PERSONNEL

The designers, researchers, industry contacts and many students behind the successful BMW Group and QUT School of Design partnership.

LEADERSHIP + ASSOCIATES

  • A/Prof Dr Rafael Gomez

    Founder + Academy Lead

  • Jordan Domjahn

    Senior Design Associate

  • Timothy Lim

    Design Associate

  • Kentaro Mikami

    Junior Design Associate

  • Taharah Ali

    Communications Associate

  • Jesse Goddard

    Research Associate (PhD)

  • Alexandra Singleton

    Research Associate (PhD)

  • Zhengtao Ma

    Research Associate (PhD)

  • Yueteng Yu

    Research Associate (PhD)

BMW GROUP INDUSTRY CONTACTS

  • Jimmy Nassif

    Chief Technology Officer, idealworks

  • Dylan Sheppard

    Digital Design Lead, idealworks

  • Marc Kamradt

    Head, BMW IT TechOffice Munich and SORDI.ai Founder

  • Dr Christian Poss

    Virtual Factory and Next Generation Robotics Expert, BMW AG

  • Alexandra Tran

    Infotainment Innovation Manager, BMW AG

  • Moritz Köllner

    Logistics Future Transports Cluster Lead, BMW AG

  • Firas Zoghlami

    Logistics Robotics Technology Development Lead, BMW AG

  • Brad Tomlinson

    Innovation and Digitalisation Team Lead, Plant Hams Hall

BMW GROUP STAFF (Academy Alumni)

  • Isaac Bonora

    Associate Product Designer, idealworks (2024-Present)

  • David Quick

    Customs Analyst, BMW AG (2023-Present)

  • Dylan Sheppard

    Digital Design + VR, BMW AG (2017-2020)

    Digital Design Lead, idealworks (2020-Present)

ACADEMY AWARD + COMPETITION WINNERS

  • Kilian Frunz

    Industrial Design Capstone Award, 2024
    Project

  • Isabella Lynch

    Visual Communication Design Capstone Award, 2024
    Project

  • Luke Davies

    Academy Design Competition Winner, 2024
    Submission

  • Simone Everingham

    Visual Communication Design Capstone Award, 2023
    Project

  • Alanah Farr

    Interaction Design Capstone Award, 2023
    Project

  • Jan Bekker

    Industrial Design Capstone Award, 2023
    Project

  • Isaac Bonora

    Industrial Design Capstone Award, 2022
    Project

  • Daniel Fisher

    Industrial Design Capstone Award, 2021
    Project

PREVIOUS ACADEMY ASSOCIATES

  • Epifanio Pereira

    Design Associate

  • Jacob Ho

    Junior Design Associate

  • Mike Lepre

    Technical Associate

  • Daniel Fisher

    Junior Design Associate

  • Mo Faramarzian

    Design Associate Intern

  • James Dwyer

    Research Associate (MPhil)

  • Michael Williams

    Design Associate

ACADEMY DESIGN INTERNS (WIL, Capstone)

Through our Internship program, QUT Design students can undertake a 100hr part-time internship with the Academy team, learning valuable design and personal skills to fast-track their career and support a transition to our BMW Group Internships if accepted. Capstone unit projects are also offered under the Internship program for students in their final year of study.

  • Tadhg Cullinane

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2024

  • Luca Wright

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2024

  • Sasha Muratidis

    Interaction Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2024

  • Emily Campling

    Industrial Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2024

  • Michael Tong

    Industrial Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2024

  • Lewis Webb

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2024

  • Chloe Leung

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2024

  • Avery Wang

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2024

  • Aalisha Kiri

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2024

  • Rebecca Jeffries

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2024

  • Nathan Prestidge

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2024

  • Jake Harkins

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2024

  • Mark Auman

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2024

  • Sri Sadhana

    Academy Design Intern
    Semester 2, 2023

  • Chelo Lechonsito

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2023

  • Keagan Geyer

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2023

  • Sabina Bartram

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2023

  • Mitchell Hoye

    Industrial Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2023

  • Aantra Shinde

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • Jonghyun Hong

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • Finn Pohlner

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • Olivia Caulfield

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • Weibo Ye

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • Max Malouf

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2023

  • James Ellem

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2023

  • Dasha Grigoreva

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2023

  • Will Hughes

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2023

  • Freya Sambain

    Games Design Capstone.
    Semester 1 + 2, 2023

  • Kilian Frunz

    Academy Design Intern.
    Summer Semester, 2022-23

  • James Boughen

    Academy Design Intern.
    Summer Semester, 2022-23

  • Jake Day

    Academy Design Intern.
    Summer Semester, 2022-23

  • Leo Liang

    Industrial Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Blake McCormick

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Jordan Sheather

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Bianca Durcau-Vaida

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Jack Castles

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Kenny Er Kang Lin

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Natalie Smith

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2022

  • Elizabeth Moss

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Ashley Fenton

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Magnus Schultz

    Academy Design Intern
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Henry Gomez-Borowski

