Speakers

Laurine Malengreau

Contemporary Textile Artist

Laurine Malengreau is an award-winning Belgian artist working in the field of contemporary textile art. After studying art history and working in cultural management, she began training in the Nuno Silk technique in Madrid in 2009. Based in Aubusson, a renowned centre of tapestry and contemporary textile art, she has continued the tradition of wall hangings for more than 14 years. Her work is appreciated by art collectors and interior designers around the world.

Prof. Dr. Maria Del Carmen Avendano Rito

Researcher in Conservation Sciences, Member of Mexico's National System of Researchers (SNI)

Dr. Maria del Carmen Avendano Rito is a Zapotec scholar from the Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. She holds a doctorate in Conservation Sciences from the National Polytechnic Institute and is a member of Mexico's National System of Researchers. Her work bridges indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary textile heritage, with a particular focus on the artisan communities of Oaxaca, including the weavers of Teotitlán del Valle and the embroidery traditions of the Istmo de Tehuantepec. Her research explores cultural resilience, community-based tourism, and women's empowerment through craft.

Nasir Al Darmaki

Vice President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM)

Nasir Al Darmaki brings 20 years of experience in curation, museum strategy, and cultural heritage management. He began his career at the Sharjah Museums Authority and later moved into strategic planning across its museum network. He currently serves as Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, where he oversees professional development programmes and cultural heritage preservation initiatives across the Arab region. In November 2025, he was elected Vice President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), contributing to global heritage policy and international advocacy from the organisation's headquarters in Paris.

Luca Emilio Brancati

Tapetologist, Certified Expert and Appraiser of Carpets and Tapestries

Luca Emilio Brancati is an Italian tapetologist, certified expert, and appraiser of carpets and tapestries, officially registered with the Chamber of Commerce of Turin. His research focuses on Oriental carpets, war rugs, and the representation of carpets in painting, combining art-historical inquiry with material and technical analysis. He has curated and advised numerous exhibitions in Italy and internationally, while also collaborating with leading museums and cultural institutions. An established author, lecturer, and consultant, he has published extensively on carpet history, iconography, and conservation.

Fahri Solak

Mayor of Sultanhanı, Aksaray & Owner of Sultansaray Halı

Fahri Solak is an experienced public administrator with more than 10 years of expertise in local governance, public policy, and strategic planning. He has played a leading role in the institutional development of Sultanhanı following its transition to district status, overseeing projects focused on infrastructure, cultural heritage preservation, and local economic growth. In addition to his public role, as the owner of Sultansaray Halı, he is actively engaged in traditional carpet weaving, historical textiles, and restoration practices at both national and international levels.

Jeyhun Alibayov

Head of Azerkhalcha

Dinara Asanbayeva

Executive Director of Kyrgyz Handmade

Dinara Asanbayeva is the Executive Director of Kyrgyz Handmade, a company that unites more than 200 artisans across Kyrgyzstan and promotes traditional craftsmanship in international markets. Her connection to culture was shaped during her studies in China, where living far from home deepened her awareness of identity and tradition. Today, she focuses on reinterpreting Kyrgyz craftsmanship for the modern world, preserving its depth while aligning it with contemporary needs.

Ramesh Prasad Dawadi

Chair of ICOM Nepal

Ramesh Prasad Dawadi is a museum professional, legal advocate, and cultural heritage specialist with over 25 years of legal experience and more than 15 years in the museum sector. He currently serves as Chair of ICOM Nepal, where he provides strategic leadership and advances museum standards, ethics, and museum-specific legislation. He is the founder of the Living Traditions Museum in Changunarayan and the Dudhpokhari Museum in Lamjung, where he leads community-based museum development and cultural heritage conservation, including textile and carpet conservation.

Tarik Sadik

Chief Executive Officer of La Maison de l'Artisan

Tarik Sadik is the Chief Executive Officer of La Maison de l'Artisan, the Moroccan public institution responsible for promoting the handicraft sector. He studied at Mohammed V University of Sciences in Rabat and at Laval University in Canada, where he earned both an MBA and a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Since 2020, he has led institutional efforts to support and promote Moroccan craftsmanship at the national and international levels.

Geordie Greig

Editor-in-Chief of The Independent

Geordie Greig is a British journalist and editor with a distinguished career in national media. Since January 2023, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Independent, one of the United Kingdom's leading digital news platforms. Prior to this, he held senior editorial positions at the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and the Evening Standard, and is widely recognized for his influential role in British journalism.

Maryam Gafurova

Founder of Tumar Carpets

Maryam Gafurova is an entrepreneur and the founder of Tumar Carpets, a gallery of handmade rugs with locations in Almaty and Astana. She specializes in the study of Turkmen tribal ornaments, their symbolism, and their cultural significance. With a background in business and a Master's degree focused on marketing and cultural identity, she recognized the potential of promoting traditional carpet weaving through modern communication channels.

Dr. Sumiyo Okumura

Founder of SOAC Art Consultancy & Curation

Sumiyo Okumura is a historian of Islamic and Turkish art and the founder of SOAC Art Consultancy & Curation. She studied in Kyoto and Istanbul, completing her PhD in Turkish and Islamic Art at Marmara University, where her research focused on the influence of Turkic culture on Mamluk carpets. She has worked with major cultural institutions, including the Topkapı Palace Museum, the Turkish Cultural Foundation, and the Odunpazarı Modern Museum.