Global workplace strategy, design and construction leader Unispace has appointed Sam Gill as head of life sciences for the ANZ region.

In November last year, Unispace was the recipient of the Workplace Under 1000 sqm award at the 2022 IDEA Gala. The category is sponsored by the global furniture company Herman Miller.

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Based in Unispace’s Sydney office, Gill joins the studio from Johnstaff, where he was a leading head contractor within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry in Australia.

His new role will involve collaborating with other industry specialists in the Unispace Life Sciences team, including Chris Edwards, based out of Auckland, and Debbie Leyland, based out of Brisbane.

Unispace CEO Emma Forster Mitrovski says Gill’s newly created role “bolsters Unispace’s investment in the life sciences sector both in ANZ and globally”.

“Sam has spent most of his professional career working in the life sciences sector, with a particular focus in this area over the last eight years. He specialises in the construction and delivery of research laboratories and pharmaceutical production facilities, including clean rooms and biocontainment facilities.”

Gill’s previous experiences include working with major players such as Baxter Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, AbCellera, and Phebra.

Some highlights include the delivery of the PC3 Ebola Laboratory at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the award-winning expansion of Phebra’s NSW facility which included manufacturing, packaging, research, laboratory, and administration components. 

He says his new role with Unispace signals an opportunity to “be part of something new and exciting as it grows, but with the security and backing of an established global business”.

“Through my background delivering life sciences projects, such as laboratories and clean rooms, I deeply understand our client requirements and drive an effective construction process,” he explains.

“The Unispace Life Sciences team has an exciting growth projection and being able to help shape that growth was a real driver for me in joining Unispace.

“In addition, Unispace’s investment in life sciences through the purchase of BioPharma Engineering last year really shows its intention to be a leader in this rapidly evolving sector, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”

The acquisition of an Ireland-based BioPharma Engineering (BPE), which later became BPE, A Unispace Life Sciences Company in 2022, enhanced the design studio’s technical capabilities to lead additional project types including laboratory, research and manufacturing facilities and supported the firm’s expansion in this sector globally.

“The life sciences industry delivers critical solutions from bringing products to market to creating new vaccines, medical devices and other pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovations that help tackle the world’s most urgent challenges,” explains Forster Mitrovski.

“Never has the importance of life sciences been more visible, especially in the last two-and-a-half years. 

“This is driving the demand for world-class facilities that support the technical experts and talent and keep companies on the leading edge.”

Lead image of HUGO BOSS by Unispace with photography by Peter Clarke.