology sectors. Hezi has previously held roles including Executive Assistant to the chief executive officer at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital, CIO and Head of methodology. Notable experience also includes a tenure at Partner Communications as BCM (business continuity manager), where responsibilities encompassed business continuity planning and emergency response management. Earlier career roles involved project management in telecom development and overseeing information system projects for the public sector. Hezi holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Tel Aviv University. Academic: Medical Entrepreneurship Escalator programme, ADAMA CIO programme, John Bryce Education Lean Management (Healthcare), Israel Health Ministry B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering, Tel Aviv University

Hossein Mirzajani

Healthcare designer, HKS, USA

Hossein is a multidisciplinary designer with over ten years of experience in various architectural design practices, primarily focusing on healthcare. His diverse background spans healthcare, commercial, mixed-use and residential projects, driven by a passion for leveraging evidence-based design to shape the built environment and transform stakeholder insights into innovative, user-centred solutions. As a designer/researcher at HKS, Hossein has a proven track record of managing award-winning projects, guiding them from conceptual visioning through design development to successful project delivery. He is widely recognised for his strong team collaboration, critical thinking and communication skills. As an expert in building information modeling (BIM) technology, he is proficient in managing high-performing, well-coordinated buildings using a variety of programs. Hossein’s design philosophy is deeply rooted in purpose and shared value, complemented by a solid understanding of engineering and a meticulous, detail-oriented approach throughout the entire project life cycle. He is dedicated to solving meaningful problems by developing efficient design solutions.

Ian Strangward

Managing director, Architectural Wallsz, UK

Ian Strangward is a leading expert in healthcare interiors, with 30+ years’ experience in construction and a passion for modular, prefabricated, sustainable solutions. As Managing director of Architectural Wallsz and President of Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS), he is driving the shift toward modern methods of construction (MMC) and delivering adaptable and more cost-effective healthcare spaces. A Chartered Engineer and IET Member, Ian champions off-site manufacturing to provide certainty in pricing, timelines and sustainability while reducing waste and supporting net-zero carbon goals. As a respected voice in the industry and a regular speaker at Healthcare Estates and the European Healthcare Design show, he is helping shape the next generation of future-proofed hospital interiors. With the New Hospital Programme (NHP) facing major delays, Ian is proving that to build better, we must build differently and Architectural Wallsz is leading the way.

J Alstan Jakubiec

Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

J Alstan Jakubiec is an Assistant professor at the University of Toronto where he focuses his efforts on the design of the built environment with an emphasis on wellbeing, comfort, environmental performance and low-energy design strategies. He holds Bachelor’s (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Master’s (University of Pennsylvania) degrees in architecture and a PhD in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alstan specialises in building performance simulation (daylight, energy) and post-occupancy evaluations and environmental measurements. He believes that through data-driven processes, designers can create comfortable built environments that will support social interaction, require less energy and last longer before being rased. Alstan co-creates the popular ClimateStudio and ALFA tools for calculating the daylighting and energy performance of buildings and actively develops new software tools as part of his research. He also co-founded Mapdwell, a technology company dedicated to providing information to homeowners about the renewable energy potential of their rooftops. At U of T, Alstan publishes extensively on data-supported design through building performance simulation, environmental measurements, and subjective occupant experience. He teaches courses in building performance simulation, daylighting, multi-disciplinary sustainability issues, building lifecycle analysis and urban sustainability. Alstan is the head of the Design for Climate and Comfort Lab, where he works with his students to improve the comfort, wellbeing and energy efficiency of buildings and urban areas through data-driven processes. Alstan also runs the Spectral Materials Database, a web-database to enhance realism and accuracy in lighting simulations. He is a member of the Wellbeing in the Built Environment research group at U of T where he collaborates on integrating social practice and environmental quality on improving the built environment for human participants. Alstan also serves as a voting member on the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Daylight Metrics Committee and is currently a guest editor for 'Lighting Research & Technology'.

J. Alstan Jakubiec

Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

J. Alstan Jakubiec is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, focusing on wellbeing, comfort, environmental performance, and low-energy design in the built environment. He holds Bachelor’s (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Master’s (University of Pennsylvania) and a PhD in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alstan specializes in building performance simulation (daylight, energy), post-occupancy evaluations and environmental measurements, advocating for data-driven design to create energy-efficient, comfortable, and long-lasting buildings. Alstan co-creates the ClimateStudio and ALFA tools for calculating the daylighting and energy performance of buildings and co-founded Mapdwell, a technology company dedicated to providing information to homeowners about the renewable energy potential of their rooftops. At U of T, Alstan focuses on data-supported design through building performance simulation, environmental measurements, and subjective occupant experience. He teaches courses on building simulation, daylighting, sustainability, and lifecycle analysis. As head of the Design for Climate and Comfort Lab, he collaborates with students to improve building comfort, wellbeing, and energy efficiency. He also runs the Spectral Materials Database to enhance lighting simulation accuracy. Alstan is a member of the Wellbeing in the Built Environment research group and serves on the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Daylight Metrics Committee. He is currently a guest editor for Lighting Research & Technology.

James Crispino

Principal and Global health sector leader, Gensler, USA

Jim Crispino has spent his entire career innovating for care, teaching and research. He investigates and synthesises new technologies, patterns of behaviour and spatial models in the creation of new programmatic hybrids. He applies this approach developing new projects for academic medical centres, health systems, universities and research organisations. Over his 25-year career, his work is published in leading design journals including 'Architect', 'Record' and 'Interior Design'. Jim's teams, projects and research are recognised by the American Heart Association (AHA), Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), EHD, HCD and numerous state and local organisations. Jim serves as a visiting critic and lecturer at forward-thinking institutions including MIT–DesignX, Parsons–The New School, University of Pennsylvania–The Wharton School. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at conferences and forums including Cleveland Clinic–Empathy + Innovation, Vanderbilt University–Healthcare Symposium, Amercian College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and HCD. Jim is a registered architect in New York City.

James Swaffield

Managing director, IMPOWER, UK

James is an experienced public sector and health system change leader, focused on delivering outcomes that cost less for organisations. He has over 15 years’ experience of consulting in the public, private and third sectors, specialising in strategy development, programme delivery and change management. At IMPOWER he has led health and care interface change programmes in Manchester, Trafford, Somerset, Dorset and Lincolnshire, as well as research projects with the County Councils Network.

Jane Biddulph

Lecturer, University College London, UK

Dr Jane Biddulph is an academic with expertise on chronic health conditions within the older population. JB has published on a variety of health conditions within the older population, and has analytical and survey expertise, having worked with data that includes the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, the Health Survey for England and PRO-AGE (PRevention in Older people – Assessment in GEneralists' practices). JB has also worked on previous projects with European Commission (EC) on the built environment. JB will work with the team to provide linkage across the disciplines and to facilitate future application from the population health perspective of chronic conditions, including mental health within the older population.

Jane Rohde

Founder and President, Live Together, USA

Jane Rohde is the Founder of JSR Associates. Her passion and design work serve vulnerable populations with the goal of achieving equitable access to housing, care and services. She sits on various healthcare and sustainability committees supporting research, advocacy and humanistic approaches to care and community design. Jane is also the founder of Live Together, a nonprofit focusing on intergenerational care models and demonstration projects combined with workforce development opportunities to improve quality of life for residents of all ages. Jane is the first Changemaker Awardee for Environments for Aging from the Center for Health Design, received an ASID Design for Humanity Award, and is recognised as an Honorary Alumni of Clemson University’s Architecture + Health programme. She is recognised as one of top ten Women in Design in healthcare and senior living design, received the Pioneer Award from the Facility Guidelines Institute, honoured as a Green Globes Fellow by the Green Building Initiative, and recognised as an Impact Icon by ecomedes.

Jeeva Wijesundara

Assistant professor, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka

Wijesundara J is an Assistant professor, in the School of Architecture, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). She is a chartered architect, and an urban designer having over 30 years' experience in practice. She is experienced in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Jayewardenepura, and the City School of Architecture, in Sri Lanka. She is a researcher in multidisciplinary areas. Wijesundara J has developed the format of the analysis and methodology and supervised the overall research while editing and reviewing the manuscript.

Jelle Koolwijk

Researcher, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Jelle Koolwijk is a researcher dedicated to improving collaboration and process innovation in the construction industry. With a PhD from TU Delft, his expertise lies in understanding inter-organisational structures, their influence on human behaviour, and how individuals shape and utilise these frameworks. His research emphasises creating smarter, more efficient construction practices to address the sector's growing complexity and labour shortages. Jelle has a rich background in research, including his involvement in NWO-funded projects such as VR-Renovate and uVital, which leverage virtual reality to improve tenant communication and prevent supply chain disruptions. As an action researcher, he plays a key role in fostering long-term strategic partnerships between housing corporations and specialist contractors, focusing on programme management and collaborative practices. Furthermore, his broad interests include the impact of building design on the wellbeing of staff and patients in academic hospitals. A recipient of the prestigious 2021 RISE Award, Jelle's publications have been recognised at international conferences and in leading journals. He is also the author of books on project alliances and supplier management. Beyond academia, his international experience includes research in Australia on project alliances and innovation training at Harvard Design School. His professional background spans project development, tender management and governance roles in the construction industry.

