Daily operations relating to the WDC programme are managed by the WDC Organising Committee from within the Icsid Secretariat. These tasks include contract management, funding opportunities, international cooperation, bid process management, relations with potential participants and collaborators, WDC brand management, execution of strategic directions, programme support, WDC Signature events, preliminary applications review, etc.

The WDC Organising Committee consists of (in alphabetical order):

Martin Darbyshire
e: mdarbyshire@icsid.org

Mr. Darbyshire worked for leading product design consultancies, Moggridge Associates in London and ID TWO in San Francisco between 1983 to 1989 (both now part of IDEO), before founding tangerine in 1989. Over his 25-year career, he has had extensive hands-on experience of consumer insight research, innovation strategy, design and design strategy in all of the major industry sectors, working with clients in over 15 countries. Currently, he is responsible for the strategic development of tangerine, creating new business opportunities and giving direction to design.

Dilki de Silva
Secretary General
International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid)
e: ddesilva@icsid.org

Dilki started her career as a World Bank intern followed by several management positions in the UK and Canada. During her work in international economic development with the city of Toronto, she was instrumental in bringing international relations to the top of the city’s political agenda.  Dilki demonstrates a high level of skill and diplomacy in providing operations leadership to SMEs in challenging situations. She has built a distinguished career specialising in successful turnaround operations.

Dilki was appointed Icsid Secretary General and working director of the Executive Board in 2003. In this capacity, she is responsible for the financial and overall operational performance of Icsid, capacity building, strategic planning and partnership development. She is also a consultant for various companies and organisations and speaks on SME development, capacity building and international partnerships. Dilki brings a strong appreciation for city development and nurtures the collaborative synergies between design effective cities and the WDC.

Andrea Springer
WDC Programme Director
International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid)
e: aspringer@icsid.org

Andrea Springer is an experienced Public Relations professional, with a background in corporate communications, media and investor relations, as well as project and event management. Her experience in the development of branding strategies in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, wine and spirits, fashion and industrial design led her to Icsid, where she held the position of Communications Manager from 2005-2010, during which time she established the incubation of the World Design Capital® (WDC) initiative. In her current role, she leads the strategic development of the WDC Programme internationally and oversees that operational objectives are achieved.

Claudia Sighomnou
WDC Programme Coordinator
International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid)
e: csighomnou@icsid.org

Claudia  has a background in business administration and development project management. She has worked with independent charities and school leaders to develop and implement innovative projects aimed at raising the achievement of families from local communities. Her experience in project coordination in the field of international development, in addition to her abilities in event planning, will help with the daily operations  and the development of the World Design Capital® project.