leadership team
DEBBIE FLEVOTOMOU (CEO & HEAD OF DESIGN - ARCHITECT)
Debbie Flevotomou is a multi-award-winning architect, CEO, renowned public speaker and accomplished entrepreneur. She is the visionary Founder of Debbie Flevotomou Architects (DFA), an architectural practice dedicated to designs rooted in nature, human well-being and future-focused sustainability. THINK NATURE. Her work has received many prestigious International Property Awards and other global accolades for outstanding architectural design, reinforcing her reputation as a leading voice in innovative, high-end architecture.
Debbie currently serves as President, United Kingdom for Salvator Mundi Global, a super-exclusive international leadership club that brings together high-level figures from business, government, academia and the arts. She is also a Board Member for IKAR Arabia Investment Group Limited and Board Vice-President for IKAR GCC, where she contributes to strategic decision-making and long-term growth across multiple sectors.
An educator at heart, Debbie holds the esteemed position of Professor of Design at Hult International Business School. She is a lecturer on the Master’s programme at Arts University Bournemouth, where she has also been honoured as Industry Patron and she serves as a visiting tutor at London South Bank University. She is actively involved with the architectural programmes at the American University in Dubai and other leading institutions, mentoring the next generation of architects and designers while connecting academia with real-world, international practice.
Debbie’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding and developing three successful companies in London. Her leadership is characterised by vision, inclusivity and a strong work ethic, inspiring teams, attracting global clients and shaping strategies that look far beyond the present moment.
She has also served the profession in governance and advocacy roles, having chaired RIBA-SLSA for six consecutive years and subsequently being elected RIBA Councillor for a further three years.
On the global stage, Debbie is a sought-after keynote speaker. She is proud to be part of Dubai Keynote Speakers, a prestigious platform that brings together experts to inspire and drive meaningful change, and she is honoured to be represented by Kruger Cowne Speakers, alongside some of the world’s most influential voices.
Across all her roles, Debbie’s mission is clear: to push architecture, education, business and the arts to the next level, proving that visionary, nature-driven architecture can be beautiful, commercially successful and truly transformative for people and planet.
https://dubaikeynotespeakers.com/speakers/sustainability-speakers/debbie-flevotomou-keynote-speaker/
MARIO DIEL - (ADVISORY BOARD)
Mario Diel is a serial entrepreneur and investor whose influence spans finance, technology, education, media, hospitality, construction, and elite sport. As Founder, Chairman, and CEO of IKAR Holdings in London, he directs a constellation of more than thirty operating companies—among them IKAR Invesco, IKAR Crypto Ventures, Swiss Panasia Capital Holding, IKONIC Educational Holding, Salvator Mundi Holding in Frankfurt, The Bitcoin Hotels, and IKAR Global Football.
Beyond corporate leadership, Deil serves academia as an Associate Professor at ASEAN University in Malaysia and ICFAI University in India, and has held visiting or advisory appointments at leading Turkish institutions, including Bahçeşehir and Marmara Universities. His commitment to knowledge-sharing complements his commercial work, positioning him as a bridge between industry innovation and academic insight.
Deil’s achievements have earned wide recognition: Entrepreneur of the Year; “Most Successful International Holding in the UK” for IKAR Holdings; and the 2024 “World Eminent Man” award for advancing sustainable development, education, and positive global change. He is also Cultural Ambassador for the American University of Cyprus.
From founding the Global Crypto Investors Club to presiding over the Chairman Club—an exclusive forum for C-suite leaders—Mario Deil has built a reputation for mobilising capital, talent, and ideas across continents. His vision remains clear: harness diverse ventures under a single, purpose-driven banner to deliver both commercial value and lasting societal impact.
RICHARD FLEMING (senior director - ARCHITECT)
Richard Fleming, is the US partner of the firm. With over 25 years in architecture, he has worked on projects above £200 million and he has been responsible for Newport Beach Hotel, Disneyworld café and every hospitality project the company undertakes.
Before he joined, Richard was the Principal Architect of the Walt Disney Company for 8 consecutive years and prior that, he was the Architecture, Interior and Design Executive in several top 100 companies, including The Irvine Company, one of the world's most prolific real estate developers and largest landowner in California.
Richard is a professor in Domus Academy, one of the best 30 design schools in the world.