Jonas Rehn-Groenendijk

Head, Designinstitut für Gesunde Gestaltung, Germany

Dr Rehn-Groenendijk’s work deals with the role of design both as an approach to develop user-centered concepts and products to foster health and wellbeing. He graduated in industrial design with a conceptual design for a trackable device to change health behaviour. In his PhD-thesis granted from Bauhaus University Weimar (with summa cum laude), he is one of the first scholars who introduced the concept of priming in the field of design using an evidence-based and research-driven design approach. His work focuses on broadening the scope of design and design theory by incorporating scientific evidence and empirical research as genuine parts of a human-centred design approach particularly in the context of health and wellbeing. He therefore combines empirical and analytical methods from fields. He taught Weimar, Bern (CH) and London, has supervised bachelor and master theses and is reviewer for academic journals. Dr Rehn-Groenendijk worked for several years in transdisciplinary project that faced the challenges to integrate various actors from academia and industry to establish a share vision and co-create solutions beyond individual interests.

Jonny Perks

Associate director, Steensen Varming, UK

Jonny is an Associate director within Steensen Varming and leads the global Sustainability Team. With diverse experience, primarily within urban development, he is passionate about improving the sustainability of cities and understanding the climatic, cultural and site-specific influences for developing sustainable design solutions. Having lived and worked in the UK, Australia, Middle East and Hong Kong, he understands the importance and complexity of adapting design solutions to the local context. Jonny has developed sustainability and energy strategies for a range of master plans, buildings and infrastructure developments, including microclimate analysis and optimisation of passive thermal comfort design for outdoor and indoor spaces. He has also produced strategic carbon and energy reduction analysis for government bodies. He has experience managing many international sustainability rating systems and has carried out assessments for projects around the world. This includes BREEAM, LEED, WELL, Green Star, GSAS and CEEQUAL on a range of UK and international projects. He has developed bespoke sustainability frameworks for both master plans and buildings, incorporating strategies to optimise the efficient use of resources, while ensuring designs can adapt to future climatic conditions.

Joseph Tigani

National Manger - Health, Schiavello International Pty. Ltd., Australia

Joseph Tigani has over 20 years’ experience with the Schiavello Group, including the past 15 in the Health and Federal Government portfolios. With a broad background in engineering, physical and built environmental systems, and ITC, Joseph brings to the Group over 42 years’ experience in Project Management, Technical Consulting & Sales, and Key Account Management. Joseph’s exposure to continuous-operations industries has instilled in him an engaging, collaborative approach and strong appreciation for time-critical project delivery and post-sales support. In his current role, Joseph is responsible for Schiavello’s Wellness Portfolio covering Health, Aged Care and Life Sciences sectors. Further, he has been extensively involved with the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy since its legislation in 2015 / 16 and has been instrumental in the establishment of Schiavello’s Indigenous program and Bunin Joseph is chartered with ensuring the highest-level service and support for Schiavello’s Health-sector clients, including Social Procurement obligations; and engaging and collaborating across the whole Schiavello Group and strategic partners to ensure optimum solutions are developed and delivered to these Essential Services clients. B.Eng (Mech.Tech) Grad Cert (Innovation & Environment) Cisco CCNA Exec. Cert. Healthcare Facilities Planning & Design (Cornell) Member of Engineers Australia Member of Hospital Engineering Australia

Josiane Carine Tantchou

Researcher, CNRS/IRD, France

Josiane Carine Tantchou is an anthropologist specialising in health, urban studies and the socio-political dynamics of care systems in Africa. She is a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Research Institute for Development (IRD). Her interdisciplinary research explores the intersection of healthcare facility design, mental health and community wellbeing, with a particular focus on how spatial and socio-political contexts shape access to and delivery of care.

Julian Ashton

Principal , BVN, United Kingdom

A principal at BVN since 2011, architect Julian Ashton leads significant projects across healthcare, health science, education and research. His work is celebrated in Australia and internationally for innovative, aspirational and highly functional design outcomes. Julian is an advocate for humanising healthcare design. Engaging people through an empathy-driven design process informs buildings and precincts that champion healing while nurturing community spirit and the environment. Combining expertise with a supportive, collaborative attitude underscores Julian’s commitment to delivering integrated and sustainable healthcare design solutions from urban centres to regional hubs.

Juliëtte Severin

Clinical microbiologist IPC, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands

The global increase of antimicrobial resistance is currently recognised as one of the most serious threats to human health. With her research, focused on antimicrobial resistance and infection prevention and control, Juliëtte aims to contribute to this field by understanding specific aspects of this problem and finding solutions. She is doing this not only in the Netherlands, but also in some low- to middle-income countries, where the burden and the threat of antimicrobial resistance is highest.

Justin Harris

Global practice group director, Arcadis, UK

Justin is an Architect and Global practice group director in the Architecture and Urbanism group at Arcadis. With over 20 years of experience in a range of projects, the majority of his work has focused on healthcare, including projects across the full healthcare spectrum, from acute, out of hospital, supportive housing, master planning and healthcare strategy. With an interest in innovative healthcare systems and how they relate to supporting health and wellbeing and the sustainability of healthcare systems, Justin works across the firm's global regions in areas including healthcare strategy, master planning, infrastructure development and digital healthcare environments. Justin has recently been working on New Hospital Programme projects in the UK, while also involved in the transforming the Kasr El Ainy Hospital in downtown Cairo. Justin, a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, collaborates with the firm's global healthcare leads in bringing best practice ideas to Arcadis's clients. Justin has contributed to guidance for NHS England through the Healthy New Towns programme, focusing on developing integrated health and wellbeing facilities.

Katie Wood

Director, Archus, United Kingdom

An experienced programme manager, project director and technical advisor, Katie has successfully led the development of strategy, business cases, planning and delivery for a wide variety of programmes and projects across the UK, Australia, Canada, Peru, Africa and Central Asia through her 34 year career. Katie is recognised as a leader in international healthcare infrastructure development. She brings together technical, people and process expertise and combines local capability with global best practice.

Keith Stockman

Director of service design and innovation (ret), Staying Well programme, Northern Health, Australia

Over 40+ years, Keith Stockman has shaped healthcare through leadership roles in hospital administration, clinical laboratory science and management consulting. Keith partnered with Don Campbell and Carmel Martin to introduced a novel approach to supporting high-risk patients at home between admissions, initially at Monash Health and later implemented as Patient Watch at Northern Health and Grampians Health. Previously, Keith spent 13 years at Iridium Consulting, collaborating with leading organisations to guide transformative healthcare initiatives. With an MBA centred on systems thinking, Keith applies advanced strategies encompassing project and change management, systemic design and operations research to models of care. His work at Monash was highlighted in Jeanne Liedtka’s book 'Design Thinking for the Greater Good'. He has published multiple book chapters and peer-reviewed works, and also co-founded specialist groups promoting systemic design and operations research to foster ongoing innovation.

Keshanah Raviendran

MHSc student, University of Toronto, Canada

Keshanah Raviendran is a Master’s student in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto, where she brings her interdisciplinary expertise to address challenges in paediatric healthcare and oncology. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Medical Science with a double major in pharmacology and interdisciplinary medical sciences from the University of Western Ontario, reflecting her strong foundation in biomedical science and commitment to patient-centred research. Keshanah’s research focuses on paediatrics and cancer, with an emphasis on advancing innovative strategies for early detection and improving treatment outcomes in young patients. She is particularly passionate about translational science and precision medicine, aiming to bridge the gap between research and clinical application. In addition to her academic pursuits, Keshanah volunteers at SickKids Hospital in the cancer unit, where she supports patients and their families during their treatment journeys. This hands-on experience has deepened her understanding of the emotional and physical challenges faced by children with cancer and the importance of compassionate, culturally sensitive care. Keshanah is excited to contribute to the advancement of paediatric oncology and translational research through collaboration and knowledge exchange at this conference. She looks forward to engaging with fellow researchers to foster innovative solutions that benefit young patients and their families.

Kithsiri Dedduwa Pathirana

Senior professor in medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka

Pathirana K D (MBBS, MD MRCP, FCCP) is a consultant neurologist who currently serves as a Senior professor in medicine at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. His research interests include stroke and neurorehabilitation, epilepsy and neurotoxicology. Pathirana K D provided subject matter expertise, and conceptualised and designed the study, He has also provided overall supervision and critically reviewed and edited the initial manuscript.

Koncha Pinos

CEO, The Wellbeing Planet, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Koncha Pinos is the Co-director of The Wellbeing Planet, a global organisation active in 48 countries, dedicated to advancing health, education and sustainability to enhance wellbeing. A renowned speaker and educator, Dr. Pinos is a pioneer in neuroarchitecture and neuroaesthetics, developing nature-based solutions in contexts of trauma and recovery. Her approach merges wellbeing science with the transformative power of art and nature, using therapeutic gardens, forests and purposefully designed environments to foster healing. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Pinos has led groundbreaking programmes exploring how natural and artistic environments – inspired by figures such as Gaudí and Picasso – can strengthen resilience and neuroplasticity in individuals and communities affected by trauma. Her work also focuses on creating healing ecosystems that integrate sustainability and humanistic design, revitalising both mind and body. Recipient of the Luxembourg Peace Prize and UNESCO recognition, Dr. Pinos is a leading voice at the intersection of neuroscience, design and global wellbeing. Her ongoing research delves into how adaptive environments can reduce stress and transform the experience of wellness in healthcare systems and communities worldwide.

Laura Abbatangelo

Graduate student, University of Toronto, Canada

Laura Abbatangelo graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a Certificate in Employment Relations. As a second-year Master’s student in Translational Research in the Health Sciences, her interests include furthering health promotion for vulnerable populations with a specific emphasis on health law and policy.

