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 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.

David Traynor is an experienced general management professional with a strong track record across public and private companies spanning life sciences, IP-based businesses, consumer products, and financial services.

He brings leadership experience in turnarounds, domestic and international business development, corporate finance and M&A, and managing diverse institutional and retail investors.

At Alive Labs, David supports the team as a Board Adviser and (from October 2025 Non-Exec Chairman—helping strengthen governance and guide scaling as the company grows.

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.

Damiano leads our biology workstream, bringing deep expertise in environmental science to keep our living systems resilient, repeatable, and scalable.

He brings an ethics-led, impact-first approach to the day-to-day craft of working with bryophytes—pairing scientific rigour with practical decision-making that translates to real-world performance on our walls.

His background spans the University of Padua (BSc), postgraduate study in the Netherlands (MSc), and a PhD at the University of Bath in Environmental Sciences.

At Alive Labs, he focuses on optimising bryophyte management, incubation, identification, and research—improving our methods so our biological systems stay healthy across changing environmental conditions.

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 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, simrankumar.com, which have equally enabled him to deal with the complex issues associated with developing bioreceptive and low-carbon architectural systems.

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.