President

Architect at Perkins Eastman

Li Ren is a project architect at Perkins Eastman, Li Ren focuses on senior living, multi-family housing, and urban design. Beyond the professional practice, Li serves as a board member/Director at Large in the AIA Washington Chapter, affiliate faculty at the Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, and an active member of the NCARB Examination Committee.

Li has excellent enthusiasm for community-based design and urban regeneration. His research/practice targets DC urban regeneration, knowledge-oriented architecture facilities, and future architectural strategy within three focus areas — technology, sustainability, and culture — emphasizing community hotspot spaces such as new neighborhood libraries, affordable housing, and senior living facilities renovated community service centers.

Li Ren embodies the young architect who has embraced the profession, continuous learning, and service. His impressive list of accomplishments has been undertaken quietly and without fanfare. However, everyone who has the chance to work with him or serve with him admires his focus, passion, leadership, and commitment.

Secretary

Technical Director | Senior Associate, Gensler

With over 20 years of experience across the United States and the Middle East, Ryan brings his technical expertise to every project, displaying thoughtfulness to design solutions that uniquely reflect a client’s core values, vision, and business mission. His ability to design both interior architecture and base building projects makes him a unique contributor to the firm. He has served in both design and contract administration roles for a wide range of projects, and his strong communication skills, coupled with his technical knowledge, allow him to form a key trusted advisor role to both client and team members alike. Being approachable and attentive, he values the relationships he forms.

He has successfully coordinated construction documents and construction administration for some of Gensler’s most complex projects. He has extensive experience of managing on-site coordination and observation including coordinating the efforts of consultants and acting as a liaison with building officials and local authorities, Ryan’s expertise is integral to ensuring drawing and technical accuracy.

Fellowship Director

Principal at Thierry Paret-Architect

Thierry Paret is an American architect, with 25 years of richly diverse experience in the USA, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Thierry previously worked as a Design Studio Lead for major Irish and US Firms where he designed pharmaceutical, laboratory, education and residential projects. More recently Thierry was an Advisor to the Qatari government working on program wide strategic initiatives for their multi-billion dollar portfolio comprising of the Healthcare, Educational and General Sectors.

Thierry earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute and is a registered architect in the States of New York, Nevada, Oklahoma (dormant), Utah (dormant) and the Republic of Ireland. He was elevated to the College of Fellows in 2014 at the age of 47.

Thierry was a founding member of the AIA Middle East Chapter and served as its first President from 2010-2012.  He also was one of the founders of the AIA International Region and served as its Treasurer in 2014-2015. He previously served on the AIA Membership (2013-2014), AIA Community Committees (2013) and AIA Knowledge Committee (2016). In 2015 Thierry was elected as one of six Directors At Large (2016-2017)on the AIA's National Board.

As a result of his significant contributions, in 2012 Thierry Paret was honored as the 41st most influential person in the Middle East and North African consgtruction industry by top regional magazine feauturing the "Power 100" in the industry. That same year he was also voted the 16th most influential architect in the Middle East by Architect Middle East Magazine.  Over the past 4 years he has supported the US Commerce Department with Trade Missions to the Middle East. He has also been an organizer of AIA Middle East End of Year Conferences since its inception.  Thierry's work has been published in Damdi's Competition Panel Book, Interior Magazine, Big Project Magazine, New York Times and other publications.

Thierry sits on the Advisory Boards of the American University in Dubai and Qatar University supporting them in their bids to become NAAB Accredited. He previously sat on the Advisory Board of Informa, the organizers of Cityscape events in the Middle East.

Thierry holds an FAA Private Pilot's License, is a fourth degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate who competed in the 1996 Sixth World Open Kyokushinkai Full Contact Tournament in Tokyo, Japan.  He is also an advanced tennis player and enjoys road cycling.

Events Director

Associate Architect at Perkins Eastman | Assoc. AIA, LEED GA

Christina is an alumna of Syracuse University in New York, where she earned a comprehensive 5-year Bachelor's degree in architecture with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises. With a global perspective gained through diverse professional experiences, Christina is a proactive architect and designer who excels across various practice areas.

Christina’s passion lies in leveraging design as a powerful tool to enhance social architecture, creating captivating spatial experiences both in physical and virtual realms. In her role as an emerging designer, Christina has played a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant inter-office culture at Perkins Eastman, positioning the firm among the best within its caliber.

