Our Board of Advisors
Prof Desmond Laubscher
Teju Abisoye
Desmond Laubscher
Contact: des@designcenter.co.za
Education
Matriculated 1970: School: King Edward VII
1972- 1975: Wits Technikon – National Diploma Interior Design
1980: Wits Technikon – National Higher Diploma Interior Design
2001: Appointed Visiting Professor at Nottingham Trent University in 2001
Work: 1976 – 1980: Lecturer: Wits Technikon
1981 – 1986: Head of Department: Wits Technikon
1987 – 2025: Co Founded and was CEO of the Greenside Design Center
International Work
International Federation of Interior Architects:
Board Member: 1995-1997
President-Elect: 1997-1999
President: 1999-2001
Fellow: 2007 – Current
Fellow of Design for the World, Barcelona, Spain.
2001 – Current
Vice President of the International Council of Design, (ICoD)
2015 – 2017
PADI (Pan Afrikan Design Institute)
President: 2019
Executive Board Member: 2021 – Current
Inducted into PADI as a fellow: 2021
IID (African Institute for the Interior Design Professions)
Founder & President: 2007
Other
He has presented papers, served on design panels and conducted design workshops in 21 countries
worldwide, namely, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Korea, Japan,
China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Chili, Mexico, USA, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa.
He has also been a juror for many design competitions globally.
Teju Abisoye
Teju is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience across various fields which include: development finance, project planning and execution, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian projects, government interventions and investment opportunities. She previously worked as a Financial Analyst for venture capital and private equity firms, an Administrator for global and local non-profit organizations, Programmes Director for the Federal Government YouWIN! Programme and the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
She is currently a Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), a presidential initiative launched in 2023 to address Youth Employment though export of services and talent. She is an Alumnae of Yale’s Women Leadership Programme, a 2021 Amujae Leader, a flagship programme by the Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Centre. Teju is also an
Eisenhower Fellow (2024) and has received expert training in Leading Successful Programmes, Social and Development finance from Harvard Kennedy School, Oxford and Stellenbosch Business school.
Her achievements and dedication have garnered recognition, as she was listed as one of the inspiring women impacting Africa in the 100 Women Impacting Africa E
magazine.
She is a Trustee at Guiding Light Assembly, also she is on the Board of
Majuers Holdings and Utilita Energy.
Teju is committed to the development of MSMEs, economic inclusion and 21st
century skills as the engine of growth in African Economies.