El Akl has over ten years’ experience of commercial, residential, retail and master planning projects in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She is a founding director of PLPLabs, the technological and conceptual research group at PLP Architecture. Prior to receiving her MSc in Urban Planning at London School of Economics, Hala graduated with a master’s degree in Stratégies Territoriales et Urbaines from Sciences Po in Paris and has both a Bachelor of Architecture (distinction) and Sociology from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

El Akl Chairs the Urban Art Forum in the UK and the Young Leaders Group in Europe.