AHEAD Asia 2025

An award-winning Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Architect, Chris has over 25 years’ experience in delivering meticulously crafted designs. He rose to prominence in HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates) by establishing and leading the HBA Residential division in 2014, transforming it into a premier full-service design studio. Chris was elevated to Co-CEO of HBA in 2022.

Based in Singapore at HBA’s global headquarters, Chris leads 1,500+ employees across 24 offices worldwide. He is dedicated to fostering a comprehensive design ethos within HBA, blending creativity with functionality. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, Chris remains committed to nurturing the next generation of designers. He has shared his expertise as a lecture at prestigious institutes such as the Chelsea College of Art in London and LaSalle College of the Arts in Singapore. He is also a passionate advocate for RIBA’s mission, particularly in the Asian region. He played a pivotal role in establishing an international chapter of RIBA in Singapore and spearheaded the organization’s expansion into China.

Aldwin Ong is more than an interior architect—he is a storyteller, crafting immersive narratives that transcend time, place, and expectation. With an illustrious career spanning Wilson Associates, Aston Design, LTW Designworks, and now as Senior Vice President for CCD’s Asia Pacific HQ in Singapore, he has shaped some of the world’s most evocative hospitality spaces, each infused with a signature blend of artistry, wit, and soul.

Renowned as a thought leader in global hospitality design, Aldwin has garnered the trust of the industry’s most prestigious brands, not just for his visionary approach but for his relentless pursuit of the unexpected. His philosophy—“Why Not?”—challenges conventions, breathing life into spaces that spark emotion and provoke curiosity.

Trained as an architect with a fine arts foundation, his design language is deeply rooted in the symbiosis of architecture and art. His love for the culinary and the arts finds its way into his creations, where the alchemy of flavors and forms merge into spatial poetry—each space a canvas, each experience a composition of nostalgia, provocation, and delight.

With over 20 years of shaping luxury and lifestyle hospitality, his work stretches across, yet remains profoundly personal—imbued with a sense of place, memory, and the quiet power of storytelling.

Belinda is Senior Director Interior Design at Marriott International Global Design Asia Pacific Excluding China. In this capacity she leads the MI GDAPEC Interior Design team who together are responsible for the design and design direction of more than 600 open properties across 25 brands in 22 countries and territories across APEC, as well as close to 400 properties in the pipeline.

An award-winning interior designer and seasoned industry leader, she brings a diverse background that provides a unique basis for her work. More than 25 years of progressive professional experience informs her approach to design, which reflects a disciplined balance of practical considerations and creative aesthetic awareness. Passionate about Hospitality Design and deeply committed to excellence in design, Belinda has led and mentored teams of international designers throughout her career, building strategic relationships with key stakeholder groups including major international operators beyond MI. Currently focused on shaping aspiring design careers, Belinda champions the freedom to Be Extraordinary and takes an inordinate amount of joy in the continued development of opportunities for others.

Bill's life passion can best be summed up as hotels and travel. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Asia-based C9 Hotelworks and is considered a globally recognized hospitality, tourism, and real estate advisor. With over 39 years’ experience in the Asia Pacific region, he has an extensive background in hotel operations, development, and asset management. His career highlights include Senior Corporate roles at international hotel chains and publicly-listed companies. Bill is considered to be one of the foremost industry experts in the branded residences sector.

As an entrepreneur, Bill has developed successful residential projects in Thailand and is actively involved in multiple technology start-ups in PropTech and an online marketplace. In addition to being a leading consultant, he is a sought-after speaker at industry events and conferences. To date, Bill is the author of four books on travel, property, and hotels under the titles of Slave to the Bean, Collective Swag, It Might Get Weird and Last Call. He is the Founding Advisor of the Phuket Hotels Association and leads Asia’s preeminent annual sustainability event PHIST (Phuket Hotels Islands Sustaining Technology).

Cedric Jaccard, the Principal Design Director and founder of Avalon Collective, leads the interior design studio with a presence in Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai. With a unique fusion of architectural and retail expertise, Cedric redefines design by embracing a diverse perspective, challenging norms, and crafting unparalleled design experiences.

