AIA Middle East Board Members 2025
Li Ren, AIA
President
Architect at Perkins Eastman
Li Ren is a project architect at Perkins Eastman, Li Ren focuses on senior living, multi-family housing, and urban design. Beyond the professional practice, Li serves as a board member/Director at Large in the AIA Washington Chapter, affiliate faculty at the Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, and an active member of the NCARB Examination Committee.
Li has excellent enthusiasm for community-based design and urban regeneration. His research/practice targets DC urban regeneration, knowledge-oriented architecture facilities, and future architectural strategy within three focus areas — technology, sustainability, and culture — emphasizing community hotspot spaces such as new neighborhood libraries, affordable housing, and senior living facilities renovated community service centers. Li Ren embodies the young architect who has embraced the profession, continuous learning, and service. His impressive list of accomplishments has been undertaken quietly and without fanfare. However, everyone who has the chance to work with him or serve with him admires his focus, passion, leadership, and commitment.
Ryan Waltke, AIA
Secretary
Technical Director | Senior Associate, Gensler
With over 20 years of experience across the United States and the Middle East, Ryan brings his technical expertise to every project, displaying thoughtfulness to design solutions that uniquely reflect a client’s core values, vision, and business mission. His ability to design both interior architecture and base building projects makes him a unique contributor to the firm. He has served in both design and contract administration roles for a wide range of projects, and his strong communication skills, coupled with his technical knowledge, allow him to form a key trusted advisor role to both client and team members alike. Being approachable and attentive, he values the relationships he forms.
He has successfully coordinated construction documents and construction administration for some of Gensler’s most complex projects. He has extensive experience of managing on-site coordination and observation including coordinating the efforts of consultants and acting as a liaison with building officials and local authorities, Ryan’s expertise is integral to ensuring drawing and technical accuracy.
Thierry A Paret, FAIA, NCARB, MRIAI, LEED AP
Fellowship Director
Principal at Thierry Paret-Architect
Thierry Paret is an American architect, with 25 years of richly diverse experience in the USA, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Thierry previously worked as a Design Studio Lead for major Irish and US Firms where he designed pharmaceutical, laboratory, education and residential projects. More recently Thierry was an Advisor to the Qatari government working on program wide strategic initiatives for their multi-billion dollar portfolio comprising of the Healthcare, Educational and General Sectors.
Thierry earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute and is a registered architect in the States of New York, Nevada, Oklahoma (dormant), Utah (dormant) and the Republic of Ireland. He was elevated to the College of Fellows in 2014 at the age of 47.
Thierry was a founding member of the AIA Middle East Chapter and served as its first President from 2010-2012. He also was one of the founders of the AIA International Region and served as its Treasurer in 2014-2015. He previously served on the AIA Membership (2013-2014), AIA Community Committees (2013) and AIA Knowledge Committee (2016). In 2015 Thierry was elected as one of six Directors At Large (2016-2017)on the AIA's National Board.
As a result of his significant contributions, in 2012 Thierry Paret was honored as the 41st most influential person in the Middle East and North African consgtruction industry by top regional magazine feauturing the "Power 100" in the industry. That same year he was also voted the 16th most influential architect in the Middle East by Architect Middle East Magazine. Over the past 4 years he has supported the US Commerce Department with Trade Missions to the Middle East. He has also been an organizer of AIA Middle East End of Year Conferences since its inception. Thierry's work has been published in Damdi's Competition Panel Book, Interior Magazine, Big Project Magazine, New York Times and other publications.
Thierry sits on the Advisory Boards of the American University in Dubai and Qatar University supporting them in their bids to become NAAB Accredited. He previously sat on the Advisory Board of Informa, the organizers of Cityscape events in the Middle East.
Thierry holds an FAA Private Pilot's License, is a fourth degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate who competed in the 1996 Sixth World Open Kyokushinkai Full Contact Tournament in Tokyo, Japan. He is also an advanced tennis player and enjoys road cycling.
