Ou is a celebrated interior designer known for his creative prowess, earning him the title of Designer of the Year in 2019 across diverse design domains, from hospitality to high-end residential and co-creation workplaces. His design philosophy centres on "Non-Building Solutions," a groundbreaking approach that reimagines spaces sustainably, enhancing the value of existing structures and materials. Ou's concept development skills shine through in his captivating designs.

He climbed the ranks to become a Design Director and then a Partner at PIA Interior, showcasing his dedication and talent. His team has delivered striking projects across Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and beyond. His work received international recognition, including a shortlist at the 2016 World Architecture Festival of Interiors for Airspace Huahin and winning the 2019 Restaurant and Bar Design award in London for Akira Back at the Marriott Marquis Bangkok. Ou continues to redefine interior design with his innovative and acclaimed creations.

IDr Lai Siew Hong is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Designer of award-winning interior design firm Blu Water. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur since 2010, the design studio focuses on hospitality archetypes and the design of hotels, resorts and F&B establishments around the region.

As the creative backbone of Blu Water, Lai believes in creating innovative spaces and solutions while crafting a meaningful narrative in each design brief. His creative process has kept the interests of a wide variety of clients over the last 30 years.

Today, he continues to be the mastermind behind some of the most stunning luxury hotels and resorts in the world; most recently recognised as Tatler Asia’s Most Influential MY 2021. Lai is also the immediate Past President of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) 2022-2024.

His passion for nurturing young emerging talents have led him to mentor graduate students at China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China, and he is now serving as the Master Coach for Interior Architecture and Design Programme at The One Academy. Internationally, he has been a valuable AYDA Judge since 2016.

Traversing diverse cultural backgrounds, Jennifer began her career in design-focused architectural firms in Australia. Recognising her passion for interiors, she established an interiors department within an architecture firm.

Her journey led her to London, where she contributed to the development of five-star hotels and private residences in Turkey, as well as heritage-listed properties in London’s Kings Cross. Jennifer's fascination with travel and exposure to varied cultures eventually led her to Singapore, where she worked for The Mill and specialised in the high-end luxury and hospitality market.

With over 16 years of experience in the industry, Jennifer's cultural diversity fuels her passion for creating bespoke solutions. Her work is characterised by visual poetry, reflecting a refreshingly cosmopolitan edge in beautifully-crafted expressions of splendour and sophistication. Her unique blend of cultural insights and professional experience makes her a valuable resource for our AYDA students from all around the world.

Sami Savatli (3 June 1983) is an Istanbul based designer, graduated from the Middle East Technical University Industrial Design Department. In 2010, he founded his own design office Sami Savatli Design Studio in Istanbul, after working in well-known design offices for three years in the fields of interior architecture and product design. In 2012, he was awarded by EDIDA International Design Awards as the Best Young Designer of the year.

Since the establishment of his design studio, Savatli has designed many well-known places from Istanbul's food and beverage scene. In addition to the restaurant projects where he stands out with his designer identity and gained recognition, now he designs across high-end residential, commercial, retail and hospitality spaces in many cities of the world such as Istanbul, Ankara, Bodrum, Kuwait, Jeddah, Bahrain, Tehran, Paris and Florence.

Savatli combines the modern and classic styles of the East and West through the bold colors & rich textures offers an architectural perspective. His unique approach by blending styles and manipulating forms, reveals multi-layered & timeless spaces. He creates a modern and eclectic look using luxurious finishes and materials with bespoke detailing and artisan craftsmanship, combining the best of classical and contemporary elements.

In addition to interior design projects, Sami Savatli Design Studio started to design and produce its own products as of 2018. Savatli, who always offers approaches that emphasize the importance of craft with traditional methods in its product collection, transforms materials such as glass, wood and metal into unique designs with his own coloring and patina methods.

Savatli continues to work in his Istanbul-based office, showroom and workshop with a young and dynamic team consisting of interior architects, product designers, textile designers and artists.

Architect by training and multidisciplinary designer by profession, Prof. Keat Ong is a celebrated, awards-winning designer. He is the founder of Nota Design Group and Keat Ong Design as well as 3 terms president of Society of Interior Designers, Singapore (SIDS). Keat chairs the Singapore Interior Design Accreditation Council which overseas the competency of interior design practitioners in Singapore. He was also elected to preside over the the 12 nations Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA) for the term 2021-2023. He has been named one of Asia’s Top Designers in Singapore Design Awards 2014 and as Designers of the year 2016/2017 from the famed INTERIOR DESIGN Magazine. He was also honored with the title of “The Most Influential Designer” by China’s national body for Interior design, China Building Decoration Association in the 2017. He is also Visiting Professors to numerous universities in Asia and judges to many prestigious awards internationally.

Nicholas Ho is Chairman of hpa (Ho & Partners Architects), a leading multi-disciplinary architectural design practice headquartered in Hong Kong. Ho is the Hong Kong, China (HKC)'s representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC), member of the HKSAR Youth Development Commission and HKSAR Trade and Industry Advisory Board, council member of Lingnan University and Hong Kong Institute of Architects. Dedicated to public service and policy advocacy, Ho is elected as a member of 2021 HKSAR Election Committee.

With landmark projects across 50 cities in 12 countries, hpa has firmly established itself as an international and technologically advanced advisory platform for four decades. Since 2016, hpa has also spearheaded numerous SMART Cities initiatives through partnering with and investing in dozens of tech partners and solution providers globally, actively nurturing an ecosystem for technology development. Our advisory role and comprehensive services add value to clients’ projects, including national governments and private sectors, with whom we have successfully collaborated in over 6 countries.

Ho has a keen interest in exporting Hong Kong professional services abroad, as exemplified by his current projects across Southeast Asia, Europe and the USA. Aligning with the PRC’s mandate to develop the Belt and Road Initiative, he has been actively establishing partnership alliances along the New Silk Road.