Beyond her design responsibilities, Christina has actively championed the expansion of Perkins Eastman's social responsibility initiatives, emphasizing work-life balance, promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the workplace, and cultivating a positive office culture—both in the United States and Dubai.

Continuing Education Director & AUD Liaison

Professor of Architecture at American University in Dubai

Alex I. Albani is an architect and an academic with over 22 years of international experience. He began his career teaching CADD at the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his M. Arch and M.A. in Design. He continued after graduation as a CADD/BIM specialist and a store designer for Gap, LVMH, and Mexx. He joined the American University in Dubai (AUD) with the purpose of introducing BIM in academia.

Alex gained valuable CADD/BIM and design/build experience working on projects that ranged from creating and driving design/construction standards to phasing technology upgrade transitions. His architecture portfolio includes apparel, residential, civic, and office projects.

Alex’s contributions in academia include the Integrated Computational Design concentration and the introduction of BIM as a core subject. He was responsible for AUD’s MoU with Autodesk which secured over one million US dollars in Autodesk educational grants and services in the cloud for AUD students and faculty. He set up AUD as the first academic Autodesk Authorized Certification Centre in the Middle East which later was acquired by Certiport/Pearson VUE. He actively promotes BIM professional certification as well as NCARB Licensing and is presently serving as the AIA ME Continuing Education Director.

Alex is an associate member of the AIA, a BIM Revit for Architectural Design Certified Professional, and an Autodesk Certified Instructor. He received the AUD President’s Award for Teaching Excellence as well as the AUD Provost’s Award for Innovative Teaching.

Director at Large

Founder & Design Director, RAW-NYC Architects

Raya Ani an award winning architect and urban designer with 25 years of professional experience having worked in Baghdad, Germany, Boston, New York City and Dubai. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, she was named one of the top most powerful Architects in the Middle East. She won the AIA Middle East election at the end of 2015 to become the 2017 President of the American Institute of Architects - Middle East Chapter. She received her BSC in Architectural Engineering from Baghdad University with distinctions, and an MS in Architectural Studies from MIT where she was awarded the Harvard / MIT Aga Khan Scholarship. She has taught urban and architectural design studios and served as a guest critic at a number of leading architectural schools in New York, Boston and Dubai. Raya Ani is a licensed Architect in the State of New York and a US Green Building Council Accredited Professional.

Raya has designed the first public green school in New York City and two green- certified (LEED) residential towers in Battery Park City. In 2011, she was nominated for the Middle-East Architect of the year Award and her work was highly commended by the jury. In 2012, she founded RAW-NYC Architects, an interdisciplinary architectural studio based in New York City. In 2014, She established the Dubai office.

Director at Large

Project Manager at Dar Group

Chucri is a licensed Architect in the State of New York and a LEED accredited professional with a remarkable educational background and a solid experience in the architectural design of a wide range of buildings and facilities, including mixed-use structures, residential and healthcare facilities. Chucri has a diversified educational experience: He received his bachelor of Architecture with honor from the “Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts, ALBA”, holds a Master in Restoration and PhD in Architecture from the University of Valladolid in Spain.

Chucri carries 17 years of experience in the design, management and site execution, actively contributing to the realization of several award winning mega projects located in the United States and throughout the Middle East. He started his working experience in the United States, as a designer at Perlman architects, a residential & mixed-use oriented architectural design firm. He later joined Steelman partners and collaborated in the design of several entertainment projects in the United States and Macau, China.

Chucri is currently working at Dar Group, a privately owned consultancy firm operating in many locations around the globe, following up the design and execution of several healthcare projects in the Mena region. He is also a member of the Lebanese syndicate of engineers and the Saudi Council of Engineers.

Iraq Country Representative

Fatima H. Mohsin, Intl. Assoc. AIA, is a project architect with over a decade of experience managing multimillion-dollar projects across the Middle East, including the region’s largest cinema screen. Her work navigates the intersections of urbanization, nature, and environmental consciousness. As an artist, she merges architectural precision with a deeply textured, emotive approach, utilizing mixed media to explore the subtle tensions between humanity and the natural world.

UAE Country Representative

Bridging the fields of architecture and public policy, with interests in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and Nature based Solutions, Lisa has serviced key real estate stakeholders across the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East regions, along with prominent NGOs, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the U.S. Mission to ASEAN (YSEALI), and the Biomimicry Singapore Network (BSN).