Laura Hann

Principal, Parkin Architects, Canada

Laura Hann, M.Arch. OAA, RAIC, EDAC, exudes a genuine passion for people, fostering profound connections with clients to craft environments that authentically mirror their needs. Her ability to synthesise these insights into the built environment reflects her understanding of client aspirations. Laura's diverse experiences, including international studies and work, have honed her acute sensitivity to the world around her. Within Parkin, she leads the Parkin EBD Committee, PM Toolkit Committee and Project Delivery Committee, contributing actively to these and various other office initiatives. Laura also enthusiastically works with the firm's students as the Toronto Co-Op Student Supervisor, providing mentorship and guidance to emerging talent. In her role as Project architect, Project manager and Planner, Laura spearheads the design process, orchestrating seamless co-ordination within the design team. She actively participates in client and user group meetings, ensuring that every design element aligns meticulously with the project's requirements. Laura's multifaceted role underscores her dedication to delivering designs that resonate with clients on a profound level, while embodying the highest standards of functionality and innovation.

Laura MacLean

Research associate, University of Strathclyde, UK

Dr. Laura MacLean is a Research associate and Part 2 architect. Her PhD focused on architecture, urbanism and people-environment relationships. Currently, her research explores the reciprocal relationship between people and nature, emphasising the benefits derived from natural environments with a focus on health and wellbeing. Laura joined the Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management (DMEM) department at Strathclyde following three years of post-doctoral experience as a social scientist. Her current role draws on her interdisciplinary background of architecture, design, social science and research to explore innovative solutions to translate health policies into actionable design solutions.

Laurel Plewes

Operational director, Vancouver Coastal Health, Canada

Laurel Plewes, MSN, RN, is a paediatric nurse by background and the Operational director for a MAiD (medical assistance in dying) programme within British Columbia. She has created the Assisted Dying Program within her health authority, and continues to support the evolution of the MAiD programmes across the country. Additionally, she creates local, provincial and national policy and practice procedures with the intent to provide excellent patient care. She sits on the Board of Directors of Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers, and is involved in local and national research initiatives.

Lauren Morgan

Director, Morgan Human Systems, UK

Dr Lauren Morgan is a renowned UK expert in the field of human factors and ergonomics, with a distinguished career dedicated to enhancing patient safety through the thoughtful design of hospital environments. With a background in both human factors and engineering, they have a unique ability to evaluate and improve healthcare settings, ensuring they are both functional and conducive to patient wellbeing. Throughout their career, Lauren has worked closely with clinicians, understanding the intricacies of medical workflows and the critical importance of a well-designed environment in preventing errors and promoting efficiency. Their expertise lies in identifying potential hazards and inefficiencies in hospital layouts and developing innovative solutions that prioritise patient safety and comfort. In addition to their professional achievements, Lauren is a passionate advocate for patient-centred care. They believe that a hospital's physical environment plays a crucial role in the overall healthcare experience and are committed to ensuring that every design decision is made with the patient's best interests in mind. Lauren's work has been recognised with several awards, and they continue to be a sought-after consultant for hospitals looking to improve their facilities. Their dedication to integrating human factors into healthcare design has made a lasting impact on the industry, setting new standards for patient safety and care.

Léa Seide

Architect, Università Iuav di Venezia, Italy

Léa Seide is a young Lebanese-French architect and musician. She graduated from the Università IUAV di Venezia in 2022 where, in 2024, she obtained a Master's degree in Architecture and Health. Thanks to her musical background, cultivated over many years, she developed a heightened sensitivity to the emotional and therapeutic qualities of spaces. Her thesis investigated the integration of music into hospital environments to enhance the experience and wellbeing of patients. This theme found application in the new Padova Est Hospital, a competition won in 2024 by Politecnica (Florence), where she completed her internship. The hospital is set to be built in the coming years. Focusing on the design of healthcare facilities, Seide intends to continue her research on music, which remains a constant source of inspiration in her work, shaping her approach to creating environments where architecture and sound collaborate to promote healing and wellbeing.

Lewis Urquhart

Research associate, University of Strathclyde, UK

Dr Lewis Urquhart is a Research associate in the department of Design Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. His research interests are wide, originally undertaking his doctorate exploring design emotion and ontologies of making and manufacturing. He has since undertaken work in a range of other areas including physical-digital interaction, virtual and augmented reality applications and design for rehabilitation, notably in the EU Horizon 2020 project PRIME-VR2. Lewis was the Research associate for the Arts and Humanities Research Council's (AHRC) Design Exchange Partnership project 'Visualisation and engagement toolkit for coastal erosion system', which created a visualisation tool using an adaptable physical prototype in conjunction with an augmented reality application. Lewis is currently a researcher with the AHRC-funded project Design HOPES, led by Professor Paul Rodgers and Professor Mel Woods. One of the Green Transition Ecosystems Hubs, the project aims to tackle the critical sustainability challenges within NHS Scotland.

Liesbeth van Heel

advisor and researcher, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands

Liesbeth van Heel studied Facility Management and Business Economics. Healthcare and complex organizations always had her interest. She worked in the FM-department, was an administrator at the department of Paediatric Surgery and supported the Executive Board of Erasmus MC as the junior Board Secretary, before joining the project management team developing a newly built hospital in 2001. She combined the role of project secretary for this 20 year endeavour with leading a small expertise team (PMO) within the Real Estate directorate. In 2014 she left this management position to direct her focus to the coordinating effort to align the various strategic programs within Erasmus MC towards the preparations for a safe relocation to the newly built hospital building, with fitting work processes, logistics and IT-support, as the program secretary for the Our New Erasmus MC (ONE) program organization. Liesbeth’s special attention has always been directed towards patients' needs, stakeholder engagement and creating a "healing environment", using (inter)nationally acquired evidence and experience-based design knowledge. She propagates knowledge sharing and network building for 'informed clients' in the Netherlands and beyond. In April 2026, she will defend her PhD thesis on stakeholder engagement in the transformative process for a newly built hospital. Since 2020, she is a Board Member of the European Health Property Network (EuHPN). In 2022, she chaired the Organizing Committee of the 5th Architecture, Research, Care & Health (ARCH) conference in Delft and Rotterdam. Since 2023, she coordinate a ‘living lab’ for bachelor students of the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences within the Real Estate directorate. In June 2025, she received the Susan Francis Design Champion award at the European Healthcare Design conference in London. In 2025-2026, she also works as a visiting research fellow with the “Next Generation HealthScapes” theme at the Pufendorf Institute of Lund University, Sweden.

Liran Mizrahi

Executive project manager, Margolin Bros, Israel

A civil engineer specialising in healthcare projects with extensive experience managing complex engineering solutions for the the healthcare sector. In recent years, he has led and supervised large-scale hospital projects, focusing on implementing and operating advanced medical infrastructure systems. One of his recent projects was managing the construction and commissioning processes of the cancer centre at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem while overseeing the operation of healthcare infrastructure. Prior to that he supervised the construction project of Assuta Hospital in Ashdod while integrating engineering solutions tailored to the facility's needs during the operational stages. Liran advocates for innovation in engineering in the medical sector, promoting technological solutions that improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. Liran's expertise extends to the areas of risk management, management of complex construction projects and development of infrastructure strategies. Academic: Executive MBA – management programme, Bar-Ilan University, Israel Director and Corporate Officer Certification, Bar-Ilan University, Israel B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Ariel University, Israel

Lorena Montenegro

Sustainability and wellbeing consultant, Deerns Nederland, The Netherlands

Lorena Montenegro has had experience implementing sustainability and wellbeing certifications such as LEED, BREEAM and WELL in Colombia and the Netherlands since 2013. Since 2019, she has been working with Deerns in the Netherlands as a consultant in the energy and sustainability team, as well as setting up the wellbeing team experts. Climate change is a reality and the healthcare sector has a significant impact, so it needs to adapt to the current goals of the Paris Agreement. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of designing healthy and recovering spaces for hospital members who are on the front line of this emergency. Lorena has an architectural and engineering background that allows her to understand both challenges and advise any project client on the design and implementation of sustainable and healthy buildings. She also played a major role in the development of the Blue Hospital Approach.

Lucy Welsh

Research associate and Senior workshop technician, Heriot-Watt University, UK

Lucy Welsh is a Research associate at Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles and Design. Her current research interests include investigating alternative design-led approaches to reducing waste during garment design and production in educational and commercial environments. For almost 20 years, Lucy has been teaching fashion and textile design students all aspects of garment construction and manufacture. She aims to provide students with the skills to influence future industry practices through sustainable considerations to design, materials and manufacturing methods with the end of product use in mind. Lucy has also developed patterns and prototypes for several successful innovative start-up businesses across the UK. As an early career researcher (ECR), Lucy has been collaborating with partners from Heriot-Watt University, the University of Strathclyde and NHS Scotland to create innovative reusable theatre caps made from cellulosic materials as part of the larger AHRC-funded Design HOPES project.

Maja Kevdzija

Assistant professor in healthcare design, Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), Austria

Dr-Ing Maja Kevdzija, EDAC, is an Assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at TU Wien, Austria, in the field of healthcare design. She has extensive experience in conducting empirical research, using the mixed-methods approach (observation, shadowing, interview) in close contact with vulnerable populations in healthcare environments, and in teaching research methods examining the relationship between the built environment and its users. Her research on mobility-supporting rehabilitation centres for stroke patients was awarded multiple awards, most notably the Healthcare Environment Award 2020 (USA), the 2021 European Healthcare Design Award in the 'Design Research' category (UK), and the 2021 EDRA Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) with Merit Status (USA).

