Conference Speakers
Steve Nygren - Keynote
Steve Nygren is the President and Founder of Serenbe, which has won numerous awards, including the Urban Land Institute Inaugural Sustainability Award. Steve is also on the Board of Directors along with Bill Browning for the Biophilic Institute. Serenbe is a wellness community created as a model to demonstrate that preserving 70% of green space interlaced with agriculture, housing and retail is not only economically viable but the future of community wellbeing. Steve currently serves on multiple national boards dealing with children, agriculture and environmental issues including The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Children & Nature Network, Chattahoochee Now and Wholesome Wave.
https://www.biophilicinstitute.com/steve-nygren
Steve will be speaking on: Start in our own Backyard. Visionary placemaker Steve Nygren chronicles the rise of Serenbe, a pioneering model of biophilic living outside Atlanta, and charts a path for others wishing to challenge the status quo, embrace optimism, and reinvent their communities…and themselves.
Tye Farrow - Keynote
Senior Partner, Farrow Partners Architects Working at the intersection of architecture and neuroscience, Tye is a world-recognized pioneer in tackling how our built environments either give or cause health. The first Canadian architect to earn a Master of Neuroscience Applied to Architecture, he is a much sought-after speaker, having presented to respected organizations in over fifty-five cities on six continents.
In his first, best selling book, published by University of Toronto Press, titled Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health, Tye explores the relationship between placemaking, mind health, and human performance, at the intersection of neuroscience and architecture.
https://www.farrowpartners.ca
Tye will be speaking about:
Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health. How do buildings make us feel? How can they make us feel better? Through research at the emerging intersection of neuroscience and architecture, Tye Farrow will explore how our mind, and its various sensory systems, interacts with our built environment to enhance or harm our health and well-being. Tye bridges the gap in knowledge between the therapeutic medical world and the design community to reveal how the intentional shaping of our environment can support our physical and neurological well-being, through recent discoveries in cognitive psychology (the science of the mind) and neuroscience (the science of the brain).
Oliver Heath - keynote
Oliver Heath is founder and director of Oliver Heath Design, who are recognised thought leaders in health & wellbeing in the built environment. They are researchers, designers, and advocates for the creation of healthy flourishing spaces in the built environment, benefiting both people and planet.
Having spent 15 years working for TV channels such as BBC, ITV and Channel 4, published 4 books, 8 white papers, online courses and presenting over 500 RIBA certified CPDs on Biophilic Design, Oliver has vast experience in knowledge creation and presentation.
Design clients benefitting from his company’s nature first approach include Apple, Bloomberg, The BRE, Accor, Interface and the John Lewis Partnership.
Oliver is a passionate advocate of sustainable design and has acted as a spokesperson for the likes of the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). www.oliverheathdesign.com
Oliver will be speaking on: Creating an Ecosystem of Wellbeing. As spatial typologies and functions increasingly overlap, we have to step out of our siloed approaches to the creation of spaces that meet the needs of the diverse users that our buildings support. To realise spaces that are truly invested in the health & wellbeing of people & planet we need to create an ecosystem of wellbeing for every project – but breaking the mould is never easy. Oliver will discuss how his company’s biophilic design projects address these essential challenges through the lens of bio-based design.
"I can’t wait for the JOBD Conference — to share ideas, approaches, challenges and success from the world of Biophilic Design. Whether it's meeting up with friend and contacts, old and new or learning about new projects - this is an essential gathering for our flourishing community. Join us!"
Alex Mayer MP
Alex Mayer MP is a member of the Transport Select Committee and Chair of the All Party Group for Woods and Trees. A long-standing environmental campaigner, she has worked on retrofit and low-carbon policy and led major initiatives on animal welfare. Alex is passionate about creating greener, fairer and more connected places, championing community safety and sustainable design that supports healthier living and thriving local environments across towns, cities and rural areas alike.
We are pleased to announce that Alex Mayer MP will be opening our afternoon session on Urban Nature.
Adam White FLI PPLI
Director, Davies White Ltd
Adam is a Fellow and Past President of the Landscape Institute and co-founder of Davies White Ltd, an award-winning practice specialising in nature-connected family friendly landscapes and gardens. A leading advocate for the nature play movement, he helped shape the UK’s biophilic approach to children’s outdoor environments. Adam launched the national #ChooseLandscape careers campaign and has worked with Sir David Attenborough and the charity, Learning Through Landscapes. He is a trustee of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation and co-designed the RHS Back to Nature Gardens with HRH The Princess of Wales.
Adam will be speaking with Andrée Davies about: Rewilding Childhood: Designing Nature Play for the Next Generation. Adam and Andrée will share insights from two decades of designing nature play landscapes that reconnect children with the natural world. Their work helped shape the UK’s largest-ever investment in outdoor play, championing design that moves beyond standard equipment to embrace nature, creativity, and community engagement. Drawing on research, policy, lived experience, and real case studies, they show how engagement in biophilic design can foster ownership, tackle nature-deficit disorder, and create playful, inclusive spaces that nurture wellbeing, imagination, and belonging.
