Learning Outcomes

Chris is a co-founder of the Ladybug Tools software for environmental design, which he regularly develops, applies and teaches to thousands of professionals and students across the globe. He has added many features to Ladybug Tools including many of the project’s functions for energy modeling, thermal comfort, HVAC sizing, building energy simulation visualization, and detailed envelope heat flow modeling (with LBNL Therm + Window).

He oversees the maintenance of the Ladybug + Honeybee Legacy Plugins.

He started the development of several open-source projects including Ladybug Tools, EPWmap and DesignExplorer. After receiving his Masters in Environmental Building Design (MEBD) from University of Pennsylvania, he worked as a Senior Designer for Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill and as an Integration Applications Developer for Thornton Tomasetti CORE-Studio. He was a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and now is working full time at Ladybug Tools.

As head of MVRDV NEXT, Sanne van der Burgh leads MVRDV’s research, development, and climate teams, driven by her passion for sustainability, technology, and innovation. She founded MVRDV NEXT to integrate cutting-edge computational tools into architecture, enabling complex designs like Valley’s façade. Since 2022, the Climate team has joined NEXT to advance MVRDV’s data-driven sustainability, developing tools such as CarbonSpace to reduce CO₂ emissions. Sanne also contributed to projects like Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen and Peruri 88, and has been recognised with major awards for innovation in architecture.

His work is around the interaction between engineering, architecture, and modern technology, focusing on how integrated design can form the basis of healthy cities and buildings. He has an extensive international experience on projects prioritizing intercultural design, climate adaptation, and sustainability, and works closely with Danish authorities to develop new building regulations. Through studies of healthy materials, circular economy, wind simulations, and microclimates, he drives data-informed design to incorporate bio-based materials, CO2 reduction, nature inclusivity, and biodiversity in Henning Larsen projects.

Architect, computational designer, and researcher working as a PhD fellow. His work explores how artificial intelligence, data, and systems thinking can support regenerative approaches to urban design and planning.

Trained in Architecture at Tel Aviv University, Monash University in Melbourne and The Royal Danish Academy, Nitsan brings an interdisciplinary perspective to design - combining creative intuition with computational methods and a strong interest in environmental and social systems. At Henning Larsen, he helps develop frameworks and tools that connect data-driven design, ecological performance, and human experience, bridging conceptual ideas with practical workflows.

He leads the studio’s strategic work on climate, circularity and resilience. He holds a PhD in Computational Design and Sustainability and works across architecture, landscape and planning to develop systemic and scalable solutions for a resilient future. With 15 years of international experience, including as Director of Sustainability and Head of Computational Design at BIG, he advances climate adaptation and circular design through digital innovation, collaboration and practice-led research.

Verena leads the R&D team and the programming curriculum at McNeel Europe. She earned a Diploma (Leipzig University of Applied Sciences), a master’s in Architecture and Computational Design (IAAC), and a doctorate in engineering from the Chair of Computer Science in Architecture at Bauhaus University Weimar. Her research focuses on ecosystem-aware design, embedding environmental and living-systems knowledge into computational workflows and software.

Eleftherios is a software developer and computational designer, with experience and expertise in the application of cutting-edge technologies in the AEC industry. He has worked for world renowned architecture offices as a computational designer and applications developer, as part of their technology and research and development groups. His current research foci revolve around the utilization of data-driven design workflows through the mitigation of immersive technologies and digital twin frameworks. As part of McNeel’s R&D team, he implements researched methodologies into functional user-facing tools, enhancing design workflows with scientific analytical methods.

Jens is an ecologist, data scientist, and software developer at R&D McNeel Europe. His PhD at the University of Würzburg focused on the mechanisms governing the diurnal timing of aphids and their role in seasonal adaptation. During his postdoctoral fellowship at Ghent University, he investigated risk management strategies in insects facing unpredictable seasonal changes. He later joined Studio Animal-Aided Design and the ECOLOPES project, where he developed models for plant communities on building envelopes. Motivated by the desire to create practical, high-impact solutions, Jens transitioned from academia to software development. At McNeel, he specializes in crafting data-driven software solutions that bridge science and technology, with a particular focus on ecological modeling in computational design.

His work develops computational workflows, sensing technologies, and analytical tools that capture fine-scale environmental dynamics and translate them into actionable, climate-responsive design strategies. As co-founder of Climateflux, he partners with cities on heat mitigation and action planning. Ata has led projects across Europe, North America, and the Global South, applying urban microclimate modelling, high-resolution field measurements, and comfort assessment frameworks to advance equitable and sustainable urban transformations.

Oscar is part of the Applied Research + Development team at Foster + Partners, where he develops computational tools that underpin performance-driven design workflows. His work includes solutions for view analysis, environmental simulations, rendering, and artificial lighting. With a degree in Architecture and Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, Oscar has contributed to advancing the AEC industry in areas like geometry processing, digital fabrication, optimization, and software interoperability.

Wojciech has more than 5 years of experience developing tools and pipelines to address complex issues in architectural projects around the world. Since joining Foster + Partners in 2023, he has been developing bespoke performance-driven design products and contributing to some of the iconic projects the practice is currently undertaking. As part of the Applied Research + Development team, Wojciech creates computational solutions in complex geometry, digital workflows, and performance-driven design. His expertise ranges from early-stage evaluations to implementing advanced workflow automation at scale.

Worked all over the world as an environmental campaigner, conservationist and sustainable built environment specialist. He has held Group Sustainability and Environment Director roles at LendLease, WSP and Balfour Beatty. His project experience includes all elements of the built environment, from flagship buildings and developments to infrastructure. At Grimshaw he lead the development of Minoro.org which he will present.

Paul was a London Sustainable Development Commissioner appointed by the Mayor of London between 2010-'24 and is a member of the UK Government Green Construction Board’s infrastructure working group.

A Chartered Structural Engineer, she is passionate about using technology to aid better collaboration and decision making to develop better outcomes for projects. She has 7+ years’ experience of utilising her engineering knowledge in combination with digital design skills to create solutions that enable new, more efficient and novel approaches to real life design problems. She brings this together with her commercial knowledge and client centric approach to drive innovative ideas and deliver value to projects, clients and society.

Degree in Civil Engineering from the Politecnico of Milan, about twenty years of experience in construction companies with different roles, sixteen as sustainable innovation manager & consultant. Master of Management and Organizational Development at MIP. LEED, Living Future, WELL, RESET, and My Green Lab AP. USGBC & WELL Faculty. LF Hero.

Since 2018 he has been Executive Director for Europe for the International Living Future Institute and now President of Living Future Europe. LFE’s mission is to accelerate change and provide the necessary direction for the transition towards regenerative design in Europe.

Distinguished Prof. Emanuele Naboni is a regenerative-design scholar-practitioner focused on climate change and digital creative design. He collaborates with top tier universities globally and partners with leading architectural firms to turn climate evidence into decision-ready strategies from component and façade to building, streetscape, district, and region. He lectures across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, and advises public institutions and industry on outcome-bound approvals. His core foci are ecology, climate, decarbonization, and health, supported by digital scripting and full-scale (1:1) technology that links research to built performance.