Manshi Maheswaran

MHSc student, University of Toronto, Canada

Manshi Maheswaran is a Master’s student in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto, driven by a deep passion for paediatrics and neurodevelopmental disorders. With a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University, Manshi has cultivated a strong foundation in scientific research, which she now applies to developing innovative solutions to improve child health outcomes. Her research interests focus on the intersection of neurodevelopment and translational medicine, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications. She is particularly interested in early interventions and multidisciplinary approaches to enhance the quality of life and developmental outcomes for paediatric populations. Manshi’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond research. She has volunteered in hospitals, supporting patients and nurses through compassionate care and assisting with patient needs. Additionally, she volunteered with Grandview Kids, where she worked closely with children with special needs to support their physical and social development. These experiences have reinforced her dedication to improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities, particularly children with complex medical needs.

Manuel Schmid

Physician, University Hospital Augsburg, Germany

Profile Physician and basic scientist in cardiovascular medicine with expertise in research-based design practice, specializing in co-design processes for healthcare architecture projects. Education Since 2025: Resident physician in Internal Medicine / Cardiology, University Hospital Augsburg 2017-2024: Doctoral student in cardiovascular Medicine, TUM Graduate School Munich 2021-2023: Master of Science, Healthcare and Design, Imperial College London/Royal College of Art 2018-2019: Medicine – practical year, Technical University of Munich, University of Verona 2014-2018: Medicine – clinical training, Technical University of Munich 2012-2014: Medicine – preclinical training, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Research experience 2020-2024: Toepfer Lab, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford 2016-2017 Seidman Lab, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Marelle Davey

Sustainability consultant, Stantec, USA

Marelle is a holistic sustainability consultant with an engineering background and expertise in sustainable building design as well as overarching sustainability guidelines and strategies. Her experience largely focuses on third-party certifications, including LEED, WELL and Fitwel (as well as more niche ratings systems like Parksmart), embodied carbon analysis (life cycle assessments – LCAs), net zero analyses and certifications (net zero energy, net zero carbon), climate adaptation and climate resiliency, and general advice and consulting services related to environmental sustainability and health and wellness. Marelle has worked on projects in healthcare, science and technology, commercial, mixed use and industrial sectors.

Margo Kyle

GM National Health Facility Planning, Health New Zealand, New Zealand

With over 25 years of experience in the health sector and more than a decade dedicated to health infrastructure, Margo is a passionate and purpose-driven strategic health planner committed to creating sustainable, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare environments. Margo's work is guided by a deep understanding of clinical needs, operational realities, and long-term community outcomes transforming health services through strategic planning and thoughtful infrastructure development. Her focus is on ensuring health infrastructure is standardised, resilient, and future-ready. Margo brings specialist expertise in interpreting and evaluating health services and data to inform strategic briefing and physical planning processes. She excels at aligning clinical requirements with functional design outcomes, ensuring a seamless integration of operational needs into the built environment.

Margreet Vos

Professor of healthcare-related infections, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands

Margreet C Vos studied at the Medical Faculty of Erasmus University Rotterdam from 1981 to 1988, graduating cum laude. Since 1995, she has been a staff member at Erasmus MC and, in 2012, was appointed Professor of healthcare-related infections in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. She was the first keynote scientific interviewee for infection control and prevention at ESCMID Global 2024. For nearly 30 years, she has chaired Erasmus MC’s local infection committees. Her expertise and research in infection prevention informs hospital design programmes, ensuring safer healthcare environments and brings evidence-based design. She has delivered hundreds of invited lectures worldwide and authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, focusing on infection prevention and hospital-built environments. Her research examines hospital design’s impact on environmental contamination. She is an active member and chair of multiple committees developing infection prevention guidelines, including initiating a guideline on hospital environmental sampling for contamination detection.

Maria Carolina Zarrilli Affaitat

Pdh student, Università di Foggia, Italy

Maria Carolina Zarrilli Affaitati is a PhD student in medical humanities and welfare policies at the University of Foggia, as well as a lecturer and course co-ordinator in soft skills in medical humanities at the University of Siena. A scientific contributor for ISTUD and Spaghetti Boost, her research explores the rethinking of oncology environments through cultural interventions, sound design and biophilia, with the aim of creating more welcoming hospital spaces, improving the quality of life of patients, the wellbeing of healthcare providers and caregivers. She is also interested in humanisation of care and patient-centred medicine, promoting a holistic view of health. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness and train professionals through multidisciplinary courses that promote the design of more humane and effective care environments.

Mark Maffey

Estates architect and Senior project manager, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Mark Maffey is an experienced project manager and chartered architect with over 20 years of expertise in delivering high-quality, transformative healthcare projects within acute and community hospitals. Currently the Solent project manager, he has worked with University Hospital Southampton, Isle of Wight Trust, Southern Health and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. With a deep understanding of healthcare design, Mark excels in leading multidisciplinary teams, managing complex projects from inception to completion, and ensuring effective engagement with stakeholders to create functional and inspiring spaces. He has lectured and judged for the King's Fund's Enhancing the Healing Environment programme and was recently shortlisted in the Building Better Healthcare awards. A natural collaborator with a warm and positive approach, Mark is dedicated to delivering impactful projects that enhance healthcare environments and improve patient outcomes.

Mark Reilly-Usher

Associate director, Archus, UK

Mark is a senior healthcare planner with extensive experience across the care spectrum. Mark also spent 12 years working in the UK National Health Service (NHS) as a service manager in both acute and primary care services and as a capital planning manager. He possesses excellent facilitation skills in the development of clinical briefing documents and a thorough understanding of healthcare processes. While working in the NHS and subsequently in consulting, Mark has had significant experience in the planning and commissioning of facilities across the whole healthcare economy.

Mark Tacey

Biostatistician and Senior research fellow, Austin Health, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, Australia

Mark Tacey is a biostatistician and senior research fellow, who is currently employed by the Department of Radiation Oncology at Austin Health in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, based at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre. In current and previous roles over the past 14 years following a career in the traffic and transport industry, Mark has provided statistical analysis support to clinicians, healthcare professionals and students on matters relating to study design, sample size and power estimation and statistical analysis. Specific statistical analysis techniques and methods employed include multivariate analysis based on various probability distributions and predictive modelling using a range of development and validation procedures; evaluation of diagnostic screening tools and development of precision estimation methods; time series analysis and survival/time to event analyses. Mark is an experienced user of Stata and has also used SPSS and SAS for past projects. Mark seeks to continue to develop and enhance his statistical analysis skills in response to requests from clinicians and researchers, while seeking project opportunities where his expertise can provide a difference in the quality and efficiency of medical and healthcare service provision.

Marta Czachorowska

architect, m.plus.design Marta Czachorowska, Poland

Marta Czachorowska is an architect who dedicates her professional and academic pursuits to the design of caring environments, encompassing medical facilities, therapeutic settings, as well as spa and wellness centers. She holds a firm conviction in the restorative influence of well-crafted design. She belives in the healing power of good design. Marta advocates for the notion that thoughtfully planned urban areas and architectural structures can contribute significantly to the physical and emotional well-being of those who dwell within them. Her exceptional work in designing a maternity ward for a gynecological hospital was honored with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2023, and she also received acclaim by winning the "Designed for People" award from Gazeta Wyborcza's contest. Her insights on medical design have been featured in esteemed publications like RZUT, Miej Miejsce, and Architektura Murator, and she is a familiar presence at design festivals, such as the Łódź Design Festival, where she champions the concept of health-promoting design. Marta leads the creative team at m+design office. Visit mplusdesign.eu to explore more of her work.

Martin Anderson

Senior architect, P+HS Architects, UK

Martin is a Senior architect at P+HS, with 15 years of experience in the healthcare sector, collaborating with numerous NHS Trusts and private healthcare clients on the design and delivery of primary, acute, and specialist health facilities. Martin also serves as a practice healthcare lead, actively promoting best practice in healthcare design. He is a valuable member of the team with a proven track record of successfully delivering schemes, ranging from GP surgeries and health centres to theatres, diagnostic centres, endoscopy units and cancer care facilities. Notable schemes include the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, Glendon Wood Hospital and Stokesley Health Centre.

Matthew Blair

Principal, BVN, United Kingdom

Matthew is an architect, technologist and Principal at BVN, acknowledged for his cross-sector expertise and his ability to apply current and novel technologies and future of work knowledge to redefine spaces across industries such as health, education, and science. With a career spanning Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, North America, and the UK, Matthew now leads BVN’s UK Studio, bringing a global perspective to his work. Passionate about driving change, Matthew also steers many of BVN’s transformational and innovation initiatives, collaborating with universities, start-ups, and other architectural practices to expand the boundaries of what architecture can achieve. His work reflects a deep understanding of how insights from workplace design can inform and enhance other sectors, from healthcare to life sciences, creating environments that foster collaboration, adaptability, and human connection.

Melike Yüksel

PhD student, Hacettepe University, Turkey

Currently pursuing a PhD in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey (2022 to present). Holds a Master’s degree from the same department at Hacettepe University (2019–2022) and a Bachelor’s degree from Bilkent University (2013–2018). She completed a research traineeship at Politecnico di Milano, Department of Design, in Milan, Italy (September to November 2022). Melike currently works as a communications specialist for SEECO, a European Union-funded project supporting social entrepreneurship and cohesion.

Merel Brabers

Project manager, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands

Michael Barrett

Professor of information systems and innovation studies, The University of Cambridge, UK

Prof Michael Barrett is a Professor of information systems and innovation studies, Vice dean for strategy and university engagement at Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS), Fellow of Hughes Hall, Director of Cambridge Digital Innovation, and a Distinguished visiting professor of innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics. He is published in many top-tier IS (information systems) and organisation journals, and has won several best paper awards at EGOS and the Academy of Management (AOM) and award-winning teaching cases. He is the Editor-in-chief of the 'Information and Organization' journal and is on the Advisory Board of the 'Journal of the Association of Information Systems'. He has contributed to articles in 'The Economist', 'The Times' and 'The Financial Post', and has served as an external examiner at Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh and the London School of Economics. Professor Barrett has served as a stream research lead for the Centre for Digital Built Britain, on the Steering Board of the Cambridge Service Alliance and as a member of the Management Executive Group of the knowledge translation research group Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC).