“I really enjoyed last year’s conference, and I’m excited to be joining an amazing line-up of speakers this year to share how nature and design can bring people together and how playful, inclusive landscapes can help us all help feel happier, healthier and more creative.”
Adrian Wong
UK Forest Lead, SUGi.
Adrian is a dedicated regenerative planting specialist with a keen interest in replicating natural ecosystems to benefit biodiversity. As a student of the natural world, he strives to bring nature into the Urban landscape. A passion developed from his time travelling and observing how society benefits most when nature and humanity can coexist. He will be speaking about:
Adrian will be speaking about: Biodiversity & Belonging: why wild urban spaces matter. Every citizen deserves access to thriving, biodiverse nature. SUGi is a model of urban renewal rooted in ownership, pride, and shared responsibility. We transform urban spaces through hyper-local pocket forests. From climate resilience to improving mental health, we’ll explore how wild urban spaces and nature connectedness can restore our sense of belonging — and how this, in turn, supports biodiversity and human well-being. SUGi is a story of hope: living proof that when nature returns, so does health, connection, and resilience.
Andrée Davies
Director, Davies White Ltd
Andrée is a Chartered Landscape Architect, Fellow of the Landscape Institute, plantswoman and co-founder of Davies White Ltd. With over 35 years’ experience, she designs therapeutic, playful, and biodiverse landscapes that connect people with nature. A trustee of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation and, alongside Deborah Meaden, a judge for the RHS Chelsea Sustainability Award, Andrée co-designed the RHS Back to Nature Gardens with HRH The Princess of Wales.
Andrée will be speaking with Adam White (see entry under Adam White) on Rewilding Childhood: Designing Nature Play for the Next Generation.
“I’m excited to be part of a community that believes in the power of nature to heal and inspire. Sharing how playful planting and innovative design can help people see and value the living world feels more important than ever.”
Brooks Bonner
Brooks Bonner is Program Director at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, where he advances global biodiversity science through the Half-Earth Project Map. He has led community-based conservation work across Latin America and Southern Africa and previously worked with the Organization for Tropical Studies and Nature & Culture International. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Brooks holds an M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute and lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife and daughter.
Brooks will be speaking about: Biophilia in Action: The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and the Half-Earth Project. Rooted in E.O. Wilson’s idea of biophilia—our innate connection to life—the Half-Earth Project brings science, design, and storytelling together to protect the diversity of life on Earth. This talk highlights how the Foundation translates Wilson’s vision into action through innovative mapping, education, and community partnerships.
“I’m always impressed by how E.O. Wilson’s ideas have permeated so many aspects of human society, and I’m excited to see how biophilia continues to inspire and take shape in the world around us.”
Clare Bowman
Clare Bowman is an Architect Academic, Sustainability Leader and Co-founder of RCZM. Well-regarded for her innovative work in biophilic and sustainable educational spaces, she has collaborated extensively on research-based projects that integrate natural elements into school designs. Her work with Putney High School’s “Biophilic Classroom” initiative was awarded RHS Chelsea Gold medal in 2021.
Clare actively shares insights on biophilic design in educational settings, highlighting the importance of integrating green infrastructure, improving air quality, and creating adaptable spaces that support both mental and physical health. Her work emphasizes the impact of sustainable design on educational outcomes, enabling schools to create nurturing nature-based environments.
Contribution to publications include ‘Designing Places for People’ and ‘Intelligent Building and Infrastructure with social Values Third Edition’ publications by Professor Derek Clements Croome and “The Economics of Biophilic Design, 2nd Edition” by Terrapin, Bright Green.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-bowman-796a12bb/
Instagram @clare_bowman_rczm_architects
www.rczm.co.uk
Clare will be speaking about: Nature-Based Solutions for Schools
RCZM Architects will share their guidance and real-world case studies on integrating nature-based solutions within school environments. This session will explore the benefits of applying the London Plan Urban Greening Factor Tool and developing a campus-wide estates nature based vision to deliver sustainable, viable, and wellbeing-focused outcomes.
By combining innovative design with ecological thinking, RCZM demonstrates how schools can create greener, healthier learning environments that also enhance community engagement and access to nature
“The quality of the speakers and the breadth of nature-based solutions shared at last year’s conference created an exceptionally immersive peer-to-peer learning environment. Having the opportunity to speak with pioneers and legends of biophilic design, as well as meeting attendees new to the subject, made for a wonderfully refreshing and positive atmosphere”
Elena Monserrate
Elena is Head of Experience at Uncommon, a B Corp certified collective of co-working and flexible office spaces in London. She has worked hotel management and operations for the majority of her career.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-monserrate-diez-she-her-70800356
Elena will be speaking on the BIID Panel, sharing her project she submitted to the Anna Whitehead Prize.
