About Emma Byrnes
I’ve worked as a photographer, designer, copywriter and creative marketer for more than 20 years.
My passion and expertise is in creating and innovating small businesses and launching unique brands into the market place. Since 2014 I have been operating a bespoke creative agency called Heartland Projects. I've worked alongside many creative enterprises to help develop their visual narrative and consolidate their brands. More about my services here.
I co-founded Plump Organic Grocery in 2002 and Harvest Textiles in 2010, a hybrid screen-printing company that sold limited-edition textiles, ran workshops and hosted more than 30 design events/collaborations over three years.
In September 2013 I left Harvest to have my third child and then in late 2014 I became a founding member of Pop Craft Studio, established by Pauline Tran-Cecil.
About Peter Barrett
Peter is a freelance journalist who specialises in food and culture. He has more than 15 years experience writing news and feature stories for Australian magazines, newspapers and websites.
He joined The Age in 2003 for the relaunch of the Saturday entertainment section (now called Spectrum), left briefly to pursue freelance, and returned in 2004 to help launch glossy monthly insert theage (melbourne) magazine.
During his time with Fairfax he has written for The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age Cheap Eats Guide, The Age Good Food Guide, The Good Café Guide, The Good Food Shopping Guide, Good Weekends Away, and the (melbourne) magazine. He is a male grooming columnist with Jetstar Magazine (published by Hardie Grant) and has been published in numerous Pacific+ titles, including Voyeur, Virgin Australia’s inflight travel magazine.
In 2005 Peter became Melbourne magazine’s staff writer. Since then he’s built an impressive knowledge of what makes Melbourne tick. From best restaurants, secret parks and hidden gardens to parochial quirks and cultural oddities, Peter has probed the city deep for answers – sometimes even literally (as in “Going Down,” a feature on Melbourne’s underground marvels).
In a mix of regular columns and longer features he has written about everything from the Sherrin football factory, the city loop and the Melbourne Club to cheapest beach houses, haunted houses, and suburban adventure sports. He has interviewed former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Dr Who (Tom Baker), former Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, former Premier Steve Bracks, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, runner Robert De Castella and Sydney Olympics mascot, Nikki Webster.
Peter stepped down as Melbourne magazine’s staff writer in 2010 but continued as a freelancer to contribute features and regular columns including ispy, calendar and behind closed doors until the magazine closed in 2013. Today he writes magazine and news articles for a range of media organisations including Fairfax, Pacific+ and independent magazines, teaches journalism in the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT University and is a freelance copywriter for a mix of corporate clients. Peter is based in the Nicholas Building, Melbourne. He is a member of the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance.
When not chasing deadlines Peter divides his time between playing drums and spending time with his wife and three children.