Haby Yaqob is a seasoned architectural engineer with a passion for innovation and sustainability in the built environment. A graduate of Cairo Academy, he further specialized in Façade Engineering at the University of Bath, UK, earning certifications from CWCT and Autodesk BIM. He is a proud member of the Egyptian and Saudi Engineers Syndicates, combining technical expertise with a deep commitment to advancing sustainable practices in architectural aluminum since 2007.

In his current role, Haby collaborates with leading experts in architectural aluminum across the Greater Middle East, Europe, and Africa. His work involves forging strong partnerships with designers, architects, consultants, developers, and contractors. Whether designing an elegant sliding folding door for a luxury chalet or crafting bespoke aluminum façades for futuristic vertical cities, Haby approaches every project with creativity and precision.

As an integral part of WICONA, a brand under Hydro Building Systems and a global leader in aluminum solutions, Haby extends his influence beyond the industry. He engages actively with architecture students and academia, sharing insights and staying ahead of emerging trends in design and construction.

Sherouq Al Sayed is the Founder and Managing Partner of FTI Integrated Engineering Solutions (FTIIES), a boutique consultancy focused on the engineering, technical governance, and architectural integration of high-performance building envelopes.

With over 15 years of experience, her work connects façade engineering, façade lighting, and building façade access strategies - three disciplines too often developed in isolation, yet fundamentally interdependent in how buildings perform and endure. Grounded in the conviction that innovation has no value unless it can be built, she has advised leading developers and stakeholders across the Middle East.

Her ambition is clear: to close the distance between architectural imagination and physical reality - through integration, not compromise.

Ahmed is on a mission to help architects, façade designers, and developers to select the right glass for their projects. Ahmed graduated as a mechanical engineer and after that, he worked in the glass field. His passion is to share his knowledge in glass with the different stakeholders to help them select the right glass, making the building’s users feel comfortable and reducing the electricity consumption for a greener society. Ahmed started with Guardian as a specification manager in KSA. After that, he was the demand creation team leader in GCC and Pakistan. Most recently served as regional mega projects manager for Africa and the Middle East.

Jan Scheers is a Belgium born glass professional working as a consultant for Kuraray GmbH.

He was born in Belgium (°1964) and started working for the US chemical giant DuPont after finishing his Bachelor in Marketing. He worked for 14 years in the paints division in DuPont in various functions in logistics, quality control and R&D.

In 1999 he moved to the Glass Solutions division of DuPont where he worked in technical service, product development, marketing and sales.

Since 2014, when DuPont Glass laminating Solutions was acquired by Kuraray, Jan focused on Sales and Technical Service in various countries in EMEA.

Currently Jan is working as a sales consultant for Kuraray, responsible for the Middle East and South Africa. He is based in Dubai, UAE.

Lucile Souyri, 34, was born and raised in the picturesque countryside of southwest France, near Toulouse. She holds a Master’s degree in International Sales, Marketing, and Communication, a foundation that has propelled her into a dynamic and impactful career.

For the past 8 years, Lucile has been a vital part of Hydro Building Systems, holding roles across communication, marketing, and sustainability. Her professional journey began in Germany and later took her to Singapore, where she successfully navigated the complexities of the South-East Asian market. These years abroad not only enriched her professionally but also gave her a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and lifestyles.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Lucile transitioned to the role of Sustainability Manager five years ago. In this role, she has spearheaded initiatives focusing on product circularity, materials innovation, emissions reduction, and sustainable transport and packaging. Her work also involves forging strategic partnerships with customers, suppliers, and key players in the construction sector, ensuring sustainability remains at the forefront.

Iman Youssri is a Director of Procurement & Value Engineering with over 25 years of experience across Egypt and the Middle East's engineering consultancy and construction sectors. She brings strategic expertise in technical specifications, quantity surveying, and cost management mastering the full project lifecycle from conception to completion.

Having led as Head of Specifications & Quantity Surveying and as Cost Manager, Iman has consistently delivered high-profile projects in hospitality, healthcare, education, and mixed-use development. She builds robust technical and procurement frameworks that mitigate risk while aligning with international standards and client budgets.

A specialist in Value Engineering and strategic cost management, Iman optimizes project expenditure without compromising quality. She excels at guiding multi-disciplinary teams through complex tender evaluations, constructability reviews, and risk workshops. Recognized as a trusted advisor, she cultivates strong vendor partnerships and delivers quality-driven, cost-efficient solutions that maximize value and client satisfaction.

Maged (Max) Ahmed joined BG&E Façades in 2014 as a senior façade engineer. After two years in the head office in Melbourne, Australia; he re-located to the Middle East where he established the Middle East presence of BG&E Façades. Since then, Max and his team have provided façade consulting services for numerous projects in the Middle East as well as Australia.

Max is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineers Australia and holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He has 15 years of structural and façade engineering experience and has successfully delivered projects in the commercial, residential, educational and hospitality sectors.

Max’s focus is on raising awareness of façade consulting importance across Middle East region, developing facade systems, building envelope solutions based on simplicity during construction and applying past learned lessons in the industry.

