Li Ren is a globally licensed architect, educator, and researcher specializing in international architectural practice and sustainable urban development. With professional experience across the United States, East Asia, and the Middle East, his work examines how architects operate across diverse cultural, climatic, and regulatory contexts to advance resilient and inclusive cities. 

Li has contributed to large-scale hospitality, senior living, and mixed-use developments across North America and the Middle East, with a focus on complex project delivery and cross-border collaboration. He previously served as President of AIA Middle East and Chair of the AIA Global Practice Committee, engaging in global professional policy, education, and sustainability initiatives. In parallel with practice, Li teaches and lectures internationally on global practice models, sustainability, and career development for internationally trained design professionals. 

Gemma Devesa Gasco is an international architect with over 20 years of experience leading complex projects across Europe and the United States. As Principal of GDG Architecture, a firm based in New York, she brings a global perspective to architecture, with a focus on cross-cultural collaboration, design integrity, and international project delivery. 

Having lived and worked in five countries — Spain, Sweden, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. — Gemma has developed deep expertise in navigating diverse regulatory frameworks, client expectations, and interdisciplinary teams. Her portfolio spans transportation hubs, cultural institutions, and hospitality developments, including work on the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York with Santiago Calatrava, as well as projects across Europe and Asia. 

As a third-generation hotelier, she brings a unique dual perspective to hospitality design, bridging architectural vision with operational and guest experience insights. She currently serves as a Director of AIA Brooklyn and Co-Chair of the Women in Architecture Committee and is an active member of the AIA Global Practice Committee, supporting architects navigating the complexities of global practice.

Rutger Johannes Huiberts, AIA is an Architect and Studio Director at MVRDV in New York City, driven by a passion for creating exciting, vital, and resilient urban environments. He is particularly invested in the design of places that exist in harmony with the natural and ecological systems of a site, while achieving vibrancy through economic and social sustainability.  
His career began at MVRDV, where he gained foundational knowledge of the firm’s conceptual approaches and design philosophy, while working on groundbreaking master plans and architectural proposals. Rutger further honed his skills for over a decade at KPF in New York City, following an initial period in London. Rutger has delivered projects in a multitude of cities around the world, from Asia, to the Middle East, Europe to the USA. Throughout his career his work has entailed collaborative efforts across time zones and cultures. 

In his current role at MVRDV, Rutger bridges efforts between the New York and Rotterdam studios, facilitating project delivery with on-ground presence and expertise, and ensuring a clear dialogue with clients and other stakeholders. 

Stephanie is an architect and operations leader with over 30 years of global experience, blending design expertise with strategic business management. Based in the MENA region for over a decade, she has played a key role in delivering major developments, leading multidisciplinary teams, optimizing operations, and mentoring professionals.  

Currently, she leads the Architecture and Planning group for GHD in the UAE, overseeing the team across offices and managing projects in a multitude of sectors. She specializes in workflow optimization, process improvement, and cross-discipline coordination, ensuring seamless collaboration between design and technical teams. Her expertise in budgeting, risk management, and resource allocation supports the efficient execution of large-scale projects while maintaining quality and profitability.  

An advocate for the architecture profession, Stephanie has been an active AIA member, serving as AIA Middle East President in 2022 and currently as the 2025 Regional Director. She also serves as the 2025-2026 Secretary on the AIA International Board of Directors and is the 2026 Chair of the Global Practice Committee.

Professor at the School of Architecture, University of Miami  
Partner of Innovation Architecture, Coral Gables 
Principal of Bluewater-Global Advisors, a development and portfolio management company
 
*International licensed architect with over 60 years of experience worldwide. 
*Hotel, residential, and urban planner, designer, and developer. 
*Volumetric steel modular systems specialist. 
*At UM he lectures and instructs a design studio on these subjects: modular design, hospitality design and development, and adaptive re-use.  
*Board of Directors of American Institute of Architects International component. 
*History of managing international offices for over 47 years for his own firm and for KPF, Perkins Eastman, and FXCollaborative. With these firms he has won design competitions in Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Prague and completed in Riyadh over 11 major mixed use projects.