PERSONNEL

A Talented International Team

The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy was founded by Dr Rafael Gomez from QUT (Australia), and Jimmy Nassif from BMW Group (Germany). Dr Gomez directs and is responsible for all major aspects of the Academy, including operations, key priorities, strategy, personnel, programs and future directions.

Leadership + Associates

The work of the Academy is led by a talented team of design experts. The team supports the growing range of activities, programs and initiatives that encompass the three foundation Programs. This includes Design Associates, leading the Special Projects and Internship Programs; Research Associates, leading the Research Programs; and Technical Associates, in charge of equipment, labs, and technical resources. The team is currently in a growth phase and we hope to add more Associate roles as we expand our Programs and initiatives.

Dr Rafael Gomez

Founder + Academy Lead
Associate Professor Dr Rafael Gomez is Founder and Head of the Academy. He has spearheaded the partnership with BMW over many years and oversees the entirety of the Academy operations including program structure and management, personnel recruitment, the BMW Group internship program, PhD and MPhil projects, commercial research project collaborations, R+D initiatives, research grant applications and external engagements.
Jordan Domjahn

Design Associate
Jordan is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) and the 2019 DIA Australian Graduate of the Year Award winner. He was employed at BMW in Germany as a design intern and worked on a variety of projects utilising emerging technology in the logistics area. Jordan has been employed as a Design Associate since the Academy launched, leading the Internship program and Special Projects programs. He assists other areas of the Academy such as administration, management, events and engagements, plus branding and media.
Portfolio
Epifanio Pereira

Design Associate
Epi is an Industrial Design graduate (QUT alumnus) and one of the IF Design Talent Award 2021 winners. He is a highly skilled designer that excels across systems thinking, high-end visualisation, sketching, interaction and design communication. Epi was selected as a design intern for BMW Group in 2020 where he was pivotal in projects that led to the foundation of idealworks (BMW Group’s newest fully owned subsidiary company). He is now working on our Special Projects Program at the Academy and supports the Internship program.
Portfolio
Timothy Lim

Design Associate
Tim is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) with a specialised expertise in 3D product animation and high-end visualisation. He was selected as a design intern for BMW Group in 2020 where he was pivotal in projects that led to the foundation of idealworks (BMW Group’s newest fully owned subsidiary company). Tim is now working on our Special Projects Program at the Academy and supports the Internship program.
Portfolio
Taharah Ali

Communications Associate
Taharah is a passionate and innovative design professional specialising in industrial design, marketing, and the strategic fusion of creativity and business. With a solid foundation in design and marketing, she possesses a keen eye for aesthetics and the ability to transform ideas into reality. Her experience has enabled her to channel her expertise into creating impactful solutions, driving business growth. Taharah works as a Communications Associate within the Academy, assisting in areas such as events, engagement, branding and media.
LinkedIn
Alexandra Singleton

Research Associate (PhD)
Alexandra is a QUT Industrial Design graduate who earned the IntelliDesign Graduate Award in 2019. Beginning her career with IntelliDesign, she contributed to projects in defence, mining, water monitoring and traffic control. Transitioning to Dreamfarm, she honed her skills with innovative kitchenware designs. Presently, Alexandra is completing her PhD with the Academy, delving into the crucial role of Industrial Design expertise in multinational corporations.
LinkedIn
Jesse Goddard

Research Associate (PhD)
Jesse is an QUT Industrial Design graduate with over a decade of industry experience in Australian start-ups and small-scale manufacturing. As of 2024, he has returned to QUT to work towards PhD in industrial design, investigating material perceptions within the automotive interior, focusing on alternative fuel vehicles, perceived quality, and sustainability. Jesse is passionate about design writing and education, aiming to share his expertise and enthusiasm for the dynamic landscape of industrial design with the next generation of innovators.
LinkedIn
Zhengtao Ma

Research Associate (PhD)
Zhengtao is a design researcher with a background in mechanical engineering and interactive technology. He is currently undertaking his PhD at the Academy, focusing on and exploring novel tangible user interfaces for future cockpits.
Profile
Yueteng Yu

Research Associate (PhD)
Yueteng is an Interaction Designer with a background in software engineering and human-computer interaction (HCI). He has experience in qualitative and quantitative studies in innovative human-machine interface (HMI) and driving behaviour. His diverse roles in industry and academia as a programmer and user researcher have equipped him with a comprehensive skill set that merges technical expertise and user-centred design. He is currently a PhD student at QUT, devoted to advancing the HMI in automated vehicles to improve safety and technology adoption.
LinkedIn

