2026 Advisory Board
Together, we shape the workspaces of tomorrow
The 2026 WORKSPACE Advisory Board brought together the region’s leading workplace experts, to tackle the challenges and opportunities shaping modern offices.
From AI in real estate and ready-built office solutions to hybrid work strategies and employee mobility, the Board tackled the issues that matter most. The focus? Real-world solutions that drive performance, sustainability and engagement.
By turning insight into action, the Advisory Board ensured this year's edition of WORKSPACE is more than an event – it’s where the next era of workspaces take shape.
2026 WORKSPACE Advisory Board Members
Iain Hird
Strategic Projects, Group COO Office
Emirates NBD
Allon van den Bergh
Managing Director
AIS Interiors
Elliot Lewis
Real Estate Strategy and Operations
The World Bank Group
Savas Cizmeci
EMEA Project Management Lead
Microsoft
Ewout Holst
Executive Director, MEA Solution Development
JLL
Irina Budnik
Workplace Services Manager MENA Turkey Africa
Joyce Jarjoura
Studio Director
Gensler
Rayas Ali
Founder & Managing Director
Motif Interiors
Samer Mahdi
Director of Corporate Real Estate
Baker Hughes
Sarah French
Middle East Head of Corporate Real Estate, Office Management and Travel
PwC
What will matter most in 2026
- Adaptive space and portfolio agility
Designing workplaces and portfolios that evolve as fast as business does - CRE as a strategic advantage
Elevating corporate real estate from cost centre to competitive edge - The performance workplace
Redefining the office as a driver of productivity, culture and connection - Intelligence-driven real estate
Turning data, AI and analytics into smarter real estate decisions - Delivery and lifecycle excellence
Protecting asset value from procurement through long-term operations - The middle-east workplace model
Shaping a distinctly regional approach to growth, regulation and workplace innovation.
dmg events is a leading organizer of face-to-face events and publisher of information services. Our aim is to create dynamic marketplaces to connect businesses with the right communities to accelerate their growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.