Currently, Lisa serves on the Board of the American Institute of Architects - Middle East Chapter as the UAE Country Representative. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the American University of Dubai and a Director of the Singapore Business Council, UAE, where she oversees Strategic Partnerships and Inter-Council relationships.

Associate Professor American University of Sharjah, Principal at Yogiaman Tracy Design

Vice President

Managing Partner at RKTECT Studios

Roger Skaff owns and leads a practice with bases in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and Beirut, Lebanon. He is a faculty member at the Lebanese American University in Byblos and an advisor for NAAB accreditation.

In his projects, Roger emphasizes sustainable design and agile management by adopting Data-Driven Project Design & Delivery methods. His office provides architecture, interior design, engineering, and management services, as well as third party expertise in Code Compliance, Fire Life Safety, and Value Engineering. He has led high-profile projects, including the construction of the AUB-IFI institutional building, a Zaha Hadid design at the American University of Beirut, and the digital construction delivery of the Lusail Landscape Plaza, a Foster + Partners project in Qatar. Expanding his presence to KSA, he has contributed design, consultancy, and expertise to industrial, medical resorts, hospitality, and mixed-use developments in Riyadh, Neom, and Red Sea.

Before establishing his offices in 2010, he headed the UAE operations at Steelman Partners, overseeing iconic resort projects. This has complemented his prior design and management experience in mixed-use and hospitality developments in Las Vegas in addition to municipal and airport projects in Philadelphia, USA.

Treasurer

Buro Happold

Jason is a Registered Architect in the USA with over 10 years of work experience in China. He is a Founding Partner of STUDIO DOHO, an architecture and interior design company in Shanghai. Jason has extensive experience in design, construction, and project management for both large and small scale projects in China.

Regional Director

Director of Operations and Senior Design Manager with over 25 years of experience and a diverse portfolio of work globally ranging from academic to commercial, arenas to single family residential, civic/transportation to hospitality and resorts.

As a resident of the United Arab Emirates for close to 14 years, she has worked with large, mutli-discpiplinary teams on some of the most exciting hospitality, retail and residential developments in the Middle East. Mrs. Kinnick is a collaborative team leader with excellent communication skills and a strong foundation in both design and technical construction knowledge.

Stephanie has served as the Middle East chapter's Vice President, President, and Past President and is currently the Regional Director as part of the Executive Committee. Stephanie has also served on the AIA International Board of Directors as the Middle East Chapter Representative for 2023 and 2024 and is currently the 2025-2026 Secretary as part of the Executive Committee.

Communications Director & Bahrain Country Rep.

Communication Director and AIA Middle East Bahrain Country Representative, bringing 10 years of experience in the Middle East’s architectural landscape. As a registered architect with the Saudi Council of Engineers, Shahd has worked on diverse design projects, demonstrating expertise in BIM and LEED GA principles.

Beyond architecture, Shahd has a deep passion for photography, videography, and social media, using visual storytelling to capture the essence of design and the built environment. Their creative approach enhances engagement in architectural discourse, blending technical expertise with artistic expression.

Actively engaged in the MENA region’s architectural events and exhibitions, Shahd plays a vital role in fostering industry dialogue and innovation. Her involvement in prestigious gatherings, including AIA Middle East conferences and design awards, reflects a dedication to creativity, sustainability, and excellence in the built environment.

EDI Director

Assoc. AIA Architect | Regional Specifications Manager- Jotun Middle East, India and Africa (MEIA)

Director at Large

Project Planning Manager at KAUST

Oman Country Representative
Architect at Meinhardt Group

Maryam graduated from Kansas State University with a Masters in Architecture, as well as studying abroad for a semester in Centro Studi Città di Orvieto in Italy. Maryam is also an active member of the Oman Society of Engineers and one of the founding members of the Women in Engineering chapter in Oman

Maryam's design vision is to create spaces that evoke revolutionary ideas, educate budding minds and respect the fragility of our earth. Deeply interested in the practice of design that fuses diverse minds, she seeks mutual respect and openness to idea generation and eventually produces something beautiful and powerful. She is an advocate of design that not only transcends borders and is used as a tool for change, but is also contextually appreciative, innovative and ultimately timeless in nature.

Jordan Country Representative

Principal architect at Raed al naber architects planners and consultants, and Industrial professor at the German Jordanian University in Jordan.

With more than 36 years of diverse experience in the Middle East and Europe.

