Chris is a master planner with architecture and urban planning degrees from MIT and Princeton University.  During more than 25 years of experience his work has focused on tourism projects for new resort communities, towns and villages; on development strategies for cultural tourism destinations; and on regional tourism development initiatives. He has worked in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, as well as in North & East Africa. Chris’ planning and design philosophy embraces financially viable developments that respond to the history, culture and environment of their settings. His research interests include the history of urban development and the impacts of tourism on local communities.

Based in Singapore, Vignesh is the Design Technology Director for Gensler’s Asia Pacific, Middle East and Greater China regions. He leverages his passion for people enablement, process development, and technology innovation to lead digital transformation in the firm’s practice that spans complex mixed-use, retail, hospitality, sports and workplace projects of various scales across the region.

The core mission of the high-powered community he leads is to create an advanced and sophisticated experience for our designers and clients through infinite computing possibilities in generative design, computational systems, design visualization, and software development.

A recognized thought leader, he has published multiple original research papers in various technology conferences and journals and is a frequent speaker at national and international forums related to A.I., Machine Learning, Design Computation, and BIM.

As Asia Pacific Practice Leader, Peter is an accomplished architectural and business development leader with over 35 years of experience and an extensive portfolio of architectural and planning projects spanning Asia and the Middle East. He has extensive experience in managing and delivering large-scale mixed-use, commercial office, hotel, residential, sports, retail, planning, and transit-oriented-design projects in Asia. A good listener and easy communicator, Peter works directly with clients, partners, designers, and consultants in managing complex challenges. A keen environmentalist, his current focus involves delivering sustainable and zero-carbon developments.

Reiser+Umemoto, RUR Architecture is an internationally recognized architecture office and design atelier founded in 1986 by Jesse Reiser and Nanako Umemoto. The firm works across continents and scales with projects ranging from large scale cultural and infrastructural projects to detailed object, furniture, and exhibition designs. Reiser+Umemoto, RUR is widely published, most recently in their sweeping monograph Projects and Their Consequences which traces thirty years of multidisciplinary investigations into form, structure, techniques and planning. Awards and honors include the Chrysler Award for Excellence in Design, the Academy Award in Architecture by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Presidential Citation and John Hejduk Award from the Cooper Union, and the USA Booth Fellowship from United States Artists for Architecture & Design.

Troy has a broad range of industry experience, he has worked in Australia, New Zealand, New York and is a principal at Prism Façades. As a façade designer, he has developed specialist skills in the design of components and custom fabrication, which he applies to the development of new facades. Troy is also an accomplished illustrator and is active in the architectural community as a mentor, blogger, speaker and through his daily posts to @the_donnies on Instagram. His enthusiasm and willingness to share has encouraged a sketching and model making culture amongst the architect’s he works.

Saul Kim, the founder of Saul Kim Studio, focuses on challenging the preconceived notion of architecture design. Growing up in Singapore, Saul began his architectural studies at Singapore Polytechnic. His academic journey continued when he transferred to the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), where he graduated with distinction, earning a Bachelor of Architecture. He later completed his Master of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, which further solidified his forward-thinking approach to design.

Saul Kim’s multifaceted background—spanning design, academia, and international project execution—reflects his commitment to challenging conventional architectural norms and promoting innovative ways to inhabit spaces. Through his professional and educational contributions, he continues to push the boundaries of architecture, inspiring students, clients, and the architectural community to rethink traditional design practices. His ongoing journey in education and design underscores his dedication to sharing knowledge, shaping the next generation of designers, and contributing to a creative, intellectually enriched community.