Workspace Design Talks 2025 - Workspace Design Show

Workspace Design Talks

The Workspace Design Talks brings the commercial interior design industry’s most inspiring and creative leaders to explore the latest trends and insights in workplace design, strategy and culture.

Leading figures at companies such as Foster + Partners, HOK, Gensler, JLL, Colliers, CBRE, tp bennett, Jacobs, BDP, M Moser Associates, Heatherwick.

2025 Design Talks Agenda

26 February

The new era of work: What is the true value of the office today?

09:45 – 10:30

Mark Eltringham, Publisher, Workplace Insight

Cristiano Testi, Principal Director, tp bennett

Kay Sargent, Senior Principal, Director of Workplace, HOK

Alessandro Ranaldi, Partner, Head of Workplace Consultancy, Foster + Partners

Shaping workplaces that stand the test of time

10:50 – 11:30

Mick Jordan, Editor, Works Magazine

Helen Berresford, Head of ID:SR, Sheppard Robson

Devinder Bhogal, Director of Workplace Strategy, Deloitte

Great workplaces: Perspectives that can change the game (hosted by Workplace Evolutionaries)

11:50 – 12:35

Tim Allen, Senior Director, HCG

Isobel Grad, Strategy Director, Elmwood

Erik Rodin, Founder, Able

Jonny May, Principal, Eight Inc

Dr Busayawan Lam, Interim Head of Brunel Design School at Brunel University of London

The intersection of workplace design, corporate real estate and workplace strategy

12:55 – 13:40

Steve Henigan, Managing Director, HCG

Guzman de Yarza, Global Head of Workplace Strategy Capability, JLL

Sarah Audsley, Partner, Knight Frank

Zoe Humphries, Workplace Experience Director, Cushman & Wakefield

How to drive better and more robust decision-making processes into workplace design and hybrid working decisions

14:00 – 14:45

Clare Bridger, Director, Future of Work, Incendium Consulting

Naomi Sakamoto, Principal, Gensler

Dr Umar Taj, Associate Professor – Behavioural Science, Warwick Business School

Exploring how international influences and workplace trends can shape the future of UK workspaces

15:05 – 15:50

Jenn Celesia, Co-Founder, Kindred

Arne Lijbers, Partner Architect, Mecanoo

Yolanda Cerezo, Project Director, IDOM

Chris Simmons, Associate Partner, Squire & Partners

Activating the senses to transform the workplace experience, and creating a more holistic and engaging workspace

16:10 – 17:05

Vanessa Champion, Editor and Founder, Journal of Biophilic Design

Enrique Soler, Head of Design, Willmott Dixon Interiors

Oliver Heath, Director, Oliver Heath Design

Dominic Dugan, Creative Director, Oktra

Sheela Shukla, Interior Design Director, BDP

27 February

The way we work: has it changed for good – or for bad?

09:45 – 10:30

Nigel Oseland, Principal, Workplace Unlimited

Kara Miotke, Director of Operations, Principal, IA Interior Architects

Caroline Pontifex, Director, Head of Workplace & Design, Savills Workplace & Design

Jeanie Chuo, Head of Advisory, Resolute Global

Exploring how data can drive decision-making in workplace design and create more effective and efficient workspaces

10:50 – 11:40

Chris Moriarty, Director & Co-founder, Audiem (workplace geeks)

Angela Bardino, Senior Associate Director – Interiors Europe, Jacobs

Susie Harrison, Head of Design, AIS

Jan Jaap Boogaard, Head of EMEA Workplace Advisory, Colliers

Brian Robinson, Real Estate and Facilities Director, Fidelity International

Optimising spaces, improving well-being and increasing productivity – can AI do it all?

12:00 – 12:35

Alys Bryan, Editor, Design Insider

Lorena Espaillat, Senior Architect, Zaha Hadid

Hamza Shaikh, Digital Artist & Architect, Gensler

Deepak Parmar, Design Director / Bcorp Lead, MCM

Inclusivity by design – Balancing functionality, aesthetics and the diverse needs of a workforce

12:55 – 13:45

Alys Bryan, Editor, Design Insider

Matt Clarke, Managing Director, Umbrella

Elena Panagiotidis, Managing Director, Siren Design

Marco Gastoldi, Associate, Gensler

Rachel Merriman, Head of Facilities, The FA Premier League

The Power of Presence: Corporate Real Estate Leaders on Building Legacy in Workplace Strategy

Focusing on the “people” aspect of legacy – how individuals leave their mark through roles, development, and leadership, with a nod to the steps CREW advocates for diversity.