BMW Group Partners

Jimmy Nassif

CTO, idealworks
Jimmy is the Chief Technology Officer at idealworks (a BMW Group subsidiary) and co-founder of the Academy. He is an IT manager and IoT expert at BMW Group with over 10 years of experience in automotive engineering. Since 2016, Jimmy has led the AI and Digitization lab at BMW Group Logistics — leveraging innovative solutions in IoT and solving real-world problems in manufacturing and distribution. Jimmy has lead the BMW Group half of the collaboration since its inception in 2016.
Dylan Sheppard

Digital Design Lead, idealworks
Dylan is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) and the Digital Design Lead at idealworks (a BMW Group subsidiary). He was the first ever QUT design intern at BMW Group, and was given a lifetime contract with BMW after becoming the product owner for the VR & Digital Design team at BMW. Now at idealworks, he continues to work with the Academy Design Associates on the Special Projects program and host BMW Group interns from QUT.
Marc Kamradt

Head, BMW TechOffice Munich
Marc Kamradt joined BMW Group in 2002 and leads the BMW TechOffice in Munich. Marc's experience includes natural language processing, computer vision, AI, and automotive engineering. Marc is founder of SORDI.ai and has been part of QUT’s BMW Internship program since it began in 2016. He continues to support the QUT and BMW partnership and is a highly valued contact.
Alexandra Tran

Infotainment Innovation Manager
Alexandra is an A.I. researcher and developer who creates and validates infotainment content for BMW, MINI & Rolls-Royce. Alexandra is from Brisbane and studied engineering at QUT, and after various international roles she is now based in Munich working as Infotainment Innovation Manager. She has been working with the Academy since early 2021, facilitating infotainment and app design projects with Academy interns.
Dr Christian Poss

Digitalization & Innovation Manager, Plant Hams Hall
Christian, who has a background in AI and Robotics, is based in the UK at BMW Plant Hams Hall following his role managing the Logistics Robotics team in Munich. He has been a contact for several years now, and currently hosts QUT interns at Plant Hams Hall. Christian is also working with the Academy team on a future vision project through the Special Projects program.
Chafic Abou Akar

Tech Lead, BMW TechOffice Munich
Chafic is part of TechOffice Munich and responsible for SORDI’s AI technological innovation and applied practices, including the simulation, generation pipeline, and quality assurance. Chafic is a researcher in computer vision, generative models, and synthetic data for industry 4.0, also focusing on democratizing AI and making it available for everyone. He supports QUT students taking part in the BMW Internship program, and works with the Academy team through the Special Projects program.

Past Academy Associates

Jacob Ho

Junior Design Associate, 2023-2023
Jacob is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) with skills in CGI rendering and high-end visualisation. He has expertise and interest across multimedia, visual graphics, 3D product animation, 3D environment design and motion graphics. Jacob works as a designer in the play equipment industry, and supported the Academy team part-time on a major Special Project.
Mike Lepre

Technical Associate, 2022-2023
Mike is a designer with a background in entrepreneurship and social design and innovation. He has significant technical experience across design fabrication, prototyping and manufacturing. Mike was in charge of equipment, labs and technical resources while part of the Academy team.
Daniel Fisher

Junior Design Associate, 2023-2023

Daniel is a 2021 Industrial Design and Business (Marketing) graduate from QUT. He was involved with the Academy through the Impact Lab 4 unit in 2021, where he designed the Academy NFC tag corporate gift. Daniel has experience working at a sports technology company across product development and marketing areas. He was employed at the Academy as Junior Design Associate supporting the team on the Special Projects and Internships programs.
Mo Faramarzian

Design Associate Intern, 2022-2022
Mo is a Multimedia Specialist, Product Designer and Animator. He has expertise across multimedia, web design, 3D animation, audio design, video production, filmmaking, photography and everything in between. He is currently a PhD student at, the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland at QUT. Mo was assisting the Academy team on the application of augmented and mixed-reality projects for BMW Group.
James Dwyer

Research Associate (MPhil), 2021-2022
James is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) with a background in electronics, coding and sensor technologies. He has experience as a research assistant and tutor at QUT, and works as a freelancer creating bespoke interactive designs in collaboration with artists and creatives. He undertook a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) through the Academy, focused on Exploring Advances in Human-Robot Interactions for Manufacturing and Logistics Applications.
Michael Williams

Design Associate, 2020-2020
Michael is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) and was was employed at BMW in Germany as a design intern during 2019. From early 2020 he was employed as a Design Associate working alongside Dr Rafael Gomez and Jordan Domjahn to launch the three Academy programs, establish Academy branding and documentation, and co-lead the Internships and Special Projects programs. Michael was a huge part of the idealworks iw.hub marketing project and left the Academy at the end of 2020.

Academy Capstone Unit Award Winners

Since 2021 the Academy has awarded a cash prize to one student from each of the QUT Industrial, Visual Communication and Interaction Design Capstone units, presented at the end of year design festival and awards night. The award is for the most innovative, intelligent or interesting use of technology in a final year capstone project, also considering academic excellence and presentation quality.