DMITRY IVANOFF (SENIOR DIRECTOR - ARCHITECT)
Dmitry Ivanoff is our non-executive partner. Dmitry worked for Foster+Partners for 7 years. Dmitry and Debbie were part of the same team, working on some prestigious projects like Masdar in Abu Dhabi, the first sustainable carbon-neutral city in the world.
Dmitry was also the honourable secretary of RIBA South London Branch along with Debbie for 5 years and afterwards was elected the Chair of the committee.
After leaving Foster+Partners Dmitry followed a Project Manager / Developer path. He directed redevelopment of a 5 Star Hotel and Golf Resort in Surrey, and lately completed a luxurious private villa for a high net worth family in the Middle East
marcus thomson-smith (director - PROJECT MANAGER - REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST)
Marcus is a real estate specialist and has been involved with the company since 2014.
Marcus has a MSc in Real Estate from CASS Business School (City, University of London) and a BA in Architecture from the University of Westminster.
Marcus’s master dissertation was based on the creation of a model that can predict prospective tenants’ bid-rent for office spaces in the City of London. This pioneer model is a very powerful tool for developers and investors, saving them considerable time and funds, as the model gives the results during the design stage. The model is based on the sourcing and analysis of thousands of data and case studies. His work was awarded a distinction.
He has been involved with Brunswick Centre projects, the yacht design, the Tower 42 renovation project and most recently with the idea of a model that will evaluate the building’s THINK NATURE principles and suggest ways to improve its efficiency to assess the building’s performance on an energy basis and on how to save space.
Marina Zouni HALLWORTH (director MARKETING AND PR)
Marina is the business development Director, a chartered engineer and an independent director serving on two boards as an NED.
Marina joined the company after a successful carrier of over 23 years mainly in the automotive industry. She led an extensive product portfolio with combined sales volumes or circa 300,000 vehicles per year across Europe. Having led commercial partnership initiatives, she delivered significant year to year profit increased to circa $100 million +.
Highly educated with two engineering degrees and an MBA from Warwick Business School, Marina is bringing a strategic approach to branding and business growth.
Winner of the “Chairman’s Leadership Award for Diversity” she is passionate about building strong stakeholders relationships as well as supporting women on boards.
LAWRENCE BRENCHLEY (SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER - SURVEYOR)
Lawrence Brenchley has joined the DFA team as the in-house Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor. A Chartered Surveyor and a Fellow member of the RICS, Lawrence also has extensive PM experience, built during a long international career with top firms like Arup & Partners (8 years), AECOM (6 years), Davis Langdon & Everest (5 years), where Lawrence managed multimillion-budget projects both in the UK and abroad.
Lawrence is an accomplished entrepreneur and a successful businessman, having established and run his own PM consultancy (5 years) and an FF&E company for the past 16 years.
Lawrence adds unique value to the DFA team through his sharp ability to act as Client representative and manage risks on large scale projects. He has a wealth of experience in design team management (RIBA stages 5-7) and project timing & budget management acting as a Quantity Surveyor.
STEVE WATTS (SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER)
Steve has recently joined the DFA team as a Hospitality, Sports and Leisure consultant.
Steve is a successful entrepreneur, with 3 fitness clubs to his name and over 20 years of experience in design and delivering Sports and Leisure projects.
Whilst operating his second club in 2000, the club reached record sales and was bought by investors just 2 years after its opening. When the new operator went into administration during the financial crisis in 2009, Steve seized the opportunity to buy back the trading company, which he recovered before selling it again in 2013.
Steve is the pioneering force behind the "eActiv Health Lounge" concept, currently operating in several key locations, offering "intelligent training" in a "lounge" setting, with many potential applications in gymnasiums, spas, recreational facilities and hospitality settings.
In addition to developing and operating his own enterprises, Steve has also consulted numerous design,new build and refurbishment projects, specialising in delivering optimum operational efficiency combined with excellent client experience, to maximise profitability.
Steve started his career as a professional footballer and played in three continents before qualifying with a diploma in Medical Science. He also holds a BMC qualification under Fitness for Industry.
Steve's visionary outlook, innovative thinking and substantial Sport and Leisure Business experience will add an invaluable asset to the Hospitality, Sport and Leisure arm of the DFA team.