Michael Grave

COX Architecture, Australia

Michael is an Associate director of the practice, having joined COX in 1998. Michael deals in complex strategic problems and building types, aiming to distil their challenges into succinct, sensible design solutions. Michael specialises in health and research facility design, education master planning and specialised precinct planning. Michael embraces each of these focus areas and engages clients in a strategic, far-sighted appraisal of each project opportunity. His work in these specific sectors has led to extensive experience in developing and initiating stakeholder consultation processes, and both functional and detailed services briefing. His experience is substantial across a range of areas both in Australia and overseas, including master planning, residential design, health, climate-specific façades/external envelope design development and large steel structures. Michael is project lead for the New Shellharbour and Integrated Services project, a $722 million capital works project delivering service upgrades across five distinct sites in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, on a new site south of Shellharbour. The project has a comprehensive range of objectives, including high standards of contemporary care models, digital transformation, design excellence under the new 'Design Guide for Healthcare' document, jointly published by Health Infrastructure and the NSW Government Architect with strong engagement with the regional Indigenous population.

Michal Eitan

Professor, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem, Israel

Michal is a seasoned leader, entrepreneur and educator in design, sustainability, entrepreneurship, change management and systematic thinking processes. Michal was the head of the Master’s Program for Design (M.Des) at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem until October 2017. Currently, she manages the 'Florence Program' – a design studio at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba, Israel. Before she joined the academic world, Michal played an important role in building the hi-tech scene in Israel and served as a VP in several hi-tech companies, tech incubators and accelerators. She studied sociology and business at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and received her M.Sc. in urban and regional planning from Technion in Haifa.

Michèle Wheeler

International healthcare and life sciences director, Lexica, UK

Michèle Wheeler began her career as a nurse and has since become a globally recognised expert in healthcare systems, transformation of clinical services and project delivery. With more than 30 years’ experience, she has reported at government level, delivered system-wide clinical change and led transformational construction programmes. She has overseen approximately 100 health service projects globally as both client and consultant, covering every phase of infrastructure delivery. Michèle has held multiple executive board-level leadership roles in the UK healthcare environment, is an accredited NHS Project Director, an APM fellow and a Chartered Project Professional. She brings experience in healthcare administration, planning and integration of clinical services, with a proven track record delivering cost savings and improving operational efficiencies within the public and private sectors across the UK, Asia and the Pacific. Her knowledge gained working as a nurse and beyond, allows Michèle to quickly analyse complex challenges to shape sustainable clinical services that support communities and enable excellent healthcare outcomes. Michèle uses her extensive sector knowledge to support transformational healthcare delivery.

Milee Herweijer

Architect, Wiegerinck, The Netherlands

not available

Milica Vujovic

Assistant professor, Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), Austria

Milica Vujovic is an Assistant professor in the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at TU Wien, where she teaches courses on the advanced design of data-informed design and social infrastructure. With an interest in evidence-based design, Milica's research integrates computer science, data science and mechatronics principles to inform architectural practices through scientific methodologies. Her expertise is gathering, processing, analysing and visualising data using contemporary methods and tools. Milica's previous research projects have involved deploying multimodal sensor systems to collect data on human behaviour, enabling a deeper understanding of the environmental impacts on different behavioural patterns. Additionally, she has explored environmental characteristics and developed methods to detect and measure their influences. Milica is also actively involved in interdisciplinary research collaborations. One of them is the Sustainable and Healthy Environments (SHE) Lab at the Melbourne School of Design. Together, they work on projects integrating internet of things (IoT) devices and novel data acquisition techniques in office environments. These collaborations underscore commitment to advancing sustainable and health-conscious design practices through innovative partnerships and cutting-edge research methodologies. In addition to her teaching and research, Milica serves as the head of the Spatial Interest Group 'Knowledge Discovery in Architecture' at the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML) at TU Wien. In this role, she drives initiatives to leverage AI and machine learning techniques to address spatial design challenges and enhance architectural practices. Through her multifaceted roles in teaching, research and interdisciplinary collaboration, Milica is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of architectural innovation and promoting sustainable, human-centric design solutions.

Milos Petkovic

Project co-ordinator, NettletonTribe, Australia

Milos Petkovic is a senior architectural technologist at NettletonTribe, who focuses on [Nature + Nurture] integrated design principles in healthcare architecture that not only enhance occupant wellbeing but also deliver value through holistic human-centred design.

Mingming Zheng

PhD candidate, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

Miranda Chan

MHSc student, University of Toronto, Canada

Miranda is a Master of Health Sciences candidate at the University of Toronto, in the Translational Research Program, focusing on finding creative solutions to patient-centric problems. Fascinated by seeing problems through multiple lenses, Miranda completed a Bachelor Arts (Honours) double majoring in psychology and biology at Carleton University. Miranda has worked on a variety of different research projects that reflect her curiosity for numerous topics, ranging from psychophysiology to haematology to paediatrics. She is keen on mobilising knowledge to help those who need it but cannot readily access it, and promoting holistic healthcare. Her current research focuses on paediatric validated pain assessment tools, which coincides with her volunteer work at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in the emergency department. Interacting one-on-one with patients has given her the unique opportunity to hear their stories instead of reading a case transcribed by a secondary source.

Monique van Dijk

Professor of nursing science, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands

Monique van Dijk currently works as a Professor in nursing science at the Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC. Monique does research in pain assessment in preverbal and nonverbal patients, clinimetrics, nursing topics, patient safety and trauma. She and her group currently evaluate the effect of 100 per cent single rooms in the adult hospital with a focus on patient safety (e.g. fall incidents), quality of care (e.g. sleep quality, perceived quality of care by patients) and the impact on healthcare professionals.

Natalie Pitt

Director, Studio STH, Australia

Natalie is an architect, specialist health facility planner and Director at Studio STH. Well regarded across the industry with a professional approach to delivery, Natalie’s active involvement across all design phases has created high-quality healthcare architecture. A tenacious approach to project delivery combined with an extensive knowledge of current healthcare, aged care and healthcare trends has produced innovative and high-quality solutions in the healthcare sector in Australia and internationally. Particular areas of expertise include: • healthcare architecture; • innovation in psychiatric care design; • facility planning for acute and sub-acute healthcare; • client briefing; • master planning, feasibility studies and business cases; • healthcare projects ranging from community hospitals and free-standing medical centres to large tertiary teaching hospitals and specialist centres; • international expertise, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand. Natalie particularly enjoys mentoring emerging architects, and generously shares her knowledge and expertise with others to support future success. There are many graduate architects across Australia and Internationally who have benefited from Natalie’s guidance. Natalie’s 27 years of experience includes briefing, design, facility planning and co-ordination of projects with complex requirements. Her comprehensive skill base, precise attention to detail and engaging stakeholder communications ensure continuity and commitment throughout all stages of the design journey.

Nathan Jones

PhD student, Cardiff University, UK

Nathan Jones is currently a postgraduate research (PGR) student in the School of Computer Science and Informatics, working on an MPhil funded by the KESS2 scheme. His research is primarily focused on improving the wellbeing of elderly people while living at home. Prior to becoming a PGR student he studied a Master's degree in Advanced Computer Science and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Software Engineering, both at Cardiff University.

Nazanin Ganjehzadeh

PhD student, University of Toronto, Canada

Nazanin Ganjehzadeh is a PhD pre-candidate in Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Hakim Sabzevari University and a Master’s degree in Architectural Technology and Computational Design from Pars University of Art and Architecture. Nazanin is passionate about the relationship between architectural design and human wellbeing. Her research focuses on examining the impact of light on health, sleep patterns and circadian rhythms. Utilising sensor-based and simulation technology, her work aims to understand how daily light exposure affects mood, cognitive performance and overall health. Her research evaluates existing lighting standards through the lens of daily life by understanding how real-world conditions interact with human wellbeing.

Neil Logan

Co-CEO and Principal, BVN, Australia

Neil brings a breadth of large-project experience across the UK, Australia, and Asia to his role as Co-CEO and Principal at BVN. He is steadfast in his mission to embed regenerative practices into the core of BVN’s work across all sectors, delivering changes in how we work – his leadership ensures sustainability is not just a goal but an implicit part of the studio's approach. Neil is committed to driving innovation within the design process, collaborating with clients, communities and stakeholders to uncover unique, forward-thinking solutions to long-standing challenges. Renowned for his expertise in design management, he has successfully delivered large-scale, technically complex hospital projects, inspiring confidence in his ability to align and elevate the contributions of diverse, multidisciplinary teams. Under Neil's joint leadership, BVN strives to set benchmarks in health design and sustainability, shaping a more resilient future.

Neil Orpwood

Head of healthcare, HLM Architects, UK

Neil qualified as an architect in 1995, having started his degree at North East London Polytechnic in 1985. He is a Chartered Member of RIBA, and has worked at HLM Architects in Sheffield since leaving full-time education. Heading up HLM’s Healthcare Team both nationally and internationally, he has a detailed knowledge of this specialist sector, working on a spectrum of projects, from small refurbishments through to multimillion-pound facilities.