Simone Everingham

Visual Communication Design, 2023
NovaKiss: a makeup brand which integrates AR and AI to redefine the industry, focusing on creating immersive customer experiences.
Project
Alanah Farr

Interaction Design, 2023
The Tipping Point: an interactive textile, that aims to draw attention to the fact that we are at a tipping point in history, that will determine the fate of our Great Barrier Reef.
Project
Jan Bekker

Industrial Design, 2023
Pheonix: a cutting-edge attachment seamlessly connecting to the earth-wires on high voltage transmission lines, acting as an ever-watchful eye against the threat of bushfires.
Project
Isaac Bonora

Industrial Design, 2022
ModClave: a module-based steam sterilisation desktop appliance that enables small to medium-sized private medical practices to reprocess reusable metalware instruments.
Project
Daniel Fisher

Industrial Design, 2021
LOOP: adding value to used clothing by capturing, tracing, and communicating information about used garments through a centralised platform, enabling used clothing to be integrated with e-commerce.
Project

Academy Interns

As part of our Internship program current QUT students are able to apply for a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit internship with the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy. Through this program, students work at the Academy on industry-focused projects that advance real-world skillsets to support the transition to BMW Group internships and future success in the design industry. The WIL internships are competitive as we seek high-performing students who fit the Academy mission and values. In recent years we have offered projects for Impact Lab 4, Industrial Design capstone and Games Design capstone under the Internship program banner. Pictured below is the ever growing cohort of students who we have supported through the Academy Internship program.

Chloe Leung

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2024
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.
Avery Wang

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2024
I am a multidisciplinary design student at QUT. It is a precious opportunity to challenge and engage myself in real world design experiences, as well as collaborating with talented people and experimenting with emerging creative technologies here at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy.
Lewis Webb

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2024
As an Industrial Design student nearing the end of my degree, the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy WIL Internship program presented an opportunity for me to refine and apply the skills I've learned in a real world environment.
Aalisha Kiri

Academy Design Intern.
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.
Mark Auman

Games Design Capstone Unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2024
Nathan Prestidge

Games Design Capstone Unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2024
Rebecca Jeffries

Games Design Capstone Unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2024
Jake Harkins

Games Design Capstone Unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2024
Sri Sadhana

Academy Design Intern
Semester 2, 2023
I'm a final-year Visual Communication Design student passionate about multidisciplinary design. I thrive on challenges, constantly seeking to expand my skills and knowledge. My focus at the Academy is enhancing my UX/UI and CGI skills, while delving into sustainable tech, AI, and Augmented Reality. I’m excited to bridge my existing expertise with new realms of learning.
Chelo Lechonsito

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2023
I'm an Interaction Design and Business (Marketing) student in my final year of study. With a passion for UX Design and Emerging Technology, I'm here at the Academy to broaden my perspectives, learn new skills, and to show what I can do.
Keagan Geyer

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 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.
Sabina Bartram

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2023
I am a Visual Communication Design student at QUT studying and exploring my creative skills in a variety of digital methods. I am so excited to start my internship with the Academy and have the opportunity to advance my abilities professionally through the program.
Mitchell Hoye

Industrial Design Capstone Unit.
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
I am an Industrial Design and Business Management student in my final semester, 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.
Olivia Caulfield

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 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.
Weibo Ye

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2023
I am a third year Bachelor of Creative Industries student majoring in Interactive and Visual Design. I am always looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow, so I am eager to learn more about professional design knowledge and enhance my various abilities through the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy.
Max Malouf

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2023
I'm a car-obsessed industrial design student who loves to fuse creativity and technical solutions to create cool products. Excited to join the team, I can't wait to learn new skills from others and contribute my unique style and enthusiasm to the project.
James Ellem

Games Design Capstone unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2023
Dasha Grigoreva

Games Design Capstone unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2023
Will Hughes

Games Design Capstone unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2023
Freya Sambain

Games Design Capstone unit.
Semester 1 + 2, 2023
Kilian Frunz

Academy Design Intern.
Summer Semester, 2022-23
I am an Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering student passionate about pushing boundaries through the intersection of engineering, design thinking, and business strategy. Having the opportunity to experience the transformative effect that design can have within a traditionally engineering driven company through the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy is incredibly exciting.
James Boughen

Academy Design Intern.
Summer Semester, 2022-23
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.
Jake Day

Academy Design Intern.
Summer Semester, 2022-23
I am a 3rd year Industrial Design student who has a strong interest in research and user experience. Through my internship with the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy I aspire to work alongside others to reach specific user needs, solve complex problems and deliver innovative solutions.
Leo Liang

Industrial Design Capstone unit.
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

