Ed Bakos is an architect with more than 25 years of experience shaping luxury hotels and restaurants around the world. As CEO and Partner of Champalimaud Design, he works closely with clients and design teams to create spaces that feel considered, immersive, and grounded in how people actually live and experience hospitality. His approach balances strategy and creativity, always returning to the idea of designing for “how one lives.”

He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and his Master of Architecture from Harvard University, and he previously taught architecture at Cornell’s Rome campus and at ETH Zurich. Before joining Champalimaud, he spent 18 years at Rockwell Group as a Principal and Studio Leader.

His work spans some of the most recognizable names in hospitality, including Raffles Singapore, Halekulani, Badrutts Palace, Belden House and Mews, and the recently completed Four Seasons Naples Beach Club. Across these projects, his focus has remained consistent: creating hospitality environments that are memorable, intuitive, and alive.

Jo Hamilton is the founder and creative director of Jo Hamilton Interiors, a London studio she has run independently for more than thirty years.

Her work — characterised by colour confidence, spatial clarity and modern-classic restraint — spans private homes, hotels, restaurants and commercial spaces across the UK, New York, Miami, Geneva and Dubai.

She is regularly listed among Britain's leading interior designers, including in Country & Town House's annual round-up, and is frequently approached by The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and the Daily Mail for comment on interior design.

Her product work includes Kanso, a hand-tufted rug collection for Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs drawn from the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi.

Jo has judged the International Property Awards, the WhatHouse? Awards and the INDEX Architecture & Design Awards in Dubai, spoken at TINTA Taipei, and supports GoodWeave's work tackling child labour in textile supply chains.

Interior Architect and Project Lead with more than 20 years of international experience specializing in retail, hospitality and luxury interior design. Based in Geneva, she is recognized for creating high-end retail environments, hotels and residential spaces that combine strong conceptual identity, functionality and refined aesthetics. Since founding her design studio in 2007, she has led multidisciplinary projects from concept development to final execution, collaborating with international clients, contractors and creative teams across Europe.

Her work has received worldwide recognition through prestigious architecture and design awards and nominations, highlighting excellence, innovation and creativity in hospitality, retail and luxury design. Her projects have been featured in international publications, books and design platforms across Europe, the United States and Asia. Known for her attention to detail, leadership and strategic project management skills, she is passionate about creating immersive and meaningful spaces that elevate the customer experience and reflect the unique identity and values of each brand.

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Mark Burns is the Chief Design & Construction Officer at Chedi Hospitality, bringing over 35 years of experience in luxury hospitality design to his role. As head of the Technical Services division, Mark leads the creative and operational development of Chedi’s global portfolio, supporting partners across new and existing properties. He is responsible for crafting the creative narrative for each project while safeguarding the brand’s design guidelines and philosophy worldwide.

Mark’s hands-on, personal approach introduces stakeholders to the essence of the Chedi brand, offering a tailored experience that reflects the group's restrained design ethos. With a deep understanding of project lifecycles and operational efficiency, he plays a critical role in ensuring alignment between owner vision, brand standards, and long-term investment value.

Mark has worked with The Chedi brand for over 15 years, contributing to landmark properties including The Nam Hai in Vietnam, The Setai in Miami, Al Bait in Sharjah, The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah and The Legian in Bali, The Serai in Shanghai, The Chedi Katara in Doha, The Chedi Club Mahe in Seychelles, and several developments across Oman, Montenegro, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He currently oversees the global pipeline of new developments, including the rollout of The Chedi Private Residences.

Beyond Chedi, Mark’s design leadership spans some of the world’s most iconic luxury hotels, including Claridge’s in London, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France, The Lana in Dubai, and Eden Rock in St. Barths. His portfolio also includes Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Gleneagles in Scotland, Langham London, Zil Pasyon in Seychelles, Silversands in Grenada, Villa D’Este in Lake Como, Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Alvear Palace in Buenos Aires, and The Shard in London.

Many of these projects have helped shape the current Chedi design language, reinforcing its position as a global standard-bearer in refined hospitality. Mark has also worked closely with signature design and development teams on ultra-luxury projects for royal palaces, family offices, and elite private clubs, including Boodles, Hurlingham, Royal Ascot, Lords Cricket Ground, Wentworth Golf Club, and Capital Clubs across the UAE and Africa.

Prior to joining Chedi Hospitality in 2024, Mark, in 2007, founded and led a luxury hospitality advisory firm which still to this day successfully supports client requirements. His extensive experience includes partnerships with esteemed hotel brands such as Oetker, Dorchester Collection, Belmond, Four Seasons, Langham, and Six Senses. To date, he has contributed to over 500 projects across five continents, consistently delivering value through a focus on brand integrity and investor outcomes.

Mark also provides advisory services to private offices of royal families, offering guidance on international hospitality investments, bespoke design narratives, and development feasibility.

His roots in hospitality include operational training at Hilton Park Lane in London, along with high-end properties across Oxfordshire. This foundation continues to inform his belief in the seamless connection between guest experience and well considered design.

Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Mark holds certifications in Hotel Planning & Design, Engineering Management, and Hospitality Interior Design. He also holds a diploma in Culinary Arts.