Nicola Clemo

Deputy programme director, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Nicola is an experienced health planning and business case development consultant with a previous background of eight years' construction project management. Nicola is Deputy programme director for the New Hospital Programme (NHP) Healthier Futures Programme at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She brings a holistic understanding of the full development journey of capital projects from investment justification through design to construction, which is invaluable in ensuring all project elements and risks are clearly articulated and managed throughout a project. Nicola is adept at managing diverse stakeholders at all levels of an organisation, facilitating workshops (e.g. clinical, benefits, risks), identifying the key factors which will underpin capital investment and driving projects through to completion, particularly where projects are time constrained. She has a keen interest in the mechanisms to improve clinical productivity – releasing more time to care, improving standardisation within healthcare, the role of digital in the future of healthcare and design elements which improve patient experience and outcomes and can improve staff and carer experience and wellbeing. She has worked on a wide range of acute, community and mental health schemes where she has built strong relationships with the project teams.

Niki Taylor

Teaching fellow and fashion activist, Edinburgh College of Art, UK

Niki is an educator in regenerative fashion and textiles, fashion activist and artist. She was a co-founder of Fashion Revolution Scotland in 2014. Her work centres around regenerative design, creating with zero waste through clothing commons, and creating value through nature-centred design thinking and creative practice. She is a Lecturer in design at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh University, a researcher in regenerative textile systems and a community workshop facilitator at Remode Youth and The Kings Foundation's Future Textiles Programme.

Nikos Nanos

Senior lecturer, School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, UK

Nikos Nanos is a senior lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, UK.

Nirit Pilosof

Head of research in innovation and transformation, Sheba Medical Center; Faculty member, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Nirit Pilosof, PhD, is an architect and researcher exploring the intersection of healthcare, technology and architecture. She is a Faculty member at the Coller School of Management, Tel Aviv University, and an Associate of Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) at the University of Cambridge in the UK. She is also Head of research in healthcare transformation at Sheba Medical Center, a Fellow of Cambridge Digital Innovation (CDI) at the University of Cambridge, and the Executive Member of Israel at the International Union of Architects (UIA) Public Health Group. Dr Pilosof holds a PhD from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, a Post-Professional MArch from McGill University, and an Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) from the Center for Health Design in the USA. She gained experience in the design process of major medical facilities as a project manager at leading architecture firms in Israel and Canada and won international awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architects for Health Award, the American Hospital Association (AHA) graduate fellowship, the McGill graduate fellowship and the Azrieli Foundation fellowship.

Omar Huerta

Lecturer, University of Leeds, UK

Dr. Omar Huerta is a Lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. His research interests focus on the development of advanced mechanical systems, including applications in biomedical and healthcare fields. He works at the interface of mechanical design, control systems and human-centred technologies to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Özgür Dinçyürek

Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus

Prof. Dr. Özgür Dinçyürek was born in Famagusta in 1974. He is currently a Full Professor of Architecture at Eastern Mediterranean University. He has an MS in Architecture and a Ph.D. in Architectural Design History and Theory. His specific areas of expertise are architectural design, environmental design, sustainability and vernacular architecture studies. He has given lectures related to the interplay between human beings and environment for more than 15 years. He has publications in vernacular architecture and sustainability studies at both national and international levels. Besides his academic works, he has been awarded a Fulbright Short-Term Training Scholarship (1999), Fulbright Visiting Scholarship (2008), and European Commission Scholarship for the Turkish Cypriot Programme (2009). He is the founding chair of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU) Cyprus Chapter. He is also a voting member of INTBAU College of Chapters.

Paul Rodgers

Professor of design, University of Strathclyde, UK

Paul A. Rodgers is Professor of design at the University of Strathclyde, Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management (DMEM). Prior to joining the University of Strathclyde, he held professorial positions at Imagination, Lancaster University and Northumbria University School of Design. Earlier, he was Reader in design at Edinburgh Napier University and a Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Engineering Design Centre. He has over 25 years of experience in product design research and is the author of more than 170 papers and 16 books, including 'The Routledge Companion to Design Research' (1st and 2nd editions). His books have been translated into several languages, including Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Taiwanese. His current research interests explore the discipline of design and how disruptive design interventions can enact positive change in health and social care and elsewhere. He is the Principal investigator of Design HOPES – an AHRC-funded Green Transition Ecosystems Hub.

Porus Antia

Principal, Stantec, USA

Porus is a Principal and Regional lead for the Carbon Impact Team at Stantec. He leads a multidisciplinary group of engineers and technologists, focusing on high-performance, carbon-neutral and regenerative built environments. Porus has a Master of Science in Building Design and Climatic Responsive Architecture from Arizona State University. He has over 17 years of experience in the building industry and has worked on some of the largest net zero projects in the world. He has served as project manager on numerous high-performance carbon neutral projects and has provided leadership and a thorough understanding of energy and thermal systems. Porus’ passion extends to regenerative development, something he believes is transformational to the concept of sustainability itself.

Rahaf Alharbey

PhD researcher, University of Leeds, UK

Rahaf Alharbey is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on healthcare design systems, where she employs an integrated framework to bridge the gap between technical and social factors in healthcare delivery. Rahaf's work aims to develop solutions that enhance chronic disease management, particularly for type 2 diabetes mellitus, by considering both the technical and socio-cultural aspects that affect patient care and outcomes.

Rakefet Yoeli-Ulman

Medical director, High-Risk Pregnancy Department, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Dr. Rakefet Yoeli-Ulman is the Medical director of the High-Risk Pregnancy Department in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, affiliated with the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University.

Rana Abdelkader

Doctoral candidate, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany

Rana Abdelkader, M.Sc., is an architect and urban designer. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in architecture at the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS), a joint programme between TUD Dresden University of Technology and Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, since 2023. From 2018 to 2023, Rana held teaching positions at GUC Cairo, GIU Berlin and Coventry University’s Egypt branch. In late 2024, she worked as research assistant at the Chair of Social and Healthcare Buildings and Design, TU Dresden. Her research focuses on transforming university campuses into health-promoting catalysts through design strategies, using them as experimental settings to cultivate healthier environments and promote healthy sustainable urban development.

Rebecca Jessup

Director, Victorian Centre for Virtual Health Research and Acting director of research, Northern Health, Australia

Associate professor Rebecca Jessup is currently the Director of the Victorian Centre for Virtual Health Research and Acting director of research at Northern Health. Rebecca is an expert in health literacy, and her research focuses on different types of interventions to improve health literacy and communication and access to care, including digital interventions and health navigators. Rebecca led a workforce training and innovation project with Medibank and Swinburne University of Technology to develop a new Certificate III in Community Services focused on the role of health navigators.

Rebecca MacDonald

Principal, Parkin Architects, Canada

Rebecca MacDonald, M.Arch, EDAC, advocates passionately for human-centred design, directing her expertise towards planning and crafting healthcare facilities that cultivate wellness and inspiration. She is dedicated to enhancing the healthcare experience for patients and staff through meticulous study of existing practices and seamless integration of innovative solutions, design elements and processes. With a unique background as both a client and a consultant, Rebecca brings invaluable insights to the strategic challenges faced by healthcare clients. Her exceptional ability to connect with clients and foster collaborative engagement among all project stakeholders is a testament to her proficiency. Rebecca has made significant contributions during critical project phases, including clinical planning and conceptual design across various DBFM (design, build, finance and manage) projects during the RFQ (request for quotation) and pursuit stages.

Rebecca Repa

Executive vice president, clinical support and performance, University Health Network, Canada

Rebecca Repa is the Executive vice president of clinical support and performance at the University Health Network (UHN). Her portfolio includes responsibility for Altum Health, commercial strategy, FM-PRO (facilities management – planning, redevelopment and operations), hospital accreditation, infection prevention and control, the Joint Department of Medical Imaging, the Laboratory Medicine Program, performance, pharmacy and the Office of Stewardship and Sustainability. Rebecca has an Honours Degree in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. She also holds a part-time Associate professor appointment within the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Her academic interests include strategy development in complex systems and executive coaching for high performance. Rebecca is a Board Member with the International Outreach Program at St. Joseph’s Health System, is past Chair of the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford, and a recent Board director for Albright Long Term Care.

Reece Philliskirk

Senior consultant, Lexica, UK

Reece is an experienced healthcare professional who has experience in working with many strategic projects ranging from clinical and estates development, data exploration and analysis of health systems. His key skills are in design development, analysis of clinical data and engagement with stakeholders. During his time at Lexica, Reece has supported the Healthcare Strategy and Planning Team with brief and business case development, clinical and estates strategies and utilisation measurement. His experience ranges across acute, community and mental health services across London, the wider UK and internationally.

Regina Kennedy

Director, Healthcare Strategy + Planning, Lexica, member of WSP, United Kingdom

Regina is a strategic healthcare planner with a background in architecture and urbanism. Her previous career in academia focussed on evidence-based design for health, including biophilia considerations, and its implications for health facility and estate planning and design. Having worked both within health systems and as a consultant, Regina has led healthcare planning and design from initiation to delivery, from small projects to large new hospitals and site masterplans, to national-level multi-site strategies. She has also led development of national and provider-specific guidelines for health facility planning and design. Regina and her team offer strategic planning for clinical services and capital projects, clinical and operating model development, innovation, resilience and future readiness. Regina collaborates extensively with our clinical, data analytics, digital and sustainability colleagues to co-create transformative solutions for our clients and their communities.

Renuka Singh

PhD scholar, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Renuka Singh is an architect and urban designer interested in how the physical environment affects healthcare experiences of children and families in a paediatric healthcare environment. Her specific areas of expertise include children’s environments (healthcare, playscapes), environmental stressors, environment-behaviour research, evidence-based design, design for health and wellbeing, healthcare architecture and universal/inclusive design.

