Meet the Team
Nicky Naidu
Founder Architect & Maker
Project Lead
BA(Hons) Dip(Arc) PG(dip) ARB RIBA
Nicky Naidu is an architect with a deep commitment to sustainability and passive design principles. As the founder of Alive Labs, he leads the company's mission to harmonize the built environment with nature. Nicky's role is broad, overseeing everything from company operations to on-the-ground implementation, always with a focus on creating intelligent, symbiotic architectural systems that nurture the relationship between humanity and the spaces we create.
A member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Nicky has delivered high-profile projects for top-tier firms such as Foster & Partners, ARUP, Wilkinson Eyre, and AFK. He has led major developments, including leading the design team for 55 Bishopsgate, a new tower in the heart of London’s financial district, centralising sustainability as a core principle of it's design, reducing both embodied and operational carbon.
Currently, Nicky is focused on several live projects that are advancing scalable impact through the development of integrated, holistic, and naturally inspired smart systems.
William Hunt
Co-founder
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
BA(Hons)
William is the business development manager of Alive Labs, overseeing the business strategy and financial arms of the company.
He brings a comprehensive understanding of governmental regulation within the context of sustainability, with a triple-bottom line approach towards his practice – social, environmental, and economic.
He is Big 4-trained, with experience across deal advisory, and studied Business and Environmental Studies at graduate level.
He is part of the core structure of Alive Labs, having played an integral role in bringing the company to life in its earliest days.
Debi Peppin
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
FCIOB
Debi Peppin brings over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing and construction services industry to Alive Labs. As the CEO and founder of Cadline, she led the company to become a leading UK provider of innovative digital solutions aimed at improving sustainability and reducing climate-change emissions.
Under Debi's leadership, Cadline achieved significant milestones, including a global brand merger with A2K Technologies, US CAD, and Capricot India in 2022, and the successful sale of the business for close to £100 million in 2024.
Now serving as Alive Labs' Chief Financial Officer, Debi leverages her extensive knowledge and network to drive financial strategy and growth. Her expertise in the construction sector and her commitment to sustainability make her an invaluable asset to the Alive Labs team. Additionally, her role as an advisor and investor in the company underscores her dedication to fostering innovative ventures within the industry.
Sophia Greenhough
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
BA(Hons) Dip (AF) QTS
Sophia is a dynamic and creative executive at Alive Labs, leading the company's marketing, social media, and creative strategy initiatives. With a rich background in art, design, and education, Sophia brings a holistic approach to her work, seamlessly blending creativity with strategic business consulting.
Her diverse experiences range from teaching and developing art programs to managing complex sustainability and green technology projects. This unique blend of skills allows Sophia to create engaging content and grow vibrant online communities, promoting, Alive Labs' mission of integrating innovative, sustainable solutions into urban environments.
In addition to her marketing expertise, Sophia contributes significantly to the design and consulting aspects of the business. Her proficiency in digital media tools enhances Alive Labs' visual and creative outputs. Sophia's dedication to wellness and sustainability is evident in all her endeavours, making her an invaluable asset to the Alive Labs team.
Jeffrey G Ducket
Lead Bryologist
PhD, Emeritus Professor of Botany at QMUL
Professor Duckett is an esteemed and celebrated botanist and bryologist. He has been widely recognised for his exceptional contributions to the field, with prestigious accolades such as the Linnean Society medal for Botany and the Richard Spruce Award, as well as honorary memberships in the BBS and presidency of the IAB.
He has earned global recognition for his groundbreaking research on lower-land plants, particularly bryophytes. After retiring, he joined the Natural History Museum as a Research Associate.
Professor Duckett is our primary Bryologist, his expertise and guidance have helped unlock the potential of bryophytes in the context of urban development.
Natalie Touloumbadjian
Project Manager
BA (Hons)
Natalie Touloumbadjian is a seasoned Project Manager at Alive Labs, bringing extensive experience in business strategy, project management, and entrepreneurship. Since joining in December 2022, she has been instrumental in driving projects forward with efficiency and excellence.
Natalie's background includes business strategy consulting, account management, and running various ventures in the UK and France, reflecting her versatility and dedication. Her skills encompass project management, project planning, business strategy, start-ups, and negotiation.
With a diverse experience that includes working with companies like Secret Cinema and The Halo Group, Natalie is well-equipped to handle complex projects and deliver outstanding results. Her commitment to innovation and sustainability aligns perfectly with Alive Labs' mission, making her an invaluable asset to the team. Natalie's ability to foster collaboration ensures that Alive Labs' initiatives are executed seamlessly and effectively.
Simran Kumar
Lead Technical Designer
BSc(Hons)
Simran has helped make our vision of a bioreceptive cementitious compound a physical reality.
He is responsible for handcrafting the smart material designed to revolutionise urban spaces with green incentives, and he looks forward to the wider integration of biological systems into the structure of the urban landscape.
His experience ranges from studying Physics at graduate level to setting up his own art practice, www.simrankumar.com, which have equally enabled him to deal with the complex issues associated with developing bioreceptive and low-carbon architectural systems.
Manasa Suresh
Biologist
BSc(Hons) MSc(Hons) MSc
Manasa has degrees in Botany, Ecology and Conservation, and Environmental Tech at graduate and post-graduate levels. She brings her in-depth understanding of ecological systems to ensure the health and proliferation of our mosses in the studio.
She is responsible for ongoing experiments to understand the best growth conditions for the various species of moss inoculated on our cementitious material. Her experience working with Sphagnum mosses provides the perfect platform to run the biological systems at Alive Labs.
Amir Serfahjue
Amir provides invaluable operational and systems knowhow to the team, thanks to his experience ranging from facilities management to mechatronic engineering and studying Agriculture. Amir oversees all operational systems, including irrigation and environmental control, growth chamber calibrations, and all tasks techy.
His pragmatic and hands-on approach to problem solving allows him to step into the everyday operations of the Alive Labs studio and ensure optimum efficiency across all levels.
Operations Lead
BSc Agriculture