United Kingdom

Having grown up in a family-run construction company, Kathryn was destined for a career in design and the built environment and studied Interior Architecture & Design at Leeds College of Art & Design. Her career began at Soon Interiors, an Architectural Interiors firm in Belfast, where she was involved in a variety of commercial design projects including bar, restaurant, retail and office spaces across the globe.

Later stepping into the niche world of carpet design at Ulster Carpets, Kathryn moved to London, where she first became involved in NEWH as Hospitality Chair. This (along with her ability to talk to anyone!) enabled her to build a large contact base of inspiring people across every aspect of the industry and she feels she owes NEWH for giving her the contacts and confidence to dive back into interior design. She spent 4.5 years with AD Associates, where she was involved predominantly in cruise design – even living on board one of the ships for 6 solid weeks during the construction phase!

Now a senior designer at Goddard Littlefair, Kathryn’s role spans concept, FF&E and design from concept to completion, and she is working on a number of hotel projects in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Outside of work and NEWH, Kathryn is always planning her next adventure and is an avid fan of all things theatre and dance.

Middlesex University Interior Design 1st Class Honours Degree Graduate with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and hospitality industry and multiple internships in Architecture and Interior Design studios in UK and Italy.

Winner of the UK Interior Velocity Awards 2020 and NEWH UK Chapter Scholarship Award 2021 with the project “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space”.
Thanks to the NEWH UK events attended as a Scholarship winner, Emily was offered a work opportunity in a leading Interior Design Studio in London, as an Interior Designer at G.A Group.

As a past Scholarship winner, Emily has been very impressed with the NEWH UK Chapter’s work and support for students so she decided to get involved too from the very beginning since 2021, firstly just helping with Social Media and quickly progressing through. At the beginning of 2022 becoming Scholarships Chair while helping out with social media as a personal passion.

In 2023, she proudly accepted the position of NEWH UK Chapter Secretary, as well as retaining the title of Internet Communications Chair too!

After studying Interior Design at Middlesex University, Libby began her career designing retail stores and spas for Molton Brown. Over the past 15 years her portfolio expanded across a broad range of interiors disciplines, from Children’s libraries, Wellness resorts and signature restaurants, with her most recent ventures including the design of the Spa and Fitness zones on a Cruise ship and the Harrods London, Beauty Halls, and experience events suite. Her true passion is for design narrative and seeking out local identity.

Now an Associate at HKS Architects, Libby specializes in designing luxury hotels and resorts for both individual owners and some of the world’s leading Operators.

Libby is fanatical about film, loves exploring markets and festivals around the world and takes every opportunity to travel.

Jonathan is a professional sales leader with over 35 years of experience in the hospitality FF&E industry. He has been involved in sales, sales and marketing management, and senior director level positions at manufacturers providing product for the hotel and leisure sectors. His experience has been primarily with floorcovering and carpet, most recently as Managing Director of Axminster Carpets. He has now launched his own company, Jonathan Young Associates, providing consultancy and product sourcing to the hospitality interior furnishings sector. Jonathan’s leadership and management skills will help establish a clearly defined strategy for business and understand how it needs to be implemented for success. His contacts across the US and Europe can help navigate the sales and marketing process for companies looking to expand into new markets.

As Chairman of the BCFA from 2011 until 2014, leading the Board of the trade association that supports the British Contract Furnishings Association, and currently as Vice President of International Relations of NEWH Inc and Past President of the UK chapter of the NEWH, he has a good understanding of business within the hospitality and commercial markets.

His experiences have taken him across continents, working and living in the US and UK, and developing and executing growth strategies for businesses across international markets.

He is a creative thinker and believes in the importance of communication particularly when working with people from diverse cultures, and across all levels of a business. Jonathan is passionate about the hospitality market and a big believer in connecting education and business through networking.

Annette has 15 years’ experience in the design industry. After gaining an Honours degree in Ireland in Design in Interior Architecture, she soon moved to London and hasn’t looked back since. Her first foray into design was as an architectural technician helping upscale residential projects achieve planning consent. This gave her an appreciation for high-end luxury and, combined with her passion for hotels, it wasn’t long before she ended up in hospitality design.

Prior to studying interior design, Annette worked at a local hotel where she gained first-hand knowledge of hotel operations and now she gets to combine her passions of hotel management and art and design. Annette has worked for well-known hospitality design studios such as RPW Design and GA Design International on 5-star hotel projects and also spent a year in Australia working for Cox Rayner on the refurbishment of Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

Inspired by her great love of learning, she completed an MA in Design Education at Goldsmiths University and developed an interest in Biophilia and design for wellbeing. This became a springboard for her subsequent work on boutique spa projects in the UK & Ireland. Annette is currently a Senior Associate in Spa Development for ESPA International, working with top design firms on luxury spa projects throughout the globe.