Russell is a Principal, Design Director and Cities Flex Studio Leader that undertakes large scale architectural infrastructure projects in the Gensler London office. With nearly 40 years of design experience, he has amassed a portfolio of high profile, architecture and master-planning expertise across multiple different building types in the USA, Europe and Asia. He formerly worked with SOM, AS+GG, Richard Rogers Partnership and Foster & Partners. Completing award winning, projects including, One Museum Place, Shanghai, ‘Pearl River Tower’ in Guangzhou, China, Protos Winery in Northern Spain, Glyndebourne Opera House, UK, ‘Reichstag’ Parliament Building, Berlin, Germany, 122 Leadenhall and 88 Wood Street in London UK. He has published and lectured internationally on low energy, high performance high-rise building and is a former Advisory Board Member and the prestigious Height Committee for the Council for Vertical Urbanism (formerly CTBUH). Russell has a master’s degree from Oxford Brookes University (UK) and has been a registered architect since 1988.

Hazem Alzaro is the Founder and Principal Architect of Zaro Architects, a multidisciplinary design studio working across architecture, interiors, master planning, and place-led urban experiences. His work explores the façade not merely as a building envelope, but as a living threshold between identity, performance, climate, and human experience.

With projects across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Europe, and beyond, Hazem’s practice is known for blending contextual sensitivity with bold contemporary design. Through hospitality, mixed-use, cultural, residential, and urban regeneration projects, he continues to challenge the role of architecture as a tool for storytelling, value creation, and meaningful placemaking.

At Zak World of Façades Cairo, Hazem brings a design-led perspective on how façades can move beyond aesthetics and engineering to become the architectural voice of a project - shaping perception, memory, and the relationship between buildings and the cities they inhabit, while inspiring more responsive, emotionally resonant, and future-facing urban environments.

Abdullah Faza is the Director of Fire & Life Safety – Middle East at AESG, leading a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 fire engineering professionals across the middle east. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Fire Safety Engineering from the University of Central Lancashire, UK, and is a member of IFE, UK, IOSH, UK and SCE, KSA.

With over a decade of regional and international experience, Abdullah specializes in façade fire safety, performance-based design, civil defence approvals, and complex fire engineering strategies across high-rise, mixed-use, hospitality, airport, and mega development projects.

He has led and contributed to landmark developments including Al Wasl Tower, UAE Pavilion Expo 2020, Red Sea International Airport, NEOM projects, Diriyah Gate developments, and major hospitality and mixed-use assets across the region. Abdullah is also a recognised speaker at regional fire and façade industry conferences and seminars.

Hisham Elsergany is an architect and façade specialist with 38 years of experience executing complex façade and curtain wall projects across the GCC and Egypt. His career spans landmark developments for leading developers, contactors and consultants including Habtoor Leighton, Arabtec, Carillion and Arkan.

Hisham is the only Egyptian Member of the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE - UK) and holds membership of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSCE).

A committed advocate for raising professional standards in Egypt’s façade industry, Hisham moderates the panel discussion at ZAK Egypt 2026 on technical certification and accountability in façade engineering – a conversation the industry can no longer afford to postpone.

Over thirty years experience in construction management and supervision, architectural design, quantity survey, time schedule, progress reports, quality control, coordination and follow up of various types of projects including residential, educational and commercial buildings, entertainment buildings & Landscape. Experience covers review shop drawings, tender documents, materials procurement and site support.

Sherif Abou El Liel serves as the Chief Projects Officer (CPO) at Nations of Sky, a prominent real estate development company in Egypt. He is a senior executive with extensive leadership experience in the real estate and construction sectors, where he plays a central role in shaping and delivering large-scale development initiatives.

In his position, Sherif oversees the planning, development, and execution of the company’s major urban projects, including smart city developments. His responsibilities span the full project lifecycle, from early-stage planning and design coordination to execution and delivery, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and on-ground implementation.

He works closely with multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and stakeholders to ensure that projects are delivered efficiently, on time, and in line with quality and innovation standards. His leadership reflects a strong focus on operational excellence, structured execution, and long-term urban development vision.

Through his role at Nations of Sky, Sherif contributes to advancing modern, sustainable real estate projects that support Egypt’s evolving urban landscape and infrastructure growth.

Dr. Hany El Rashidy is a distinguished structural engineer with more than 30 years of experience in structural steel design and façade engineering. He currently serves as Head of Façade Engineering – Cairo Branch at Dar Al-Handasah (Sidara), where he leads multidisciplinary façade engineering teams delivering complex international projects ranging from major airport terminals and stadiums to high-rise towers, mixed-use developments, and iconic architectural landmarks.

His expertise covers advanced building envelope systems, structural glass, curtain walls, skylights, steel-supported façades, and tensile structures. Throughout his career, he has successfully led multidisciplinary teams and provided technical leadership on major projects across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, ensuring excellence in design, performance, constructability, and compliance with international standards.

Marianthi Tatari is a Senior Architect and Director at UNS in Amsterdam, where she leads projects across a wide range of scales and typologies. Since joining UNS in 2007, after earning her education in Thessaloniki, Paris, and Los Angeles, Marianthi has been at the forefront of projects that emphasize design, innovation, and the creation of impactful, human-centered places.

Marianthi thrives in contexts that demand both creativity and systems thinking, where architectural vision intersects with business innovation. Her portfolio includes contributions to some of the UNS most high-profile projects, such as the Booking.com City Campus and the Architectural Branding design for the Doha Metro Network.

At IE University in Madrid, she teaches “Managing Design Businesses”, focusing on how creative ambition, strategic leadership, and innovation drive the growth and resilience of design practices.”