Strategic Design and Behavioural Change Leader

Janine Kuehlich is a strategist and design leader with more than a decade of strategic design experience transforming public services to be more effective, inclusive, and people-centred. Janine leads the ThinkPlaceX Victorian studio and works with State and local governments to tackle complex challenges through insight-driven design and behavioural strategy. 

With a foundation in medical science and advanced training in urban horticulture, Janine brings a rare blend of analytical rigour, systems thinking, and deep human insight. Her expertise spans healthcare, social services, environmental management, and local government. She has led major reform efforts including aged care redesign, digital service transformation for jobseekers, and national environmental regulatory frameworks. 

Janine is known for her ability to bridge complex systems with the lived experience of citizens. Her inclusive, trauma-informed facilitation style builds trust quickly—unlocking meaningful engagement across diverse cohorts and contexts. Internationally, she served as Human-Centred Design Lead across Nigeria, Kenya, and global health portfolios for a USAID-funded behavioural change initiative. 

Janine’s leadership is driven by empathy, curiosity, and a commitment to delivering outcomes that are grounded, scalable, and socially impactful. She holds a Master of Urban Horticulture and received the Dean’s Award for Honours research in genetics and biochemistry.