Bayejid Mahbub Khondker is a Bangladeshi architect and the Principal Architect of Nakshabid Architects, a Dhaka-based practice celebrated for thoughtful, context-driven, and socially meaningful design. Over the past two decades, he has delivered projects ranging from mosques and educational campuses to large-scale residential, commercial, and urban developments.

His architecture blends modern thinking with cultural identity, showing deep respect for community and environment. His work has been recognized internationally, including the RIBA International Awards for Excellence 2024, CAA Social Impact Commendation 2024, and the UIA 2030 Award (by UIA & UN-HABITAT).

He has also received the JK Cement Architect of the Year Awards’ Foreign Countries’ Commendation (31st & 33rd editions), and been shortlisted for the Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture (4th Cycle, 2020–2023), Kohler Bold Awards 2022, and ArchDaily Project of the Year in consecutive years, 2023 and 2024.

Beyond practice, Bayejid is deeply engaged in mentoring and discourse, committed to creating architecture that enriches lives, connects people, and leaves a lasting cultural imprint.

President of the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) and former Board Member of the World Design Organization (WDO), Chi-Yi Chang is dedicated to advancing design-driven innovation, reinforcing design’s strategic role in national development, industrial transformation, and social progress.

Established in 2020, TDRI is Taiwan’s first national design research institute, focusing on design policy, public services, industrial innovation, social design, and global collaboration. Through interdisciplinary integration, it enhances governance efficiency and strengthens corporate competitiveness.

Master in Design Studies, Harvard Graduate School of Design; Master of Architecture, The Ohio State University. Former Deputy Magistrate of Taitung County and Professor at the Graduate Institute of Architecture, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, continuously fostering Taiwan’s design innovation and global engagement.

As the visionary Founder and Director of Galleria Designs, Mr. Ghulam Dastgir (GD) leads a luxury design architectural studio specializing in bespoke, high-end environments that merge timeless elegance with contemporary innovation. With a career spanning over 25 years, GD has cultivated a distinctive design language that reflects sophistication, exclusivity, and exceptional attention to detail.

His efforts had made Galleria Designs synonymous with curated luxury resulting in delivering landmark residences, boutique hotels, lifestyle destinations, and private estates. GD’s each project is a seamless integration of architecture, interior design, art, and materials, tailored to express the individuality of the client while enhancing the spatial experience.

GD believes that true luxury lies in the harmony of form and function, in tactile richness and in spaces that evoke emotion. This approach drives the Galleria Designs design process from conceptual visioning to the final execution with a continuous focus on craftsmanship, sustainability, and cultural relevance.

Having collaborated with elite clients, global developers, and iconic brands, GD’s work exemplifies understated opulence and architectural excellence.

Kiran Kapadia is an architect and urban designer. He received his Bachelor's degree in architecture from the School of Architecture (CEPT), Ahmedabad. He then went on to pursue a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from The Graduate School of Degree, Harvard University, USA. He founded Kapadia Associates in 1991 and over the past 30 years Kiran has guided and nurtured the practice, which has grown steadily over the years. The firm is involved in a wide range of projects and has won numerous professional awards.

Kiran is actively involved in academics and has served as visiting faculty at Kamla Raheja Institute of Architecture, Academy of Architecture, Mumbai and Faculty of Architecture CEPT University, Ahmedabad. He is currently a member of the Academic Council at the School of Environment and Architecture (SEA), Mumbai.

Kiran is also a passionate runner having run numerous full marathons in India and abroad. Kiran recently completed the Boston Marathon in April 2023 and Valencia Marathon in December 2024. Kiran earned the coveted Six Star Medal which is given to runners who have completed the World Marathon Majors which include Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

Kulthida Songkittipakdee holds the distinction of being the first Thai architect featured in the World Architects Directory by Wallpaper* magazine in the United Kingdom. Her pioneering achievements extend further as the first Asian architect chosen by the Renzo Piano Foundation to collaborate at Renzo Piano’s studio in Paris. Currently, Kulthida Songkittipakdee is the co-founder and principal architect at the acclaimed Thai firm, Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS Design and Research, alongside renowned architect Jenchieh Hung. Together, they have garnered recognition for exceptional projects in Thailand and abroad, including the Museum of Modern Aluminum Thailand, Simple Art Museum, Aluminum Grotto and Public Ground, Forest Villa, The Glade Bookstore, and Casa de Zanotta. In 2024, she assumed the role of chairman at The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage Exposition (ASA Architect Expo), curating Thailand’s most important international architectural venue at the IMPACT Arena Exhibition and Convention Center. In addition to her architectural practice, Kulthida Songkittipakdee is a visiting professor and design critic in architecture at Tongji University and Chulalongkorn University, as well as the guest editor for the Journal of Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA Journal), promoting the works of Thai architects on a global stage. Furthermore, she has authored three notable publications: Arch Life and Rhythm in 2016, sharing her working experiences outside of Thailand; THE improvised – Phetkasem Artist Studio in 2021, which explores new identities through uniqueness; From MANufAcTURE to Architecture – Museum of Modern Aluminum (2024), which expresses how architecture serves as a bridge between nature and humanity; and least publication, Chameleon Architecture – Shifting, Adapting, and Evolving (2025), which focuses on new research and practices in architecture.