Emma Moody
Emma Moody is Associate Director for Service Development and Commissioning at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, based in Bristol. With over 20 years of experience in the NHS, Emma has dedicated her career to improving services for people living with mental ill health and learning disabilities.
Her professional journey has been rooted in commissioning, where she led the development of multi-million-pound transformational programmes in dementia care and talking therapies. Three years ago, she transitioned into the provider landscape, bringing her strategic insight directly into service delivery.
Emma is currently leading the development of a new 10-bed unit and outreach team for people with learning disabilities and autistic people who are experiencing mental ill health. The facility has been designed with biophilic principles at its heart and shaped through full co-production with people who have lived experience—ensuring that recovery is not just clinical, but driven by people who know what it really is like.
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/emma-moody-b2574759
Emma will be speaking about: The Kingfisher: Integrating Biophilic Design into Mental Health, Learning Disability, and Autism Care Settings // This talk explores the development of The Kingfisher in Bristol and demonstrates how biophilic design can be central to inpatient ward environments. It highlights the pivotal role of leadership in driving this initiative and considers how these principles can inspire future design approaches. The new unit is designed to support individuals with a treatable mental health condition who have a learning disability and autistic people.
“I’m excited to share the innovative work we’ve been leading at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust on our new inpatient unit. This project showcases how biophilic design can transform care environments—not just for those who use the service, but also for those who visit and work within it. My hope is that others embarking on similar initiatives will see the value of integrating nature-inspired design into mental health, learning disability, and autism settings.”
Fran Board
Fran is a designer and researcher with over a decade of experience at the intersection between sound and architecture. At Moodsonic, she works with major organisations integrating sound and science into workplace and healthcare projects. Her work bridges research and practice – translating insights from science into design strategies. Fran has published peer-reviewed research, led workplace studies, authored industry articles, and delivers accredited training for architects and designers about sound and design.
Fran will be speaking about: From Ideas to Action: Biophilic Soundscaping in Practice
Biophilic design is evolving into ever-more immersive, multi-sensory experiences that connect people and place. This talk explores real-world projects where designers are integrating biophilic sound and other responsive technologies to create spaces that feel more restorative and adapt to people’s changing needs.
“Last year’s Biophilic Design Conference was incredible! I came away so inspired by the research and creative work happening across different disciplines. We’re excited to be part of the event again this year – to learn about the change that’s underway, meet people across the industry, and share our own work around sound, wellbeing, and responsive biophilic design.”
Frankie Boyle
Artist | Creative Director | Speaker
Experiential artist Frankie Boyle explores biophilic design through the lens of light and human behaviour. Drawing on neuroscience and neuroaesthetics, she examines how environments communicate with our subconscious, how light, texture, and spatial rhythm influence emotional and physiological states. Frankie reveals how ten billion years of evolutionary coding shape our sensory perception, and how tuning into these primal languages within built spaces can transform wellbeing, reconnecting us to nature, ourselves, and the quiet intelligence of light www.frankieboylestudio.com
Frankie is speaking about: The Subconscious Language of Light: How Environments Speak to Human Behaviour. Experiential artist Frankie Boyle explores biophilic design through the lens of light and human behaviour. Drawing on neuroscience and neuroaesthetics, she examines how environments communicate with our subconscious, how light, texture, and spatial rhythm influence emotional and physiological states. Frankie reveals how ten billion years of evolutionary coding shape our sensory perception, and how tuning into these primal languages within built spaces can transform wellbeing, reconnecting us to nature, ourselves, and the quiet intelligence of light.
“I’m really looking forward to speaking at the Journal of Biophilic Design Conference and sharing how light shapes our subconscious relationship with space and wellbeing. It’s an exciting opportunity to explore how sensory design and neuroscience can help us reconnect to ourselves and the natural world.”
Jenna Mikus
Dr. Jenna Mikus is a transdisciplinary design researcher, engineer, and strategist. As founder of the Eudae Group, she bridges strategy, environmental design, and wellbeing science to shape environments for human and planetary flourishing. An Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne and founder of Harvard’s Flourishing by Design collective, her work on Eudaimonic Design integrates empathy with evidence and arts with science to reimagine how we design for thriving across life stages and contexts. With over two decades of global industry and academic experience, she champions design as a catalyst for health, wellbeing, and ultimately flourishing.
