Archives: Speakers

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.

Mathew Vola is a structural engineer and project director with over 20 years of experience in delivering iconic projects on time and to budget in Europe, Australia and East Asia. Since joining Arup in 2007, Mathew has lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams in the design and delivery of lighthouse projects predominantly in the Property and Social Infrastructure markets. In addition to his role as Design Lead for Sustainable Property, Mathew also leads the Climate and Sustainability Services portfolio for the Netherlands Group and the Computational Design Skills Network for the Europe Region. Keen to harness digital innovation, Mathew is currently working to develop the next-generation buildings that meet the requirement of our times. Mathew has been responsible for the engineering of one the tallest residential timber developments in the world, HAUT. Other recent project work includes the advanced parametric design modelling for Elements. Mathew is fluent in Dutch and English and proficient in German.

Maria is an established thought-leader within the hospitality design world, admired for her roll call of exceptional and award-winning projects, sought out by discerning property owners and respected for the value she brings to all her work. She is as confident in imagining large, imposing spaces as she is in creating cosy niches; whether designing the boldly contemporary or within the classical genre, she draws on location and cultural heritage to create something unique. An architect by training and an interior designer by choice, she combines visionary use of space with design that reaches out beyond trend, that is commercially astute, innovative and delightfully surprising. Maria established MKV Design in London in 2000 after an early career which had taken her from Athens to Milan and onto the UK. Since then, she has cultivated a business which has worked across Europe, in the Middle East and in Africa. Current/recent projects include: Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland; Costa Navarino, Greece; Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest; the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane; Grand Hyatt Athens; Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort; Athens Capital Centre Hotel – MGallery Collection; Grand Hyatt Hotel & Residences, Abu Dhabi; and Hôtel Royal Savoy in Lausanne.

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.

Oliver joined Make in 2017 to deliver 80 Charlotte Street, a major mixed-use scheme in Fitzrovia, comprising commercial, residential, and retail accommodation and a small public park.  Designed as Net Zero Carbon it is the first All-Electric building for developer Derwent London. Oliver established and leads Make’s internal sustainability working group, Make Neutral aiming to equip every Maker with the information and skills they need to enact change both on projects and in the practice itself. The group oversees internal sustainability education, materials research, conducting project sustainability reviews and progressing the practices approach such as sustainability inductions for new starters; and setting out a framework for reducing our design impact through a Sustainable Design Toolkit. Oliver represents Make on built environment industry-wide sustainability groups, including UKGBC, and has been a panel member for Built Environment Networking and the CTA. He led the team creating the competition-winning animated 3D centrepiece for UKGBC’s virtual pavilion at COP26, which tells the story of the built environment’s resource-hungry supply chain and construction process, demonstrating how we may transition to a circular economy to enable the restoration of our natural world. He is now designing Salford Rise, a green bridge within Salford Crescent Masterplan, of which he is also the masterplanning architect and design guardian. Oliver is a member of the RIBA Schools Visiting Board, which validates schools of architecture across the UK, and is a USGBC LEED-accredited professional (building design and construction). He leads the BCO Next Gen Carbon action area, and is frequently a guest on podcasts investigating sustainability in the built environment.