The Knowledge Council

Dr. Dolly Daou is an internationally recognised design leader, academic, and strategist with over 24 years of experience across Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans design education, stakeholder engagement, and entrepreneurial innovation.

She holds a PhD in Urban Design, Interior Architecture, and Anthropology, and has led major initiatives, including as Director of the Interior Architecture Program at Swinburne University of Technology and the Association of Professional Interior Designers (MENA). She has also worked as a quality assurance reviewer for TEQSA (Australia), Bahrain QA Authority, and ADEK (Abu Dhabi).

Dr. Daou led the Master of Design: Art and Technology at NACAA, China’s first Sino-French Design School, and directed the Food Design Lab in France. Now based in Melbourne, she heads a consultancy focused on design strategy and innovation in education. She is also Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Food Think Tank Research Group under the Cumulus Association.

Founder & Chief Architect, Simone Micheli Architectural Hero
60 years of life | 35 years of transformative design practice

Simone Micheli, Founder & Chief Architect of Simone Micheli Architectural Hero, is a visionary force in contemporary architecture with 35 years of practice and a distinct, future-forward design language. Born in Tuscany in 1964 and trained at the Florence School of Architecture, Micheli is celebrated for immersive, emotionally charged spaces across hospitality, residential, urban, and wellness architecture.

His work—seen in iconic projects like Barceló Milan, TownHouse Duomo, and installations at Milan Design Week—blends sustainability, experiential storytelling, and poetic form, creating architecture that touches both function and feeling.

A dedicated educator, Micheli leads global masterclasses, including the recent “Design Inside Out: Interior Design with AI & Graphic Twist”, in collaboration with Cindrebay Design School Dubai. His workshops offer real-world design experiences with live clients and multidisciplinary input.

With global collaborations and award-winning spaces, Micheli continues to shape architecture as a deeply human, expressive, and transformative discipline.

CEO, Simone Micheli Architectural Hero
Lead, Visual & Graphic Design | Marketing & Communication

Roberta Colla is the CEO and creative visionary behind the visual identity of Simone Micheli Architectural Hero. Leading the studio’s visual, graphic design, marketing, and communication divisions, she brings clarity, purpose, and storytelling into every project.

With a background in design thinking, brand strategy, and visual storytelling, Roberta crafts cohesive identities that reflect and elevate architectural narratives. From boutique hotels to wellness centers and international exhibitions, her work connects space, emotion, and visual coherence.

Roberta is also a passionate educator, conducting masterclasses and workshops across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Her recent contribution to the workshop “Design Inside Out: Interior Design with AI & Graphic Twist”, in collaboration with Cindrebay Design School Dubai, highlights her future-forward approach to design education.

Whether developing brand identities or immersive communication systems, Roberta Colla continues to define the visual DNA of modern design—balancing creativity, precision, and impactful storytelling.

Professor Subia Mojib is a respected academic leader and educator with over 26 years of experience in higher education, career development, and student success. Holding fine art degrees from Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, London, she brings a distinctive blend of creativity, critical thinking, and innovation to her work.

As an Adjunct Professor at the American University in Dubai, her teaching spans Islamic Art and Architecture, Contemporary Art, and Art Appreciation, alongside mentorship in photography, fine art, drawing, printmaking, and illustration.

Renowned for her contributions to curriculum development, experiential learning, and industry engagement, Professor Subia prepares students to thrive in today’s fast-evolving creative sectors. Her mission is to celebrate artistic and cultural diversity, thoughtfully integrating traditional and modern practices that reflect Dubai’s unique cultural landscape.

Beyond teaching, she actively contributes to research, workshops, and policy initiatives, bridging academia and industry to foster innovation, inclusion, and lifelong learning.

Jonas Liugaila is a Lithuanian designer, educator, and strategist whose work bridges critical thinking with impactful design practice. He holds a Master’s degree in Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts, where he now serves as an Associate Professor. Jonas began his career as a freelance designer, focusing on education and interaction design, where his inquisitive approach led him to challenge design conventions and explore the deeper causes of design problems.

He is the Co-founder and Development Lead at The Critical, a research and design agency addressing complex business and social challenges through systems thinking and participatory design. The studio’s portfolio spans placemaking, city branding, university co-design, and revitalization of heritage brands.

In addition to his professional practice, Jonas is Secretary General of the International Council of Design and serves on the boards of the Lithuanian Design Association and the Lithuanian Design Council, actively contributing to national design policy, advocacy, and public discourse.

Professor Filomena Melina Visone, originally from southern Italy, brings nearly 25 years of experience as a certified architect and interior designer. A graduate in Architecture from Florence, her deep connection with culture, nature, and the nuances of light and shadow shapes her design philosophy.

Her professional journey includes collaborations with Jim Jennings Architecture in San Francisco, luxury retail projects in Mexico and Italy, and work for fashion houses like Ferragamo and Versace with Prima Design Florence. While her early research centered on architectural language, lighting, and retail, she later pursued advanced studies in sustainable design through programs at Florence University (ABITA) and Klimahouse.

Teaching became her true calling. Beginning as an assistant to Prof. Marco Bini, she completed a MIUR-accredited diploma to teach Architecture and Interior Design. Professor Visone has since taught at institutions including the University of Florence, Polimoda, and FDA, enriching students from diverse backgrounds.