Hello Fellow - A Panel Discussion with Newly Elevated Fellows and Honorary Fellows
credit: Ed Vance
Speakers:
Mouzhan Majidi, BSc (Hons), BArch, FAIA, Hon. FRAIC, RIBA, ARB, RIAS, AHKIA; Chief Executive, Zaha Hadid Architects
Sherif Anis, FAIA, NCARB, RIBA, AIA IR Chapter Representative for AIA Middle East, Director of Design + Planning at LEAD Development
Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA, Principal, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, Professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto
Jayesh Hariyani, FAIA, Director and Chairman, INI Design Studio
Moderator: Samuel Oboh, FAIA, AIA IR Representative to College of Fellows
Event Description
This course features prominent fellows and phenomenally successful architects from diverse backgrounds from different parts of the world united by one common achievement, Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects. In this course, Mouzhan Majidi, Brigitte Shim, Sherif Anis and Jayesh Hariyani will share their journeys in the architectural profession and touch on two or three projects or initiatives that earned them the high honor of fellowship of the American Institute of Architects. There will be a panel discussion at the end of the session.
Speakers
Mouzhan Majidi, BSc (Hons), BArch, FAIA, Hon. FRAIC, RIBA, ARB, RIAS, AHKIA
Chief Executive, Zaha Hadid Architects
Mouzhan joined Zaha Hadid Architects in 2015 following a distinguished 27-year career with Foster + Partners where he became CEO in 2007.
Graduating from Strathclyde University in 1987 with first-class honours, Mouzhan was elevated by the American Institute of Architects’ to its College of Fellows in 2021 and has been recognized as an outstanding designer and architect with 35 years of pioneering research in the widest diversity of civic and commercial projects. His designs, leadership and passion for diversity have established new benchmarks in design innovation, user-experience and sustainability.
Serving as Chief Executive, Mouzhan has guided some of the world’s most creative talent to realize transformational architecture across six continents; setting the foundations of an effective organization and management structure to embrace new ideas and technologies. As an architect taking on the role of CEO, he prioritizes design excellence with an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, cultivating the skills and diversity that drives ZHA’s decision-making and enriches the built environments we create.
Redefining the development of airports, Mouzhan’s experience in the sector began at Stansted in 1987. Each subsequent design for Hong Kong, Beijing Capital, Amman, Beijing Daxing, Navi Mumbai and Western Sydney sets new standards for global aviation, becoming more energy efficient, environmentally discreet, technologically advanced and simple to use.
Appointed by consecutive British Prime Ministers as a UK Business Ambassador, he has represented the UK Government and construction industry promoting design excellence and sustainability worldwide.
Sherif Anis, FAIA, NCARB, RIBA
AIA IR Chapter Representative for AIA Middle East, Director of Design + Planning at LEAD Development
A founding member of the AIA Middle East Board of Directors and current Executive Director, Sherif Anis has served as the Chapter's Founding Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and was the 2013 and 2016 President. Sherif also served on the AIA International Board of Directors serving as the founding Zone 1 Region Director and the 2017-2018 Secretary.
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 the UAE. An architectural generalist with more than 31 years' experience working in Architecture, Interior Design, and Urban Planning, his work ranges from residential, hospitality, retail, 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.
An award-winning and published designer, Sherif is a regular speaker, panelist, and chairperson at regional conferences and for design award juries. He has been ranked in the Power 100’s most influential people in the GCC's construction industry.
Sherif holds a Bachelor of Architecture from New York's Syracuse University School of Architecture and is also a member of the Boston Society of Architects.
Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA,
Principal, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects; Professor, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto
Brigitte Shim along with her partner A. Howard Sutcliffe are principals of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects. Shim-Sutcliffe’s built work explores the integration and interrelated scales of architecture, landscape, furniture and fittings. To date, Shim and Sutcliffe have received fifteen Governor General’s Medals and Awards for Architecture from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and an American Institute of Architects National Honor Award along with many other professional accolades for their built work ranging from projects for non-profit groups to public and private clients. In January 2013, Brigitte Shim and her partner A. Howard Sutcliffe were both awarded the Order of Canada, “for their contributions as architects designing sophisticated structures that represent the best of Canadian design to the world.” In 2021, Shim-Sutcliffe received the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal in recognition for their long-lasting and pivotal contribution to architecture in Canada.
Brigitte Shim is a Professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto where she leads design studios and elective courses. She has been an invited visiting professor at Yale University’s School of Architecture, The Cooper Union’s Irwin Chanin School of Architecture, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Auckland University’s National Institute for Creative Arts and Industries, National Institute for Creative Arts and Industries, among others. She has served on numerous international, national and local design juries as an advocate for design excellence
Jayesh Hariyani, FAIA, RIBA
Director and Chairman, INI Design Studio
Jayesh has been a passionate advocate for responsible, culturally sensitive, and purposeful design. This unwavering commitment has infused creativity, innovation, and design thinking into all realms of practice. Through his expertise of practice management, design management, his counsel to young designers and his speaking engagements, he builds unabashed enthusiasm for the profession and for the tenet that Jayesh believes in – that architecture and communities are all about life, never static, with endless possibilities for constant evolution. His involvement in any project is hands-on and intensive, integrating the larger perspectives of delivery and implementation in the design solutions. His vision as the leader, and his experience in diverse work and cultural environments, brings in the balance between setting the design standards in global perspective and then contextualising to the regional level while balancing dynamic forces. In an increasingly challenging environment including recent COVID-19, INI’s practice has been successfully delivering architecture and urban level projects with great sensitivity and additional care for inclusiveness as evident in design and execution of Rajkot Smart City Development, India’s largest Aquarium, and Redevelopment of Kedarnath town.
Moderator: Samuel Oboh, FAIA, FRAIC, LEED AP BD&C,
AIA IR Representative to the AIA College of Fellows; Principal | Vice President, Ensight+
With an expansive career spanning over a quarter of a century in both private and public sectors (in Canada and internationally), architect Samuel (Sam) Óghalè Oboh, FAIA is Principal | Vice President of Ensight+ – an architecture and creative design intelligence outfit headquartered in Canada. Licensed in multiple jurisdictions – including the State of Texas, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia, Sam is an alumnus of the University of Alberta and Ahmadu Bello University with dual master degrees in architecture and Communication and has served in various capacities - including senior architect, associate, principal and vice president - in a handful of practices such as AECOM (a fortune 500 company), Kasian, IBI Group and FMA.
A distinguished Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and recipient of AIA Presidential Medal, Sam is respected for his knowledge, expertise, community service and commitment to excellence. He combines practicing architecture with his diplomatic appointment (as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Botswana in Canada) to inspire passion for creating environments that are valued and vital to enhancing quality of life in our communities. His varied background has enabled him to bring valuable perspective to his role as an architect committed to innovation, stewardship and achieving excellence for the greater public good.
Renowned for his passion in integrating architectural practice with research and academia, Sam has served as adjunct lecturer and design studio reviewer at various universities in Canada, South Africa, and Nigeria and served as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences across the world. Named as one of the 150 Extraordinary Canadians in 2019, one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People and President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2015, Sam became the first Canadian of African descent to lead the prestigious 113-year-old professional organization and is committed to strengthening the architectural profession and as well, enhancing its standards of excellence.