Jenna will be speaking about: When Nature Meets Purpose: Bridging Biophilic and Eudaimonic Design for Flourishing Futures. Drawing on Aristotelian philosophy and wellbeing science, this talk explores how eudaimonic design activates the principles of biophilic design—cultivating environments that prompt people to better connect with themselves, others, and their built and natural environments by becoming their best selves. Through research and real-world applications explored across typologies, demographics, and geographies, Dr Mikus will highlight how flourishing scholarship-guided design can catalyze our symbiotic relationship with the planet in praxis and in practice. The result: spaces that don’t just sustain life, but elevate it—for humans and nature alike.
“I’m thrilled to be attending the Biophilic Design Conference 2025 in London! After joining remotely last year, I’m especially excited to be there in person this time—both to experience the energy of the community live, and to share my work on how eudaimonic design deepens our connection with nature and each other. It’s an incredible opportunity to join and amplify the voices shaping the future of biophilic design for people and the planet.”
Jennifer Hamilton
Spotting a gap in the market for a truly integrated architecture and interior design practice, Jennifer established The Vawdrey House in 2012. Bringing both design disciplines together at the concept stage; with experience in everything from new builds to listed heritage buildings. Together with Ian Chapman, Jennifer leads a highly experienced team of designers that consistently deliver exciting and unusual residential and commercial buildings, that often go on to win industry awards.
Jennifer will be speaking on the BIID Panel, sharing her project she submitted to the Anna Whitehead Prize.
Jeremy Myerson
Jeremy Myerson is a design writer, researcher and educator, based in London. His work explores the role of design and designers in driving social, environmental and technological change. He is Professor Emeritus in the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art; Chairman of WORKTECH Academy, a global knowledge network for the future of work; and Visiting Professorial Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford. He is also co-founder and academic lead for the Healthy City Design Congress. He is the author of several influential books, the latest of which are ‘Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office’ (2022) and ‘Designing a World for Everyone: 30 years of Inclusive Design’ (2021). www.worktechacademy.com
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s conference on biophilic design because it has never been more important to the future of work and workplace. The evidence is mounting that bringing workers closer to nature makes a huge difference to wellbeing and performance.”
Joanna Yarrow
Chief Impact Officer Human Nature
An internationally recognised leader in sustainable living, Joanna has held senior sustainability roles at IKEA and M&C Saatchi, as well as advising national and global organisations on the sustainability transition. At sustainable developer Human Nature, she's helping harness the power of place to make sustainable living attractive, accessible and affordable in neighbourhoods from villages to new settlements (incl. the Phoenix Project in Lewes). She’s written books & presented numerous TV programmes on sustainable living. She's happiest on a cargo bike, yoga mat or vegetable patch.
https://humannature-places.com/
"Where we live shapes how we live. It's never been more important to ensure the places we design, build and run inspire and enable a better, healthier and more sustainable way of life. So I'm very much looking forward to wonderful event learning with and from the leading thinkers and doers putting nature's wisdom into practice".
Julian Treasure
Julian Treasure speaks, writes and trains about conscious listening, powerful speaking, and designed sound to supercharge relationships, productivity, engagement and well-being. His five TED talks, including the sixth most-viewed of all time, have been viewed more than 160 million times, his online courses have taught over 150,000 students, and he has written three books: Sound Business, How To Be Heard, and Sound Affects. He has been honoured with Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel and the International Listening Association’s Special Recognition Award.
https://www.juliantreasure.com
Kimberly Tryba
Kimberly Tryba is co-founder and managing director of LILA Studio LLC, a New York City–based landscape architecture and design practice specializing in urban horticulture and culturally responsive design. With a background in both design and strategic communications, she has collaborated with leading design firms, developers, and civic organizations to position landscape architecture as a powerful tool for community connection, cultural expression, and economic resilience. Her work reflects a deep commitment to creating inclusive, nature-integrated urban environments that are both meaningful and enduring. www.lilalandscape.com
Kimberly will be speaking about: The Green Dividend, How Biophilic Design Pays Off in Cities. This session explores the economic power of biophilic design in cities, showing how integrating nature into streets, buildings, and infrastructure drives measurable returns—higher retail spending, property value uplift, lower operating costs, and stronger community resilience. Using international examples from London and New York, participants learn how policy, design, and operations intersect to make greening a viable investment strategy. The key takeaway: treat nature as infrastructure—planned, funded, and managed for long-term economic and social gain.
“I'm thrilled to be speaking at the Conference of Biophilic Design in London this November, where I’ll be joining a global community passionate about reconnecting people with nature through design. It's an incredible opportunity to share ideas, inspire change, and explore how biophilia can shape healthier, more sustainable spaces for the future.”
Ludo Pittie
Ludo Pittie is Director for Landscape Advisory. Regenerative design underpins his approach to reshaping both built and natural environments for all lives and all stages of life. As a polymath, his expertise is founded upon landscape and urban design and integrates natural capital, nature-based solution, stewardship, nature finance and social value.
