Benedetta Tombolesi is a Façade Project Manager at Mace, currently leading the façade delivery on Belgrove House in London.

On Belgrove, she is responsible for the coordination and delivery of multiple façade packages, including curtain walling, brick face precast elements, architectural metalwork, and glazing systems. Her role spans design coordination, CDP management, procurement, site installation, and final handover, working closely with architects, consultants, and specialist subcontractors to resolve technical interfaces and ensure compliance with performance and quality requirements.

Her work on Belgrove House focuses on managing real-time construction challenges, interface coordination, and achieving high-quality façade outcomes within programme constraints.At Zak World of Façades, she brings a main contractor’s perspective on delivering complex façade systems on site, with a focus on coordination, buildability, and close-out.

Damian established Eckersley O’Callaghan’s facade engineering group in 2012 and today leads a team of 30 engineers in London while supporting offices in the US, Hong Kong and Sydney. EOC has built a reputation for design and innovation across structures and facades and is engaged on eye-catching projects around the world. Damian is heavily involved in the practice’s R&D and low-carbon design initiatives and is a member of the CWCT sustainability committee.

David is a Director at Interface Facade Engineering. David has extensive leadership experience and expertise in facades and architecture. Throughout his career, he has contributed to multiple award-winning projects, from concept design through to tender and construction, with a strong focus on delivering architectural intent.

His interest in facade engineering has led him to develop innovative solutions across a wide range of projects, including university research laboratories and major bank head offices in the City of London. His experience spans systems and material selection, detailing, construction techniques, contractor selection and hands-on design development.

With an architectural background, David applies a rigorous and balanced approach to complex design challenges. He has led technically demanding projects such as The Dumont and our Data Centre portfolio.

Kenneth Zammit, is a director in Thornton Tomasetti’s Façade Engineering practice responsible for accelerating the team’s growth in the U.K. and the European region. He leads the innovation drive for the façade engineering team globally and is part of the R&D oversight board allocating investment across the firm.

Kenneth is a committee member of the British Standards Institution, and a contributor to its upcoming CEN/TS 19100 “Design of glass structures”. He is also a member of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology’s technical board and a board member of the Society of Façade Engineering.

He holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Cambridge, a master’s degree in façade engineering from the University of Bath and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and engineering from the University of Malta. He is also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a chartered engineer.

Martin Drexler is authorised signatory and head of design, research and development at Schindler Fenster + Fassaden GmbH and has now been active in façade construction for more than 20 years. Martin graduated from Technische Hochschule Rosenheim with a diploma in Wood Engineering in 2008. In his diploma thesis he dealt with the topic "structural wood glass bonding" according to ETAG 002. He is a member of the Technical Committee of the VFF (Verband Fenster und Fassade - Window and Façade Association) and serves on various technical committees there. At Schindler Fenster + Fassaden GmbH he not only oversees façade projects but also deals with the further development of sustainable window and façade systems - especially timber and composite systems - including their façade testing as well as the efficient, digital transfer from the 3-D-model to the processing machines.

Matt joined FMDC in early 2024, as a high calibre addition to the company management Team. His capacity for critical thinking, vast built experience as a facade engineer, and drive to achieve exquisite cladding solutions make him a valuable asset for any project.

Previous to his employment with FMDC, Matt worked for 18 years as façade consultant at Arup. This included running the Americas Façade Engineering Practice, in Los Angeles, from 2009 to 2021. Prior to that, Matt worked in Arup’s London Office with the FMDC Founding Directors. Matt has significant experience in leading integrated architectural and specialist engineering design teams in the design, engineering, and procurement of façade systems from concept through to completion. He has worked with many of the world’s leading developers, façade contractors and architects and has successfully delivered projects worldwide.

Ron Jacobs is Project Sales Manager International and has worked with Jansen AG for more than thirty years. For the first 27 years, he acted as Jansen’s distribution partner in the Netherlands and Belgium, where he and his team promoted the brand by highlighting the distinctive qualities of steel in architecture and showing where steel can make a real difference. Since Jansen took over direct market service in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2022, Ron has joined the International Project Business Team as a cross-border Sales Manager, bringing his expertise in architectural steel and sustainability to an international audience.

Ron will present a range of completed projects, including Battersea Power Station and The Whiteley in London, KANAL – Centre Pompidou in Brussels, along with selected case studies. His presentation offers architects a deeper understanding of the topic and gives façade professionals insight into new requirements that can reduce the overall footprint of future projects. As adaptive reuse becomes increasingly important, we should design today’s new buildings so they are ready for reuse tomorrow.

Steffen has more than twenty years’ experience in façade construction and has developed extensive expertise in research and development. Having worked across technical design, testing and international site work, he brings a well-rounded understanding of façade projects, from early-stage development and validation through to on-site delivery.

He holds a doctorate in engineering and, as a research associate, worked on a wide range of façade engineering topics, including testing, glass anisotropy and adhesives in façade construction. In this context, he contributed to the technical development of numerous internationally renowned projects.

Since 2024, Steffen has been Head of Material & Testing. In this role, he is responsible for the project specific development of new technologies and for seele kinetIQ – movable façades made by seele.

Stephen Tanno graduated from The University of Southampton in 1987 and worked as a Consulting Engineer for the next 16 years, including 5 years with Ove Arup in Sydney and 8 years as Group Director with Buro Happold, where he founded the Façade Engineering Group, in London. In 2003 he joined Schneider GB Ltd initially as UK Technical Director and later as UK Managing Director guiding the company to become a market leader. In 2011 He joined Seele GmbH as Projects Director, and in 2015 he joined Schueco International as Director of Pre-Constructions Services.

He is a chartered engineer in both the UK and Australia and has a consistent track record of leading and delivering complex and bespoke high quality projects. He is a lateral thinker and has an all-round appreciation for design, engineering, and build-ability. He has extensive knowledge of project delivery from initial planning and design stages right through construction and handover. In recent years Stephen has collaborated with numerous architects to develop sustainable and functional façade designs that went on to be implemented to a realistic budget through a reliable delivery mechanism by close collaboration with façade contractors.

Tansu Kumru has extensive experience in the glass industry and has been working for Şişecam, one of the world’s leading glass manufacturers with production operations in 14 countries across four continents. She is currently responsible for public relations and coordination within the company.

Throughout her career, she has held various roles in the Architectural Glass division, including strategy development, product and brand management, and marketing communication. She contributed to the development of energy-efficient architectural glass products and provided customised and advanced glass solutions for a wide variety of projects around the world.

As the Vice President of the Board of the Exporters’ Association, she is currently the global representative of the Turkish Glass Sector. She continues to inform industry professionals about how Turkish glass products can enhance the capabilities of important construction projects worldwide.

She graduated from the Department of Industrial Engineering and completed her master’s degree in the Faculty of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University.

Will is a founding member of Interface Facade Engineering, established to deliver specialist facade expertise to a strong UK and international client base. Working in a highly technical field, he has built extensive knowledge through involvement in complex projects, collaborating with leading architects, engineers, manufacturers and contractors to deliver practical, durable solutions.

Trained as an architect, Will transitioned into facade engineering early in his career, contributing to high-profile projects including the Royal Opera House and Waterloo International Terminal. He later helped establish and lead facade engineering teams, growing multidisciplinary capabilities and expanding services internationally.

Will is particularly experienced in complex geometries and advanced facade systems where he supported the development of innovative computational and manufacturing approaches. His international portfolio spans diverse climates, enhancing his understanding of environmental performance. At Interface, he continues to lead design innovation, combining technical expertise with a collaborative approach to deliver integrated facade solutions.