Bringing over two decades of expertise in hospitality, Cedric's portfolio includes iconic projects like Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Four Seasons Pudong (China), Kempinski Hangzhou (China), Hilton Singapore Orchard, St Regis Singapore, Andaz Nanjing Hexi (China), JW Marriott Seoul (South Korea), Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua (Indonesia), Four Seasons Maldives (Male) and Four Seasons Suzhou (China).

Through Cedric's leadership, Hilton Singapore Orchard won at AHEAD Awards 2022 for Suite. Adding to the accolades, the completion of Andaz Nanjing Hexi in 2023 earned two awards in the 2023 Guestrooms and Event Space category, showcasing Cedric's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of design innovation.

With over 16 years in hotel design and management across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, Chinyu joined Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in 2016 as a Technical Services Manager and has since grown to a regional role. Her experience spans architecture, design, construction, and project management in hospitality and mixed-use developments. Holding degrees in Architecture and Project Management, Chinyu is dedicated to driving design excellence through innovative solutions that harmonise the needs of owners, designers, guests, and operations.

As Founder and Creative Partner, Clint's passion for travel, hospitality, and design is the inspiration behind BLINK Design Group’s philosophy. Born and raised in the Hawaiian island of Oahu in a Japanese American family, Clint’s enthusiasm and appreciation of design shaped his early years and are now intrinsic to who he is. He has spent a lifetime imagining concepts, delivering considered spaces, and welcoming guests to some of the world’s most desirable destinations. Clint relocated to Thailand seventeen years ago to pursue his mission in creating something stronger than an individual thought, which has become the premise of BLINK.

Clint spent thirteen years of his career at WATG in Honolulu, Hawaii and left as their youngest partner before establishing BLINK in 2006. His fascination towards Asian Culture and design attracted him to open the first studio in Thailand. BLINK has since expanded its presence globally with studios in Shanghai, Singapore, and Dubai.

A rising star in the global design stage since its inception, BLINK is a collective of bold thinkers with an open-minded approach that provides the opportunity to explore creative ideas with restless enthusiasm. Clint’s constant exploration and enjoyment of the world and its diverse cultures and landscapes have shaped BLINK’s culture and attracted and retained some of the best talent in the industry.

In 2017, BLINK acquired the Jaya Interior Design Business (JID), following the founder, Jaya Ibrahim’s passing in 2015. His admiration of Jaya’s contribution to the Asian design vernacular, the similarity of approach to design, and their appreciation for timeless and elegant design are the reasons behind Clint’s wish to preserve Jaya’s legacy and ensure the continuation of his design philosophy. Clint sets the overall strategic direction for the studios and he oversees each project from conception through the completion phase. Calm, approachable, and thoughtful, his character traits are now evident in every interaction and element of life at BLINK.

Felice is an Italian architect and interior designer with a multicultural background, born and raised in Germany. He studied architecture in Germany and the Netherlands before moving to Vietnam in 2002, where he became a key figure in the country’s evolving design landscape.

In 2004, Felice co-founded Noor, a design studio recognised for its refined aesthetic and attention to cultural context. In 2011, he established HALO Design, which later evolved into SIRHALO, a leading interior design firm specialising in hospitality design.

As Founder & Managing Director, Felice is driven by a passion for timeless design, crafting interiors that balance elegance, functionality, and cultural depth. Under his leadership, SIRHALO has grown into a 30-person team, delivering bespoke, enduring designs for luxury hotels and resorts across Vietnam and the region. His approach seamlessly integrates local heritage with contemporary sophistication, ensuring each space remains relevant and inspiring for years to come.

Gemma serves as the Brand Director at the Ormond Group, where she oversees the strategic direction and growth of the group’s brands: MoMo’s, Tune Hotels, and Ormond Hotels. Her role encompasses brand positioning, partnerships, and marketing strategy as the company scales its portfolio across new properties in Asia and beyond. As the hospitality landscape evolves, Gemma remains focused on ensuring that Ormond Group’s brands deliver exceptional value for modern travellers, while driving sustainable growth and maintaining the group’s unique brand identities.