Ludo supports our clients with funding both nature restoration at scale and nature in cities; built upon his experience with Islington NEIRF, North Yorkshire LINC and Somerset Investment Roadmap.
Ludo will be speaking about: Financing Nature in Cities
Luke Engleback
Luke Engleback, CMLI FRSA, is a Chartered Landscape Architect and Ecourbanist based in the UK. He founded Studio Engleback in 1999 and has 40 years of experience in landscape architecture and landscape led ecourbanism. This a whole systems approach to creating healthier cities for people and the environment that has addressed biodiversity, climate change, health an wellbeing fr over 3 decades. Studio Engleback is a founder signatory of UK Landscape Architects Declare a Climate. & Biodiversity Emergency.
Since 1984, Luke has taught at the university level and regularly presents/publishes on ecourbanism, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and health, both in the UK and internationally. Biophilia is an important aspect of health creation as people are each biodiverse ecosystems and co-evolved with Nature. Luke took part in the first Biophilic Design Conference held at Cornell University in early 2013, where the keynote speech referenced a number of projects he had been involved with over the previous 15 years. Luke sits on the Landscape Institute Policy & Public Affairs Committee and peer review groups including the Cambridge Quality Panel and South Downs National Park Design Review Panel.Formerly with INTEGER Intelligent & Green think tank (1999–2005), and currently ‘Our Green Group’, he stays updated with Nature and Science, integrating scientific evidence and insights into planning & design practices.
Luke will be speaking about Biophilic design - part of the whole systems Landscape-Led Ecourbanism approach to creating Healthier Cities.
https://www.studioengleback.com
“I am really looking forward to discussing with other delegates how Biophilic Design at all scales can underlie the transformative action needed to improve health, productivity and to address the challenge of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies”
Mark Catchlove
Director – Insight and Strategy Services - MillerKnoll Global Research & Planning
Mark and his team are responsible for sharing the latest thinking in workplace design and related issues. He has been at the company for over 25 years and over that time has become a respected contributor to the workplace community. He has delivered more than 700 seminars around the world. He has been employed in the office interiors industry for 40 years, working with many leading public and private sector organisations.
Mark is chairing and introducing a panel discussion for us. We are also incredibly grateful for MillerKnoll’s continued support for this year’s conference.
“Having attended the first Biophilic Conference last year, I’m confident this year’s event will feature a diverse lineup of speakers who will deepen our understanding of the subject.”
Mathew Page
Mathew is the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust, delivering mental health and learning disability services in the southwest. A registered nurse, Mathew has integrated nature-based approaches into his clinical practice and now champions this work within his organisation and the wider health system. He is committed to research and advancing the evidence base for nature-based interventions, actively involved in projects that evaluate impact. Mathew is a regular writer and speaker on the therapeutic benefits of nature. He recently completed an MA in Nature Writing at Bath Spa University, deepening his commitment to connecting people, health, and the natural world.
“The 2024 conference was the highlight of my professional year. The fast-paced presentations were packed with insight, and I left feeling inspired—with fresh ideas, renewed motivation, and a long list of new contacts.”
Natasha Reid
Natasha Reid is founder of MATTER SPACE SOUL, a progressive spatial design studio and lab shaping places for human and social wellbeing. The studio specialises in Human-Centric Design, NeuroArchitecture and Biophilic Design. Building on her experience at award-winning architecture studios, she then spent over a decade developing and implementing new approaches for humanistic design from 2013. She often speaks at conferences on design innovation to address societal challenges. She was named a “Groundbreaker” by international design authority Wallpaper* magazine in 2021.
Natasha will be speaking about: Compassionate Places and Biophilic Design in policy and practice: A case study of implementing innovation. Natasha will be sharing her practice’s work implementing Biophilic Design approaches to shape places for human health, social wellbeing and ecological sustainability together. The talk will focus on a case study of new planning and design standards for a London borough, integrating Life-Centric Design approaches and NeuroArchitecture. Findings from a Public Health academic evaluation will be shared, and how this case study can inform policy for other areas, the London Plan, and national policy, as well as international efforts.
“The Biophilic Design Conference brings to life a vision of the future we so urgently need – where the health of people and planet are considered as one - we are nature after all! I can’t wait to hear about the pioneering work others are doing in this space, so we can build towards a new normal together.”
Nick Grayson
Former Climate Change, Sustainability and Green City Manager, Birmingham City Council
Retired March 2023, after 43 years at Birmingham City Council, holding posts including Climate Change & Sustainability Manager and Green City Manager. Co-author City of Nature Plan. 25 years as a part-time Senior Research Fellow at University of Birmingham, with national and international research on sustainable cities and their governance, climate, nature and air quality. Founding member of the global Biophilic Cities Network. On government working parties for National Ecosystem Assessment Follow-on, 25 Year Environment Plan. Collaborated with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to upgrade their Zero Emission City model.