Johnny brings a well-rounded perspective to his work, having gained experience in client, operator and consultant roles. This expertise equipped him with a deep understanding of customer-centric design and the ability to balance diverse stakeholder priorities. His portfolio focused on hospitality projects, demonstrating his passion for elevating guest experiences through design.

His works specializing in feasibility studies, guest journey mapping, and master planning, Johnny has worked extensively on urban and resort hotel projects across China, Japan, Southeast Asia, the United States, and the Middle East. His ability to integrate cultural nuances into his designs ensures that each project is not only functional but also deeply connected to its local context, enhancing the guest experience.

Johnny holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is licensed in the State of Illinois. He served as the 2024 President of The American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter.

Simon Hamilton is a London-based Educator, Interior Designer, and Moderator with over 30 years of experience in the design industry. He is an Associate Lecturer and The Super Practice Leader for the MA Interior Design Programme at the Royal College of Art, Kensington. As Design Director at YesColours Studio, Simon leads creative direction with a focus on colour, well-being, and inclusivity. His extensive design career spans residential and commercial projects across the UK and Europe, including workplace, retail, healthcare, and hospitality environments. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Simon actively supports United In Design’s mission to mentor and uplift underrepresented talent. As a Patron of the Design Museum, London, he is a sought-after host and moderator at leading design events such as Decorex, DNA Paris Design Awards, London Design Week, and Clerkenwell Design Week, fostering conversations that shape the future of the industry.

Iris Hoi is a Registered Landscape Architect in Hong Kong and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA). She has over 30 years of consultancy experience in Canada, Hong Kong, China, and surrounding regions. She is a Director at URBIS Limited and has been with the company since 1992. She was the President of the HKILA from 2018 to 2022 and has been actively involved in the Institute since 1991, chairing a variety of committees including education, practice, public affairs, functions and events, professional practice examination, and accreditation review. Iris served as a member of the Land Supply Task Force for the Hong Kong SAR Government, Board of Education and Research of the Professional Green Building Council, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Harbourfront Commission, and a number of other organisations. Iris is passionate about building quality landscape spaces for people’s enjoyment. A number of her projects have won awards.

Iris is also a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design.

Iris’ range of skills include landscape architecture and landscape master planning. She has extensive experience in award-winning large-scale parks and public spaces, commercial, residential, hotel, transport corridors, institutional and infrastructure-related landscape developments. Her involvement ranges from working in multi-disciplinary consultancy teams to producing landscape master plan studies, feasibility/assessment reports, detail design, and construction documents, to contract administration and tender assessment, to site supervision of landscape works implementation.

Charles was born in Lagos Nigeria. He achieved his diploma in architecture, and a master's degree in urban design at the Oxford Brookes University, followed by work experience in various architectural practises in London, Paris and Zürich.

Charles was junior faculty member at the renowned Swiss Federal Polytechnic (ETH) in Zürich for many years, and was appointed professor of architectural design theory at the Berne University of Applied Sciences in 2008, where he continues to teach part time.

Working in the fields of architecture, interior design, product, furniture and lighting design Charles’s studio considers architecture in its variety of scales. A constant quest for simple innovation is the common thread through its wide repertoire of projects.

Charles has served in many international design juries such as:

- IF design Award. Germany.

- Design Turkey. Turkey

- D&AD Awards. London

- World Architecture Festival. Porto

- John Ruskin Prize. UK

- Prix Lignum. Switzerland

Charles has taken part in and won prizes in more than 50 international design competitions.

His plywood armchair SKETCH was recently acquired for the permanent collection of Vitra Design Museum and Denver Art Museum.

Alistair Leung is a professional interior architect/designer with 40 over years of experiences on hospitality, branding, corporate and residential design. He now serves as independent consultant to high end private projects. He had held key management positions in several major international design corporations and institutes in USA, Singapore and Hong Kong, and implemented projects in USA, Europe and Asia. Prior to his private consultancy, Mr. Leung was a director of Ronald Lu & Partners HK heading his interior design strength; where he led/directed many successful projects that won 140+ international design awards in a period of 14 years. He was also awarded as one of the ten most influential designers in a major China design award in 2017 and 2018. Mr. Leung earned a degree in Interior Architecture at the CCA, USA and MBA at the University of Chicago.

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Andrea Ponti is a Hong Kong-based designer specializing in product and industrial design.

His work blends the elegance of Italian design with the minimalism of Japanese aesthetics.

A graduate of Politecnico of Milan, Andrea spent seven years in Japan, mastering traditional Japanese materials and techniques.

In 2012, he founded Ponti Design Studio in Hong Kong, focusing on innovation and sustainability.

Andrea collaborates with global brands including Casetify, Fender, Haier, KEF, Kodak, Monos, NetEase, Oppo, Panasonic, The Peninsula Hotels, Philips, and Samsonite.

His work has earned prestigious awards, including the Red Dot, iF Design, and Good Design Awards.

Inspired by Hong Kong’s dynamic fusion of East and West, his designs reflect the city’s spirit, balancing art and technology while pushing the boundaries of design and innovation.