Meena Sayal is a qualified barrister and has worked in private practice, as a government prosecutor and in-house at companies as diverse as Diageo, Sony Playstation and Unilever. During her eleven years at Unilever, Meena was responsible for developing and delivering Unilever’s first global strategy for brand protection. The approach was focused on counterfeit and other infringing goods and was designed to be integrated into multiple functions such as Supply Chain, Sales, Security, Finance, Business Integrity and Marketing. She assessed need on a global, regional and local basis and delivered operational tools, training and IP and enforcement education to teams around the world working with third parties to innovate where necessary to develop what was required. She has particular knowledge of anti-counterfeiting efforts in China, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and south east Asian markets.
She is a strong supporter of cross-sector collaboration and for the first two years of its existence was the first co-chair (with Maersk) of the group of rights holders and maritime operators who are working together to develop operational standards to underpin the Declaration of Intent to prevent the Maritime Transportation of counterfeit goods signed on 30 November 2016. The first wave of signatories included the three biggest vessel operators in the world and key freight forwarders as well as 10 multi-national rights holders and several trade associations.
Meena set up Valinor Consulting, a brand protection and IP consultancy, in 2019.
A cyber-security expert, who is well-known for advancing cyber initiatives that align information security and business objectives within organisations. For the last 5 years, served as the Global Head of Cyber-Security at research organisation. An early-adopter of technology solutions for enterprises to help security. Prior to that, was in charge of information security for major sports brand for 7 years, based out of Germany.
Nominated twice in a row for the ISE® North America People’s Choice Award.
Passionate speaker at global security conferences and a close follower of cyber-security innovation globally.
A 25-year marketing veteran, Sybil has brought premium consumer brands to life by developing innovative customer-focused marketing strategies. She launched Steam Whistle Pilsner in 2000 as a pioneering upstart and helped it grow to the largest craft beer brand in Canada. As CMO at Nuuvera Canada, Sybil was a senior contributor to this Canadian Cannabis start-up via strategic planning and brand development for medical and recreational brands. Sybil has been part of senior teams in two of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, and through CSR initiatives, she has brought numerous awards and public profile to her managed brands.
Sara Zborovski provides regulatory and commercial counsel to companies regulated by Health Canada. Her practice is largely focused on assisting clients navigate the regulatory regimes implemented by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Food and Drugs Act and the newly-introduced Cannabis Act and their respective regulations. Sara assists clients in the pharmaceutical, cannabis (marijuana and hemp), food & beverage and medical device industries. She has extensive experience advising companies on advertising and promotion, compliance policies, licensing and good manufacturing / production practices. Sara also works with clients on matters relating to product safety including crisis management and advocacy before the inspectorate and product recalls.
Sara has been advising companies in the cannabis space since the introduction of the MMPR in 2013 and has assisted in the preparation and filing of license applications, has advocated before Health Canada on behalf of numerous applicants and has advised on all aspects of the licensing, production, distribution, promotion and sale of medical and adult-use cannabis. Sara also acted as counsel to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, advocating before Health Canada for change to the regulatory regime to permit whole plant use and is now engaged to advocate for the use of hemp-derived CBD in therapeutic and wellness products.
Steffen De Muynck started working for FLIR in 2012 and is currently part of the product management team. FLIR provides innovative and intelligent transportation solutions that enhance safety and efficiency in cities, on highways and in tunnels. Steffen primarily focuses on building and expanding existing markets such as tunnels and highways but also works on developing new markets such as the fire detection and public transportation market.
Steffen is married and has expanded his family in the beginning of June with a second daughter. He enjoys cooking, traveling and the occasional Belgian beer.
Want to find out more about FLIR solutions for the transportation industry? You can reach him directly at steffen.demuynck@flir.com or visit www.flir.com/traffic
Aikaterini has background studies in Architecture where she obtained a Diploma from the National Technical University of Athens NTUA. She then specialised in façade engineering and building environments by undertaking an MSc of building technology at the Technical University of Delft, NL.