I started my career in Jordan as designer in my own practice (Darat el turath) and as full time lecturer at the University of Jordan. I spent more than 10 years practicing in Greece and GCC countries as head of architecture section in CCC contracting company and as manager of special assignments and projects sponsor. In the last 10 years, I am practicing in my own design bureau in Amman and as industrial professor at the German Jordanian University.

My practice included work in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscaping and Urban Design.

Projects ranges from residential, hospitality, retail and commercial projects.

He won several architectural competitions in Jordan and the region

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Jordan (1984). A master degree in architecture from Maryland University USA (1994) in regional architecture and member of the Jordanian Engineering Association.

Chairperson & Professor, School of Design & Architecture, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai campus

Professor with a demonstrated record in Architecture & Interior Design, in addition to being an historian, artist, and translator.
Dean and Professor, College of Design at The American University in the Emirates (AUE), Dubai.

Experienced in leadership and administration in Higher Education in the U.S. and Globally including Curriculum Development, Student and Faculty Recruitment and Retention, and Accreditation. Educator with a vision with a Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Past President

Founder / Principal at Anomaly Architecture

Timothy Winstanley is an architect focused on the integration of innovative and atypical approaches to design opportunities with an emphasis on the engagement and creation of contextual solutions that enrich experiential qualities on an international scale. Timothy is a registered architect in the US states of Illinois and Arizona.

Prior to founding Anomaly Architecture in 2021, he was a Senior Architect at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, where he led the design of numerous international projects ranging from supertall towers to cultural landmarks, including the recently completed Al Wasl Trellis - the centerpiece of Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE.

His work embodies an approach that is heavily influenced by the local contextual curiosities present within each unique locale. This, in turn, reveals the potential for dynamic design to profoundly transform the human experience and enrich the urban fabric. His experience directing large-scale complex projects from conception through construction on-site provides an additional layer of insight into the realization of complex designs through close collaboration with world-class fabricators and builders.

Executive Director

A founding member of the AIA Middle East Board of Directors, Sherif has served as the Chapter's Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and was the 2013 and 2016 President and is the chapter’s Executive Director. Sherif has also served on the AIA International Region Board of Directors as the founding Zone 1 Region Director, the 2017-2018 Secretary, and the current Middle East Chapter Representative.

Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects, and governments in the MENA region, Sherif and the Board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and Middle East; promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between the AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.

With a rich and diverse experience in the USA, London, and the GCC, Sherif relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in Abu Dhabi. With more than 31 years’ experience working in Architecture, Interior Design, and Urban Planning, his work ranges from residential and commercial buildings to academic and institutional facilities, all of which possess the qualities that make any type of project successful, attractive, sustainable, and most importantly, livable. Sherif is a Fellow in the AIA, a registered licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts. and also a member of the Boston Society of Architects.

Mr. Anis received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture.

Membership Director

Principal at Infinity Design

Farouk Tadros, an architect, and owner of “Infinity Design”. He holds a bachelor degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California-Los Angeles (USC), obtained his master’s degree in Landscape Architecture (MLA) from University of Southern California-Los Angeles (USC). He has been a part-time lecturer at several universities in Jordan. Tadros is a member of the Green Building Committee at the Jordan Engineering Association (JEA) and a member of “Greener Amman 2020 Committee” hosted by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM). In addition, committee member for the landscape design accreditation at the Jordan Engineering Association (JEA).

He has worked on a variety of design projects within the region ranging from urban regeneration projects, development of archeological and tourist sites, city parks, coastal developments, residential and commercial buildings. Tadros is an architect who strongly believes in the impact of development on the existing environment, thus sustainable approaches are mostly adapted in his designs.

Fundraising Director

Megha Arjun is a licensed Architect with COA in India, currently working in Qatar in the field of architecture, design, and construction. Her passion for Architecture originated from her love and understanding of Life. Learning and exploring the world of Architecture, One's idea is to take Inspiration from Life itself and give it back in the Physical form. One believes in creating spaces which can contribute to the World in a way which helps create value in people's lives and in the environment.

Megha has worked for a global design firm - HKS Inc. where she has worked on different scale of projects in the US, China and India. She has been actively involved in preparing and participating in Client presentations for reputed Clients in India and Singapore. Currently, to advance her knowledge in Building construction, she has been leading the construction and coordination effort with Blue Star Qatar W.L.L in Qatar for Qatar University.