Ripeka Walker

Doctoral candidate, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Registered since 2009, Ripeka is a practising architect specialising in the delivery of public buildings. Her built work spans the justice, adult education, community and health sectors. Ripeka’s enduring research interest lies in the civic realm as a communication field. In 2021, Ripeka commenced a Doctor of Philosophy (by research) at the University of Melbourne. Her scholarly contribution comes at the nexus of theory and practice in a time of superdiversity and ecological reckoning.

Robin Snell

Director, Parkin Architects, Canada

As a Director with Parkin, Robin is an experienced healthcare architect who has worked on a wide range of projects across Canada for more than 30 years. He is passionate about healthcare and uses his leadership skills to guide complex projects to successful outcomes. Robin is an enthusiastic advocate for evidence-based design and is an EDAC and LEED accredited professional, leading recent healthcare projects in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and British Columbia. Recently nominated as a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Robin’s expertise is recognised on a national level where he serves as the Vice-chair of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Technical Committee for Health Care Facilities. He is also an active member of several CSA healthcare design subcommittees, including Z-8000 for Canadian healthcare facility design and other standards including wayfinding, area measurement, and design studies and post-occupancy evaluation.

Roofaidah Durdana Haque

MHSc student, University of Toronto, Canada

Roofaidah Haque is a Masters of Health Sciences student at the University of Toronto, in the Translational Research Program, focusing on healthcare innovation and patient-centred care. Roofaidah completed her Honours Bachelor of Sciences majoring in physiology and human biology. She hopes to focus on integrating evidence-based design to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. Roofaidah has assisted in research projects on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with the Faculty of Dentistry, as well as the effect of full-fat dairy consumption on human health with the Department of Nutrition. Currently, she is working on her Master's capstone project with a focus on paediatric validated pain assessment tools. Roofaidah is passionate about advancing healthcare design to enhance the patient experiences. Outside of school, Roofaidah is a pharmacy assistant at Shoppers Drug Mart and a swim instructor with the City of Toronto. Her hobbies include swimming, playing the piano and crocheting. She likes listening to music and watching shows, with her top three being Modern Family, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Prison Break.

Sachit Anand

Assistant professor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Sachit Anand is a paediatric surgeon with initial training from AIIMS, New Delhi, and an advanced fellowship in laparoscopic and robotic paediatric surgery. His research focus is on biomarkers in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT).

Sahar Ahmadpour

Healthcare design coordinator, HGA, USA

Sahar Ahmadpour is a dedicated design co-ordinator specialising in healthcare design, with over eight years of experience in architecture and evidence-based healthcare design. Passionate about integrating research with practice, Sahar creates innovative, patient-centred environments that improve outcomes and operational efficiency. Sahar’s research focuses on understudied aspects of healthcare environments, including trauma centres and emergency departments, with an emphasis on efficiency, workflow and innovation. By incorporating advanced technologies to enhance patient outcomes and experiences throughout their health journeys, Sahar has developed strategies that redefine healthcare spaces. Her contributions include design research and the development of healthcare design guidelines informed by rigorous evidence-based studies. With a Master of Healthcare Design from Kent State University, a Master of Science in Human-Centered Interaction Design from Harrisburg University and EDAC certification, Sahar combines academic excellence with practical expertise. She has significantly contributed to the body of knowledge in healthcare design through peer-reviewed journal publications and presentations at international conferences, advancing innovative approaches to healthcare environments. Currently, at HGA Architects and Engineers, Sahar collaborates with healthcare stakeholders to translate operational models into architectural and medical plans that align with client needs and regulatory standards. From data collection and conceptual design to execution, she ensures projects are delivered efficiently, meeting and exceeding client expectations. Driven by a vision to advance healthcare design through innovation, Sahar is committed to creating environments that enhance patient experiences, optimise workflows and set new benchmarks in healthcare design excellence.

Sarah Bowyer

Energy, environment and sustainability officer (NHS Highland), NHS Scotland, UK

Dr Sarah Bowyer is an experienced dietitian nutritionist with a history of working in the public, private and third sector.

Sarah Thomas

Deputy divisional medical director, Northern Health, Australia

Dr Sarah Thomas is a physician specialising in general and acute medicine, with a background in metropolitan, rural, remote and Indigenous health. She is passionate about the provision of health equity and high-value personalised healthcare. She provides medical leadership and consultation for public health programmes providing care for patients in the community, believing that being 'safe at home' has the greatest positive impact on a patient's life. She works closely with the Northern Health High-Reliability Organisation (HRO) Team to turn concerns into opportunities to bring on impactful change.

Savina Taouki

Smart Building Advisor, Deerns, The Netherlands

Savina Taouki is a Smart Building Advisor at Deerns in The Hague, specialising in digital strategies for hospitals to create sustainable, future-proof facilities. Originally from Greece, she holds a Master’s in Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens and a Master’s in Building Technology from TU Delft. With a strong background in architecture and building technology, Savina helps healthcare organisations navigate the complexity of digitalisation. She facilitates interactive workshops with hospital stakeholders to define smart ambitions and co-create solutions, and she is involved in projects through the full lifecycle, from strategic planning and functional design to implementation and delivery.

Setareh Aghamohammadi

Graduate student, University of Toronto, Canada

Setareh Aghamohammad is a Master of Health Science (MHSc) candidate in Translational Research at the University of Toronto with a background in biochemistry and physiology. Passionate about advancing equitable healthcare, she bridges research, technology and community engagement to design impactful interventions. As a co-investigator, Setareh collaborates with diverse stakeholders and employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to address health challenges. Her experiences working with underserved populations inspire her commitment to improving access to health tools. Aspiring to a career in health law, she aims to empower communities and drive innovation in healthcare.

Shayan Mohammadzadeh Novin

Graduate student, University of Toronto, Canada

Shayan Novin is a Master’s candidate in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto. He holds a Bachelor’s of Health Sciences degree from McMaster University. Shayan is interested in improving HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention through system-level changes to care.

Silvia Briani

Director, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Italy

Silvia Briani, born in 1961, is a doctor who graduated from the University of Florence in 1990, and is a specialist in public health. During her career she has always worked in public hospital management and organisation. She has been director of several Tuscan hospitals, and healthcare director of a high complexity hospital in Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, followed by Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana. Since 2017 she has been General Director of the Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana.

Stephanie Costelloe

Principal, BVN, United Kingdom

Stephanie is an experienced architect specialising in major healthcare infrastructure across Australia and Asia. She excels in master planning, briefing, and delivering complex health precincts, integrating architectural, technical, and health planning expertise. From 2015 to 2022, Stephanie led key projects in Hong Kong’s 20-year Hospital Development Plan, including the New Acute Hospital in Kai Tak. She also served as project principal for the New Shenzhen Children's Hospital, overseeing master planning and concept design. Her expertise in large-scale, high-value projects makes her well-suited for leadership roles. As a Principal at BVN, she ensures critical project decisions are made efficiently while maintaining design excellence. With a proven track record in both Australian and international healthcare projects, she brings invaluable insight and strategic direction to every endeavour.

Susan McLaughlin

Clinical programme manager, NHS Golden Jubilee, UK

Susan has over 38 years of healthcare experience, initially starting her career as a registered general nurse then working across many diverse clinical and leadership roles prior to moving to her current post as Clinical programme manager at NHS Golden Jubilee Hospital. She has a keen interest in improvement and adopting new and innovative approaches to enhance patient care and outcomes; this has been integral in delivering a facility to support the growing healthcare needs as part of the Scottish Government’s National Treatment Centre Programme. Susan's current role oversees the expansion of elective services for Golden Jubilee National Hospital. Leading on: – innovative patient and staff pathways; – managing design processes in new and refurbished projects; – managing complex clinical programmes; – workforce planning; – overseeing and managing operational commissioning.

Taha Hatcha

BIM manager, Albertinen Krankenhaus, Germany

Dr. Eng. Hatcha Taha is a tech enthusiast with a background in architecture and city planning and a PhD from HafenCity University Hamburg. He serves as the BIM manager at Albertinen Krankenhaus, a reputable organisation overseeing 85 healthcare facilities in Germany. Dr. Hatcha has a proven track record of success in implementing BIM and digital twins, with key achievements including the digital transformation of over 12 healthcare facilities and the creation of a digital landscape for autonomous car simulation (for Porsche, Germany) over an 85 km track equipped with virtual sensors. He has extensive experience in leading and managing EU Horizon projects, covering all aspects from writing proposals and forming consortia to managing and delivering the projects. He is the principal author of the SENSE project, a winning proposal of Digital Europe with a €6M budget focused on metaverse technology for smart cities. Additionally, Dr. Hatcha has worked with the Modis and Adecco Group and has developed expertise in smart building technologies. He is an active member of the Google Developer Group. His instructional roles include teaching 3D modelling, simulation and real-time data visualisation at HafenCity University Hamburg and TU Dresden.

Theodora Mavridou

Senior Lecturer, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom

Dr. Dora Mavridou is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BEng Engineering Management Top-Up program in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, within the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth. Her teaching expertise includes Engineering Practice, Sustainable and Environmental Management, and Design. Her research interests focus on Building Optimisation, Inclusive Design, Sustainability, Environmental Design, and Social Sustainability. She is particularly passionate about exploring ways to maximize value while minimizing waste. Dr. Mavridou has over a decade of industry experience as a chartered engineer, specializing in engineering design and project management. She graduated from the School of Architectural Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, in 2006. She later earned an MA in Lighting Design from the School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design at Hellenic Open University in 2017 and a PhD from Democritus University of Thrace, where her research focused on optimizing industrial buildings through sustainability and lean thinking. Additionally, she holds a PGCert Diploma in Higher Education from the University of Portsmouth. Throughout her career, she has worked on engineering projects across various European countries, including the UK, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Greece.

