Meet The Jury – 2025 Professional Competition

The submission process for The 2025 Next Work Environment Competition is your opportunity to gain global recognition and exposure. Together with our esteemed group of expert jurors, we look forward to seeing your most innovative ideas for future work environments everywhere.

Alexis Dennis-Huether
 Associate Principal
The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Meet Alexis

Alexis Dennis-Huether is an interior designer with over 20 years of experience who joined SLAM in 2021 as an Associate Principal. With a passion for connecting with clients and their organizations, Alexis’ interest lies in continual exploration of how design thinking can support the business plan. She has the essential ability to combine empathy, creativity, and rationality to meet user needs, solve problems, and drive business success through design. Alexis leads project teams from initial concept through completion of construction and is adept at sculpting spaces that solve problems and meet project budgets. Alexis was part of a team that won a Next Work Environment Competition award for “Mind the Gap,” a theoretical project featuring a mobile workplace that came out of SLAM’s Workplace Innovation Think Tank (WITT). The team also won a WellBeing + Greatest Impact award for “CollaborEATs,” which blends food, dining, and meeting into the workplace.  She has been published in Interior Design, Contact Magazine, Office Insight, and Time Out NY. Alexis served as Director for the IIDA’S LA City Center as well as the IIDA Southern California Board of Directors.

Francisco Lasta
Inclusive Design | Marketing Strategy
GFT

Meet Francisco

Francisco Lasta leads the inclusive design program at GFT, where he bridges his expertise in occupational science with the firm’s expertise in public architecture to promote inclusion and belonging. As an occupational therapist with clinical experience across the lifespan, he deeply understands how environments impact daily life. He collaborates with architects on projects ranging from transportation spaces to sensory rooms. Francisco’s thought leadership in inclusive design has led him to speak at SXSW, NeoCon, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the American Institute of Architects. He has also served as a panelist at a symposium to re-envision the Center for Universal Design and as a juror for design competitions. Francisco leads GFT’s Inclusive Design internship program, mentoring occupational therapy doctoral capstone students as they apply theory and research to real-world architectural projects.

Rex Miller
Futurist, Author & Speaker | Creator of Genius Spark and Founder of Mindshift

Meet Rex

Rex Miller is a recognized thought leader and orchestrator of transformation across industries. With 25 years as a corporate executive and 15 years as a consultant, Rex brings a rare combination of frontline leadership and future-focused insight to complex challenges. He is best known for pioneering the MindShift process—an award-winning approach that breaks through constraints to spark innovation, align cultures, and move industries forward.

Rex founded three ventures: MindShift, a research and consulting firm; GeniusSpark, a software and training platform based on NASA’s research into activating your genius traits; and River Rose Leadership Ranch, a retreat designed for immersive, nature-based team experiences. His work empowers leaders to unlock hidden potential and build more human-centric, high-performing organizations.

A recipient of CoreNet Global’s Innovator and Industry Excellence Awards and IFMA’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Rex is also a celebrated Wiley author and professional speaker. His influence spans Fortune 100 companies, cutting-edge healthcare systems, and world-class institutions such as Google, Facebook, IWBI, UC Davis Health, the Port of Virginia, and the Federal Reserve Bank.

Rex holds a master’s degree in Strategic Foresight and brings a unique perspective to leadership, influenced by his background as a USPTA-certified tennis professional who coached two Hall of Fame athletes and the U.S. Olympic Pole Vault team. This diverse experience provides valuable insights to overcome barriers and fosters a high-performance approach to personal and organizational growth.

His latest project, The GeniusSpark, is a transformative app and book that helps individuals map their innate strengths and elevate their leadership impact.

Rex Miller doesn’t just consult—he catalyzes. Whether in a boardroom, stage, or retreat, he guides leaders into new conversations and new realities.

Jessica Cooper
Chief Product Officer
IWBI

Meet Jessica

As Chief Product Officer at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), Jessica helps to lead IWBI’s global movement to transform health and well-being through our people first approach to buildings, organizations and communities. Combining her experience partnering with global market adopters in her previous role as IWBI’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jessica drives the continuous evolution of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and focuses on scaling WELL’s positive impact around the world. She oversees the standard development, implementation and achievement processes, as well as customer experience, technical account management and education.

Before joining IWBI, Jessica led consulting services at Delos and worked with WELL’s early adopters on improving business performance by prioritizing health. Prior to WELL, she developed and delivered educational programs for the New York City green building community at Urban Green Council. Trained as an interior designer, Jessica intersected design and real estate at LB Architects where she managed interior design and construction projects for corporate, residential and not-for-profit clients.