She gained her experience in the field of façade consultancy and complex envelopes working previously for Thornton Tomasetti in London and for Knippers Helbig in Berlin.
As a senior façade engineer in London she realized several projects of different scopes ranging from residential to office, cultural and sport buildings and developed a specialisation for high-rise façade construction and pre-fabricated bespoke systems.. Some of her work includes the revitalisation of Wimbledon Court No.1 and The Shard Place high-rise development with Renzo Piano. In December 2018 she joined BuroHappold in Berlin where she leads façade projects in Central Europe. In her work within the interdisciplinary team of BuroHappold she is not only achieving an aesthetic vision for high quality building “skins”, she is moreover looking into buildability, efficiency of solutions, energy impact and long term sustainability.
Aikaterini studierte Architektur an der Nationalen Technischen Universität von Athen NTUA, wo sie mit einem Diplom abschloss. Danach spezialisierte sie sich mit einem Master of Science in Gebäudetechnik an der Technischen Universität Delft auf Fassadentechnik und Gebäudeumgebungen.
Ihre Erfahrungen im Bereich Fassadenberatung und komplexe Gebäudehüllen sammelte sie zuvor bei Thornton Tomasetti in London und bei Knippers Helbig in Berlin. Als Senior Fassadeningenieurin in London realisierte sie verschiedene Projekte in unterschiedlichen Bereichen von Wohn- über Büro- zu Kultur- und Sportgebäuden. Sie entwickelte eine Spezialisierung für den Hochhausfassadenbau und vorgefertigte, maßgeschneiderte Systeme. Einige ihrer Arbeiten umfassen die Revitalisierung von Wimbledon Court No.1 und The Shard Place, eine Hochhausentwicklung mit Renzo Piano. Seit Dezember 2018 ist sie bei BuroHappold in Berlin verantwortlich für die Fassadenprojekte in Zentraleuropa. In ihrer Arbeit im interdisziplinären Team von BuroHappold erreicht sie nicht nur eine ästhetische Vision für hochwertige Gebäudehüllen, sondern befasst sich auch mit Baufähigkeit, Energieeffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit.
Oliver Kupfner studied architecture at the Graz University of Technology, where he graduated with a Master of Science in Architecture. From 1995 to 1998, he worked at various architecture firms in Graz until he landed at architect Heinz Wondra’s office. He stayed there for ten years and gained important experience until joining the INNOCAD team in 2008. In 2014, he became a partner at INNOCAD.
Kupfner’s role with the firm is one of international significance, managing projects in the Middle East and all over Europe. He was the project leader on TWA The World Academy – King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia and Volksbank’s South Tyrol Headquarters in Bolzano. He delivered three different office headquarters in Vienna with Microsoft, ÖBB, and SAP. Additionally, Oliver was in charge of the conversion and redevelopment of the Graz Armoury museum, and the extension of a neurological clinic at LKH Feldbach. The ROCK, the first Radisson Red in a German-speaking region, as well as the new competence Center for MAM Health & Innovation was completed also under his direction.
He is a key communicator within the studio, acting as a connecting link between the client, design team, and execution team. In addition to networking, traveling, and lecturing, Oliver is an expert manager of project organization, timelines, and budgets. He is driven by bringing ideas into reality, as well as the various challenges and architectural innovation required during that process.
Marco is a passionate engineer with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
Having started work with Drees & Sommer in Stuttgart, Germany, Marco relocated to Asia to set up the engineering department in Shanghai where he stayed over 4 years working on landmark projects such as the Peoples’ Bank of China and the Pudong Art Museum.
Marco moved to London at the start of 2019 and has helped the UK team to drive future topics such as Circular Economy, Cradle to Cradle© and Customised Smart Buildings, which form part of ‘the blue way’, a core principle at Drees & Sommer which combines economy, ecology and functionality in design, construction and consultancy.
