Waqas Ahmed is the CEO of Yabu Pushelberg, working out of our Toronto studio.

With a professional background that spans hospitality, real estate, telecommunications, and large-scale operations, he has led the openings and strategic transformations of high-profile brands across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. In his leadership role, Waqas is guiding Yabu Pushelberg into its next phase as a globally minded creative studio that brings creative excellence together with strategic vision across multidisciplinary teams in Toronto, New York, and Milan.

Robert Walshaw is Director of Business Development for APAC, Americas and The Caribbean at Yabu Pushelberg.

Working out of our New York studio, Robert has over twenty-five years of experience in design, project, and brand management. He began his design training in our Toronto studio before moving to New York, where he worked with industry leader Ian Schrager, contributing to the development of the EDITION brand of hotels. His career includes significant roles at Auberge Resorts and Marriott International. He has worked alongside John Pawson, Kengo Kuma, and other internationally recognized architects and developers, gaining exposure to a wide range of multinational projects. Robert returns to Yabu Pushelberg with extensive design and development expertise, and a deep knowledge of markets, creative direction, and execution.

Claire Dunlop is Director of Business Development for EMEA and Oceania at Yabu Pushelberg, working out of our New York studio.

With six years at the firm and experience on the design side, she brings a multidimensional perspective to business development. This foundation informs her approach to shaping new opportunities, strengthening hospitality experiences, and guiding strategic brand partnerships. Her design work spans hospitality and residential projects across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including the Aman Residences in Tokyo.

Sunny Leung is Creative Director at Yabu Pushelberg, working out of our New York studio, where he leads client relations, collaborations, and strategic growth while advancing the studio’s evolution through new technologies and sustainable practices.

With over twenty-six years of experience at Yabu Pushelberg, he has played a central role in establishing brand partnerships and guiding projects including Printemps Doha, The Asaya Spa in the Chancery Rosewood, Moxy hotel Chelsea in New York, and La Samaritaine Paris. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking and dream-big mentality, Sunny implements the Yabu Pushelberg ethos at every turn, working with Toronto, New York and Milan teams to create intentionally emotive designs that not only turn heads but also spark joy, foster connection, and inspire the world around us.

Bahar Ghaemi is the Creative Director of Product at Yabu Pushelberg, where she has shaped the studio’s product design practice from the ground up since 2012.

Leading a team of 10, Bahar oversees the development of bespoke furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles, and fixtures for Yabu Pushelberg’ s global projects. The team’s ability to design nearly all interior elements gives them a unique perspective: every product is conceived with an understanding of its relationship to the broader environment with a focus on how objects make us feel and the stories they tell. This purposeful, context-driven approach to design has led to collaborations with some of the world’s most coveted brands, including Molteni&C, B&B Italia, Marset, cc-tapis, and Ligne Roset.