Alex Albani, Assoc AIA
Continuing Education Director
Principal at Infinity Design
Alex I. Albani is an architect and an academic with over 22 years of international experience. He began his career teaching CADD at the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his M. Arch and M.A. in Design. He continued after graduation as a CADD/BIM specialist and a store designer for Gap, LVMH, and Mexx. He joined the American University in Dubai (AUD) with the purpose of introducing BIM in academia.
Alex gained valuable CADD/BIM and design/build experience working on projects that ranged from creating and driving design/construction standards to phasing technology upgrade transitions. His architecture portfolio includes apparel, residential, civic, and office projects.
Alex’s contributions in academia include the Integrated Computational Design concentration and the introduction of BIM as a core subject. He was responsible for AUD’s MoU with Autodesk which secured over one million US dollars in Autodesk educational grants and services in the cloud for AUD students and faculty. He set up AUD as the first academic Autodesk Authorized Certification Centre in the Middle East which later was acquired by Certiport/Pearson VUE. He actively promotes BIM professional certification as well as NCARB Licensing and is presently serving as the AIA ME Continuing Education Director.
Alex is an associate member of the AIA, a BIM Revit for Architectural Design Certified Professional, and an Autodesk Certified Instructor. He received the AUD President’s Award for Teaching Excellence as well as the AUD Provost’s Award for Innovative Teaching.
Stephanie Kinnick, AIA, LEED AP BDC
Regional Director
Director of Operations and Associate at Gensler Middle East
Stephanie is the Director of Operations for Gensler Middle East and is responsible for all operational aspects of the firm’s Middle East studios. She also serves as the Culture & Museums Leader for Gensler’s APME region. As an architect with over 25 years of experience, she has a diverse portfolio of work globally ranging from academic to commercial, arenas to single-family residential, civic and transportation, hospitality and retail.
Stephanie is a collaborative team leader with excellent communication skills who has been based in the Middle East and North Africa region for over ten years. With a strong foundation in both design and technical construction knowledge, she has excelled as a driven leader experienced in managing large multi-disciplinary teams.
In her current role, she successfully manages the day-to-day operations of Gensler’s Middle East studios in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, covering all aspects of business, resourcing, fiscal operations, marketing and business development, and team development.
Roger Skaff, AIA
VIce President
Universities Liaison
Managing Partner at RKTECT Studios
Roger Skaff is the Principal of “Roger Skaff, AIA” and a Managing Partner of “RKTECT Studios,” with practices in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and Beirut, Lebanon.
In his practice, Roger emphasizes sustainable design and agile management by adopting Data-Driven Project Design & Delivery methods. His firm provides architectural, engineering, and management services, as well as third party expertise in Code Compliance, Fire Life Safety, and Value Engineering.
He has led high-profile projects, including the construction of the AUB-IFI institutional building, a Zaha Hadid design at the American University of Beirut, and the digital construction delivery of the Lusail Landscape Plaza, a Foster + Partners project in Qatar. Expanding his practice to KSA, he has contributed design, consultancy, and expertise to industrial, medical resorts, hospitality, and mixed-use developments in Riyadh, Neom, and Red Sea.
Roger is a faculty member at the Lebanese American University in Byblos and an advisor for NAAB accreditation.
Jason Holland, AIA
Treasurer
Jason is a Registered Architect in the USA with over 10 years of work experience in China. He is a Founding Partner of STUDIO DOHO, an architecture and interior design company in Shanghai. Jason has extensive experience in design, construction, and project management for both large and small scale projects in China.
Christina Bahou, Assoc. AIA
Events Director
Christina is an alumna of Syracuse University in New York, where she earned a comprehensive 5-year Bachelor's degree in architecture with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises. With a global perspective gained through diverse professional experiences, Christina is a proactive architect and designer who excels across various practice areas.
Beyond her design responsibilities, Christina has actively championed the expansion of Perkins Eastman's social responsibility initiatives, emphasizing work-life balance, promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the workplace, and cultivating a positive office culture—both in the United States and Dubai.
Shahd Babbili, AIA
Communications Director
Senior Architect and AIA Middle East Country Rep. with over 8 years of experience in the Middle East. Senior Architect with experience in various architectural projects. Shahd has expertise in BIM, LEED GA, and design software such as Autodesk REVIT, AutoCAD, and Adobe Creative Suite. She has worked on high-profile projects for government entities and strategic clients, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.