Jessica is a WELL Faculty and one of the first WELL Accredited Professionals, having earned her credential in 2015. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a licensed interior designer who holds an NCIDQ Certificate. She is a graduate of Cornell University.

Hassan Shaikh
Senior Manager
Workplace Strategy

Meet Hassan

Hassan is a South African Real Estate and Design professional currently based in Germany, with my foundation in Architecture and a master’s degree in interior design. He is finalising a Doctorate in Design, with a research focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in workplace strategy and design. The thesis introduces the Polycontextual Workplace Model (PCW), a novel workplace model that builds on and moves beyond Activity-Based Working by integrating human context and workplace experience into spatial design.

With over two decades of international experience in global real estate and workplace innovation, he has led strategic initiatives across sectors including biopharmaceuticals, aviation, retail, and design. He currently serve as the capability owner for global workplace transformation efforts at a large international corporate.

Previously, he founded and led Revolve, a design and build consultancy in South Africa, which he operated for 10 years. Alongside his professional practice, he lectured in Interior Design at both Vega School of Design in Johannesburg and Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, sharing his expertise in sustainable and human-cantered design with emerging young professionals.

Fernando Mier
Global Head of Emerging / Hybrid Experiences
Avanade

Meet Fernando

With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of digital and physical technologies, Fernando is a seasoned Service Design professional based in Chicago.

Fernando’s career has been shaped by his unique background in architecture and industrial design, having trained at the Illinois Institute of Technology for college. His deep curiosity about how things are made and used helped his shift to the tech industry during the 2008 recession and sparked a passion for design thinking, human-centered design, and innovative problem-solving that seamlessly blend technology with user needs.

Among his training, Fernando also holds dual master’s degrees—one in Marketing and another in Human-Centered Design Strategy—and specializes in Futures Thinking, LUMA, and other innovative methodologies to develop intuitive, accessible products and effective go-to-market strategies. His career spans high-profile roles at companies such as Leo Burnett, Bose, Nokia, and Microsoft, and his consultancy portfolio also includes high-profile projects for clients such as SoFi Stadium, One World Trade Center Observatory, Pantone, Corelle/Instant Brands, among others, all of which push the boundaries of user experience and technology interaction that are both delightful and simple.

Currently, Fernando serves as the Global Head of Hybrid Experiences for the Office of the CTO at Avanade, a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture. In this role, he helps his organization and their clients build the foundation for cutting-edge technologies like Digital Twins, VR/AR, wearables, embodied AI and others, ensuring they’re well-positioned to incubate and launch these innovations successfully.

Outside of work, Fernando is passionate about mentoring young professionals, competing with his dogs in obedience and agility, speaking at conferences, and advocating for LGBT and neurodiversity causes.

Ram Srinivasan
MD of Consulting, Work Dynamics
JLL

Meet Ram

Ram Srinivasan is a pioneering strategist in future of work and digital transformation, guiding organizations through the workplace, technology, and AI revolution. Ram leads JLL’s Future of Work and AI Adoption Practice across the Americas and is a former Deloitte Management Consulting Leader.

As a widely published global thought leader, Ram authored the groundbreaking book ‘The Conscious Machine’, exploring AI’s impact on the future of work. His insights are highly sought after, making him a frequent keynote speaker at global conferences and featured in Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, and Yahoo Finance.

An MIT alum and MIT Sloan ACE, Ram holds 15 MIT certifications in cutting-edge technologies including AI, Machine Learning, and Extended Reality. His unique background also includes qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Secretary, bringing financial acumen and corporate governance expertise to his technology-focused advisory work.

Ram’s mission is to empower organizations to harness emerging technologies, creating innovative and sustainable business models for the digital age. His ability to translate complex technological concepts into practical business applications has established him as a trusted advisor for executives navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

With a commitment to ethical tech implementation, Ram helps companies not just adapt to change, but lead it, ensuring they remain competitive and responsible in an increasingly digital world.

Ebbie Wisecarver
Chief Design & Product Officer
WeWork

Meet Ebbie

Ebbie Wisecarver is Chief Design Officer at WeWork. Since joining the company in 2015, she has held multiple positions, including architect and development project manager for Australia, design director of Asia, Australia and India, and head of project delivery for WeWork Japan. Previously, Wisecarver held positions at prestigious design firms Diller, Scofidio + Renfro New York and Steven Holl Architects. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and has participated in numerous traveling exhibitions and fellowships, including a competitive summer internship at Takenaka Corporation in Osaka, Japan. A strong advocate for gender equality, Wisecarver currently serves as the executive sponsor of the company’s employee resource group, Women of WeWork, and is on the board of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, which focuses on gender equity in the design and construction industries through research and education.