Timothy Rossi

CEO, Architectural Medicine, USA

Timothy D. Rossi is the founder of Architectural Medicine and has worked in the field of healthy, green and sustainable architecture for almost three decades. From his days as an architectural engineering student to his current role as CEO of Architectural Medicine, he has continued to develop systems supporting health and wellness in the built environment. He has authored two books, 'Architectural Medicine'®, published in 2020, and 'The Architectural Doctor'®, published in 2022. His current focus includes the development of ARxMD®, the Architectural Medicine Software Solution, and continuing his work on the Architectural Medicine System (AMS). This system bridges the fields of healthcare and architecture. Currently based in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, he enjoys taking landscape photography and playing music when he is not working and writing. He also enjoys playing sports and volunteers with local and national health IT and sports organisations.

Tye Farrow

Founding partner, Farrow Partners, Canada

Working at the intersection of architecture and neuroscience, Tye Farrow is a world-recognised pioneer tackling how what we create either gives or causes health. With award-winning projects around the globe that enact salutogenic design – design that actively incites health – he is the first Canadian architect to have earned a Master of Neuroscience Applied to Architecture (University of Venice Iuav), and has a Master of Architecture in Urban Design (Harvard University), and a Bachelor of Architecture degree (University of Toronto). Tye is a sought-after speaker who has presented to respected organisations and universities in over 45 cities on six continents, including the Salk Institute, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Stanford University Medical School, The Mayo Clinic, and The Cleveland Clinic, and has been called a global leader making “a significant contribution to health and humanity through the medium of architecture”. His bestselling book, 'Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health', explores how our mind, and its various sensory systems, interacts with our built environment to create the conditions in which we can thrive and prosper, and bridges the gap in knowledge between the therapeutic medical world, the design community and public, to reveal how the intentional shaping of our environment can support our physical and neurological wellbeing. Acclaimed by both professional and public critics, the book has been described as “a landmark work that will undoubtedly influence the future of architectural design”.

Vanessa Nelson

Senior associate and Sustainability consultant, Stantec, USA

Vanessa manages holistic sustainability services in Stantec’s Carbon Impact group. She has spent the last two decades managing green building and sustainability projects across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, laboratories, commercial buildings, mixed-use developments and city master plans. She is a well-known and respected thought leader on sustainability frameworks such as LEED, WELL and Fitwel and is committed to working with project teams to integrate principles of health, wellbeing and regenerative development. She also has a wealth of expertise in environmental consulting and management services, having partnered with various government authorities in the development of green building code regulations. Vanessa has served on various US Green Building Council committees at the local and national level.

Viduni Dedduwa Pathirana

Postgraduate student, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

Viduni Dedduwa Pathirana is a final-year Master of Architecture (M.Arch) student at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. She completed her Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture at the same institution in 2022. Viduni has professional experience as an Assistant architect at Dinuk Senanayake Associates, Sri Lanka, where she was involved in several healthcare design projects. She is also an Advanced Green Building Professional accredited by the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. Her research primarily focuses on spatial design for health and wellbeing, with a particular interest in stroke care environments. Viduni has published multiple research papers and actively explores how architectural design can contribute to healthcare and patient recovery. Passionate about integrating research-driven solutions into practice, she aims to develop innovative, sustainable and patient-centred healthcare environments.

Warsha De Zoysa

Senior lecturer, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka

De Zoysa W (MBBS,MD) is a consultant physician who currently serves as a Senior lecturer in medicine at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Her research interests are noncommunicable diseases and geriatric care. De Zoysa W was the supervisor for ethical clearance purposes, and reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Whitney Fuessel

Regional practice director for health, HKS, USA

Whitney is a Partner and Regional practice director for health in the south-central region for HKS, while officing in Houston. With over 25 years of experience in health, her work focuses on the experience of humans in the built environment. Her fresh ideas draw from her team of designers and planners working on academic health projects, creating a collaborative balanced approach. She is a leading voice for the healthcare in architecture and has served as the Chair for the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Health in Houston. She is also a founding board member of Women in Healthcare, has served as sponsorship chair and currently holds a position on the National Advisory Council. Whitney was awarded the 2017 AIA Presidential Citation Award for her work with the AIA and is a passionate advocate for her work with Citizen HKS, which is a public interest design initiative that enables HKS employees to dedicate company time and resources to help communities in need.

William Hercules

Founder and CEO, WJH Health, USA

Bill Hercules empowers healthcare leadership teams to shape their future places of care. Having planned and/or executed architecture totalling more than 35 million square feet and $13Bpv, Bill’s bold cross-disciplinary ideation accelerates mission alignment and attracts the future. Twelve years ago, Bill founded WJH Health, a global consultancy that resolves the place of care at the nexus of mission, performance and experience. His passion for applied learning has elevated him to be the only practising global triple-Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). He is a global expert in healthcare design with more than 160 printed and spoken publications, and supported more than 50 professionals in pursuit of advanced fellowships and certifications. He was recently elected to AIA’s College of Fellows Executive Committee to serve as bursar and will eventually serve as its Chancellor in 2028 and is past president of the ACHA. He recently led the wellbeing study for the national AIA Strategic Council, which led to the passage of the national AIA Health and Wellbeing Policy resolution, and leads an award-winning research team pioneering the intersection of design and bioethics.

Yaara Welcman

Researcher, The University of Cambridge, UK/Israel

Dr. Yaara Welcman is a researcher interested in digital transformation, healthcare innovation and artificial intelligence, focusing on their impact on the labour market. Her doctoral research examined trading floors and algorithmic trading, exploring how these technologies reshape the profession of traders and introduce new dimensions of uncertainty. In her broader academic work, she investigates the adoption of emerging technologies and the collective response to technological change. She is particularly interested in the dynamics of technology implementation and its societal implications, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with innovation. Currently, she is part of the research team at the Cambridge Digital Innovation Centre at the University of Cambridge. Her work focuses on 'the hospital of the future', where she explores innovative models in the healthcare sector to address the evolving demands of the healthcare systems.

Yim Eng Ng

Associate principal, Architectus, Australia

Yim Eng Ng (Y E) is a registered architect and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, with over 18 years of experience in delivering heritage, health and aged care projects in Australia, China and Singapore. She is an Associate principal at Architectus Conrad Gargett and has worked on projects in cross-cultural contexts, including the Mount Isa Hospital Redevelopment, Jimbelunga Nursing Centre and Nareeba Moopi Moopi Pa Aged Care Hostel on North Stradbroke Island. Yim Eng (Y E) was awarded a PhD from the University of Queensland in 2023. Her research uses a case study approach to examine design considerations for Indigenous residents in aged care homes. Y E is passionate about creating age inclusive spaces and culturally responsive spaces. She is part of AAG (Australian Association of Gerontology), EDRA the DIA (Design Institute of Australia) and has been a sessional tutor at the University of Queensland. Y E regularly contributes to the architecture community through talks and publications.

Ziyan Hossain

Managing director and co-founder, Method Collective, Canada

Ziyan Hossain is the co-founder of Method Collective, a design studio, and the award-winning Space for Grief initiative. As a designer, his practice sits at the intersection of systems thinking, life-centred design, strategic foresight and art, with a focus on creating empathetic and resilient solutions across wellness, healthcare, culture and urban design. His work spans collaborations with Health Canada, the National Health Service (UK) and the City of Toronto, including cultural analyses, design updates for Toronto City Hall and operational mapping for Curling Canada. Ziyan has also improved service systems for the Federal Courts of Canada and explored science and art intersections, including consulting on user experience for Eventide Audio’s acclaimed H9 and H90 pedals.

Zoe Lambert

Graduate student, University of Toronto, Canada

Zoe Lambert is a Master’s candidate in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto with a background in physiology, evolutionary anthropology and medical anthropology. Their interests are in health equity and the impact of health communication and outreach on 2SLGBTQ patient’s experiences of health and care.

Session speakers and workshop presenters

Video + Poster Presenters

Quick Resources

Session speakers and workshop presenters

Adam Flowers

Albert Vitaller

Alyson Walker

Amy Sickeler

Anders Medin

Andrew Baillie

Andrew Hall

Andrew Howe

Andrew Street

Andrew Tempany

Anisette Ruda

Anita Wang Børseth

Ann-Kathrin Salich

Anne Stanton

Anni Feng

Asif Din

Auke Brugmans

Bernadette Bhakti

Beverley Letherby

Brent Railton

Brian Niven

Bruce Crook

Calum MacCalman

Caterina Frisone

Catherine Zeliotis

Cecilia Spannel

Cédric du Montier

Charlie McQuilkin

Cheng Zhang

Cherizza Choi

Christine Chadwick

Christopher Collins

Christopher Wright

Chuck Wertheimer

Claire Colgan

Clare White

Clifford Harvey

Codey Lyon

Colby Dearman

Con McGarry

Conor Ellis

Corrine Pettigrew

Craig McDonald

David Buick

David Nicholson

Deborah Wingler

Deirdre Casella

Dennis Glasbergen

Diarmaid Lawlor

Diego Morettin

Dorsa Jalalian

Eletta Naldi

Emily Scoones

Emma Tanti

Eric Trillo

Feby Kuriakose

Felicity Coughlan

Femke Feenstra

Fiona Cowan

Francis Gallagher

Frank Panici

Gavin Wardle

Gerd Sortland

Giulia Scialpi

Graeme Reid

Graham Harris

Guela Solow

Hala El Khorazaty

Hank Adams

Hannah Gallacher

Heather Macey

Helena Beckman

Helena Jopling

Hetty Dupays

Hieronimus Nickl

Ibrahim Ibrahim

Iván Paul Martín Jefremovas

Jacque Jones

Jane Ho