Meet Surge’s DDD 2023 Global Advocate Sponsors

This December 7th, Surge’s ‘Design, Dine, make a Difference’ Gala will once again offer the region’s Architecture & Design community a unique forum to come together for a common purpose. Together, the industry will raise awareness and funds for Surge’s global work to provide sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to the world.  

Surge is also excited to announce that they have secured 8 Global Advocate sponsors: Al Tayer Stocks, Consort, Cundall, Haworth, Flos, Milliken, OFIS, and Seekers.

Surge welcomes both returning and new sponsors to their growing Surge family. Here’s a bit more about each company and how they are doing their part to make the world a better place!

As a leading global furniture maker, Haworth is steeped in workplace expertise that fuels innovative designs for optimal performance. Haworth is a values-driven, family-owned company with an entrepreneurial spirit and a design-forward approach.

Haworth is the largest workplace brand in the Haworth Group—a curated portfolio of the finest brands that furnish the most desirable environments in the world—from offices to home, from hotels to premium cars, from indoors to outdoors. Each brand brings a unique perspective and expertise to create extraordinary experiences. The diversity of offering is rich in design heritage and craftsmanship, continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

“The Haworth Values define our business behaviour and inform our decisions. One of our seven core values is ‘We work to make the World better’. Our values have guided us through three generations of family leadership and the thousands of Haworth members around the world believe in providing opportunities for all. We recognise that our success is intrinsically linked to the vitality of the communities where we live and work.

“In this region we’ve always admired the work that is done by Surge in helping to end the cycle of poverty in many communities in need of support. Haworth is always exploring opportunities to invest in corporate social responsibility initiatives in Africa. We view sponsoring Surge as a positive step in meeting our commitment.

“We strengthen existing relationships and build new ones, while empowering our members and leverage our global reach, as we continue our drive toward making positive changes for the people and the communicates we serve in Africa.”

– Brian Kelly, Managing Director of Haworth Middle East & Africa

Al Tayer Stocks has been a leading contractor within the UAE for over 20 years. The business comprises 3 divisions – Interiors, Building and MEP. ATS take pride in their reputation and have reinforced their positions in the market through successfully delivering challenging projects across all sectors.

“We at ATS have a tremendous amount of respect for the work being done by the Surge for Water team. Supporting Surge gives us the opportunity to play a small part in bettering the lives of people all over the world. We have been part of this event for many years and look forward to continuing our support of this great initiative.”

– Ian Milford, CEO, Al Tayer Stocks

Consort is committed to safeguarding our future through the responsible and ethical use of resources and minimising our negative impacts on the world around us.

“When it comes to sustainability, our work is never done. We will continue to review our supply chain, business operations, and manufacturing to ensure that we are continually challenging ourselves to set increasingly ambitious targets and align with evolving best practice.”

– Daniel May, Director, Consort

Cundall is a global, multi-disciplinary consultancy delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions across the built environment. Each and every person’s work is dedicated to a greater purpose, to make a change in the world by building an environment that is focused on people and a sustainable future. Their vision to be agents of change for a sustainable world is what led them to take the bold step of committing to deliver zero carbon design on all our projects globally by 2030.

“Surge’s mission to achieve impactful solutions through sustainable design aligns closely with what we aspire to achieve at Cundall. We believe that every project should achieve genuine benefits through our involvement. It is a privilege to support Surge’s local community of designers and to play a part in achieving safe water access for those that need it most.”

– Richard Stratton, Managing Partner MENA, Cundall

Flos is an international brand synonymous with high quality and the ultimate expression of fine design, recognised the world over as a leader in the residential and architectural lighting sector. 

At Flos, they create new languages of light, merging technology and emotion and integrating light into architecture with a certain poetry and a deep love for human beings. They challenge the status quo and seduce with the emotions inspired by lighting and design, developing the synthesis of emotion, technology, poetry, human needs, messages and aesthetic and ethical values and creating unique and iconic products and lighting solutions to improve our daily lives.

“At Flos, we believe in the power of collective action to drive positive change. We are proud to support Surge for Water because it aligns with our commitment to making a lasting impact on the well-being of communities around the world. Access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health is not just a matter of convenience; it’s a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for breaking the cycle of poverty.”

“By supporting this event, we are investing in a brighter, more sustainable future for those who need it most. Together, we can create a world where no one has to face the burden of waterborne diseases or the barriers that lack of access brings. Our sponsorship is not just a contribution; it’s a statement of our dedication to creating a better world for all, and we are honored to stand with Surge for Water in this vital mission.”

– Baran Bacak, Regional Contract Director MEA and Turkey, Flos

Milliken believes in designing beautiful spaces that spark innovation, promote wellness, and encourage global connections. Milliken strives to discover new ways to enhance lives and make the world around us more sustainable and more beautiful. Sustainability is at the core of Milliken’s philosophy and they set ‘planet, people and product’ goals that protect and improve our world.

“We are very proud to be able to support Surge for Water by sponsoring their annual event ‘Design, Dine, Make a Difference.’ The work Surge for Water does is critically important: investing in communities to help provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to help end the cycle of poverty. The ethos of Surge aligns with Milliken’s commitment to “do good” and leave an impact on the design world but never negatively impact the world around us. From November 2021 Milliken is offering all of its floor coverings with Carbon Neutral certification as standard.”

– Alison Kitchingman, Director of Marketing & Design, Milliken

Established 33 years ago, OFIS is a leading furniture and flooring solutions provider in the UAE. It is a part of the multifaceted business conglomerate, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and the exclusive dealer for Interface, the world’s leading carpet tile manufacturer and we continue to be its largest and most successful dealer within UAE. Working closely with architects and interior designers, OFIS offers innovative products for corporate, educational, healthcare, and hospitality sectors. As custodians of sustainable and research-based brands, OFIS creates spaces that enhance well-being, productivity, and engagement.

“At OFIS, we resonate with Surge’s holistic approach to community well-being. By supporting this event, we embrace sustainable design and essential infrastructure development. Together, we’re fostering enduring improvements in health, dignity, and education. We believe in building a future where everyone has access to clean water and a better quality of life.”

– Adrian Shaw, CEO, OFIS

Seekers Furnishing has been a Surge supporter since the organization’s launch in the region. They have been delivering bespoke joinery for over 25 years. From minimalistic designs to those that push boundaries to their limits, the Seekers team delivers. 

They have been selected by some of the world’s biggest brands such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Siemens, and have delivered award winning projects. In 2016 they became the first joinery in UAE to be awarded the AWI QCP Licence.

“Seekers is proud to support Surge because they are inspirational with a hands-on approach teaching people how to be the owners of positive transformations in their communities over the long term.”

– Minisha Fernandes, General Manager, Seekers Furnishing

Surge is thrilled to have the support of these Global Advocate Sponsors in providing access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Thank you Al Tayer Stocks, Consort, Cundall, Haworth, Flos, Milliken, OFIS, and Seekers for supporting both this year’s gala and Surge’s mission! Together, we’re creating a better world!