The Future Workplace

11 September 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has provided the impetus for a global rethink about how, when and where we work. How will the global pandemic change the workplaces of the future? Listen in to this panel discussion to explore where we go from here.

This panel discussion was held on 23 September 2020 and is now available for PURCHASE ON DEMAND (free for members, $20 for nonmembers).

COVID-19 will re-shape the way people work – or will it? Some lament the death of the office, while others celebrate it. Some anticipate that everything will return to normal. Join the ACA and our accomplished panel of speakers from architecture, design, finance and property to explore the changing trends that are currently accelerating and re-shaping the built environment.

Will our metro environments become more active with larger working community hubs? How will urban centres adapt to the mobile worker? How will our buildings and spaces accommodate less dense working environments? Will our communities want to return to the office tower? How will the impact of COVID re-shape our urban, suburban and regional communities?

What are the challenges facing developers, architects and others in the built environment? Do we fundamentally need to recalibrate business models to economically stay afloat?

Our Panel

• Chair and facilitator, Christine Farr, dwp
• Luke Dixon, Head of Research Property, AMP
• Michael Cook, Group Executive, Investa Office
• Peter Black, Director, 5 Projects Pty Ltd, Independent Workplace Consultants
• Selina Short, Oceania Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction Managing Partner, EY
• Scott Whittaker, Global Creative Director, dwp
• Mia Feasey, CEO and Founder, Siren Design

Read more about our panellists below.

Cost

ACA Members Free of charge
Non-members $20

*One ticket per attendee

For more information, contact Katherine Ygosse.

E: webinars@aca.org.au
M: 0413 520 548

Our panellists clockwise from top left: Christine Farr, Peter Black, Mia Feasey, Michael Cook, Scott Whittaker, Selina Short and Luke Dixon.

Panellists

Christine Farr,
Creative Director, dwp

Christine Farr [McKanna] is an established figure in the architecture and design industry. Educated at both UNSW and RMIT, with a background in fine arts, design and architecture, Christine has provided leadership and creative direction across dwp offices, starting in Singapore with Scott Whittaker in 2007. An accomplished creative director with over 25 years of experience with a portfolio spanning across diverse geographies, sectors and markets, she has worked across the workplace, retail, residential and hospitality sectors. Christine combines critical design analysis and creative flair to her projects. Her ability to think strategically, with key stakeholder engagement is driven by her passion for the built environment.

Luke Dixon,
Head of Research, Real Estate, AMP

Luke Dixon is the Head of Real Estate Research for AMP Capital, leading the organisation’s house view process and advising on investment strategies across the AMP Capital Real Estate business including funds management, origination and asset management.

Commencing in his role in July 2017, Luke joined AMP Capital from RF Capital Real Estate, bringing a decade of property experience. Luke’s career in property began in 2007 with the Property Council of Australia, the sector’s peak industry body, specialising in public policy, public affairs, and research, advocating for the interests of the commercial property sector to all tiers of government.

In 2014, Luke founded Colliers Edge, a market leading commercial real estate data platform, offering private, public, and institutional clients a comprehensive data service to assist in making better real estate decisions, faster.

Michael Cook,
Group Executive, Investa Office

Michael has been with Investa for 17 years, has been a Group Executive for 14 years and has at various times, had responsibility for Capital Transactions, Commercial Development, Leasing, as well as Asset Management and Portfolio Management.

Michael’s development projects included: 400 George St, Sydney, the Lord Foster designed Deutsche Bank Place at 126 Phillip St, Sydney and more recently, 60 Martin Place.

Peter Black,
Director, 5Projects Pty Ltd,
Independent Workplace Consultants

Peter Black is a qualified architect with 30 years’ experience specialising in workplace design and strategy. He has lived and worked in Singapore, London and New York as well as completing projects in India, Italy and China.

In 2018, after seven years in the commercial real estate world heading up Colliers International Workplace Strategy and Design team, Peter established 5 Projects – an Independent Workplace Consultancy. Previously he has led Hassell’s Sydney workplace design studio and was a partner in New York architectural firm, Mancini Duffy.

Peter’s passion is to work with organisations to align their workplaces with their business strategy and create great places for people to work.

Selina Short,
Oceania Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction Managing Partner, EY

Selina focuses on technological and societal influences that have the power to shape and be shaped by the built environment. She is a vocal champion of placemaking and its role fuelling economic prosperity, livability and sustainability.  Selina is EY’s Oceania Real Estate and Construction Leader and a member of EY’s Oceania Executive Leadership Team.  Selina is also part of EY’s Global Real Estate and Construction Leadership Team with responsibility for innovation and leads EY’s knowledge alliance with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Real Estate Innovation Lab.

Selina is a member of the Property Council of Australia’s National Cities Roundtable and is a member of the NSW Divisional Council. She is also a strategic adviser to the Property Male Champions of Change, a group of 21 male CEOs leading visible action to enhance gender equality in real estate.

A firm believer in seizing the upside of disruption and the power of innovation, Selina is committed to driving debate on the role of the built environment in creating equitable and prosperous communities to deliver a better working world

Scott Whittaker,
Global Creative Director, dwp

As Group Creative Director and founder of dwp, Scott leads dwp design internationally. Educated in Australia with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Scott moved to Asia in 1994. Together with his business partners, he transformed dwp from a local Thai-based company into an award-winning, global design firm with 400 staff across 11 international studios.

Since 2017 Scott has led dwp’s digital transformation initiative, involving the transformation of the organisation to an agile cloud-based business platform enabling seamless connectivity between staff, projects and clients.

Digital Innovation, creativity and energy are the cornerstones of Scott’s success developing diverse projects across multi sectors. His global workplace clients include Pepsi, Diageo, HSBC, Citibank and Prudential. Scott has also delivered award-winning projects such as Sirocco, Sky bar in Bangkok Thailand. Scott is driven by his passion for creating communities.

Mia Feasey,
CEO and Founder, Siren Design

Mia Feasey founded Siren Design in 2005 as a place for creatives to thrive. Siren has since flourished from a disruptive start-up into Australasia’s leading interior design consultancy with studios in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore.

Siren’s purpose is simple: to enable people to thrive. Known for award-winning projects, Siren’s portfolio includes clients like Google, Facebook, Uber and Atlassian to Visa, KPMG, PWC and Pfizer to name a few.

An entrepreneur and a true creative, Mia’s talent is recognised through accolades such as the 2018 INDE Design Luminary Award, Perspective Global 40 under 40 Design Star of the Future 2012, and 2010 NAWIC Business Woman Award. Passionate and engaging, Mia is a champion of women and design-led thinking in business through her global network.