Rob Backhouse
“We have the opportunity to change how people feel, how they work, how they live. On every project, we want to create something people love walking into – a place that inspires them.”
Rob is instrumental in shaping Hassell’s ambitious design culture, both as a designer and Chair of our Board of Directors.
An interior designer, Rob is now widely known for his work on collaborative, integrated projects drawing on diverse disciplines and perspectives. In 2017, IDEA awarded him the gold medal – their highest honour – for his enduring contributions to Australia’s design culture over the course of his career. In 2020, Rob was welcomed into the Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) Hall of Fame. He is also a fellow of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) and, in 2025, was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in Interior Design at RMIT University.
Rob’s international, award-winning projects range from some of the world’s largest and most complex workplaces to residential and mixed-use developments. In more recent years, his work has also extended into aviation environments.
He’s an engaging, instinctive leader who inspires by example. He’s also an eloquent advocate for the value of design, and is regularly invited to contribute to academic programs, industry publications and international design events.
Having obtained his PhD at RMIT University, Rob loves the visceral, tangible impact great design has on people every day – and the potential it has to transform a business or change an entire city.
KEY PROJECTS
- Deloitte workplace, Sydney, Australia
- NAB Place, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker McKenzie, Sydney, Australia
- HSBC QRC Suites Client Floor, Hong Kong
- Arup workplaces, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
- Melbourne Airport Terminal 1 Retail Development, Australia
- Melbourne Airport Terminal 2 International Expansion, Australia
- Lendlease workplaces, Sydney, Melbourne, New York
- Medibank Place, Melbourne, Australia
- ANZ Campus, Melbourne, Australia
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