Shaneen is an architect and researcher with 30 years’ experience working in regional and remote Australia. Shaneen has a proven track record of working with community organisations to deliver award-winning, innovative projects. She is passionate about placed-based practice that supports Country, sustainability, and culture, championing First Nations leadership and collaboration.

She has specialist expertise in housing, health, community projects and design engagement, and is well known for her strategic project management and workshop facilitation skills.
Shaneen has formal qualifications in architecture, project management and research. And experience in anthropology, program management, community engagement, teaching, business development and marketing. Shaneen was a founder and co-director of the multi-disciplinary practice, People Oriented Design (POD) from 2014 -2024.

Shaneen is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and James Cook University, co-chair of the First Nations Advisory Committee for the Australian Institute of Architects, and a member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel for the Queensland State Government Architect . Shaneen holds a PhD from the University of Queensland on the relationship between design and culture in Indigenous housing and has applied this research knowledge to many projects in Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, South Australia and Canada. Shaneen is a regular contributor to Architecture Australia, Houses and Sanctuary Magazines. She has been a juror and jury captain on many architecture awards programs at a regional and national level and is the author of over 40 journal articles and book chapters on First Nations culture and built environment, tropical, sustainable and regional architecture and women in design.

Shaneen lives on a farm near Gimuy/Cairns where she works, writes, cooks, reads, gardens and propagates native plants for landcare.