Our story.

CoDesign + Sheldon is the accumulation of 35+ years of experience, mentoring, and knowledge in workplace fitouts and caring for Country.

The CoDesign + Sheldon story

In 1986, Richard Swain and Peter Law began working together in the office fitout/joinery industry, with Richard starting out as Peter’s apprentice. The pair built a relationship based on both quality workmanship and caring for Country, resulting in the creation of CoDesign + Sheldon in 2023.

  • Prof. Richard Swain

    CEO

    Richard drives the corporate and environmental direction of CoDesign+ Sheldon to ensure alignment with his vision and work to reduce negative impacts on our environment.

  • Roxane Kourakis

    ACCOUNT/DESIGN DIRECTOR

    Roxane has extensive workplace design and strategy experience in a range of sectors including government and not-for-profit. Roxane works alongside the design and project management teams to ensure success.

  • Peter Law

    OPERATIONS MANAGER

    With 40+ years of office fitout experience, delivering thousands of offices across Australia, Peter uses his expertise to execute Richard’s vision and deliver exceptional results.

CoDesign + Sheldon’s CEO

Professor Richard ‘Cooma’ Swain

A Wiradjuri man, Richard Swain grew up with a connection to Country. His father taught him the history of the Australian landscape, and his grandfather taught him how the Aboriginal people moved through and respected the Country.

Richard completed his trade as a carpenter in 1989 with Sheldon’s CEO Peter Law, developing a deep understanding of the office fitout process and the Australian construction industry. In the following years, Richard has become a beacon for healing Country, holding several key positions in environmental organisations and spearheading land regeneration initiatives. At CoDesign + Sheldon, Richard uses his expertise in both construction and environmental regeneration.

Richard has a long history of participating in local environmental and community projects and has first-hand understanding of the huge impact feral animals are having on Australia’s natural environment. Richard is currently the Indigenous ambassador for the Invasive Species Council, and a Board Member of the Indigenous organisation Back to Country.

As CoDesign + Sheldon’s CEO, Richard advises across all company operations, strategising on how to design and construct offices in a way that positively contributes to the environment. Richard also controls CoDesign + Sheldon’s environmental endeavours, developing new opportunities for healing Country through the use of the company’s profits.

Richard has been instrumental in creating the Reclaim Kosci campaign, which aims to overturn legislation that protects destructive feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Richard is an Hon Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University (ANU).

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