Gemma brings a unique blend of investment acumen and brand strategy to the judging panel. She began her career in investment advisory at LJ Partnership, a global multi-family office managing over $15 billion in assets, before pursuing an MBA at Columbia Business School specialising in brand strategy, real estate and hospitality. Upon returning to Asia, she joined SCDA Architects in a Business Development role for hospitality brand Soori, working personally with principal Soo K.Chan to look at new global development projects.

Hayley is Co-Founder of Melbourne based Interior Architecture & Design studio, Mitchell & Eades, and is an internationally acclaimed designer with a career spanning three continents. Mitchell & Eades combines timeless sophistication with a contemporary vision of human experience creating design that delivers the authenticity that people crave. With a focus on spaces which cannot be tethered to a single point in time, combined with a level of empathy for design which extends far beyond the aesthetic, Mitchell & Eades insights translate into award-winning, multi sensory, design experiences.

Kesaté B. Tadesse is a principal and managing director at AvroKO's Bangkok Studio, specialising in luxury hospitality projects throughout Asia and the extended region for established and emerging brands. He oversees design, strategy and overall culture and operations of the studio to develop world-class hospitality environments for clients.

Kesaté has over 17 years of experience working on and leading architecture and interior design projects ranging from hospitality and residential to commercial and retail spaces for clients across the private and commercial sectors. Having worked on projects in the US, China, South-East Asia, and the Middle East, his designs integrate a global perspective while emphasising the unique characteristics of local environments. He's worked on large-scale architecture projects as well as community-based projects—including collaborations with local artists and design-build projects in rural areas.

Kesaté graduated with Bachelors of Architecture (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from City University of New York and has taught architecture at the university level in Thailand.

With a career spanning over 25 years and a wealth of experience working with leading hospitality brands, Madelaine is an expert in driving revenue growth and cultivating successful client relationships within the hospitality industry.

Throughout her career, Madelaine has worked with some of the world’s most well-known hospitality brands, starting her career at Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, moving on to an Assistant Director position at Hilton International, before becoming the Regional Director of Sales for both The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott International.

Madelaine joined Design Hotels as Regional Director of Sales APAC in 2019. In her current role as Senior Director of Brand & Commercial Operations APAC, Madelaine oversees all aspects of brand management and commercial operations within the Asia-Pacific region – a key focus area for portfolio growth at Design Hotels.

Beyond the boardroom, Madelaine finds joy in exploring diverse cultures, a passion that enriches her approach to business. An avid baker, Madelaine loves to experiment with flavors and textures in the kitchen to create delightful confections.

Masayuki is the Chief Development Officer for Trunk Hotels & Resorts based in Tokyo. He is responsible for the expanding Trunk development in Japan and global. He also served as the Chief Creative Officer and led the team of architectural and interior design, concept and planning to deliver successful opening of Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park which received the AHEAD Asia - Hotel of the Year and ranked #4 for the AHEAD Global – Accolades in 2024.

Educated in Switzerland and the US., Masayuki has over 22 years’ career in the luxury hospitality industry, he has a wealth of experience working with leading hotels, specifically at Park Hyatt Tokyo, Park Hyatt Shanghai, Andaz Tokyo and Andaz Maui. He has an extensive background in hotel operations, sales & marketing, creatives and development.

Patrick has over 25 years of experience in architecture and interior design, beginning his career in the U.S. with a diverse portfolio spanning master planning, architectural detailing, and construction administration. His expertise extends across commercial retail, corporate offices, theme parks, and hotel design, with notable projects for global brands such as Disney, Legoland, Marriott, and Starwood.

For the past 15 years, Patrick has specialised in hospitality design across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on luxury, lifestyle, and premium/midscale market segments with Accor.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Interior Design and is a LEED AP v2.0 accredited professional in the United States.

Simon is a seasoned hotelier with over 28 years of leadership experience in luxury hotels. As Head of Development & Projects for Swire Hotels, he brings valuable knowledge and a strong hospitality network to the role.

Previously, as General Manager for EAST and The House Collective properties, Simon excelled in managing finances, ensuring profitability and ROI. He has strong ownership relationships and represents owners and Swire Hotels positively in the community. Simon is a trusted senior leader who achieved exceptional financial and guest service results, received prestigious awards including years of Michelin recognition, and contributed to design innovation and operational efficiencies in new hotel openings.