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Harrison Newberry

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Tyler Hocking

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Tobias Benson

    Impact Lab 4 student..
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Ethan Brown

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2022

  • Oliver Young

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Søren Waldmann

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Josh Tulleners

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Jordan McNally

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Isaac Bonora

    Industrial Design Capstone.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Sophie Burton

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Daniel Fisher

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Scarlett Curtis

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 2, 2021

  • Myles Skelton

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Jungyeong Kim

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Leena Al Sallakh

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Hsuan Lee

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Nicholas Malt

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Katya Mathieson

    Impact Lab 4 student.
    Semester 1, 2021

  • Emily Boehmer

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2020

  • David Quick

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2020

  • Ellie McBain

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2020

  • Damian Noviello

    Academy Design Intern.
    Semester 2, 2020

  • I am in my final year as an Industrial Design student and what I love most about designing, creating, and learning is pushing the limits of my capability when doing so. The Academy has provided an incredible environment for refining my skills and workflows, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented professionals. This internship excites me as it offers a chance to further develop my abilities and contribute to shaping a better world around me.

    Luca Wright
    Semester 2, 2024

  • As a third-year industrial design student I am enthusiastic about designing with purpose and meaning. It is through my degree that I have learned the true value of industrial design and the impact it can have on the world. I was drawn to the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy to broaden my design horizons and continue developing my design skills in industry.

    Damian Noviello
    Semester 2, 2020

  • I’m a final year Visual Communication Design student committed to achieving design excellence and fostering continuous learning. With a passion for cultivating authentic brand voices, optimising user experiences, and refining interface design, I am eager to further advance my professional skills such as adaptability and problem-solving.

    Chloe Leung
    Semester 1, 2024

  • I am a fourth year Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering student. I am passionate about combining my skillsets to open up great opportunities for the future of sustainability. Through the Academy, I aim to enhance my design knowledge and develop new skills, explore emerging technologies and apply them to create innovative solutions.

    Aalisha Kiri
    Semester 1, 2024

  • An Industrial Design and Business Management student in my final semester, I am driven by comprehensive solutions for complex projects through collaboration and presentations. An interning at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy is a great opportunity to develop my conceptual and technical design skills by working on projects with BMW Group Partners at the cutting edge of technology.

    Finn Pohlner
    Semester 1, 2023

  • I am an Interaction Design and Information Technology (Information Systems) student in my final semester. I have a keen interest in the UI/UX aspects of design and always aim to offer the best experience for people that I can. I know that being a part of the Academy will help me not only become a better designer, but challenge me to better understand the industry and build skills such as project management.

    Keagan Geyer
    Semester 2, 2023

  • As a third-year Interaction Design student, I am committed to enhancing the human experience and am enthusiastic about pursuing a career that utilizes emerging technologies, such as immersive reality tools and generative AI. My passion for innovation drives me to seek opportunities to explore cutting-edge advancements at the Academy and to engage with the challenges and opportunities that disruptive technologies present.

    Olivia Caulfield
    Semester 1, 2023

  • I am an Industrial Designer in the process of finalising my studies at QUT. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the team at BMW Group + QUT Design Academy and hope to expand my personal and technical skillsets. I am particularly keen to explore emerging technologies and apply them to seamless and user-focused designs.

    James Boughen
    Summer Semester, 2022-23

  • As a final year Industrial Design student with a strong interest in emerging technologies, the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy provides an unmissable opportunity to utilize this interest. Working with leading professionals and a fortune 100 company this experience will provide an essential stepping stone toward my professional career.

    Henry Gomez-Borowski
    Semester 1, 2022

  • As a fourth year industrial design student, I am very passionate about inclusive design and how, through design, we can problem-solve for user needs. The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy provides the opportunity to work in a mentorship environment that embraces individuality to exceed personal expectations and design in the real world.

    Leena Al Sallakh
    Semester 1, 2021

BMW GROUP DESIGN INTERNS

Since 2016 QUT Design students have had the opportunity to apply for internships with BMW Group teams and subsidiaries in Germany and the UK. These are paid positions for up to 12 months, working on various design and technology projects within logistics, manufacturing and automation areas.