Steven McCollom
Global Design Strategy Lead, People + Places
Intuit

Meet Steven

Steven McCollom AIA IIDA, is in his 15th year as a Global Design Lead at Intuit.  Known for his approach to workplace environments that balance aesthetics with high-performance operational and functional considerations, he loves partnering with multi-disciplinary design teams and end-users to create spaces that work, inspire and adapt. During his 40+ years as a design firm leader and owner representative, Steve has been responsible for a variety of projects – including corporate, government, hospitality, residential and healthcare.

Steve has prioritized giving back to both profession and community as a member of the AIA Interior Architecture Committee, IIDA International Board of Directors, and Global Co-Chair of the Intuit Pride Network.

Jessica Collins
Director of Design, Interiors
HOK Dallas

Meet Jess
Jessica Collins is the director of design, Interiors in HOK’s Dallas studio. As a process-driven creative, she works collaboratively with clients and project teams, taking pride in not just the end result but also the service, delivery and design experience. Jess approaches design with ingenuity and interdisciplinary thinking to create curated and authentic spaces that celebrate the client’s brand, values and ethos while elevating the human experience.An active member of the design community, she serves on the Programs Committee for the Real Estate Council, is a founding member of the American Society of Interior Design’s (ASID) x10 Collective, and is a past board member for International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) Southern California chapter. Jess routinely appears in panels and articles on workplace strategy and employee engagement and was named to ASID’s “Ones to Watch” list recognizing emerging leaders in the field of interior design.

Michael Przytula
 MD of Intelligent & Digital Workplaces
Accenture

Meet Michael
Michael has spent more than 25 years helping workforces of major companies around the world change the way they work through the implementation of constantly evolving, innovative technologies. A recognized thought leader on the merger between people, places and technology, he has an ultimate passion for making workforces more efficient and effective through the application of technology, either to how they do their work or to the environment in which they do it.He is the host of Creating Smarter Spaces, the only podcast dedicated to helping innovative Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Management and Technology Executives apply technology to the spaces they create, places they manage and people they serve.Michael received the Luminary Award from CoreNet Global in 2022 and was named in the Top 100 Unified Communications Influencers of 2023.

Lindsay T. Graham
UX Researcher, Personality & Social Psychologist, Google

Meet Lindsay

Dr. Lindsay T. Graham is a personality and social psychologist who specializes in the ways people form relationships with, craft, manipulate, and select their daily environments to best fit their lives. Lindsay’s work spans the fields of psychology, architecture, interior design, engineering, and human-computer mediated interactions. Currently Lindsay is a researcher within Google’s Real Estate and Workplace Services group to support the creation of work environments that promote wellbeing and productivity. Prior to Google she founded and led a research program on the Psychology of Space at UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment. Lindsay is also author of the book People and Spaces: Experience, Ethics and Intent which highlights the value of collaborator work when working to make spaces that serve those who use them.

Frank Cottle
Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Virtual Offices

Meet Frank

Frank Cottle is an expert and a thought leader on the intersection between flexible working, technology, and the future of work. A frequent speaker on the conference circuit and a highly sought-after guest for podcast interviews, Frank has become an authority on the dynamics and practicalities of the future workplace.

His unique vision can help business leaders, workers, and those interested in the future of work to understand the changing landscape of the workplace, and the people it impacts.

Whether you’re leading a team of five or five thousand, we’re all moving towards the future workplace together. What matters, and what sets your brand apart, is how you get there. Preparation is key, and through his relaxed yet authoritative Southern Californian style, Frank will utilize over three decades of experience and leadership as an entrepreneur, investor and flexible workspace expert, to lead a thought-provoking and engaging discussion on the future of work and what we can expect to find there.

As founder and CEO of the Alliance group of companies, Frank has been building flexible workspace brands since 1979, establishing himself as an advocate for new ways of working that empower people to work better, smarter, and more productively.

Antonia Cardone
Workplace Specialist

Meet Antonia
In high demand since the pandemic elevated the issue of workplace relevance and experience to the top of the CEO agenda, Antonia is an industry leader and speaker who addresses the themes of strategic thinking, employee experience, dynamic and flexible workplace environments, and optimizing space to deliver organizational benefits.Her work focuses on the role of the workplace in the success of the lives of its users and their businesses. In addition, she supports occupants with sophisticated change programs and campaigns that address behavioral adjustments needed to ensure success in the hybrid workplace. She is deeply interested in how the workplace needs to change to remain relevant to the culture of organizations and as a forum for the personal development, learning and growth of its people.Educated as an architect in Australia, Antonia’s career and passion for learning about the experiences of people took her from Adelaide to Sydney and Hong Kong, where she supported clients in China and Singapore, prior to moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. She has worked with clients and delivered thought leadership across the US and Canada for over 20 years.