In her free time, she can be found in the great outdoors enjoying all that nature has to offer.

Kevin hails from South Africa and has over 25 years’ experience in the Interiors sector.
He began his professional studies in Interior Design, before moving to Shoe Design. After completing his studies in Milan at the world-renowned school of shoe and handbag design, Arsutoria Milano, he went on to design for a leading shoe manufacturer. However, his love of Interior Design took over, and after 5 years he took the challenge and launched his own Interior Design business – which saw him completing numerous large residential projects in South Africa and the UK.

During this time he realised that although his passion was creative, his strength was in communication and project management, and so when he relocated to the UK in 2005 it was a natural progression into business development within the Hospitality supply sector, where he has found his niche.
Kevin’s strength in leadership and management, along with his passion for good design has allowed him to build relationship with leading Interior design studios and to be involved with the design, manufacture and supply of interior furnishings in numerous 4 and 5 star Hotels globally…something he does not take for granted.

“I cherish the ongoing relationships I have established in my career, which carry me from one project to the next. I have learned to value the mentor figures that have been involved in my life, and now to hopefully do the same for the next generation.
Don’t ever forget where you came from.”

Chrissie studied Art History at Warwick University and started her career at Bonham’s Auction House, in their flagship store in London.

Wanting a more hands on creative role, Chrissie moved to an Art Consultancy position in the Hospitality Industry, and has since worked alongside Interior Designers across a broad spectrum of International projects, from High End Hotels and Cruise Liners through to Spas, Care Homes, and Pubs and Restaurants.

With 10 years’ experience, Chrissie is now an Associate at Indigo Art Ltd, which offers both Art Consultancy and a Fulfilment service; from its large manufacturing facility in the Wirral. Her role is to oversee the creative development of all projects she manages, from initial concept stage to on site installation.

After attending a few NEWH events and really enjoying the fresh, fun and friendly atmosphere of the different variety of events, she was keen to find out more and take a more active role in the organisation. She will work alongside Kathryn on the marketing team to spread the news about NEWH and attract more industry members to the group.

In her spare time, Chrissie will most likely be found outdoors with her faithful cockapoo in tow.

Rita has worked in senior marketing roles for international brands for over 30 years. Today she runs Bancmarketing, her own independent marketing consultancy business she set up in 2011, working with companies in all interior sectors, from wallcoverings, fabrics to flooring.

Rita began her career within Hanson PLC after winning the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Young Marketeer of the Year in 1987. In 1991 she was shortlisted as a Hanson Young Achiever and progressed to a strategic business development position with Electrium. After 10 years in the electrical manufacturing industry, Rita moved into the service sector working for the Pitman family to promote learning. But she missed not working for a UK manufacturing business, so joined Brintons Carpets in 1999, progressing to Group Marketing Director responsible for global marketing communications and product development. Today she draws on her knowledge of the flooring sector by writing a regular Marketing Insights feature for the Stocklists, UK’s largest retail flooring magazine.

Rita is passionate about UK manufacturing and works closely with the British Contract Furnishing Associate, producing their sector research reports. She is also a regular features writer for Design Insider and enjoys investigating hospitality trends and catching up with manufacturers and designers working in our industry.

After studying Interior Design at Middlesex University, Libby began her career designing retail stores and spas for Molton Brown. Over the past 15 years her portfolio expanded across a broad range of interiors disciplines, from Children’s libraries, Wellness resorts and signature restaurants, with her most recent ventures including the design of the Spa and Fitness zones on a Cruise ship and the Harrods London, Beauty Halls, and experience events suite. Her true passion is for design narrative and seeking out local identity.

Now an Associate at HKS Architects, Libby specializes in designing luxury hotels and resorts for both individual owners and some of the world’s leading Operators.

Libby is fanatical about film, loves exploring markets and festivals around the world and takes every opportunity to travel.

Alicia Sheber joined the NEWK UK board in 2019 and was previously a board member of NEWH’s Rocky Mountain chapter in 2003 and 2004. Through her company, Read Thread, Alicia is a ghostwriter helping creative, non-linear thinkers tell their stories and venture capitalists develop business proposals and white papers. A contributing editor for HOTELS magazine, and previously the international editor of Boutique Design magazine, she draws on “insider knowledge” gained through her interior design degree and creation of global destinations whilst employed by studios in Denver, Colorado, and London, UK.

