Damien is a Founding Director of REALMstudios, which recently celebrated 10 years of practice across five studios in Australia. He is an accomplished and award-winning designer, client manager, team and project leader with 25 years professional experience in design and delivery. He is a public realm design specialist and leads the Perth studio.
Damien has extensive experience in design review, with current membership on the WA State Design Review, DevelopmentWA and Vincent Design Review Panels. As a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) WA Executive and lead for Advocacy, he is active in promoting AILA values and objectives to influence State and Local Government policy. Demonstrated through his leadership and contribution, Damien provided critical landscape recommendations towards the Western Australian Planning Commission release of the DesignWA and the Apartment Design Guide.

He has led the design and delivery of high profile and bespoke projects, including; Hilton Park Master Plan, Exchange at Greater Curtin University including the Design and Built Environment Building, Bob Hawke College, Willetton Skate Plaza, Murdoch Student Hub Major Upgrade and Lathlain Precinct and Raine Square.

Damien is active in the negotiation of creative places that circulate ecology to community, community to poetics, and poetics back to ecology.

Les Oakley is a senior leader at DevelopmentWA, Western Australia's State Government land and development agency. With extensive experience in land development, stakeholder engagement and project delivery, Les works across complex development initiatives that support housing, economic growth and the creation of sustainable communities throughout Western Australia. He is passionate about collaboration and delivering projects that create lasting value for the community while helping shape the future of the State. 

Carol Innes' most recent role includes co-directing the Danjoo Koorliny Project – 2029 and Beyond, which is a long-term, Aboriginal-led systems change process based in the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Her previous role was the position of Manager Aboriginal Cultural Heritage & Arts at the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority/ Development WA. Her role was established to engage Noongar involvement in the major developments of Yagan Square, Elizabeth Quay and the Scarborough Redevelopment.

Carol Innes has a strong commitment to work with our community across all sectors. Her experience in government and the non-government sector spans over 30 years. Carol was employed at the South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council for 10 years during the period of the State Government negotiation for the South West Settlement.

Carol worked for 11 years in the arts sector. She is experienced in government at both State and Federal levels and in the community arts sector. Carol specialises in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and she is a very strong advocate for raising the profile of Aboriginal people in Western Australia.

Annelise Safstrom has over 40 years of experience across architecture, planning, urban design and placemaking. She has significant strategic and project level planning and delivery experience for major projects, with a focus on context-appropriate quality design outcomes.

As director of urban design for the Western Australia Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority for 10 years, Annelise provided urban design guidance for major projects, including Elizabeth Quay and the Scarborough Beach Foreshore. She established and led the design review process for projects and statutory planning development applications. As director of planning for the Western Australian Midland Redevelopment Authority for 6 years, Annelise led place creation, planning and design for revitalisation of a brownfields state heritage listed area. Previously, Annelise worked in private consulting in areas as diverse as the arts, sustainability and place making. Her pioneering work on the Greenhouse Neighbourhood Project and Amcord Urban shaped planning and design controls nationally.

Annelise is a current design review panel member for the Western Australia State Design Review Panel and is on Design Review Panels for the Town of Victoria Park, City of Cockburn and Development WA

Sharon Ninyette (nee Riley) is responsible for DevelopmentWA’s Aboriginal Engagement Program. A Noongar Woman from Gnaarla Karla Boodja Regions of the south west with connections to the Belia Goel (river people), Balladong and Whadjuk people, she plays a key role in working with Aboriginal communities, businesses and organisations to facilitate their involvement and participation in DevelopmentWA’s projects and initiatives. 

A passionate and skilled Aboriginal Engagement Specialist, Sharon has more than 14 years’ experience working with a broad range of stakeholders to support the development and implementation of Aboriginal engagement strategies, policies and plans - providing advice and guidance on cultural, land and social issues. 

Prior to joining DevelopmentWA in 2023, Sharon worked as Senior Manager Indigenous Program at Crown Resorts, where she managed and delivered multiple programs and projects to enhance Aboriginal employment, education and empowerment opportunities across the hospitality industry. 

Sharon has a long list of qualifications and accreditations including a degree in Executive Leadership, Diploma in Human Resources, Cert III Mentoring, First Aide in Aboriginal Mental Health and many more.  She is a member of Victoria Park Youth Accommodation, Prepare Produce Provide Djinda Naardak program, North Metro TAFE Aboriginal Engagement, and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council.

Freda Ogilvie is a retired teacher. Driven by her strong interest in political agendas, education and the strategic plan for WA Public Schools, she has been involved in educating and developing strategies and programs for students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. She has worked in policy development to enhance early childhood education and care within the Aboriginal community.Ms Ogilvie has also taken part in national forums on early childhood education, and contributed to Aboriginal early childhood programs in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Brett Wood-Gush is an award-winning planner, urban designer and design leader with more than 25 years' experience delivering innovative planning and urban development outcomes across Western Australia. He has held senior leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including with DevelopmentWA, and is recognised for his expertise in urban design, strategic planning and creating sustainable, people-focused places. Brett is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and has received multiple industry awards for excellence in urban design and planning.

Chris has recently commenced in the CEO role at Creating Communities Australia. He is a highly regarded leader in social performance and Indigenous relations, with more than 20 years of experience in the resources sector across Western Australia and South Australia. He has held senior corporate and Aboriginal affairs roles, leading stakeholder engagement, collective impact, managing land use conflicts, negotiating, and managing heritage and native title agreements.

Chris has also served in influential board and leadership positions, including Chair of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Northwest Council, Deputy Chair of the Pilbara Development Commission He previously served as Director General of Indigenous Affairs in Western Australia and holds an MBA from Edith Cowan University.

Flavia shares her holistic view, global perspective, and commitment to heritage practice as a Senior Principal at Element Advisory, part of SLR. She is a registered Architect in WA and a member of the Heritage Council of Western Australia. Her extensive portfolio includes working with local governments, private owners, and the State Government on a wide range of projects. She addresses the various aspects of heritage with equity and balance, including as a Heritage Architect at Boola Bardip, Bajinhurrba Cossack, Barmup Strawberry Hill, and Burrgungun in Broome. She focuses on appropriate methodologies for heritage management processes, including engaging with Traditional Owners and Community Leaders first and foremost, and including our shared history in the assessment of cultural heritage places. She actively participates in climate, risk preparedness, and social-related scientific committees, including the International ICOMOS Climate Action and Rights-Based Approaches to World Heritage Sites Working Group, representing the Australian membership.