SPEAKERS

Gilbert Rochecouste

GILBERT is a well-loved speaker and presenter. He is recognised locally and internationally as a leading voice in placemaking and the creation of vibrant, resilient loved places. He is a highly sought-after speaker and skilled facilitator for community and stakeholder engagement activities and has worked with over 2,500 cities, towns, mainstreets and communities over the past 33 years.

Tim Black

Tim leads large and complex projects. He is especially interested in infrastructure, strategic masterplanning, urban renewal and urban design projects that benefit many people. Tim has led BKK design teams for our largest infrastructure projects. These include the North East Link Primary Package, the current North East Link South Package, and the Lilydale, Mooroolbark and Merinda Park station Level Crossing Removal projects for SEPA (South Eastern Program Alliance). Tim enjoys business development, collaboration and professional relationships. These are crucial qualities for a leader of large projects with complex consultation requirements. Tim’s North East Link work incorporates Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung culture and knowledge profoundly and thoroughly. North East Link is the first road project to use the award winning International Indigenous Design Charter principles. Tim has lectured nationally and internationally on BKK Architects’ design practice. His MBA and civil engineering studies mean he brings to projects a deep understanding of business and construction.

Kaylee Anderson

Kaylee Anderson is an Aboriginal woman and community member from Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta/Bangerang
Countries in New South Wales and Victoria. She has worked in Aboriginal Affairs for the past 18 years across
the public, not-for-profit, Aboriginal community controlled, and private sectors.
Kaylee has industry experience in architecture and urban and landscape design. She has a comprehensive
understanding of major infrastructure projects and has led Traditional Owner collaborations that elevate
cultural wisdom, protect Country, and forge long-term relationships. With postgraduate qualifications, Kaylee
approaches business development and policy development analytically to achieve sustainable outcomes. Her
years of experience and go-getter attitude can transform companies into inclusive, diverse organisations that
navigate the landscape with ease.
Kaylee is passionate and dedicated to Indigenous women’s empowerment and improving outcomes to promote
gender equality. Kaylee was a Civil Society Delegate on the Australian Government Delegation to the 67th
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Kaylee also attended the 68th session of the CSW
in 2024.

Miriam Wassef

Miriam brings over a decade of experience in Local Government, with expertise in placemaking, economic development, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications. As Executive Manager at Burwood Council, she has led transformative projects that reimagine public spaces, build stronger community connections, and revitalise the night-time economy. With a background in psychology, Miriam is deeply committed to building inclusive, vibrant communities that inspire creativity, celebrate culture, and nurture a deep sense of belonging.

Shaun Gallagher

Shaun is a Senior Principal of Populous and sits on the Regional Board of the Asian Pacific office. He is an architect with over 30 years’ experience, particularly in Major Events, Stadia and Racecourses. He has been involved in Populous’ work on six Olympic & Paralympic Games including in the planning, bidding, delivery and Overlay stages and is passionate about developing a thriving legacy for a city once a Major Event is over.
Some of this experience includes feasibility for the 2032 Olympics in SE Queensland, legacy elements of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, the London 2012 Olympic bid team, rigorous benchmarking and master planning studies for Beijing 2008 Olympics and overlay planning for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Populous was named 2019 Exporter of the Year and Shaun has a great interest in the importance and value of Services exports. He has been involved in the success of many Populous projects in the Asia Pacific Region, particularly in Korea, India, China and the Pacific.
He also has a special interest in working in the Pacific and encouraging the development of sporting infrastructure to help the health, education and wellbeing of people.

Andrew Coward

Andrew is an experienced placemaker, built environment strategist, and engagement specialist with over 15 years of experience working across Australia, South East Asia and Japan. With a focus on the nexus between place strategy and ‘real world’, on ground implementation, his consultancy works with a range of major Australasian development and funds management clients, local councils, state governments and community organisations to create thriving, successful destinations and vibrant, connected communities. Andrew is the Sydney District Council Chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a founding member of its Asia Pacific Placemaking Product Council, a member of the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Advisory Group and was previously an advisory board member of the Design Futures Council in Australia. His consultancy recently won the Best Main Street Place Activation award in Australia as part of the 2023 Main Street Awards.

Ben De Marchi

Ben loves his work because he gets to creatively and collaboratively work with others to help create places that people enjoy and feel connected to. By providing urban design expertise that blends the highly-nuanced qualities of innovation and pragmatism, Ben helps his clients to achieve public equity, commercial fulfilment and a sense of place. Now with over 24 years of urban design experience under his belt, Ben joined TBB in 1997 and became a partner in 2003. He holds a Bachelor (Hons) in Urban & Regional Planning from Curtin University and a Master of Arts in Urban Design from Oxford-Brookes in the UK. He is a member of Planning institute of Australia. Ben was born in the tiny Wheatbelt town of Kununoppin and grew up in the Cable Beach waves and mango orchards of Broome. He now lives with his family in Como. He is most proud of the Perth City Link and The Village at Wellard projects for their focus on place and responsive design.

Brooke Williams

Brooke is an urban designer passionate about creating vibrant, connected and activated communities through inclusive decision-making in the built environment. With over 17 years of experience, she has championed placemaking and led several award-winning projects recognised for their fresh approach and demonstrated outcomes. Brooke’s achievements include launching Fourfold Studio, co-founding UR{BNE} Collective, co-hosting Australia’s first Diner en Blanc, and serving on design and placemaking advisory panels. Her work fosters innovative collaboration with local stakeholders to shape more dynamic and inclusive urban spaces.

Stephen Burton

Stephen is the founder of POMO, a multi-awarded Artistic Placemaking Design and Delivery practice. He is also the host of The Placemakers - a new podcast on Spotify. Stephen's practice threads layers of local meaning, storytelling into a wide range of public realm projects. He designs and delivers creative, bespoke outcomes - often in collaboration with artists and makers, that personalise places and help to create places that are meaningful and are widely championed by the communities in which they exist.

Mark van den Enden

As Group Director of the Architectus Communities portfolio, Mark leads the national strategy, growth, and leadership development across the Education, Public, and Urban Futures sectors. With expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design, he has played a pivotal role in shaping city-defining projects through strategic analysis, briefing, design, and delivery. Mark is highly adept at client and stakeholder engagement, fostering collaborative partnerships that drive innovative and successful design outcomes.

Georgie Birch

Michele McSharry

With over 25 years of global experience in architectural and urban design, Michele has shaped city-defining projects in Sydney, London, and Singapore—establishing herself as a leader in high-tech, high-density innovation precincts. Specialising in master planning, urban renewal, and mixed-use developments, she takes a strategic, design-led approach to creating future-ready, economically resilient places. Michele’s expertise in governance, economic models and community engagement ensures bold ideas are transformed into sustainable innovation ecosystems.