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.

Raza Ali Dada is the Managing Partner at Nayyar Ali Dada & Associates, one of Pakistan’s most prominent architectural practices. With international design experience in New York and an active presence in Lahore, Raza brings a multidisciplinary lens to architecture, interiors, and urban design.

His work explores the intersection between the built environment and ecological systems, with a strong focus on conservation, sustainability, and heritage. As a board member of the Lahore Conservation Society and co-founder of the Lahore Biennale Foundation, he has championed initiatives like the Green Schools Programme and Afforestation Lahore, which has planted over two million trees.

Raza also contributes to the academic community as a visiting lecturer and serves as an on-site reviewer for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. As an advisor to the AYDA Awards, he continues to support emerging talent, encouraging students to design with both cultural relevance and environmental responsibility.

Dr Armin Mohsen Daneshgar is an Austrian-Iranian architect and the Founder of Daneshgar Architects, an internationally recognised firm based in Vienna. Known for its innovative approach and commitment to craftsmanship, the firm has delivered numerous award-winning projects that reflect a deep understanding of design, urban planning, and social context.

Armin began his career as a teaching professor at the Vienna University of Technology and has shared his expertise as a guest lecturer at various institutions. His architectural work places strong emphasis on re-densification in urban environments, focusing on maximising limited space through creative, sustainable solutions.

Beyond aesthetics, Armin champions architecture that enhances community well-being, designing spaces that encourage human interaction and reflect cultural and environmental awareness. His holistic and human-centric philosophy makes him a valuable member of the AYDA Awards jury, inspiring young designers to build with purpose, meaning, and societal impact in mind.

Gu Yi is the founder of Not a Studio Architect, an innovative architecture and design firm established in Shanghai in 2016. After spending over a decade in Africa, Gu Yi returned to China, bringing a unique global perspective to his work. His design philosophy is rooted in restraint and minimalism, emphasizing thoughtful spatial experiences across various typologies.

Not a Studio Architect’s diverse portfolio spans tea aesthetics, commercial spaces—including restaurants, retail environments, and boutique hotels—as well as public art spaces, residential projects, and offices. The firm has successfully delivered projects of varying scales, seamlessly blending cultural narratives with contemporary design.

Notable works include:

• The Container
• Duo Yun Bookstore (Shanghai, Chengdu, Suzhou)
• Shanghai Longhua Temple
• Pagoda Shadow Space
• Yongfu Temple Zen Museum of Art
• Suzhou Hanshan Temple
• Tea Space
• Atour Hotel 4.0 R&D
• Fotile Commercial Retail, and more.

Gu Yi’s commitment to timeless aesthetics, cultural sensitivity, and refined minimalism continues to shape distinctive architectural and interior spaces that inspire and engage.

Hirante Welandawe is an architect, interior designer, urban designer and educator and is the founder / principal architect at H W Architects Private Limited (2002). Welandawe has designed a wide range of projects including the design of institutional buildings, condominium projects, boutique hotels, work places, and private residences (projects).

Welandawe graduated from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka and obtained her Masters from the Aalto University in Helsinki.

Welandawe worked initially under Master Architect B.V. Doshi, whose work had a profound influence in the direction of her work. She started work with numerous personalized homes which helped her to develop a particular people centric way of approaching architecture focusing on socio cultural profiles and lifestyle.

She is part of the Visiting Faculty at the University of Moratuwa, has received several Design awards and was nominated for the Aga Khan award for Architecture in 2010.

Director of Elisava Madrid, Edgar González is a prominent figure in the design world. Formerly the Associate Dean of Design at IE School of Architecture and Design, he is the founder and Editor in Chief of edgargonzalez.com, a leading Spanish-language architecture and design reference since 2002. Based in Madrid, he runs EGD Edgar Gonzalez Design, a strategic consultancy specializing in applying design processes to complex problems and narratives.

González is particularly interested in the intersection of architectural practice, new technologies, and media, and how these elements influence creative processes and contemporary cities. He has been an associate professor, jury member, and speaker at institutions such as Universidad de Alicante, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Istituto Europeo di Design, and IE School of Architecture and Design, where he has lectured and conducted research since 2002.

As a designer and curator, González has contributed to several exhibitions and cultural projects and has published articles in specialized architecture and design publications. A licensed architect in both Mexico and Spain, he has worked as a project architect at Zaha Hadid Architects and Arquitectura Torres Nadal, and as an editorial designer for the Architectural Association London, The Economist, and The Guardian Group. He holds a Bachelor in Architecture from ITESO University in Mexico and an M.A. in Complex Architecture and Innovation Sociology from Alicante University in Spain.

Safeer Shersad is a New York-based urban strategist and designer with a passion for multidisciplinary collaboration and breaking down silos between professions. Originally from India, his design philosophy is deeply rooted in understanding local histories and contexts, with a strong emphasis on community-centered urban solutions.

As Senior Manager at Lime, Safeer develops place-based shared mobility strategies for over 100 cities worldwide, shaping the future of urban transportation. Prior to Lime, he was a consultant at Buro Happold, where he worked on design projects for leading architecture firms, including Bjarke Ingels Group, OMA, SOM, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. His research experience also includes working with UN-Habitat on urban youth socioeconomic data.

His expertise lies at the intersection of mobility, urban experience, and climate-sensitive design. Academically, Safeer holds a BA in Architecture and Urban Planning from Newcastle University, an MSc in Urban Design and City Planning (Distinction) from The Bartlett, University College London, and a Master in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He was also the inaugural recipient of Nippon Paint’s Gennosuke Obata Fellowship.

Arch. Maria Nina Bailon Arce is the Senior Partner at Arce-Bailon-Arce Architects, a design firm she co-founded with her husband, Arch. Mariano Arce, Jr., in 1987. The firm has undertaken notable architectural and engineering design projects for both private entities and the national government.

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas in 1981 and placed fifth in the PRC Board Exams in July 1983. In 2014, she was among the first 40 architects to be listed in the ASEAN Registry of Architects, and in June 2015, she was conferred as an APEC Architect. In the spirit of volunteerism, she has served as Secretary General and National Executive Vice-President of the United Architects of the Philippines, as Chancellor, and now as Jury of the College of Fellows.

A dedicated mother of three boys, two of whom are now architects collaborating with the firm, she has successfully balanced a thriving career and nurturing a family. She aims to continue this legacy by mentoring the next generation of architects through AYDA.