ERNA WALSH
Describe yourself in 5 words?
I wasn’t quite sure so I had my daughter describe me - dedicated, resilient, understanding, kind, FUNNY
How does design imbue your life day-to-day ?
Design is one of the most powerful things in my life, it empowers, inspires and opens my eyes. I find it fascinating and constantly changing I also think its empathetic and allows you a glimpse into someone else’s life ... being in someone else shoes if you will, design challenges my perspective .
I Am Woman was designed to inspire the future of women in business, so with that in mind, if you could you give one piece of advice to young females, what would it be?
Hard work is the most important alongside patience and collaborating and knowing who to have on your team. Also knowing that you cant plan for things and being flexible whilst listening to your intuition , the second part of that is having stamina and the grit to keep going. It's been a long journey over the last 26 years to really understand my job and myself. And what I know for sure is that , constantly learning has exponentially helped me personally and professionally not just the study aspect but also being around other people wanting to learn and create.
If you ran the world for a day .. what three things would you implement/change?
Improving universal healthcare , creating a more bespoke education system that accounts for all learning styles. Animal welfare, more protection for animals and the environment
How do you spend time outside of work ?
I have a pretty calm life outside of my hectic work schedule. I walk the dogs , read and talk to my children ... I’ve recently started running again - something I did in my 20s (marathons). The activities that bring me real joy especially at these uncertain times are cooking and creating a new garden.
What city fits your style and aesthetic most?
London , because it is a melting pot for creativity and design
What trends are you loving at the moment whether it be fashion, interiors, beauty or food.
I love beauty trends and products , I’m quite a consumer and my daughter who works in this field often sends me new products. Usually I tend to stick to more organic brands such as Odacite a beauty brand from California
In this rapidly changing world, how would you improve sustainability globally.?
I really endeavour to only produce and use sustainable brands. At home i’m working on limiting food waste and waste in general eg . Excessive paper use , buying clothes that aren’t made responsibly . I also really have a passion for fair pay and want my employees to be paid well and looked after, I feel a deep responsibility for that.
If you woke up tomorrow as Prime Minister of Australia, what are the top three things you would address?
With the current global situation I’d have just a single one.. to keep everyone safe.
If you didn't end up in your career what other job would you have done and why? Archeology , weirdly . I love travel, history and explorations so I feel that occupation melds that all together.
Do you have any upcoming projects or events you want to share with us ?
We are preparing for our second collection launch for BOYD our product range based on the designs of the famous Australian architect Robin Boyd
We would love to know which two products from KFive+Kinnarps are your favourite.
I feel that the Boyd collection is the closest to my heart as from inception to manufacturing its been something I’ve nurtured, and the way it turned out was design perfection to me .
One of my favourite pieces at the moment is Alto sofa by Materia, which won the 2020 German design award. Segis Dragonfly chair from Italy, is one of my old favourites. I also spend a lot of time curating the pieces we have and picking specific collections.
what woman in your life would you like to thank and why?
My daughter Betty , she is brave and capable since she was young . She’s strong but gentle and honestly hard working . She constantly pushing me to learn , explore and educate myself on every aspect of my life