Gilbert is a renowned expert in placemaking, recognized globally for creating vibrant and resilient places. Over 30 years, he has collaborated with over 2,500 cities and communities. As a sought-after speaker and master facilitator, he excels in unlocking potential and engaging stakeholders. Former General Manager of Chadstone Shopping Centre, Gilbert also developed and managed the Queen Victoria Night Markets. He pioneered applying shopping centre management principles to main streets, founding Village Well, Australia's first placemaking consultancy. Passionate about people, places, and the planet, Gilbert's work spans Australia, the Middle East, Mauritius and more, resulting in successful mixed-use precincts. His expertise includes market concept development, branding, operations, and management. Gilbert’s focus is on regenerative placemaking and he has become one of the world's most recognised placemakers.

Emma is a strategic placemaker and innovator with experience in Architecture, Urban Design, Community Engagement, Social Programming, and Strategy. She has delivered Village Well's largest projects over the last years, such as Community Housing Placemaking Frameworks, University Master Plans, and city-shaping projects. Her strategic oversight ensures alignment with client and stakeholder aspirations, providing the best outcomes for places and communities and building the capacity of those involved. She oversees all Village Well projects to ensure the level of quality and impact that Village Well is known for. Her other passion for coaching football(soccer) means you might see her coaching marginalised women each week.

Jessi is a senior placemaker who combines her passion for community and place with evidence and data-driven insights to design collaborative engagement and co-design processes. She delivers best-practice community engagement and placemaking through inclusive co-design and community-led activation, bringing a strategic, evidence-based approach to strengthening social connection and wellbeing. A New Colombo Plan alumna, Jessi has worked across Australia and Indonesia, partnering with communities to uncover local insights, stories, and priorities. Her approach ensures research and recommendations are grounded in lived experience, leading to meaningful, community-driven outcomes. When not at Village Well, you’ll find Jessi coaching junior cricket and leading community development programs in local sports clubs.

Kim is a highly experienced placemaker with over 30 years working in design, management, and strategic planning within the built environment. With an MBA and a knack for systems thinking, she specialises in guiding early project phases, uniting stakeholders around shared goals and delivering frameworks that shape positive, lasting outcomes for communities. When she’s not working, Kim loves gardening, rowing, and catching up with family and friends.

Maxime is a junior placemaker and graduate architect with a passion for Regenerative Sustainability through architecture and placemaking. Drawing on experience across Mauritius, France, Morocco, and now Australia, he is dedicated to creating meaningful and lovable places that deeply respond to their context. His love and deep respect for nature and the sea led him to Regenerative Placemaking, which he strongly believes can make a meaningful difference in how we design places and sustain our living environments. When not at Village Well, Maxime can be found diving beneath the deep blue sea in search of his next meal, surfing its surface, or tending to his chickens.

Maimunah Al Shebani is a Middle East-based placemaking advocate and entrepreneur, bridging international design expertise with local communities. As founder of The Retail Agency, she specializes in creating meaningful connections between people, places, and businesses, helping projects come alive in the GCC. Maimunah’s partnership with Village Well enables her to deliver strategies that foster vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive urban experiences across the region.