Our Team

  • Marcus Westbury

    CEO

    Marcus is an internationally recognised urbanist, social innovator, writer and media maker working at the intersection of cities, culture, innovation, place and creativity.

    From 2016 to 2021 Marcus led the redevelopment of the former Collingwood Technical School in Melbourne into Collingwood Yards — a diverse and dynamic creative precinct that opened in 2020.

    Prior to that Marcus was the founder of the multi award winning Renew Newcastle and Renew Australia projects. These projects have revitalised main streets, launched hundreds of creative and community projects in empty and abandoned buildings and reopened more than a hundred vacant shops and offices across Australia.

    Marcus has been an advisor, consultant and board member to local, state and federal governments. He is the author of the book Creating Cities and was the writer and presenter of ABC TV series including Bespoke and Not Quite Art. Marcus was 2016 Westpac Foundation Social Change Fellow and is an Honorary Fellow of Monash University.

  • Kate Spencer

    Partnerships, Networking and Engagement Lead

    Kate is a designer and creative producer, with over 20 years’ experience shaping and overseeing the strategic and creative direction and delivery of award-winning cultural and place-based projects in Australia, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico.

    She has worked with clients, partners and collaborators from across the cultural, heritage, creative, tourism, built environment and education sectors to realise bespoke projects that build community and bring experiences and stories to life.

    Before joining FB IDEAs, Kate led a program of creative placemaking and community engagement in Fishermans Bend for the City of Melbourne, in partnership with the Victorian Government.

    Prior to that, Kate supported a team of producers at the City of Melbourne to revitalise 40 CBD laneways with public art installations as part of the Flash Forward project. Kate was also an inaugural Development Partner at RMIT University’s Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation and continues to be involved as an Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow.

Our Board

  • Meredith Sussex AM

    CHAIR

    Meredith is an expert on city planning and is committed to community engagement in the development and implementation of public policy. She is currently the chair of the Fishermans Bend Development Board in Victoria. Meredith has also been a non-executive director of several boards, including Housing Choices Australia (a national community housing provider), the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Port of Melbourne. She has also held senior positions in the Victorian State Government, including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet

  • Bernadene Voss

    Bernadene is a business and community leader with expertise in local government, community consultation, not-for-profits and start-ups. A passionate advocate for local issues, Bernadene is the current President of the Fishermans Bend Business Forum and was a former Councillor and 4-time Mayor of the City of Port Phillip. She is currently the CEO of the not-for-profit organisation, ‘Big Group Hug’, who support families and children facing hardship. Bernadene is also a trustee on the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust, a Board member of a children’s centre and on local sporting club committees.

  • Bryn Davies

    Bryn is an urban renewal and economic development specialist with experience across Australia and in emerging economies. His practice seeks to build momentum towards long-term strategic visions through the delivery of tactical demonstration projects that seed transformation and change. He has worked in government and private consultancy, and is currently the manager of economic strategy at the City of Sydney. Prior to that, Bryn held a key role in the Fishermans Bend Taskforce with the Victorian Government.

  • Lauren Morrey

    Lauren is a skilled innovation strategy specialist, responsible for leading the Development team, the early-stage investing and program function of Breakthrough Victoria. She brings years of extensive experience in commercialization and innovation from her time in the innovation labs NAB and ANZ, and at Victorian based start-ups and unicorns, including Culture Amp. Lauren is a founder, investor and holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School.