After completing an MBA in International Marketing and Luxury Branding at ESLSCA in Paris, she worked with a London-based communications agency partnering with top interior designers, architects, and trade shows. Her subsequent ghostwriting certification from California State University, Long Beach, led to Alicia becoming a ghostwriter for the University of Cambridge’s Masters in Entrepreneurship programme, working with business leaders to transform their professional knowledge into teaching materials. She also sold wine for several years and developed a love of gastronomy: a solid foundation for writing the “Going Out” chapter in Explorer Publishing’s Complete Residents’ Guide to Paris.

Alicia’s degree in world religions ignited her lifelong passion to learn about the infinite paths for making sense of the world.

Hannah’s career began working for a small UK based carpet manufacturer, designing custom Wilton and Axminster carpets for 5 star hotels in London and across the UK. Since then she has worked for several carpet manufacturers designing custom carpets for hotels, casinos and cruise ships all over the world.

After 22 years of design experience in the carpet industry, she set up her own business in 2018 where she now offers a freelance carpet designing service, as well as product sourcing and consulting; providing architects and designers with information and unbiased advice. Hannah has partnered with trusted manufacturers and installers who can make, deliver and install quality carpet in a number of different weaves and specifications to suit all areas in hospitality and high end residential projects.

Hannah has been a director on the board of the NEWH UK Chapter for around 9 years and is currently director of Fundraising.

In 2019, Lynn was welcomed into the NEWH College of Fellows; an honour bestowed on NEWH members who have made notable contributions to the Hospitality Industry and demonstrated commitment to NEWH.

Lynn has been involved within the commercial world of Fabrics /Interior Design for over 35 years. Her expertise started with Theatre Design through to Interior Design, dealing with – Interior Design, Presentations, Budgets, Negotiations, Project Management, all the commercial aspects of running a business.

She changed careers, to work in Sales of fabric for the Contract sector, working for Sanderson, Nobilis, Sinclaire and Clarke & Clarke. Her knowledge of commerce has been beneficial to working with the Designers, Hoteliers, Contractors and Purchasing Agents
After Clarke & Clarke was purchased by Walker Greenbank plc., she was again working on the contract side, with the Sanderson brand, under the umbrella of Style Library – Zoffany US – as it is known in the USA.

It was during her time at Nobilis that she became a member of the NEWH UK a newly formed chapter outside the USA. Having served as UK President twice, in 2019 she was honoured with becoming a Fellow of the NEWH UK.

Middlesex University Interior Design 1st Class Honours Degree Graduate with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and hospitality industry and multiple internships in Architecture and Interior Design studios in UK and Italy.

Winner of the UK Interior Velocity Awards 2020 and NEWH UK Chapter Scholarship Award 2021 with the project “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space”.
Thanks to the NEWH UK events attended as a Scholarship winner, Emily was offered a work opportunity in a leading Interior Design Studio in London, as an Interior Designer at G.A Group.

As a past Scholarship winner, Emily has been very impressed with the NEWH UK Chapter’s work and support for students so she decided to get involved too from the very beginning since 2021, firstly just helping with Social Media and quickly progressing through. At the beginning of 2022 becoming Scholarships Chair while helping out with social media as a personal passion.

In 2023, she proudly accepted the position of NEWH UK Chapter Secretary, as well as retaining the title of Internet Communications Chair too!

Can is an award-winning journalist, editor of Hospitality Interiors and event director of Hospitality Leadership & Design Conference – HLDC, renowned for his far-ranging perspective on the hospitality industry worldwide and as the go-to guy for news, trends and developments.

A frequent globetrotter, Can travels the world to visit the latest luxury hotel openings and has interviewed a large number of acclaimed designers, hotel owners and CEOs. He has been a consultant for BBC One’s The Apprentice, is a board member for The Hospitality Industry Network – NEWH UK, an editorial contributer to the NEWH quarterly members publication.

Can regularly chairs debates, guest speaks at leading hospitality events, and has written forewords for international designers AB Concept and Marcel Wanders’ latest books.
Regarded a close personal friend as well as an authority on hotel design to many leading industry figures, Can has connected designers and hoteliers for some noteworthy collaborations.

Speaking on the topic of design in hotels, Can says: “For me, a great hotel is the ultimate marriage of style and comfort. A place where I feel my every need has been unobtrusively anticipated.”