Kevin Offin - Founder & Creative Director
Kevin is the Founder and Creative Director of Graphite, leading projects across a range of sectors.
He has extensive experience in leading project teams across a broad range of sectors including education, commercial, high rise, private residential and hospitality projects, established during his 22 year career.
Kevin is a Canadian-born and globally educated architect who has worked with award winning practices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Kevin also spent time as a senior design manager for the worlds largest private schools company where he oversaw projects in the US, UAE and South-east Asia.
He has worked both in design studios and client side as a design manager, all of which has provided him with extensive experience in diverse global markets from design to delivery and operations.
EDUCATION
2015 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) – Registered Architect
2010 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – AP BD+C
2007 RIBA Northwest, Liverpool, UK – RIBA Part III – ARB/RIBA Registered Architect
2006 ASAPM Diploma in Project Management Level D – Dubai, UAE
2003 University of Calgary, Canada – Master of Architecture (RAIC Honour Roll)
2001 Escola Tecnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Catalunya – Barcelona, Spain
1999 University of Manitoba, Canada – Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture)
1998 Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia – Venice, Italy
1996 University of Alberta, Canada – Architecture Pre-qualification
Steve Hextall - Director of Operations
Steve is a Partner and Director of Operations at Graphite and leads the companies strategic vision and growth.
A professionally chartered senior business leader with over 33 years of experience in management and operations across a broad range of projects, sectors and geographies Steve is a team player dedicated to helping employees improve their skills and techniques in order to reach individual and organization aspirations.
A visionary behind company growth, operations and strategies and a detail-oriented multi-tasker who thrives in fast-paced environments.
Steve is a Project Management professional with a proven track record of successful design & management of a broad spectrum of projects. He has worked in the UK and in the multi-cultural and challenging environments of Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and the Middle East in client facing roles that have entailed the establishment and implementation of corporate governance, required full P&L responsibility, business development, marketing, the allocation of project resources and implementation of project controls.
EDUCATION
2012 IOSHH – Managing Safely
2012 Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council – Estidama PQP Buildings and Communities
2009 LEED – Green Associate
1999 Member Chartered Institute of Building – MCIOB
1995 College of Estate Management, Reading UK – Bachelors Degree (Hons) Construction Management
1991 University of Huddersfield UK – Higher Diploma in Architecture
Raina Viegas - Team Leader Architecture
Raina is a professional Architect with over 18 years of experience in Design Development and Management of Projects of various scales and sectors in the UAE.
With a proven track record of success, she has taken a leadership role in managing projects through Design Development, Production Information, Statutory Approvals, Specifications, Tender process and Post Contract supervision.
Raina brings design coordination expertise to the studio and has extensive experience in the education, hospitality and retail.
She is the thread between our discipline specialists at Graphite and leads the coordination of our Building Information Modelling team.
EDUCATION
2000 Manipal Institute of Technology, India – Bachelor of Architecture
Fatma Elfeki - Team Leader Interior Design
Fatma is Lead Interior Designer at Graphite.
Fatma started off in the industry as an intern but was quickly promoted to a junior interior designer where she got exposure to working on a variety of commercial projects for multinational corporate brands.
In 2018, Fatma pursued her Masters degree in Art and Design History from Kingston University London. Once she completed her degree, she moved back to Dubai where she was promoted to an intermediate/ mid-level interior designer, her rapid rise has since seen her promoted to the role of Team Leader at Graphite where she runs the studios interior and FFE design department.
EDUCATION
2019 Kingston University, London, UK – Masters Degree in Art & Design History (Hons)
2016 American University of Sharjah, UAE – Bachelors of Interior Design (Cum Laude)
Dhafir Al Jawad - Senior Project Manager
Dhafir is a construction management professional with 32 years of professional experience. His primary focus is on promoting the company’s mission and vision, overseeing operations to ensure projects timely delivery with high quality and HSE standards with ultimate budget control efficiency, He establishes and implements project controls and maintains balanced relations with clients and operational stakeholders.
Dhafir is responsible for our post contract site teams, engineers and project coordinators,
EDUCATION
Licensed Engineer by Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah Municipalities – UAE
2013 Member of UAE Society of Engineers
1989 University of Baghdad, Iraq – Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
1989 Member of Iraqi Engineers Union
Haleem Shaik - MEP Engineering & Design Manager
Haleem is an experienced MEP Project Manager with 15+ years in managing complex MEP systems for high-rise buildings, schools, and luxury properties.
With a proven track record in delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards Haleem has strong leadership, communication, and technical qualities and expertise.
EDUCATION
1999 Osmania University, India – B.E. Mechanical Engineering
