Archives: Speakers

A self-described “hotelier at heart,” with over 25 years of operational hospitality industry experience, Monika brings a deep understanding of luxury hotel service and a unique cultural perspective. She most recently served as Regional Managing Director for London, New York and Paris for the global interior design firm Wilson Associates. Prior to Wilson, she worked at the Hotel Le Fouquet’s Barriere in Paris, Shangri-La Hotel Paris, Hilton Worldwide and Four Seasons. Born in Venezuela with a German citizenship and raised in various countries in South America and Europe, Moser understands different cultures, contributing to an inclusive management style. She has a certificate in Hospitality Management from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and an MBA in Hospitality Management from ESSEC Business School (IMHI) in Paris, France.

Steve is a senior associate at dRMM. He contributes to a range of projects across the studio, with a particular interest in large-scale residential and mixed-use regeneration projects and masterplans for urban renewal. Steve has a keen interest in the environmental sustainability of projects and is a champion of engineered timber and innovative, sustainable approaches. Steve is currently leading the delivery of Charlton Workstack, a new model for low carbon high density light industrial space, constructed from CLT. Steve was the project leader and associate in charge of Trafalgar Place, the first phase of the Elephant and Castle regeneration comprising 235 homes of mixed tenure in a combination of townhouse and apartment typologies. Trafalgar Place was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2016. Steve has been involved in the realisation of the Sky campus masterplan in West London since 2013. He led the design and delivery of the Sky Health and Fitness Centre, a case study in building with sustainable timber, empowering the health and wellness of its users. Other projects realised or in the works for Sky include MSCP-I, a data centre and MSCP-II & logistics centre. He now contributes to a number of masterplan studies and developments working into established masterplans. He led dRMM’s study for the London Borough of Lambeth for a series of sites in central Brixton, studies for the local authority and prominent landowners in Milton Keynes, and several estate regeneration schemes in London. At dRMM, Steve is responsible for the continual improvement and peer review forums, and contributes to various dRMM research projects. Alongside his practice, Steve presents dRMM’s projects and research internationally, including lectures across the UK, Norway and Estonia.

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.

Simon is a principal of London-based architects Henley Halebrown. The practice has been shortlisted twice for the RIBA Stirling Prize. First, in 2018 for the Chadwick Hall student housing for the University of Roehampton and this year, in 2022, for Hackney New Primary School & 333 Kingsland Road which is also shortlisted for the Neave Brown Award for Housing. Chadwick Hall was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award EU Prize in 2019; and in 2020 won the Fritz Höger Silver Award for Brick Architecture. In 2018 Quart Verlag published a monograph on the practice in the De Aedibus International series. For more than 20 years Simon has advocated for a palpably sustainable architecture, one that people understand, engage with and participate in as occupants. He explores these ideas in his essay ‘Façade Studies’ in The Hybrid Practitioner published by Leuven University Press (2022). Crucially, he strives through the work of the practice to facilitate a sustainable way of life. Simon studied at the University of Liverpool and the University of Oregon, USA. He combines practice with teaching, writing and research, and is the author of Redefining Brutalism (2017) and The Architecture of Parking (2007) which won the RIBA International Book Award for Construction. Simon is a postgraduate unit master at the Kingston School of Art.

A former Chief Government Advisor on Infrastructure to the Dutch government from 2008-2012, Ton Venhoeven (b. 1954) founded VenhoevenCS in 1995. During his time in government he advised on sustainability of infrastructural, urban and regional planning. Prior to this he was a Professor of Architectural History and Theory at Eindhoven University of Technology (2005-2009), where his design research focused on the pedestrian city of tomorrow. Alongside his work as an architect and urban designer, Ton is an international consultant for Smart MicroCity and Healthy City, integrated planning, multimodal mobility networks and transit-oriented development. Among his clients are national and international governmental organizations, NGO’s and foundations. Sustainability is in Ton’s DNA: ever since the publication of Limits to Growth in 1972, he has made it a point in both his professional and private life to contribute to a sustainable, equitable world in which all life can thrive. His latest focus is on biodiversity and nature inclusive design.

Aron is an expert on urban design, smart cities and housing. At Buro Happold he leads the Smart Cities offer in Europe and works on urban developments and master planning projects, as well as on the implementation of integrated infrastructures. He advises public and private sector clients on the use of smart city applications in the best interest of the inhabitants. He understands the digital transition and the use of smart technologies as cross-sectional topics that integrate technical aspects like mobility and energy as well as experience-driven elements that result in behaviour and experience. Before joining the company, Aron directed the German Mobility Award, which is awarded to the most progressive, data-driven mobility solutions in Germany. At the same time, he taught urban planning classes at HafenCity University in Hamburg. Prior, he was one of three curators on Conflicts of an Urban Age, an exhibition for the Venice Biennale, about current urban challenges. Aron also worked for various clients as researcher, on urban design competitions and as technical expert. He is well versed on organising and conducting public and stakeholder consultations and other participatory processes. Aron studied Urban and Regional Planning in Vienna and Istanbul before completing a MSc in Urban Design in Hamburg and a MSc in City Design and Social Science in London.