Nick will be speaking about: How to map cities to change where you’re heading. Welcome to cities. We nearly all live in one. They are responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 75% of natural resource consumption; and return 80% of global GDP. Yet nation states and the UN COP’s are blind to them. Their current governance models fail to address these concerns. Learn why and how to change that, making climate and nature central to decision-makers. By taking a Biophilic Governance approach it’s possible to build organisational capacity. To change the narrative to one of hope and opportunity for citizens, partners and to attract new investors.
Nina Woodcroft
Interior Designer, Nina+CO
Nina+Co is a material-driven design studio, founded by Nina Woodcroft in 2014. Working withboth ancient and pioneering materials—mushroom mycelium, algae, cork—Nina+Co createsensitive, sensual spaces with refined form, layers of meaning, and ‘a sculptor’s feeling fortexture’.Nina and her team collaborate with other change makers—like-minded clients, innovativedesigners and local craftspeople—on carefully selected projects with a strong focus onresponsibility and a sense of community. The studio produces award-winning design withapplied circular thinking and radical materiality at their core.
Nina will be speaking on the BIID Panel, sharing her project she submitted to the Anna Whitehead Prize.
Poone Yazdanpanah
Driven by a belief that design should reconnect people and nature, Dr Poone Yazdanpanah is a sustainability and biophilic design consultant whose work bridges architecture, landscape, and wellbeing. With experience as a lecturer and researcher, she integrates evidence based frameworks such as WELL, BREEAM, and Passivhaus with the cultural and spiritual dimensions of place. Her PhD on the Miān-Sarā explored living structure and belonging in Iranian architecture, inspiring her practice of creating “living environments that breathe with nature."
https://www.linkedin.com/in/poone/
Poone will be speaking about: The Room Without a Roof - A Biophilic Worldview from Within, where she will share findings from her fieldwork on the traditional Iranian Miān -Sarā — the open sky courtyard at the heart of the home. Her research reveals two worldviews in biophilic design: one where nature serves human comfort, and another where humans live in rhythm with nature. Rooted in cultural, climatic, and spiritual insight, the talk invites design ers to move beyond bringing nature indoors toward creating places that breathe and evolve with the living world.
“I’m honoured to speak at this conference and to contribute to the inspiring mission of the Journal of Biophilic Design—bridging nature, wellbeing, and architecture. Having followed Dr Vanessa Champion’s leadership in expanding awareness of biophilia, I deeply admire her vision and dedication. I’m delighted to bring my own perspective to this collective effort, continuing the dialogue on how we design spaces that reconnect people and nature.”
Rob Delius
Head of Sustainability, Stride Treglown. Rob is an award-winning architect and the sustainability lead at Stride Treglown. His work focuses on communicating the environmental challengesand inspiring hope for an ecologically regenerative future. His 2022 climate installation won Architects JournalCollaboration of the Year and last year he instigated and led an international action around biodiversity loss. He has been sustainability advisor to the RIBA Southwest awards and the winner of multiple RIBA design competitions.Robert Delius - Associate Director -Stride Treglown
Rob will be speaking about: The city will see you now. Creating places for health and restoration. In 2019 a Hampton Court show garden was revealed called ‘The Forest Will See You Now.’ Conceived by landscape architect Michelle Brandon, it cleverly highlighted how nature can be our doctor, our medicine. What about the cities and places we live in, could they also have medicinal qualities? What if we completely rethought our public spaces and new developments so they restored us and made us healthy? And by doing so, ultimately reduced the burden on the NHS….
“I am delighted to be invited to speak again at the Biophilic Design Conference. Events like these are really important in getting the message out there that genuine nature and people-positive solutions exist. I'm sure I was not the only one who left last year's conference feeling energised, inspired and hopeful about the future.”
Rob Gardner
CEO of Rebalance Earth, Rob 25 years of sustainable finance experience, including co-founding Redington and Mallowstreet. His mission is to create a world worth living in by mobilising £10 billion for Nature restoration, mitigating climate risks for businesses and communities, and delivering resilient, sustainable returns for investors.
Rebalance Earth invests in Nature as critical infrastructure for resilience. By funding projects that mitigate climate risks, restore biodiversity, and capture carbon, we generate sustainable returns for investors and build resilience for companies and communities, creating a world worth living in. Nature isn’t optional; it’s essential infrastructure for business resilience.
Rob will be speaking about: A Tale of Two Futures: Building a Nature-Based Economy. Across Britain’s landscapes, water risk is cascading — too much, too little, too dirty — threatening homes, farms and prosperity. In the Evenlode catchment, a new biophilic mindset is turning this around. By restoring wetlands, re-wiggling rivers and regenerating soils, Nature becomes living infrastructure — protecting communities, improving food and water security, and enhancing wellbeing. This session explores how reconnecting design, ecology and economy through Nature-based solutions can create a resilient, prosperous future worth living in.
