The Melbourne-based contingent of Australian Design Review’s (ADR’s) 30UNDER30 cohort came together for the first time on Thursday 20 March – here’s how it went.

While a balmy storm moved over Melbourne CBD, this year’s 30UNDER30 settled in at Bar Jayda’s private dining room for a warm in-person welcome to the program and the people who make it happen. 

There were some reunions between familiar industry faces and friends from university days, but for most in the cohort, this was the first time they were in the same room together. The event provided the 30UNDER30 an opportunity to break the ice over an intimate three-course meal before they all fly into Bali to take part in the high-performance leadership and creativity retreat in May. 

Friendly representatives from supporters of the program were also in attendance, including major sponsor Neolith, as well as gold partners Interface, Tongue & Groove, Krost and Miele.

ADR’s assistant editor Sophie Berrill and Tegan Donaldson of Neolith welcomed the group, congratulating them on their success and inviting them to enjoy everything the program has to offer – starting with the potentially life-long connections forged on this night.

ADR’s team was thrilled to meet this warm and affable cohort and learn more about the breadth of interests and perspectives that they bring to the program and the industry at large.

Check out the gallery from the 30UNDER30 Melbourne dinner below:

Photography by James Braund.

Read more about ADR’s 30UNDER30 here.