Sam Lanyon

Planet Innovations

Head Judge

Sam is Co-CEO and co-founder of Planet Innovation Ltd. Sam, is an innovative and strategic business leader with deep experience in strategy, sales and operations and a successful track record in the global commercialization of technology-rich products.

At PI, Sam is responsible for building the spin-off ventures which includes raising capital, establishing boards and management teams and executing the organisations business strategy. Prior to PI, Sam held various international roles at Leica (a Danaher company) and Vision BioSystems covering sales, marketing, operations and R&D.

Sam holds an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Melbourne Business School and strategy training from London Business School.

Sam Lanyon

Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Planet Innovation Ltd

Judge

Sam is Co-CEO and co-founder of Planet Innovation Ltd. Sam, is an innovative and strategic business leader with deep experience in strategy, sales and operations and a successful track record in the global commercialization of technology-rich products.

At PI, Sam is responsible for building the spin-off ventures which includes raising capital, establishing boards and management teams and executing the organisations business strategy. Prior to PI, Sam held various international roles at Leica (a Danaher company) and Vision BioSystems covering sales, marketing, operations and R&D.

Sam holds an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Melbourne Business School and strategy training from London Business School.

Peter Freedman

RØDE

Head Judge

Peter Freedman AM is the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and passionate ambassador for Australian manufacturing and export excellence. Among dozens of manufacturing, product and export awards, Peter received Australia’s highest national honour, the Order of Australia (denoted by AM) in 2016 and was Ernst & Young’s Australian Entrepreneur of the Year (National Industry Category) in 2014.

Established in 1992 as a brand under Freedman Electronics – the sound installation company started by his parents in 1967 – Peter has grown RØDE into the world’s number one brand in studio and on-camera microphones, with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, London, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the formation of Freedman Electronics, a milestone celebrated with an inspection tour by then-Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, in February. In the Prime Minister’s words, “RØDE Microphones are legendary… the best in the world. This is a great Australian story.”

Peter Freedman

Founder & Chairman RØDE Microphones / The Freedman Group

Judge

Peter Freedman AM is the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and passionate ambassador for Australian manufacturing and export excellence. Among dozens of manufacturing, product and export awards, Peter received Australia’s highest national honour, the Order of Australia (denoted by AM) in 2016 and was Ernst & Young’s Australian Entrepreneur of the Year (National Industry Category) in 2014.

Established in 1992 as a brand under Freedman Electronics – the sound installation company started by his parents in 1967 – Peter has grown RØDE into the world’s number one brand in studio and on-camera microphones, with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, London, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the formation of Freedman Electronics, a milestone celebrated with an inspection tour by then-Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, in February. In the Prime Minister’s words, “RØDE Microphones are legendary… the best in the world. This is a great Australian story.”

Dr. Brandon Gien

GOOD DESIGN Australia

Judge / Presenter

Dr. Brandon Gien is the Founder of Good Design Australia and Chair of the annual Australian Good Design Awards. In 2015, Brandon was inaugurated as a Senator of the World Design Organization (WDO), the world body for Industrial Design. He was a member of the Board of Directors for three consecutive terms and elected President of the organisation from 2013 to 2015, the first Australian to hold this position.

During his term as WDO President, he led the strategic transformation of the organisation, resulting in a new name, new vision and mission and a new global definition of Industrial Design. Through his work on the WDO Executive Board, he was instrumental in creating the World Design Impact Prize to honour Industrial Design driven projects that make a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and environmental quality of life.
He is the current Chair of the Selection Committee for the World Design Capital®, designated every two years by the World Design Organization to recognise cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development.

Prior to founding Good Design Australia, Dr. Gien was the Executive Director of Design Strategy at Standards Australia, recognised by the Australian Government as nation’s peak standards body.

He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle where he later graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design. He holds a PhD in Environmental Design from the University of Canberra’s School of Design and Architecture.

Brandon is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, Professional Member of the Industrial Design Society of America, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Member of the United Nations Association of Australia.

Dr. Gien was made a Design Ambassador to Japan, an international design advocacy role organised by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP).

He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Canberra and a presenter on popular television series: Australia by Design Innovation on Network TEN and 10 Bold.

