New speakers announced for Superyacht Design Symposium 2016

29 October 2015 • Written by Boat International

Lapo Elkann, Nicky Haslam, Gerry McGovern and Giles English have been announced as new speakers for the Superyacht Design Symposium 2016.

These new speakers will join the biggest names from the yachting industry – Peter Lürssen, Espen Øino, Terence Disdale – at the renowned event that will, for the first time, feature contributions from the wider design community as well. The world-renowned critic and style guru Stephen Bayley will host the panel discussions, with leading superyacht designers and top creative directors tackling a set of topics covering everything from ‘is beauty a science or an art’ to ‘what has a superyacht got in common with a warship’. An audience including industry experts, boat owners and design students will descend on Kitzbühel for two days of unique, informative debate coupled with an extensive social programme.

We introduce the new Superyacht Design Symposium 2016 speakers below:

Gerry McGovern, Nicky Haslam and Lapo Elkann are some of the newly announced speakers at the Superyacht Design Symposium

Lapo Elkann | President and Founder of Italia Independent Group and Garage Italia Customs

Entrepreneur Lapo is the grandson of the late Gianni Agnelli, the famous chairman of FIAT, Italy’s much loved car company. The Agnelli family built FIAT with an inimitable mixture of industrial innovation, shrewd investment and a passion for art and design. Lapo is an inspiration at both FIAT and Ferrari and his Italia Independent consultancy carries on the family work in fashion. He has founded eight companies, the latest of which is Garage Italia Customs, which customizes cars, aircrafts and boats with tailor made Italian flair. He’s a passionate sailor and owns Lap-1, the first Baglietto MV13, which unsurprisingly showcases Garage Italia Customs fabulous style. Work is currently underway on Lap-2.

Lapo has added, "The sea and cars are my greatest passions. I have been able to express this in the automotive sector with the launch, with my partners, of Garage Italia Customs. I have also just taken delivery of a superb customised Baglietto, called Lap-1. I can’t wait to share my views on design and boat customisation with such an incredibly talented group of designers, thinkers and personalities."

Nicky Haslam | NH Design

Nicky Haslam is one of London’s best-known and best-loved interior designers, a charmed and charming agent of style and a taste-maker for the rich. His appeal is global and NH Design interiors are sprinkled around the globe from Mayfair to Moscow to Morocco. He’s a social magician who has created the décor for some of the most iconic parties of our age from the Opera Ball in Hong Kong to the Cartier Polo Gala lunch. It's no wonder HRH the Prince of Wales and Sir Evelyn and Lady Rothschild have enlisted his services for their events. Nicky is also a waspish diarist, a talented memoirist and has, latterly, managed the successful transition to cabaret artiste. He is one of the funniest social observers and was a friend of Elvis, Svetlana Stalin and Liberace.

Gerry McGovern | Automotive Design Director at Jaguar Land Rover

Gerry is Britain’s outstanding contemporary car designer. Jaguar Land Rover’s Design Director and Chief Creative Office is the man behind the exceptionally successful Range Rover Evoque, and he is currently planning a bold brand and product strategy to take Land Rover into the second half of the twenty-first century. Under his direction, the Range Rover, with its unique combination of functionality and luxury, has become – arguably – the very best car in the world.

Giles English | Co-Founder of Bremont

Giles is the Co-Founder of Bremont Watch Company; a British watch making business very much based around his love of engineering and developed from a family love of horology. Passion, dedication and a will to succeed has taken Bremont into the top 10 chronometer producers in the world today with global retail coverage. Giles grew up in and around aviation and inherited both this passion, and the love of engineering, from his father. Unsurprisingly he then went on to read General Engineering and Naval architecture at Southampton University.

Alongside the two days of exciting discussions and break out sessions, there are networking opportunities throughout both days and the evening events. The weekend opens with a cocktail reception, and features the return of the exhilarating Ski Cup, presented by Foil, the ShowBoats Design Awards Prize Giving and Celebration Party, and the Young Designer of the Year Award, sponsored by Oceanco.

Tickets are now available for the 2016 Symposium. Book your place before 13th November to secure a discounted rate of £695 (plus VAT), a saving of £200 on the standard pricing. Book here now.

For more, information please visit superyachtdesignsymposium.com or contact:

Natalie Turner

Event Co-ordinator, Boat International Media

Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9378

Email: natalie.turner@boatinternationalmedia.com

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