An international line-up of presenters has been announced for Work Place/Work Life 2017, Architecture Media’s annual one-day forum about the future of workplace design.
Australasia’s leading practitioners will gather at Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst on 29 August to discuss the issues shaping workplace design, share their experiences and speculate on possible futures.
Highlights of the program will include four keynotes speakers: Steven Holl Architects’ Beijing-based director Roberto Bannura on micro-urbanism; Singapore-based workplace and real estate expert Caroline Burns on workplace design innovation in Asia; employee experience strategist Robbie Robertson on connecting the work, the worker and the workplace; and UK-based architect Eric Parry on the importance of material and tectonic choices for buildings.
The program also includes three case studies: Dropbox Sydney designed by Gensler, WeWork Martin Place and Pyrmont designed by TomMarkHenry with WeWork and Clayton Utz offices designed by Hassell.
The keynote sessions and case studies will be followed by a moderated panel discussion in which panel members will draw the audience into the conversation.
Keynote Speakers:
Roberto Bannura, director, Steven Holl Architects (China).
Since he joined Steven Holl Architects in 2007, Roberto Bannura has spent the last nine years living and working in Beijing. In 2010, Bannura was made director of the Beijing office and has overseen a number of ongoing projects and competitions.
He has been responsible for large-scale projects such as the Sliced Porosity Block mixed use, the Shan Shui Hangzhou mixed use and several institutional projects, including Qingdao Culture and Art Center and Necropolis Taiwan. Prior to his move to China, Bannura spent ten years living and working in New York City, six of which he spent working with Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects as a project architect.
Caroline Burns, director, Workplace Revolution (Singapore).
Caroline Burns is widely recognized as a leader in the workplace and real estate profession, and her extensive experience living and working across Asia is sought out by clients and colleagues.
She has 20 years of entrepreneurial business leadership and consulting experience which have led her to establish and grow professional practices within multinational firms and new start-ups. She has also served on the boards of profession association and private companies.
Eric Parry, founder and principal, Eric Parry Architects (UK).
Architect and artist Eric Parry is a Royal Academician of the UK’s Royal Academy of Arts and recipient of an honorary degree of doctor of the arts from the University of Bath as well as more than 30 awards for design excellence in architecture, masterplanning and interior design. He has also served on several design and heritage groups including as president of the Architectural Association and chairperson of the RIBA Awards Group.
Robbie Robertson, partner, Experience Design, Deloitte Digital (Sydney).
Robbie Robertson is a global, award-winning employee experience strategist connecting work, the worker and the workplace to develop experiences that connect to business transformation programs. He has 21 years of experience in Australia, London, New York, and has helped brands such as ANZ, Blackberry, NAB, Coca-Cola, Caltex, Vodafone, St George, Commonwealth Bank, Bupa and Priceline develop consumer and employee strategies, overhaul brand identities and create innovative and immersive customer experiences.
Case study speakers:
- Tom Owens Studio Director, Gensler (Sydney)
- Kim Vella Head of Premises & Procurement, Clayton Utz (Sydney)
- Cushla McFadden Director, TomMarkHenry (Sydney)
Panel discussion chair:
Rosemary Kirkby Principal, Rosemary Kirkby Associates (Sydney).
To see the full program head here and book tickets here.
Work Place/Work Life, presented by Architecture Media, is part of Design Speaks, a series of talks, seminars, forums and conferences on and about architecture and design, for design professionals and their clients and interested members of the wider community.
Work Place/Work Life is supported by major partner Planned Cover and supporting partners Space and Colebrook Bosson Saunders. The Design Speaks Symposia 2017 presenting partner is Taubmans.
