Designing Tomorrow | Community-Centric Spaces for 2024 and Beyond Past Event

Andrew has been working in the design industry for more than 25 years and established his award-winning business MR. MITCHELL in November of 2000. With a particular focus on building meaningful relationships within the industry, he has established a strong network of professionals with whom he collaborates on a regular basis. As the founder of The Design Coach Australia, Andrew contributes to the ongoing professional development of architects, designers and stylists and is creating a platform for connecting and advancing the design community. From the early days of his business, Andrew has strived to contribute to both the design community and the community at large. Over the years he has participated in mentoring programs for design students and has instigated community events, raising money for multiple charitable organisations including the Breast Cancer Australia, The Lighthouse Foundation and The National Trust of Australia.

Samantha Eades consults, connects, and co-creates across the world. She has over 20 years of experience in the design industry, and an instinctive entrepreneurial nature. Samantha has a natural flair for business and creates financial value and the ability to sustain and scale not only in her own business, but on every project. After meeting Hayley Mitchell in 2017, they formed Mitchell & Eades and now operate across three locations; Melbourne, Brisbane, and Dubai. As a team they collaborate with their clients to develop elegant, carefully crafted environments that marry the contemporary with the timeless and the spontaneous with the refined. Perhaps this is best demonstrated through the award-winning fine dining restaurant Grill Americano in Melbourne Victoria, recently completed by Mitchell & Eades with Samantha as the lead designer.

At a young age, Rebeka bounced between architecture and construction management at university, working in roles such as builders side tender assistant, client side quantity surveyor and then project manager, she finished up as a general manager of a commercial Construction company. Registering as a Residential Builder, backed with a degree in Construction Management and a Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, she sold the fundraising business, but within a mere few weeks of finalising that sale, and a few people asking her if she ‘did the books for her husband’ she hatched a plan for BuildHer Collective to help women build and renovate and enjoy the process. Now BuildHer Collective, helps women build, renovate and develop their homes and for profit and also specialises in interior design for developers.

Glen studied architecture in Perth at Curtin University, graduating in 1995, after which he moved to Melbourne working with a number of local firms. He started his own practice in 2001 which has evolved into Chamberlain Architecture & Interiors. Glen has always been passionate about the power of considered design, and how care and thoughtfulness contribute to well resolved spaces that enhance the quality of life for the occupants. With a focus on residential work underpinned by experience across a range of sectors, Glen and his team are delivering a range of projects across Victoria and regional New South Wales.

John Kanis has 30 years’ experience in restaurant operations management and design, with 13 of these spent working overseas across high-end restaurants in both the USA and Asia. Currently, John is Group General Manager New Projects at one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed hospitality groups, Lucas Restaurants. John has been central to the growth of Lucas Restaurants from one restaurant to the current nine, working on all the group’s new concepts and brands from inception to market. In his 15 years at Lucas Restaurants John has been recognised for his ability to create exceptional restaurant experiences; from concept evolution through the design process down to the very finest final details. A focus on enhancing the guest experience through development of a strong internal culture has been a hallmark of his career.