WhatNext.Law held its annual “Spaces of the Future” event today at VdA. Under the theme of the future of spaces, the event was attended by experts in various fields, providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges and innovations awaiting the physical, spatial and digital dimensions.
The keynote address was given by Pin Lean Lau, Senior Lecturer and Director of Research, head of the Metaverse Alliance Chapter in the UK and Europe, and General Manager of the AI Innovation Centre: Social & Digital.
The first panel, dedicated to “Physical Spaces”, emphasised the importance of the intersection between design and functionality. Marco Serrão, Chief People & Spaces Officer at Galp, Jacqueline De Montaigne, Painter and Muralist, José Cardoso Botelho, CEO of Vanguard Properties Portugal, and Ana Catarina Dias, Director of Physical Resources and Security at CTT – Correios de Portugal, offered valuable insights into creating environments that promote innovation and productivity. The moderator was Tiago Bessa, Partner at VdA Vieira de Almeida.
The second panel explored the theme of “Space” itself, focusing on the frontiers of outer space and land management. It was attended by Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency | Portugal Space, Mário Caetano, Principal Investigator and Deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Territory, João Bentes de Jesus, Institutional Affairs Manager at GEOSAT, Ricardo Cabral, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Spotlite, and moderated by Magda Cocco, Partner at VdA.
The third panel focussed on “Digital Spaces”, highlighting the digital transformation in various industries. José Simão, Head of Retail, Licensing and Merchandising at Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Ana Margarida Almeida, Head of Product Design, User Experience, Digital, Product Promotion, and Communication at Altice Labs, and Vânia Neto, Training Program Manager and Future Skills Initiative Program Manager Western Europe at Microsoft, shared insights on adapting to the demands of the digital world.
The event provided a holistic view of the spaces of the future, bringing together leaders and innovators to discuss how the physical, spatial, and digital dimensions intertwine in the construction of tomorrow.