Daniel Lim did his architectural education at Kent State University in the United States of America, graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. While in the USA, he worked for 4 years in an architecture firm called HFP/Ambuske Architects, which specializes in health care facilities planning and
design.

Upon returning to Malaysia and Singapore, he worked for a year at Chao Tse Ann & Partners in Singapore and later joined RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd where he got promoted to a Senior Architect within 2 years and worked on many projects such as Shangri-La Regency Apartment Projects in Yangon, Myanmar, the Abbott Nutritional Factory, the refurbishment and addition to Terminal 2 Changi Airport and the Draycott 8 Condominium in Singapore.

In Nov 2006, he was promoted to head the RSP office in Vietnam which has grown from a staff of 3 when he first arrived, to an office of 35 with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Recognized as one of Malaysia’s “40 Under 40” Emerging Architects, Ar. Tan Kwon Chong (Rien) is a rising force in architecture, known for his bold approach to design and leadership within the profession. He is the founder of Arplus Training Plt and Managing Director of TKCA Architects Sdn Bhd, a practice driven by the philosophy “Inspired to Inspire.”

Rien holds a First Class Honours degree in Architecture from UCSI University and a Master of Architecture from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His early career experiences in Osaka, Taipei, and New York broadened his perspective and shaped his commitment to sustainable, human- centered, and future-ready design.

His career gained momentum in 2016 when he won the Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA), and in 2019, he won the International Design Competition on Tropical Housing for the Orang Asli, sparking collaborations with developers and NGOs to uplift underserved communities through design innovation.

Under Rien’s leadership, TKCA Architects became the first Malaysian practice to win the UIA 2030 Award for the groundbreaking SkyBlox Co-Living Housing project, celebrated at the World Urban Forum 2024 in Cairo. His works — including Spectrum House, Sama Square, and Ashwood Condominium— have represented Malaysia on international stages across Hong Kong, India, Seoul, and Taiwan, earning accolades such as the Seoul Design Award, Taiwan Design Awards, Golden Pin Design Award, Creative Colour Awards, Design for Asia Award, PAM Awards, Sustainability Awards, MIID Reka Awards, National Energy Awards, and Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards.

Beyond practice, Rien plays an active role in shaping Malaysia’s architectural landscape. Since 2021, he has chaired key committees within the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), including Professional Practice, Promotion of Profession, ESG, Housing & Urban Wellbeing, and CPD. In 2023, he represented Malaysia as a YSEALI Professional Fellow with the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C., and was named an Augustman of the Year for his impact on Malaysia’s Art & Design scene. Most recently, he was appointed Festival Director of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) 2026, solidifying his influence as a thought leader for the next generation of architects.

A strong advocate of purpose-driven design, Rien continues to champion architecture that inspires, empowers, and creates lasting change — establishing himself as one of Malaysia’s most exciting rising architects.

Lim Wenhui is a Partner at SPARK, where she has played a key role in shaping the studio’s national and international portfolio for over 15 years. Her expertise spans urban planning, mixed-use developments, and architectural design, with a strong focus on projects that uplift communities and promote sustainable development.

She has led the design of several award-winning projects including Fai-Fah in Bangkok—nominated for the Aga Khan Award—and the Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, which earned SPARK the German Design Council’s “Architect of the Year” award. Her work on Homefarm and Beach Hut reflects her commitment to SPARK’s ethos that “architecture and design should make peoples’ lives better.”

Wenhui actively champions social sustainability through collaborations with organisations such as Blue Cross and her leadership of SPARK’s research and charity initiatives. As a guest speaker, award recipient, and former Chair of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Singapore panel, she brings a community-first lens to her role on the AYDA jury.

Stephen Zawmoe Shwe is the Founder and Principal of SPINE Architects in Myanmar, with over 28 years of experience in architecture, interior design, and project management. Since establishing his practice in 2003, he has completed more than 500 projects across residential, commercial, religious, and humanitarian sectors.

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University, Stephen is a recipient of prestigious accolades including the SOM Foundation Master of Architecture Fellowship and the AIA Allwork Scholarship. Prior to returning to Myanmar, he worked as an Associate at Tecny Group in New York, leading numerous high-profile projects.

Beyond professional practice, Stephen is dedicated to giving back through mentorship and public service. He regularly delivers seminars to young architects, teaches architecture students, and has contributed to the design of schools, cyclone shelters, monasteries, and meditation centres throughout Myanmar. His commitment to socially conscious architecture aligns closely with the spirit of the AYDA Awards.

Santhosh Shanmugam is a Partner at Shanmugam Associates (SA), a well-established architectural and design firm with over 40 years of practice in Chennai and Trichy, India. SA’s approach is rooted in simplicity and pragmatism, with a design ethos that is both experimental and rational. The essence is to deliver minimal and timeless solutions taking into consideration nature’s sensitivity, economic barriers and client’s requirement—qualities that Santhosh continues to champion through every project.

A graduate of the Advanced Architectural Design programme at Columbia University, New York, Santhosh also holds an undergraduate degree from the School of Architecture and Planning at Anna University, Chennai. His early career saw him working at Oppenheim Architecture + Design in Miami, where he was involved in designing hospitality, residential, and high-end villa projects across the globe.

With a passion for blending cultural context with contemporary practice, Santhosh brings a global perspective grounded in local realities. As a judge for the AYDA Awards, he is eager to guide emerging designers in crafting thoughtful and future-forward design solutions.