Meet The Judges

Meet the accomplished makers, designers and educators who make up our judging panel. With expertise spanning furniture making, woodturning, carving and fine craftsmanship, they bring decades of experience and a genuine passion for celebrating exceptional work.

Functional & Furniture

  • Patrick Holcombe

    Patrick is a Melbourne furniture designer, maker and founder of Douglas Fir Design. Self-taught, his work is grounded in durability, honest joinery and thoughtful design. He also teaches furniture design and collaborates with architects, creating award-winning pieces built to last.

  • Phoebe Evervill

    Phoebe is a professional designer and maker based in central Victoria, known for her clean, crisp style influenced by Japanese and Shaker design. An experienced educator and mentor, she has exhibited widely, contributed to woodworking publications and runs an established furniture-making school.

  • Ricky Wood

    Ricky is the founder and tutor at Melbourne woodworking school The Shed. He creates bespoke heirloom furniture from sustainably sourced and reclaimed hardwood, with each piece thoughtfully handmade to meet the client’s needs and tell a meaningful story.

Artistic & Ornamental

  • Alma Clementina

    Alma is a Melbourne-based industrial designer and founder of Decoteca, specialising in handmade timber furniture, carved objects and installations. Originally established in Mexico, her practice combines functionality and modern design while supporting craftsmanship and sharing her passion for timber.

  • Carl Lutz

    Carl is a master craftsperson with decades of experience in furniture making, restoration and reproduction. An accomplished carver, turner and French polisher, he works with both traditional hand tools and modern machinery and shares his knowledge as a senior tutor at the Victorian Woodworkers Association.

  • Gary Rizzolo

    Gary is a Melbourne-based master instrument maker with over 40 years’ experience crafting finely toned guitars. An artist and qualified teacher, his work is shaped by his Italian-Australian heritage, lifelong involvement in music and the traditions of European instrument making.

Australian Woodturning

  • Paul Barton

    Paul is a self-taught woodturner with over 20 years’ experience, known for highlighting the natural character of salvaged and recycled timber. He exhibits, teaches and demonstrates across Australia and received the 2023 Tasmanian Premier’s Award for Excellence in Craft.

  • Andrew Potocnik

    Andrew is a Melbourne-based wood artist, educator and writer with decades of experience. His work has been exhibited internationally, featured in leading publications and acquired by major art collections. He continues to explore timber’s artistic possibilities while sharing his expertise as a teacher.

  • Jim Bennett

    Jim is an experienced woodturner and part of the family behind Pop’s Shed Woodworking. Alongside supporting makers with quality tools, timber and supplies, he helps deliver workshops for woodturners of all skill levels and is passionate about growing Australia’s woodworking community.