Personnel
The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy was founded by Dr Rafael Gomez from QUT and Jimmy Nassif from BMW Group. Dr Gomez directs and is responsible for all major aspects of the academy including operations, key priorities, strategy, personnel, programs and future directions.
Design Associates assist with administrative duties and academy operations as well as support the Internship program. Having previously interned at BMW Group, Jordan, Epi and Tim work closely with colleagues in Munich on advanced R+D projects and will facilitate the Special Projects program for the academy.
Leadership Team
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.
Founder and Lead
Design Associate
Research Associate
Technical Associate
Dr Rafael Gomez
Industrial Designer
Dr Rafael Gomez is Founder and Head of the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy. He has spearheaded the partnership with BMW over many years and will oversee the entirety of the academy operations including program structure and management, personnel recruitment, internship program, PhD and MPhil projects, commercial research project collaborations, R+D initiatives, research grant applications, external engagements, and equipment and office management.
Jordan Domjahn
Industrial Designer
Jordan is an Industrial Designer (QUT alumnus) and DIA Australian Graduate of the Year 2019 award winner. He was employed at BMW in Germany as a design interns for 12 months and worked on a variety of projects utilising emerging technology in the logistics area. Jordan is employed as Design Associate working closely with BMW Group on the Special Projects programs. He also supports Dr Rafael Gomez on the Internship program and administration of the academy.
James Dwyer
Industrial Designer
James is an Industrial Designer 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 is currently undertaking an MPhil focused on exploring Advances in Human-Robot Interactions for Manufacturing and Logistics Applications.
Mike Lepre
Designer
Mike is a designer with a background in entrepreneurship and social design and innovation. He also comes with significant technical experience across design fabrication, prototyping and manufacturing. Mike will be in charge of equipment, labs and technical resources for the Academy team.
Junior Design Associates
Timothy Lim
Industrial Designer
Tim is a very talented industrial design student at QUT with 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.
Epifanio Pereira
Industrial Designer
As an industrial design student at QUT Epi has proven to be a committed and highly skilled designer that excels across systems thinking, high-end visualisation, sketching, interaction and design communication. 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). Epi is now working on our Special Projects Program at the academy.
Past Associates
Design and research associate roles are a central part of the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy team. To date we have opened up six Associate roles (across Design, Research and Technical roles).
We will continue to foster these positions through education and mentoring including design internships and research pathways.
Michael Williams
Industrial Designer
Michael Williams is an Industrial Designer who was instrumental in the set-up of the Academy as one of the inaugural Design Associates (alongside Jordan Domjahn). Michael helped formulate and establish all three foundation Programs and was key to the success of the Academy in its initial phase.
Academy Interns
As part of the Internship program current QUT students are able to apply for Work Integrated Learning 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 future transition to BMW Group internships as well as future success in the design industry.
The WIL internships are competitive as we are looking for high-performing students who fit the academy mission and values.. Below are the new cohort of students currently undertaking the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy WIL program.
Interns Semester 2, 2021
Jordan McNally
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 fast-paced environment, pushing myself to grow and develop my skills for future prospects.
Josh Tulleners
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.
Oliver Young
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 intern for a career within the automotive design industry.
Soren Waldmann
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.
Interns Semester 1, 2021
Leena Al Shallakh
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.
Jungyeong Kim
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.
Hsuan Lee
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.
Myles Skelton
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.
Interns Semester 2, 2020
Emily Boehmer
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.
Ellie McBain
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
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.
David Quick
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.
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 for a 12 month paid internship with BMW Group.
In 2020/2021 eight QUT students and recent graduates were selected for the BMW Group internship program. Unfortunately due to government regulations and travel disruptions only three are currently in Munich. The remaining five interns are on standby until travel restrictions are lifted. All accepted interns are featured below.
BMW Group Interns 2021
Sebastian Tan Castillo
(interned at BMW Group)
Jacob Rankin
(interned at BMW Group)
BMW Group Interns 2020
Timothy Lim
(Interned at BMW Group)
Epifanio Pereira
(Interned at BMW Group)
Rebecca Wickham
(Interned at BMW Group)
Veronica Hunjas
(accepted into program)
Sam Holz
(accepted into program)
Matthew Smith
(accepted into program)
Past BMW Group Interns
To date we have had 25 QUT students and graduates accepted to the paid internship program at BMW Group in Germany. Past interns are listed below:
To find out more about our bespoke BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Internship program including background, details and future expansion visit our Internship page under Programs.
2016 Dylan Sheppard, David Carniel
2017 Peter Hall, Sean Webb, Fergus McKenzie
2018 Will Swain, Rachel Stevens, Niall Blair, James O’Shea, Daniel Levin, Joel Thomson
2019 Ashleigh Meintjes, Michael Williams, Jordan Domjahn, Nick Sabulis, Akira Yamada, Finnegan McGrath
