It started a decade ago as a conversation.
Our families had finished a shared lunch and Tim Hynes (co-founder of Spacemakers) and I were washing dishes by the kitchen sink. As usual, we found ourselves talking about work — the meaning of work, the way we work, and the value of making space.
With our hands in soapsuds, we talked about distraction. We talked about hyperactivity. We expressed our frustration at seeing colleagues struggle unnecessarily in work and life. And we knew we could do something about this.
So we asked our wives if they would support us in starting a business. They said yes (but insisted we finish the dishes first.)
— Daniel Sih —
Our passion is to help busy people make space in the digital age.
We run training courses to help individuals and teams improve their productivity — mastering email, organising todo lists, and achieving priorities.
We provide accredited CliftonStrengths Top 5 and Teams training to strengthen the health of workplace teams.
We run a 6-month Productivity Masterclass coaching program to help capable leaders take their productivity to the next level.
We speak at conferences about digital technology, leadership, and the productivity of unplugging as a habit.
Our international award-winning book, “Spacemaker: how to unplug, unwind and think clearly in the digital age” will help busy leaders think differently about their relationship with the online world to live a happier, healthier and more meaningful life.
QUALIFICATIONS: TOP 5 / TEAMS CLIFTONSTRENGTHS® COACH; DIPLOMA OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT; BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN PHYSIOTHERAPY; DIPLOMA OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
FAVOURITE BOARD GAME: AGRICOLA
Daniel is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker and productivity expert with 20 years experience working in senior leadership and strategic consulting roles across Australia and the UK.
His first book, “Spacemaker” won the American Axiom Business Book Award in 2023 for Work-Life Balance / Time Prioritisation, an Australian Business Book Award in 2021 for Personal Development, and several niche book awards. His newest book, “Raising Tech-Healthy Humans” is a best-selling parenting book to help parents reset their children’s tech-habits and give them a great start to life.
Daniel is an accredited CliftonStrengths® Top 5 and Team coach with the South Pacific Strengths Network, and co-creator of Email Ninja eLearning®.
As a trainer, coach and keynote speaker, Daniel has worked with CEO’s, executives, and other senior professionals throughout Australia and beyond, ranging from global corporations and businesses to universities and non-profits. He has a broad professional history, including leadership roles in physiotherapy, health management, Christian ministry, and project management.
Daniel has 3 children, 14 chickens and is the CEO of Spacemakers in Australia and Canada.
QUALIFICATIONS: HONOURS BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL OF HUMAN RESOURCES
VICES: EXPENSIVE BIKES
Elissa is a People and Culture (“HR”) consultant based near Vancouver, Canada. An unabashed people person, she is passionate about helping employees and employers thrive, by understanding the interconnectedness between employee engagement, corporate culture, technology, wellness and productivity. Her 15 years of experience includes senior roles in organisational communications, career development, culture change, coaching and mentorship, and process implementation.
In addition to her professional work, Elissa is a certified ski instructor, nationally certified mountain bike coach, and has competed as a pro-elite cyclist (while balancing parenthood and career … that was tiring!)
Elissa has 2 children, 1 blue heeler named Gus, 1 identical twin, and heads up Spacemakers Canada.
QUALIFICATIONS: BACHELOR OF SOCIOLOGY, BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
FAVOURITE ALBUM: EXILE ON MAIN STREET
Matt has 15 years of counselling and leadership experience across the public service, education sector, and in private practice. His roles have involved individual counselling, group therapy facilitation, psycho-educational program delivery, policy development, productivity training and team leading. When not working for Spacemakers, Matt helps lead a local church community in southern Tasmania.
In his spare time, he enjoys brewing beer with friends whilst listening to records. This may sound painfully and self-consciously cool, so it’s important to him that you know he was enjoying these past times before they were tarnished by bearded hipsters.
Matt has 2 children, a 40kg chocolate Labrador, and is a senior trainer at Spacemakers.