ANEW is thrilled to announce Brett A. Shwery, FIIDA, AAIA, LEED AP, as their new Chairman of the Board. As the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary amid growing industry demand for sustainable practices, Brett's appointment brings together exceptional leadership in the built environment with a proven track record of advancing ANEW's mission of working towards building a more circular economy.
As Principal and Global Practice Leader for Commercial Interiors at HKS, Brett works at the intersection of design excellence and corporate responsibility, guiding multinational corporations through complex interior architecture projects across continents. His collaborative leadership style and decades of experience in the built environment give him unique insight into how companies approach sustainability and resource management—the very challenges ANEW helps solve. Since joining ANEW as a senior advisor in 2017 and serving as Chief of Advisory, Brett has championed the organization's work transforming corporate surplus into community resources, making him the ideal leader to guide ANEW into its next two decades.
About Brett A. Shwery, FIIDA, AAIA, LEED AP
As Principal and Global Practice Leader for Commercial Interiors at HKS, Brett leads with a global perspective, grounded in decades of experience delivering design excellence across markets and continents. His career spans leadership roles at some of the world’s most respected design firms, where he has guided large-scale interior architecture practices serving multinational corporations and institutions.
Brett is known for his collaborative leadership style and ability to unite diverse teams across regions and time zones, bringing integrated, strategic and people-centered design solutions to complex challenges. His work has resulted in award-winning environments that support innovation, productivity, and cultural alignment for some of the most influential companies around the world.
A published thought leader, mentor, and active voice in the profession, Brett’s research explores the intersection of workplace, learning, and experience design. He has served as President of the IIDA Southern California Chapter and has received several honors for his leadership and service, including the USC Architectural Guild Service Award and the ANEW Foundation’s Stewardship Champion Award. In 2022, Brett was inducted into the IIDA College of Fellows—the organization’s highest distinction—for his enduring contributions to the design industry.
Brett Shwery
“I’m honored to serve as the next Board Chairman of ANEW, an organization that has spent 20 years proving that caring for the planet and caring for people can, and must, go hand in hand. Their leadership in advancing a circular economy is a powerful reminder that thoughtful environmental stewardship can create lasting impact for both earth and humankind.”