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.

Kim is passionate about creating vibrant, connected spaces that promote well-being. With an MBAand over 30 years of expertise in design and management within the built environment, she excels in systems thinking and strategic planning. Kim specialises in fostering collaboration, uniting stakeholders around shared visions and guiding principles during critical early project phases. This approach ensures impactful outcomes that resonate with communities and stakeholders alike. By leveraging evidence-based methods, Kim has successfully delivered transformative master planning frameworks and projects, particularly in education. Outside work, she enjoys gardening, rowing, and spending quality time with her family and friends

Cris has over 15 years of experience in regenerative design and is one of the authors who first coined the term regenerative placemaking. She has a PhD in Biodiversity Inclusive Design from RMIT, a process to bring non-human voices into 'city-making' processes. Cris's passion for learning and sharing knowledge and her system-thinking skills translate into an evidence-based and nuanced understanding of your place. When she is not strategising how to help places and communities, you will find her teaching or volunteering at the Regenerative Melbourne Design Forum. Cris also enjoys, reading, cooking, spending time with her family and friends and helping people connect with nature.

Sally works alongside communities to support the revitalisation of their small towns, bringing a strong commercial perspective to creating thriving mainstreets and resilient public spaces. With a background in retail business advisory and over eight years in visual merchandising, she understands how to attract visitation and enhance ground-plane experiences. Skilled in stakeholder engagement and project management, Sally values open, early communication to drive meaningful and sustainable outcomes that strengthen communities and places. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications, she blends aesthetics, strategy, and local insight to shape environments that foster pride, connection and long-term sustainability.

Shahmeena is a passionate placemaker with a background in architecture and design. Awarded Asia Young Designer of the Year in 2018, she holds a Master of Architecture from Swinburne University. Bringing 10 years of diverse international experience across Malaysia, the Maldives, and Australia, Shahmeena blends design thinking with evidence-based research to create spaces that connect people and nature. Her award-winning Plan Bee: City Beekeeping project raised awareness of honeybee decline and ecological harmony. Shahmeena now focuses on healthy ageing, shaping environments that enhance the well-being and quality of life for senior citizens. Outside of work, she enjoys creating fun, aesthetic content for her socials.

Jessi has a background in research, community engagement, and community development. A New Colombo Plan Alumna, Jessi has worked across Australia and Indonesia, collaborating with communities to uncover local insights, stories and priorities, ensuring research and recommendations are grounded in lived experience and lead to meaningful, community-driven outcomes. Her love for people, place, and research drives her ability to deliver thoughtful, strategic, and impactful recommendations that co-create vibrant, inclusive, and connected communities. When not at Village Well, you’ll find Jessi coaching junior cricket and delivering community development programs in local sports clubs.

Honor is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science, building on her passion for the planet and data-driven solutions. With a strong interest in data analysis and environmental impact assessment, she combines her academic expertise with a practical background in customer service roles, where she honed her adaptability and problem solving skills. She has a passion for change and bings her care for the world and people to the placemaking work she does. In her spare time, she loves doing yoga and being by the beach buried in a good book.