I am a fourth-year Interaction Design and Information Systems student at QUT. Through the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy internship, I am looking to continue pushing myself in creating high quality designs and expand my capabilities through real-world experiences.
Jack Castles

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2022

I am a 3rd year Industrial Designer in my final semester of study. What makes me so excited about this Academy internship is the opportunity to explore my curiosity for emerging technology (such as VR and AI), whilst concurrently applying my existing skill-set to real projects and professionally interacting with national and international stakeholders within the automotive industry.
Kenny Er Kang Lin

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2022

I am an Industrial Design student who just wants to design. I strive for novel and creative solutions that provide the whole experience. I am here at the Academy to broaden my scope for innovation and future potentials to understand how I can be a part of that development.
Natalie Smith

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2022

I’m an Interaction Design and Computer Science student with a passion for creative design thinking, innovation, and UX design. Through interning at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy, I aspire to work alongside professionals at the cutting edge of innovation, technology and design.
Elizabeth Moss

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2022
I am a passionate and enthusiastic Industrial Design student at QUT who excels in a variety of areas including research, sketching and visualisation. Through the Academy internship program I am looking forward to advancing my skills and gaining valuable real-world experience with a company like BMW Group.
Ashley Fenton

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2022
I am an Industrial Design student at QUT with a background in interaction, product and concept to manufacturing design. I’m inspired by designing for the future to optimise the experience of the user whilst incorporating sustainable methods.
Magnus Schultz

Academy Design Intern
Semester 1, 2022
I am a fourth year Industrial Design student with a passion for biomimicry in transportation design. I was drawn to the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy because it focuses on strengthening my design skills and allows me to work on real life projects for the future.
Henry Gomez-Borowski

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2022
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.
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
I am a final year Industrial Design student with a passion for automotive design. I enjoy designing creative, and sustainable outcomes. Confidence in my sketching ability allows me to quickly and clearly form concepts, where I can then bring my ideas to life through 3D modelling and rendering. I hope to use this opportunity as an Academy intern for a career within the automotive design industry.
Søren Waldmann

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2021
I am a third-year Industrial Design student and am excited to be involved with an industry leader in the automotive sector. Through this opportunity at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy I aim to improve my skills and confidence to create innovative design solutions which have real-world impact.
Josh Tulleners

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2021
As a third-year Game Design student, I am very passionate about designing for cutting edge and emergent technology. The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy provides the extraordinary opportunity to broaden my knowledge by working alongside leading professionals in the field.
Jordan McNally

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2021
As a third-year Industrial Design student I live for complex challenges to solve, that create emotions and exciting experiences within a design. As part of the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy I hope to gain confidence in a fast-paced environment, pushing myself to grow and develop my skills for future prospects.
Isaac Bonora

Industrial Design Capstone unit.
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
As a fourth year interaction design student, I am passionate about user experience and interface design. The internship is an amazing opportunity for me to gain experience and expand my technical skills while developing personal skills I learned throughout my degree, and prepare me for the transition into real world.
Jungyeong Kim

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2021
I am a third-year industrial design student who is passionate about intuitive problem solving based on user experience. The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy internship provides a rare opportunity not only to foster soft and hard skills on a live project but to expand the design insight with a global Fortune 100 company.
Leena Al Sallakh

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2021
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.
Hsuan Lee

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 1, 2021
As a fourth-year industrial design student nearing the end of his degree, the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy provides an unmissable opportunity for me to consolidate my design proficiency I learnt during my education. This will help me expand my design skillset to ensure a smooth transition to the workforce next year.
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
I am a third year industrial design student who has developed a real passion for creating wonderful experiences through design. The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy’s focus on fostering design excellence appealed to me as I am keen to hone my skills so that I can help to shape a more delightful world.
David Quick

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2020
As a third-year industrial design student I am passionate about creative problem solving. The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy internship is an amazing opportunity to develop and expand on the technical and personal skills learnt during my degree, as well as important preparation for one day working in the real world.
Ellie McBain

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2020
With my third year of industrial design study well underway, the BMW + QUT Design Academy provides a unique opportunity to learn about the applications and programs behind technologies like virtual reality and their role in the design world. Exploring these spaces will push and diversify my current design skills.
Damian Noviello

Academy Design Intern.
Semester 2, 2020
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.

BMW Group Interns

As a result of the close partnership between QUT and BMW Group, students have had the opportunity to apply for the BMW internship program since 2015. The program has evolved over the years and students now have the opportunity to travel to Munich or Birmingham for a coveted 9-12 month paid internship with BMW Group. As BMW Group employees they are exposed to cutting-edge projects using world-class facilities and technologies on projects that are advancing BMW Group’s priorities as a global leader in the automotive industry. Our interns have worked across various divisions including Logistics, Manufacturing, Robotics, Automated Systems and Production to name a few.