Dr Sally Augustin
Sally Augustin, PhD, works with designers and others to create places where people flourish and objects that they cherish. To these collaborations she brings her extensive, neuroscience-based insights into how humans engage with the physical and virtual worlds that they encounter, their related expectations and experiences. Her Design With Science clients include organizations and individuals that produce and/or use designed solutions worldwide. Dr. Augustin, who is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, is the editor of Research Design Connections and the author/editor of several books. She can be reached at sallyaugustin@designwithscience.com
Sally will be speaking about: Brains, Bodies, and Biophilic Design. Biophilic design elevates human mindsets and health, and these positive effects have been quantified by neuroscientists in research settings. The implications of biophilic design identified are impressive but cannot reasonably be anticipated in real world situations. A meta-like-analysis of neuroscience findings, however, establishes the probable effects of biophilic design on cognitive/professional performance in actual, used settings. Biophilic design’s links to physical health and mental wellbeing can also be addressed empirically. Information on the context-quantified implications of biophilic design move design discussions beyond cost as a determinant of use.
Sarah Jordan
Sarah Jordan is the Green Space for Health Director at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH). She works to bring nature into the healthcare system for the benefit of people and planet. Sarah’s background is in environmental psychology, exploring the relationship between people and our natural environment. She has worked at a director level in environmental and healthcare organisations, formerly as one of the founders and director of Hope for the Future, an environmental communications charity that supports communities to influence and achieve change. www.sustainablehealthcare.org.uk www.nhsforest.org
Sarah will be speaking about: From clinic to canopy – the need for nature in healthcare . This talk will explore the connection between nature and health and share the work of the NHS Forest – a CSH project working to get more greenspaces into healthcare settings. Hear how nature is being used to transform healthcare across the UK - from woodlands to sensory gardens - for the benefit of staff, patients and the wider community.
Simon Corbey
Simon is a Chartered Surveyor, with a Masters in Architecture; Advanced Energy and Environmental Systems from UEL/CAT with a thesis on the BedZED lessons. He worked at Construction Resources (London’s first green building store); BioRegional, based at BedZed, where his duties included a LCA of B&Qs product range and setting up One Planet Products. Simon has worked under the umbrella organisation of the Sustainable Development Foundation, initially working for the Good Homes Alliance and now working for the ASBP to enable real change in the industry and help deliver low carbon healthy buildings. His work with the ASBP concentrates on seminars and learning events but also includes liaising with members and involvement with policy.
https://asbp.org.uk/team/simon-corbey
Simon will be speaking about: What is a healthy product? The multiple impacts of product selection are gaining importance. At the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, we focus on embodied carbon, which in the UK is still unregulated, but we also look at the wider implications of product ingredients and the impacts from the manufacturing processes. I will talk about construction products and PFAS, toxicity and fire, biodiversity and research that suggests that conventional paints are our most significant source of plastics. And what about VOCs...is there such a thing as VOC free?
“The conference will be a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the incredible line up of expert speakers and chat to interesting delegates around a subject that is vital to us all.”
Sumita Singha OBE
Sumita is an award-winning architect, educator and writer. Sumita has served on the boards of many charities and NHS for many years. Sumita is currently the RIBA Board Trustee for Education and Professional Development and the founding director of Charushila, an environmental design charity. Sumita founded Architects For Change, the Equality forum for architects. She is the author of many publications on ecological, feminist, biophilic and healthcare design.Sumita received an OBE for services to architecture in 2021.
Sumita will be speaking about: Designing wellbeing through participation. Biophilic design can increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of ‘direct nature’ such plants, ‘indirect nature’ such as paintings, salutogenic space and place conditions. Biophilic design offers health, environmental, and economic benefits for building occupants and urban environments. While humans might spend 80-90% of time indoors, having plants or even views or photos of nature can help to reaffirm this connection. However, wellbeing extends beyond this. It involves place-making using community, collaboration, disruption, and innovation.
“I am looking forward to connecting with like-minded individuals on the path to personal, communal and planetary well-being!”
Tatsuya Matsuoka
Tatsuya Matsuoka, a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). Supervised by Prof. Emeritus Derek Clements-Croome from the University of Reading, who is leading research on the development of evaluation techniques for biophilic design, as well as the supervision of Associate Prof. Yangang Xing at NTU.
Tatsuya holds a PhD in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo in Japan and is currently studying in the UK on behalf of the Institute of Technology at Shimizu Corporation, a general construction company.
Tatsuya will be speaking about: Exploring the Use of Wearable Devices for Assessing Biophilic Design in Workspaces: A Holistic Perspective on Their Impact.