  • Joseph Clarke

    June 2025 - Present

  • Jezz Hong

    January 2025 - Present

  • Mitchell Hoye

    January 2025 - Present

  • Nicholas Byrom

    January 2025 - Present

  • Thomas Kenyon

    January 2025 - Present

  • Tristan Smitka

    January 2025 - Present

  • D'Arcy Hodgson

    October 2024 - Present

  • Alexandra Singleton

    October 2024 - Present

  • Lewis Webb

    October 2024 - Present

  • Stephen Terry

    July 2024 - Present

  • Dillon Holmes

    April 2024 - October 2024

  • Darcy Duckworth

    February 2024 - November 2024

  • Grace Taylor

    February 2024 - July 2024

  • Kilian Frunz

    February 2024 - July 2024

  • Noah Broeckx

    February 2024 - August 2024

  • Ryan Chappell

    February 2024 - August 2024

  • Pieter Barkhuizen

    July 2023 - June 2024

  • Ben Cornellissen

    April 2023 - December 2023

  • Hsuan Lee

    April 2023 - November 2023

  • Emily Boehmer

    March 2023 - December 2023

  • Isaac Bonora

    February 2023 - December 2023

  • Emily Campling

    February 2023 - December 2023

  • Damian Noviello

    January 2023 - October 2023

  • David Quick

    December 2022 - December 2023

  • Daniel Fisher

    Accepted into program

  • Søren Waldmann

    March 2022 - November 2022

  • Sebastian Tan Castillo

    February 2021 - July 2021

  • Jacob Rankin

    July 2020 - March 2021

  • Tim Lim

    March 2020 - February 2021

  • Epifanio Pereira

    March 2020 - February 2021

  • Rebecca Wickham

    March 2020 - December 2020

  • Veronica Hunjas

    Accepted into program

  • Sam Holz

    Accepted into program

  • Matthew Smith

    Accepted into program

  • Nick Sabulis

    June 2019 - February 2020

  • Michael Williams

    June 2019 - February 2020

  • Jordan Domjahn

    June 2019 - February 2020

  • Finnegan McGrath

    June 2019 - February 2020

  • Akira Yamada

    May 2019 - December 2019

  • Ashleigh Meinjtes

    May 2019 - February 2020

  • James O'Shea

    October 2018 - July 2019

  • Daniel Levin

    August 2018 - August 2019

  • Joel Thomson

    August 2018 - August 2019

  • Rachel Stevens

    August 2018 - July 2019

  • Will Swain

    August 2018 - July 2019

  • Niall Blair

    August 2018 - July 2019

  • Peter Hall

    July 2017 - July 2018

  • Fergus MacKenzie

    March 2017 - August 2017

  • Sean Webb

    January 2017 - June 2017

  • David Carniel

    October 2016 - March 2017

  • Dylan Sheppard

    February 2016 - July 2016

  • Definitely the most valuable outcomes from this internship were the skills and knowledge of different softwares and areas of design that I learnt along the way, which I can apply to my final year project and in my future design career. Working on projects with big companies such as Google and NVIDIA gave me a taste of what real world design is like.

    Grace Taylor
    BMW IT TechOffice Munich, 2024

  • The internship itself was far better than I originally anticipated; it contributed to my career goals and outlined industries or environments I would like to work in moving forward in my career. I do believe this opportunity has helped me grow as a person and increase my confidence both personally and professionally, as I feel I have a deeper understanding of my worth as a designer. Learning new skills and being a part of one of the largest automotive companies in the world has immense career and personal growth benefits even though you may not have an interest in cars at all.

    Damian Noviello
    BMW Logistics Innovation & Robotics, 2023

  • The internship was incredible. I gained a lot of experience over so many different projects and learnt a lot of new software while creating complex 3D visualisations to tell a story or help communicate complex AI research. I most enjoyed the opportunity to work on new projects and develop my hard and soft design skills, plus travel and learning about European art and history.

    Darcy Duckworth
    BMW IT TechOffice Munich, 2024

  • My WIL internship at Academy has been a big help and set me up well to succeed during the BMW internship, where I was required to complete work to a high standard and often needed to learn new skills and programmes to achieve this. On top of the experience of living and working overseas (which has been incredibly rewarding), the things I've enjoyed the most have been the people I have worked with. Be that in my team, department, Hams Hall or the BMW Group and the work which has been interesting, challenging, varied, and enjoyable.

    David Quick
    BMW Group Plant Hams Hall, 2023

  • My Capstone project with the Academy was perfect for me as it helped me understand the idealworks product beforehand. I really enjoyed living in Europe and the access to all kinds of cool tech. Working in an organisation with multiple nationalities and understanding how it all works was also highly valuable.

    Isaac Bonora
    Idealworks (Digital Design), 2023

  • The personal growth was probably the most valuable part of my BMW internship, but also the opportunities I was provided with. Living overseas and mixing with people of different cultures has given me a lot more general knowledge and confidence.

    Emily Boehmer
    BMW IT TechOffice Munich, 2023

  • It has been the most incredible experience, and I would do it all over again. I mostly enjoyed getting a good insight into the professional world and learning how to best apply the concepts and processes I've learnt from my QUT studies and making them most effective in a practical setting. Working on live projects has been really exciting and adds a weight of responsibility to the work I have been doing and the approach I take towards it.

    Emily Campling
    Idealworks (Hardware & Robot Safety), 2023