About The Event

This exculsive SLDF forum brings together AOD’s alumni for a discussion on the pivotal role of designers in pushing the boundaries of traditional thinking to addressing social challenges. By examining the intersection and integration of design to other discipline in various fields, the forum exchanges ideas, shares insights and identifies how to foster and encourage the cross pollination of design through strategic interdisciplinary design approaches to embrace different design perspectives and develop new design expertise for the social development in Sri Lanka.

Panelists

Amreen Ashraf

Keynote Speaker and Moderator

Amreen Ashraf operates at the nexus of design, technology, and social impact, channeling over a decade of experience in design research, innovation, and strategy into

the alumni SLDF forum. Having graduated from OCAD University's Master's in Design in Digital Futures program, Amreen refined her skills as a strategic foresight and futures

researcher, enriching diverse projects that span from start-ups to impactful

collaborations with the government of Canada at OCAD’s Super O Lab

Sahil Gunesekere

A self-driven, highly motivated design professional, Sahil prides himself in delivering vibrant innovative design solutions for discerning clients and iconic brands.

A fascination with the visual element has long been in his blood and after a stint at the Limerick School of design in Ireland, Sahil immersed himself in the Academy of Design where his future path truly escalated.

Poornima Meegammana

Poornima Meegammana is an animator, educator and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of the award-winning Nextgen Girls in Technology initiative, which increases girls' and women's access to technology education and emerging technology careers.

Nawoda Bandara

Nawoda Bandara, winner of the Best International Portfolio award at the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week, held as part of Dubai Fashion Week 2023 and finalist at the Redress Awards 2022 – the world’s largest sustainable fashion award, is a first-class honors graduate - BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design, Academy of Design (AOD), Colombo, Sri Lanka and Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK.

Nazka Nazar

As a member of the project architect team for a 106-unit Weligama Bay apartment complex, my role transcends mere design. Collaborating with diverse disciplines—MEP, MVAC, Facade Consultant, Furniture Manufacturers—we navigate the intricate journey from vision to execution. In this multifaceted environment, understanding each field is paramount; even minor technical tweaks impact materials and design outcomes.