Brandon Gien

Founder of Good Design Australia

Judge & Presenter

Dr. Brandon Gien is the Founder of Good Design Australia and Chair of the annual Australian Good Design Awards. In 2015, Brandon was inaugurated as a Senator of the World Design Organization (WDO), the world body for Industrial Design. He was a member of the Board of Directors for three consecutive terms and elected President of the organisation from 2013 to 2015, the first Australian to hold this position.

During his term as WDO President, he led the strategic transformation of the organisation, resulting in a new name, new vision and mission and a new global definition of Industrial Design. Through his work on the WDO Executive Board, he was instrumental in creating the World Design Impact Prize to honour Industrial Design driven projects that make a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and environmental quality of life.
He is the current Chair of the Selection Committee for the World Design Capital®, designated every two years by the World Design Organization to recognise cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development.

Prior to founding Good Design Australia, Dr. Gien was the Executive Director of Design Strategy at Standards Australia, recognised by the Australian Government as nation’s peak standards body.

He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle where he later graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design. He holds a PhD in Environmental Design from the University of Canberra’s School of Design and Architecture.

Brandon is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, Professional Member of the Industrial Design Society of America, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Member of the United Nations Association of Australia.

Dr. Gien was made a Design Ambassador to Japan, an international design advocacy role organised by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP).

He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Canberra and a presenter on popular television series: Australia by Design Innovation on Network TEN and 10 Bold.

Edward Khoury

Form Designs Australia

Judge

Edward Khoury is the Founder and Managing Director of Form Designs, a leading industrial design consultancy in Perth and around Australia. Edward has a passion for innovation and design and has, over the last 36+ years, established strong relationships with clients and manufacturers around the world. He has registered over 300 patents and designs for projects over the past three decades which is a testament to his ability to innovate.

Edward Khoury

Founder and Managing Director of Form Designs

Judge

Edward Khoury is the Founder and Managing Director of Form Designs, a leading industrial design consultancy in Perth and around Australia. Edward has a passion for innovation and design and has, over the last 36+ years, established strong relationships with clients and manufacturers around the world. He has registered over 300 patents and designs for projects over the past three decades which is a testament to his ability to innovate.

Sara Pontoppidan

Clandestine Design Group

Judge / Presenter

Sara is the Senior Design Lead at Clandestine Design Group, and Australia By Design’s resident Viking.

She is a T-shaped creative problem solver. Her depth is in traditional industrial design; with breadth in design strategy, innovation modelling and product management. Drawing from a passion for future tech, cognitive psychology and emotional design she strives to balance user, market and business needs to turn ideas into purposeful products and joyful experiences.

Born and raised in Norway, she came to Australia to study design at QCA Griffith University and fell in love with the industry. Over the last decade, she has worked for Tier-1 industrial design consultancies to push the bounds of innovation. During this time she has worked on hundreds of projects, delivering many successful products to market.

Eight of these have been recognised by the Good Design Awards at the highest order; with notable mention of Rapid Aim Biosecurity Management System (2019 Best in Class, Commercial & Industrial category), Field Orthopaedics Surgical kit (Good Design Gold Award, Medical and Scientific category) and Audeara A-01 Headphones (2018 Good Design Award, Consumer Electronics).

Contributions to the Clandestine Design Team were also rewarded in 2018 when her team was recognised as Design Team of the Year by the Design Institute of Australia.

Outside of the studio, Sara is a marine rescue volunteer and avid mentor within the youth and design community; taking great pride in supporting entrepreneurship and female representation in industrial design and STEAM.

Sara Pontoppidan

Senior Design Lead Clandestine Design Group

Judge & Presenter

Sara is the Senior Design Lead at Clandestine Design Group, and Australia By Design’s resident Viking.

She is a T-shaped creative problem solver. Her depth is in traditional industrial design; with breadth in design strategy, innovation modelling and product management. Drawing from a passion for future tech, cognitive psychology and emotional design she strives to balance user, market and business needs to turn ideas into purposeful products and joyful experiences.

Born and raised in Norway, she came to Australia to study design at QCA Griffith University and fell in love with the industry. Over the last decade, she has worked for Tier-1 industrial design consultancies to push the bounds of innovation. During this time she has worked on hundreds of projects, delivering many successful products to market.

