OUR TEAM
VANESSA CULLEN
(GAICD, B.Design Hons, Grad. Dip. Museum Studies)
Vanessa Cullen is the Founder and Principal of Forward Thinking Design (established 2003). Vanessa is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Design (Hons, UNSW) & a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies (Deakin). She is a past Junior Vice President of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Shop and Office Fitting Association and has over two decades of experience in built environment strategy, circular economy, user experience and design.
Vanessa has been the recipient of a number of business awards and has been profiled in ‘The Book of Amazing People’, ‘IF SHE CAN, I CAN’, ‘Entrepreneurial Heart’ books and several podcasts. She holds several Board and committee roles with NFP organisations.
Vanessa was a Telstra Business Women’s Award Judge in 2018, and is often invited to speak at conferences and to write feature pieces for publication. If you would like Vanessa to present at your next event, or to contribute content, please call +61 2 8850 4977 or e-mail [email protected] or contact Vanessa via Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessacullen/) or here (https://forwardthinkingdesign.com.au/contact/).
MELANIE TASKER
Melanie contracts as an assistant and researcher to various professionals, including as EA to Vanessa Cullen. She is a highly skilled professional with a diverse educational background in design, architecture, and postgraduate international development and social ecology studies. With communications expertise, Melanie excels in drafting reports, graphic layout, proofreading, and generating infographics. Balancing work with her active engagement in the volunteer and grassroots sector, Melanie has recently completed pro-bono projects for Beyond Zero Emissions and Project Yumi and maintains active involvement in her local arts society. Melanie combines strong project management and research skills, with a client-focused approach and passion for the social enterprise and non-profit sectors.
JASON KEANE
(B.A Hons, LLB, LLM)
Jason is Forward Thinking Design’s in-house legal counsel and provides advice to our clients and contacts, particularly around commercial property matters. He graduated from the University of New South Wales with a BA (Hons), LLB and LLM. Jason has his own legal practice and is a lecturer at The College of Law. He has more than 20 years experience in all types of commercial property matters, buying and selling of businesses, brand and IP registration, commercial disputes and agreements. When Jason isn’t wearing his lawyer hat you’ll find him wearing a visor and running in any and every type of race he can find.