Biophilic design is becoming increasingly important across various environments, including office spaces, highlighting the need for research to inform effective practices. While previous studies have looked at both physiological and psychological indicators, advancements in wearable technology now allow for continuous and detailed assessment of human energy. This progress enhances our understanding of individual responses to biophilic design. We conducted a literature review and developed a methodology for assessing the effects of biophilic design using wearable devices. Additionally, we propose a new approach for incorporating these technologies into future research.
“We are very excited to present at this renowned conference on biophilic design, which has a significant impact on related fields. We will be sharing insights from international and interdisciplinary research conducted in the UK and Japan. We look forward to exchanging ideas and perspectives with everyone.”
Ulysse Dormoy
Ulysse Dormoy - CEO of Atrium
Ulysse Dormoy is a highly experienced professional in the lighting industry, with over 35 years of expertise. His journey began during the era of analogue systems, and he has been a witness to the transformative shift to today's digital landscape. Recently, his focus has shifted to a personal passion: the profound impact of light on human physiology. With an interest going beyond the well-known circadian rhythm, Ulysse explores how our increasingly indoor lifestyles might be limiting our exposure to the full spectrum of light, potentially affecting our health and wellbeing. Ulysse's quest to uncover the deeper implications of light also extends to its integration within our built environments, exploring how architects, lighting designers, and interior designers can leverage light's full potential. His goal is to enhance daily life through strategic lighting solutions that can optimise routines, improve quality of life, and promote overall wellbeing.
Ulysse will be speaking about Light & Life, a Circular Concept, From an Unintended Horticulturalist. Our modern life is alien to our physiology and our indoor lifestyle has taken us away from the natural world. Our continued quest for convenience has driven us towards creating an ultra-processed world and the break from the full solar spectrum and from plant life is not only totally unnatural to us, it may actually be affecting our long-term health and wellbeing. How can we create the built environment not only to do no harm, but to enhance human health and wellbeing?
“It’s such an honour to have been asked to present at the Journal of Biophilic Design Conference to spread the word about the vital connection between light and life and how this impacts human health and wellbeing.”
Dr Vanessa Champion
Founder and Editor of The Journal of Biophilic Design magazine and podcast series and The Biophilic Design Conference.
Originally an academic at UCL, Ness has a PhD in Greek and Latin, and also worked in the British Museum, honing her interest in research in how societies flourish and how the visual and physical environment informs our behaviours. After editing a London newspaper she set up her own media company and consultancy working with clients including the BBC, ITV, Banks, manufacturing, NHS, etc.
But it was after witnessing first hand the biophilic healing effect a nature view had on recovery in hospital, that she founded The Journal of Biophilic Design to share interviews with thought leaders on how biophilia supports wellbeing for people, planet and place.
Passionate about this beautiful planet we live on, Ness is an artist, nature lover and professional photographer, and creates “Virtual Nature Walls” for healthcare, third age spaces, schools, offices and homes. Ness is also founder of the philanthropic media agency PhotoAid Global Foundation where her team support NGOs and charities, as well as train local people in media and story telling skills in Africa, India, Nepal, UK, and all over. www.vanessachampion.co.uk
“We have an incredible line up of speakers and a fantastic guest list of attendees, from interior designers, architects, planners, real estate owners, construction companies, investors, researchers, landscape architects and designers, ecologists, environmental psychologists and many more. Last year was humbling and amazing in equal measure, with people leaving with new contacts and business too. Our planet is in a climate crisis, there is a mental health crisis, we are trying to get people back into the workplace, we have challenges with skill gaps and recruitment, our healthcare service is challenged, there aer many many many reasons why we need Biophilic Design in every environment we live, work, play and breathe. Come and learn how what you are already doing fits into it all, and how you can partner with others to accelerate a better, healthier, more productive and economically sound future for all.”
William Knight
William Knight is a renowned design industry figure and event director with over two decades of experience in campaigns, exhibition management, and brand leadership. He has held senior roles at the London Design Festival, Media10 (100% Design and Clerkenwell Design Week), and served as Director of Dubai Design Week. He is currently the Director of Awards for Better Future and the Co-founder of Material Matters, the global platform for material intelligence for architecture and design.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wjbknight/
William will be speaking about: Biomaterials Making a Noise
Material Matters, the leading platform for material intelligence in architecture and design, uses storytelling to amplify the potential of materials. Through its podcast, trade fairs, and annual conference, the platform connects innovation with industry and mainstream media, revealing the narratives that shape the adoption of new materials and methods. This presentation explores how communication, curation, and engagement can help biomaterials evolve from experimental concepts to central elements in contemporary design and architecture.
“I’m thrilled to be speaking at the Biophilic Design Conference and looking forward to being among minds passionate about nature-inspired responses, material innovation and a future where design and natural world flourish together.”