Eight of these have been recognised by the Good Design Awards at the highest order; with notable mention of Rapid Aim Biosecurity Management System (2019 Best in Class, Commercial & Industrial category), Field Orthopaedics Surgical kit (Good Design Gold Award, Medical and Scientific category) and Audeara A-01 Headphones (2018 Good Design Award, Consumer Electronics).

Contributions to the Clandestine Design Team were also rewarded in 2018 when her team was recognised as Design Team of the Year by the Design Institute of Australia.

Outside of the studio, Sara is a marine rescue volunteer and avid mentor within the youth and design community; taking great pride in supporting entrepreneurship and female representation in industrial design and STEAM.

Werner van de Merwe

CSIRO

Judge

Werner is currently the Executive Manager, Commercialisation for CSIRO. CSIRO’s commercialisation team leads the organisation’s transactions in licensing, spinouts, start-ups, joint ventures and assignments, as well as implementing CSIRO’s commercialisation strategy. The team manages one of Australia’s largest equity portfolios based on research and one of the largest licensing portfolios in Australian publicly funded research. Over time, CSIRO technology has helped start more than 180 companies.
Werner personally leads deal teams in the manufacturing sector to deliver renewal and growth for Australia and to generate impact from science-based technology.
Before joining CSIRO, Werner was part of the UNSW knowledge exchange team. Previously, Werner spent more than a decade in industry commercialising technologies in chemicals, energy, fabrication and advanced materials. He holds a PhD in Engineering and is an alumni of INSEAD. He has lived and worked in the US, UK, South Africa, Europe and Australia.

Werner van de Merwe

Executive Manager, Commercialisation CSIRO

Judge

Werner is currently the Executive Manager, Commercialisation for CSIRO. CSIRO’s commercialisation team leads the organisation’s transactions in licensing, spinouts, start-ups, joint ventures and assignments, as well as implementing CSIRO’s commercialisation strategy. The team manages one of Australia’s largest equity portfolios based on research and one of the largest licensing portfolios in Australian publicly funded research. Over time, CSIRO technology has helped start more than 180 companies.
Werner personally leads deal teams in the manufacturing sector to deliver renewal and growth for Australia and to generate impact from science-based technology.
Before joining CSIRO, Werner was part of the UNSW knowledge exchange team. Previously, Werner spent more than a decade in industry commercialising technologies in chemicals, energy, fabrication and advanced materials. He holds a PhD in Engineering and is an alumni of INSEAD. He has lived and worked in the US, UK, South Africa, Europe and Australia.

Suzie Hunt

Suzanne Hunt Architect

Presenter

Suzie is a registered architect with over 34 years’ experience in both government and the private sector, in Australia and the United Kingdom. Following the birth of her fourth child she established her own award-winning architecture, interior and heritage design practice Suzanne Hunt Architect in 2004. Specialising in the delivery of full design services Suzie also provides strategic design advice and advocacy to private and government clients.

Known for her down-to-earth approach and wide-ranging professional and life experiences, Suzie has a warm and engaging manner that manifests in the buildings and spaces she designs. Her work is strongly influenced by the Australian climate and stunning landscapes resulting in timeless, tranquil buildings and spaces that are beautifully detailed and environmentally and financially sustainable. Architecture, interiors and landscape are designed symbiotically with seamless transitions between inside and outside. Her philosophy is that: “Great architecture enriches our lives physically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally, and leaves a legacy for generations to come.”

Suzie is aware of the challenges of juggling caring roles with professional demands championing gender equity and diversity along with sustainable work practices. Now Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) WA Chapter, in 2017 she was the first woman elected to the role since the Chapter’s establishment in 1896. Suzie sits on several boards and advisory panels, is a formal mentor and established the networking group #WorkWomenWisdom Forum for women in the design profession in 2017. In addition, Suzie is an engaging presenter for Channel 10’s Australia By Design and a regular columnist in The West Australian and The Post Property News.

Suzie is Chair of the Curtin Architecture Advisory Board, the Peter Hunt Travel Prize Committee, sits as Deputy Community Representative on the Legal Profession Complaints Committee. She has sat on the Rottnest Island Authority Board from 2010 to 2019 and the RIA FRAC committee since 2017.