Her experience includes preparing design and shop drawings, conducting architectural studies, and managing project teams.
Tim Winstanley, AIA
Past President
Founder / Principal at Anomaly Architecture
Timothy Winstanley is an architect focused on the integration of innovative and atypical approaches to design opportunities with an emphasis on the engagement and creation of contextual solutions that enrich experiential qualities on an international scale. Timothy is a registered architect in the US states of Illinois and Arizona.
Prior to founding Anomaly Architecture in 2021, he was a Senior Architect at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, where he led the design of numerous international projects ranging from supertall towers to cultural landmarks, including the recently completed Al Wasl Trellis - the centerpiece of Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE.
His work embodies an approach that is heavily influenced by the local contextual curiosities present within each unique locale. This, in turn, reveals the potential for dynamic design to profoundly transform the human experience and enrich the urban fabric. His experience directing large-scale complex projects from conception through construction on-site provides an additional layer of insight into the realization of complex designs through close collaboration with world-class fabricators and builders.
Sherif Anis, FAIA, NCARB, RIBA
Executive Director
Director of Design, Planning & Development at LEAD Development
A founding member of the AIA Middle East Board of Directors, Sherif has served as the Chapter's Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and was the 2013 and 2016 President and is the chapter’s Executive Director. Sherif has also served on the AIA International Region Board of Directors as the founding Zone 1 Region Director, the 2017-2018 Secretary, and the current Middle East Chapter Representative.
Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects, and governments in the MENA region, Sherif and the Board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and Middle East; promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between the AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.
With a rich and diverse experience in the USA, London, and the GCC, Sherif relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in Abu Dhabi. With more than 31 years’ experience working in Architecture, Interior Design, and Urban Planning, his work ranges from residential and commercial buildings to academic and institutional facilities, all of which possess the qualities that make any type of project successful, attractive, sustainable, and most importantly, livable. Sherif is a Fellow in the AIA, a registered licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts. and also a member of the Boston Society of Architects.
Mr. Anis received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture.
Farouk Tadros, Assoc. AIA
Membership Director
Principal at Infinity Design
Farouk Tadros, an architect, and owner of “Infinity Design”. Holds a bachelor degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California-Los Angeles (USC), obtained his master’s degree in Landscape Architecture (MLA) from University of Southern California-Los Angeles (USC). He has been a part-time lecturer at several universities in Jordan. Tadros is a member of the Green Building Committee at the Jordan Engineering Association (JEA) and a member of “Greener Amman 2020 Committee” hosted by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM). In addition, committee member for the landscape design accreditation at the Jordan Engineering Association (JEA). He has worked on a variety of design projects within the region ranging from urban regeneration projects, development of archeological and tourist sites, city parks, coastal developments, residential and commercial buildings. Tadros is an architect who strongly believes in the impact of development on the existing environment, thus sustainable approaches are mostly adapted in his designs.
Megha Arjun, Int'l Assoc AIA
Fundraising Director
Megha Arjun is a licensed Architect with COA in India, currently working in Qatar in the field of architecture, design, and construction. Her passion for Architecture originated from her love and understanding of Life. Learning and exploring the world of Architecture, One's idea is to take Inspiration from Life itself and give it back in the Physical form. One believes in creating spaces which can contribute to the World in a way which helps create value in people's lives and in the environment.
Megha has worked for a global design firm - HKS Inc. where she has worked on different scale of projects in the US, China and India. She has been actively involved in preparing and participating in Client presentations for reputed Clients in India and Singapore. Currently, to advance her knowledge in Building construction, she has been leading the construction and coordination effort with Blue Star Qatar W.L.L in Qatar for Qatar University.
Megha is a member of the AIA American Institute of Architects as an International Associate. She has been awarded Gold Medal in her Bachelors for Academic Achievement. She has also been a Better Together Champion for the firm-wide initiative in HKS Inc. as a part of HR to include Diversity, inclusion, and Equity.