Megha is a member of the AIA American Institute of Architects as an International Associate. She has been awarded Gold Medal in her Bachelors for Academic Achievement. She has also been a Better Together Champion for the firm-wide initiative in HKS Inc. as a part of HR to include Diversity, inclusion, and Equity.

AIA MIddle East Past-President

KSA Country Director - Ramboll ME

Architect, Design, and Operations Leader with over 25 years of experience in the design and planning of commercial-driven mixed-use environments and developments throughout the Middle East, India, and the USA. Managed the growth and development of (3) three design consultancy offices, crafting multidisciplinary design studios with core support teams.

Strong Business Development background with an understanding of brand awareness and the importance of identifying and executing tactical marketing initiatives. Brings a wealth of knowledge and appreciation for the operational and financial targets of Clients and achieving their project goals.

John is a graduate of the University of Houston and the Ecole d'architecture et d’Urbanisme, Saintes, France.

John is a US registered architect in the state of Florida, licenced architect in Saudi Council of Engineers and Dubai Society of Engineers.

AUC Liaison

Associate Professor of Sustainable Design, The American University in Cairo

Khaled Tarabieh is an Associate Professor of Sustainable Design and the Associate Chair of the Department of Architecture at The American University in Cairo. He is a holder of a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering from Alexandria University and both a master's in city planning (MCP) and a PhD in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, with a specialization in the planning of energy efficient urban environments, high performance building design, certification and assessment.

He is a LEED-accredited professional with expertise in green buildings design, construction and assessment using different types of rating systems. At AUC, he teaches the sustainability in the architectural design core studio and is the Director of the Building Sciences Lab where he conducts research on the thermal performance of building envelope materials for residential buildings in Egypt and the assessment of its ecological impact, smart and energy efficient window typologies, understanding the thermal impacts of façade geometry and optimization of the wall insulated concrete forms (ICFs).

Egypt Country Representative
Principal, Shalalat Group, Egypt

Mr. Habbak, a principal of “The Shalalat group”, and an associate member of the American Institute of Architects and the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers, and a licensed consultant architect in Egypt, and a founder of The “Society of Egyptian architects” in Alexandria-Egypt..

In 1987 he received a Master degree in architecture from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He also holds a Bachelor degree in Architecture from the University of Alexandria.  In addition, he attended several courses in different institutes such as: “Lighting Design Course” Philips, Holland. “Computer aided design” University of California, Berkeley. Intern at “Renardet Engineering”, Paris, France.

Mr. Habbak was a consultant to several architectural firms in the United States and Egypt for his vast experience in construction and talent in design.  He also served in the Egyptian Navy on national architectural projects.

He conducted several studies concerning urban evolution of different cities. As well as participating in “City Plans & Places” a book published by the USC University.

He has been involved with the Los Angeles City Redevelopment Agency in the study of the Broadway street development as well as participating in the preparation of the Alexandria 2005 master plan.

Mr. Habbak received a first prize award in an international architectural competition for the design of the “Library in Alexandria”. Interviewed on national television and major International newspaper both in Egypt and the United States.  He also received several awards in photography, including a national award from the AIA “American Institute of Architects”.

KSA Country Representative

Director at ROSHN

Rawan Yassin is a Senior Architect at ARC-IDC. She graduated from Northumbria University, UK with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. In 2011, she returned to Riyadh and began her professional career working for Omrania and Associates. To broaden her horizon and develop her architectural education further, Rawan enrolled in the Masters of Architecture program at Pratt Institute, New York. Throughout her education, she developed a sophisticated skill set, a comprehensive understanding of building technologies, and a passion for experimenting with forms and translating digital into possible reality.

Upon graduation, Rawan worked for Leeser architecture in New York where she acquired essential experience in a highly design oriented environment. Rawan has a particular interest in generative design with expertise in digital media and fabrication.

Komal Kotwal is a Global Sustainable Strategy and Management Leader, an Architect and Educator. Founder and Principal Consultant at EquiSustain, Komal specializes in bespoke sustainability consulting, educational and mentoring services, with a key focus on the intersection of climate change & health and the advancement of equity for all. Prior to establishing EquiSustain, Komal held the role of firmwide Sustainable Design Leader for Health, Well-Being and Equity at the global architecture and engineering firm, HOK.

Morocco Country Representative

Working with clients from project conception to construction completion. Specializing in commercial and residential architecture, renovation, planning, interiors, and landscaping.