Suzie Hunt

B. ARCH (Hons) Curtin FRAIA RIBA |ABWA 1600

Presenter

Suzie is a registered architect with over 34 years’ experience in both government and the private sector, in Australia and the United Kingdom. Following the birth of her fourth child she established her own award-winning architecture, interior and heritage design practice Suzanne Hunt Architect in 2004. Specialising in the delivery of full design services Suzie also provides strategic design advice and advocacy to private and government clients.

Known for her down-to-earth approach and wide-ranging professional and life experiences, Suzie has a warm and engaging manner that manifests in the buildings and spaces she designs. Her work is strongly influenced by the Australian climate and stunning landscapes resulting in timeless, tranquil buildings and spaces that are beautifully detailed and environmentally and financially sustainable. Architecture, interiors and landscape are designed symbiotically with seamless transitions between inside and outside. Her philosophy is that: “Great architecture enriches our lives physically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally, and leaves a legacy for generations to come.”

Suzie is aware of the challenges of juggling caring roles with professional demands championing gender equity and diversity along with sustainable work practices. Now Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) WA Chapter, in 2017 she was the first woman elected to the role since the Chapter’s establishment in 1896. Suzie sits on several boards and advisory panels, is a formal mentor and established the networking group #WorkWomenWisdom Forum for women in the design profession in 2017. In addition, Suzie is an engaging presenter for Channel 10’s Australia By Design and a regular columnist in The West Australian and The Post Property News.

Suzie is Chair of the Curtin Architecture Advisory Board, the Peter Hunt Travel Prize Committee, sits as Deputy Community Representative on the Legal Profession Complaints Committee. She has sat on the Rottnest Island Authority Board from 2010 to 2019 and the RIA FRAC committee since 2017.

Leah Heiss

Presenter

Dr Leah Heiss is an award-winning designer, CSIRO visiting designer/scientist and Co-director of the RMIT Wearables and Sensing Network. Through collaborative projects Leah has brought human centred design to technologies for hearing loss, diabetes and pre-diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gut disease and loneliness. Her wearable technologies include jewellery to administer insulin, cardiac monitoring jewellery, swallowable devices to detect disease and emergency jewellery for times of medical crisis. Her current work investigates the use of stretchable sensors for heart health, pre-diabetes and aged care COVID monitoring.

The Facett hearing aid, that Leah designed for Blamey Saunders hears, won many awards including the 2018 Australian Good Design Award of the Year, the CSIRO Design Innovation Award and a Premier’s Design Award (Product Design). Leah’s design work is part of the Museums Victoria heritage collection and has been exhibited in Australia, Europe and Asia to audiences of over 650,000 people. She has delivered over 50 public lectures on the importance of design in the development of health technologies and her design work has been featured on TV, Radio and in print in Australia, Europe, Asia and the US. Leah teaches into the RMIT Master of Design Futures in heath sector innovation and design leadership.

Leah Heiss

Co-director of the RMIT Wearables and Sensing Network

Presenter

Dr Leah Heiss is an award-winning designer, CSIRO visiting designer/scientist and Co-director of the RMIT Wearables and Sensing Network. Through collaborative projects Leah has brought human centred design to technologies for hearing loss, diabetes and pre-diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gut disease and loneliness. Her wearable technologies include jewellery to administer insulin, cardiac monitoring jewellery, swallowable devices to detect disease and emergency jewellery for times of medical crisis. Her current work investigates the use of stretchable sensors for heart health, pre-diabetes and aged care COVID monitoring.

The Facett hearing aid, that Leah designed for Blamey Saunders hears, won many awards including the 2018 Australian Good Design Award of the Year, the CSIRO Design Innovation Award and a Premier’s Design Award (Product Design). Leah’s design work is part of the Museums Victoria heritage collection and has been exhibited in Australia, Europe and Asia to audiences of over 650,000 people. She has delivered over 50 public lectures on the importance of design in the development of health technologies and her design work has been featured on TV, Radio and in print in Australia, Europe, Asia and the US. Leah teaches into the RMIT Master of Design Futures in heath sector innovation and design leadership.