14:05 – 14:50

Helena Hughes, Director, Workthere and Director, Global Occupier Services, Savills

Gurvinder Khurana, Director, M Moser Associates

Deepa Deb, Head of International Real Estate Investment, Watson Farley & Williams

Beatriz Gonzalez, Director, Head of Workplace Interiors, Scott Brownrigg

Inclusive lighting: Designing for neurodiverse needs in the workplace

15:10 – 15:55

Matt Waring, Editor, arc Magazine

Rachael Flint, Associate, Michael Grubb Studio

Anna Rooney, Associate Director Lighting, AECOM

Jemima Unwin Teji, Lecturer and Programme Leader, Light and Lighting, UCL

Building a community within: How workspace design fosters collaboration, a positive experience and a sense of belonging

16:15 – 17:05

Allison English, Founder, Aéto

Michael Simon, Head of Interior Design, Bond Bryan

Simon Kincaid, Partner & Co-owner, Conran and Partners

Adrienne Lau, Senior Associate, Heatherwick Studio

Giuseppe Cariello, Lead Designer – Workplaces & Events, Zendesk 

2025 Speakers

Alessandro Ranaldi,
Partner, Head of Workplace Consultancy, MS Urban Planning and Architecture, Foster + Partners

Adrienne Lau,
Senior Associate, Heatherwick Studio

Cristiano Testi,
Principal Director, tp bennett

Helen Berresford,
Head of ID: SR, Sheppard Robson

JanJaap Boogaard,
Head of EMEA Workplace Advisory, Colliers

Inabelle Fang,
Director of Corporate Real Estate International, Willis Towers Watson

Tulsi Girme,
Global Director of Strategic Planning and Experience for Corporate Real Estate, Equinix

Brian Robinson,
Real Estate and Facilities Director, Fidelity International

Naomi Sakamoto,
Principal, Gensler

Enrique Soler,
Head of Design, Willmott Dixon Interiors

Rachel Flint,
Associate, Michael Grubb Studio

Matt Waring,
Editor, arc magazine

Gurvinder Khurana,
Director, M Moser Associates

Bex Moorhouse,
Global FM Programme Director, WPP

Guzmán de Yarza Blache,
Global Head of Workplace Strategy Consulting, JLL

Devinder Bhogal,
Director of Workplace Strategy, Deloitte

Angela Bardino,
Senior Associate Director – Interiors Europe, Jacobs

Matt Clarke,
Managing Director, Umbrella Furniture

Michael Simon,
Head of Interior Design, Bond Bryan

Nicola Gillen,
Head of Total Workplace EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield

Susie Harrison,
Head of Creative, AIS

Tim Allen,
Senior Director, HCG

Yolanda Cerezo,
Partner, IDOM

Kay Sargent
Director of Workplace Thought Leadership, HOK

Allison English,
Co-founder, Aéto Strategy

Alys Bryan,
Managing Editor, Design Insider

Giuseppe Cariello,
Lead Designer Workplaces & Events, Zendesk

Elena Panagiotidis,
Managing Director, Siren Design

Dr Umar Taj,
Associate Professor Behavioural Science, Warwick Business School

Clare Bridger,
Director, Future of Work, Incendium Consulting

Mark Eltringham,
Publisher, Workplaceinsight and IN Magazine

Dominic Dugan,
Creative Director, Oktra

Chris Moriarty,
Co-Founder Audiem, and Co-Host

Hamza Shaikh,
Digital Artist & Architect, Gensler

Georgina Fraser,
Head of Human Capital Consulting, CBRE UK Consulting

Marco Gastoldi,
Associate Interior Designer, Gensler

Oliver Heath,
Director, Oliver Heath Design

Simon Kincaid,
Partner | Principal, Conran & Partners

Beatriz Gonzalez,
Director, Scott Brownrigg

Anna Rooney,
Associate Director, AECOM

Dr Vanessa Champion,
Editor and Founder, Journal of Biophilic Design

Deepa Deb,
Head of International Real Estate Investment, Watson Farley & Williams

Dr Busayawan Lam,
Interim Head of Brunel Design School at Brunel University of London

Sheela Shukla,
Interior Design Director, BDP

Arne Lijbers,
Partner Architect, Mecanoo

Tom Gray,
Chief Strategy Officer, The Imagination Group

Helena Hughes,
Director, Workthere and Director, Global Occupier Services, Savills

Nigel Oseland,
Director, Workplace Unlimited

Kara Miotke,
Director of Operations, Principal, IA Interior Architects

Steve Henigan,
Managing Director, HCG

Sarah Audsley,
Head of Workplace Strategy, Knight Frank Strategic Consulting

Erik Rodin,
Founder, Able

Caroline Pontifex,
Director, Head of Workplace & Design, Savills Workplace & Design

Mick Jordan,
Editor, Works Magazine

Jenn Celesia,
Co-Founder, Kindred

Deepak Parmar,
Design Director / Bcorp Lead, MCM

Rachel Merriman,
Head of Facilities, The FA Premier League

Isobel Grad,
Strategy Director, Elmwood

Jonny May,
Principal, Eight Inc

Zoe Humphries,
Workplace Experience Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Jeanie Chuo,
Head of Workplace Advisory, Resolute Global

Will Easton,
Head of Workplace Experience, Smartdcc

Audrey Cowan,
Workspace Strategy Manager, Burges Salmon LLP

Chris Simmons,
Associate Partner, Squire & Partners

Jemima Unwin Teji,
Lecturer and Programme Leader, Light and Lighting, UCL

Attend Workspace Design Show

Workspace Design Show is a must-addition to London’s design calendar, attended by the region’s top architects, designers, occupiers, developers, consultants, coworking companies, and fit-out companies. Register now to attend Workspace Design Show for free from 25 – 26 February 2026 at the Business Design Centre, London.