Georgie Shepherd

Georgie Shepherd (‘96) leads a thriving, collaborative interior design studio, GSiD. Built on storytelling, curiosity, and community – values rooted in her formative years at Loreto. Her creative instincts, global experiences and return to Adelaide, shaped both her career and the vision behind her now-established practice. Fellow Old Scholar Fiona Fleer (née Radomski ’96) is also a key member of the GSiD team, and with both women now mothers of current Loreto students, their professional partnership feels like a full-circle moment within the Loreto community.

Georgie in her own words:

“I often say that interior design found me before I even knew it could be a career. Looking back, it all started at Loreto, where I went from Reception to Year 12. Those years really shaped me. Loreto wasn’t just a school, it was a community that encouraged curiosity, creativity, and confidence. From an early age, I loved spending time in the art rooms, sketching, rearranging spaces, or imagining how environments could look and feel. My teachers were amazing, always encouraging me to explore ideas, ask questions, and trust my instincts. Especially Mr McDonald in year 12, his guidance helped me develop a quiet confidence in my creative voice, a confidence I still carry into everything I do today.

I didn’t have a clear plan after school, but I knew it had to be something creative. With a little encouragement from my parents, I applied for a Bachelor of Interior Architecture. It was a tough degree, but it gave me the technical skills, drafting, spatial planning, and understanding materials, while still letting my instincts lead the way. I loved discovering how a space could influence mood, behaviour, and everyday life.

After university, I set out to see the world. I travelled around Europe with two of my school friends and eventually ended up in London, where I worked for a furniture chain as a visual merchandiser and buyer. London was fast-paced, international, and buzzing with creativity. It taught me to adapt quickly, think on my feet, and taught me to view design as both a practical and expressive art form. Lessons I still carry into my work today.

I was drawn back to Adelaide in 2002, at the end of my visa, to reconnect with my now-husband. I worked in design studios and at an architectural firm before realising I wanted to carve my own path.

I come from a big family of creatives, which gave me the confidence to start my own business. In 2011, with a newborn at home, and the support from my husband, I launched Georgie Shepherd Interior Design from my lounge room. It was humble: a laptop, a sketch roll, and one trusting client. I had a clear vision, I wanted every project to feel like a story, personal and meaningful. I also wanted a studio culture where collaboration, curiosity, and care weren’t just words, they were how we worked every day.

Over the last 12 years, the business has grown, mostly through word of mouth. Today, we are a team of seven, and the collaborative spirit in the studio is something I’m really proud of. Each week we gather around sketches and materials, bouncing ideas off each other and refining concepts together. I feel so lucky to work with a team that’s talented, engaged, and just genuinely lovely to collaborate with.

I’m also incredibly lucky to have Fiona Fleer (nee Radomski class of 96) on the team. I first met Fiona in Year 3 at Loreto, and now she’s central to how the studio runs. She’s our office manager and handles furniture procurement, keeping projects running smoothly behind the scenes. Having someone on the team who shares the same school background and values is really special.

We’re fortunate to work on a mix of hospitality and residential projects across Australia. I’m grateful for amazing clients and the trust they place in us to create spaces that people live in, visit, and experience.

Running a business has been a real learning journey. It takes patience, resilience, and constant problem-solving. There have been challenges, but also incredible moments, seeing ideas come to life, working with talented artisans, and watching clients experience and live in their finished spaces. Those moments make it all worthwhile.

Looking back from Loreto, to travelling the world, working in London, and starting a studio in Adelaide, Travel opened my eyes. London broadened my perspective. And all of it together shapes the way I design, lead, and create today.

My husband and I have two daughters, Chloe and Ella, who attend Loreto in Years 7 and 9. We’re so proud of the young women they’re becoming and happy they’re part of the same community that shaped me.

If there’s any advice I could offer current Loreto students, it would be to follow the subjects that you are passionate about and that excite you right now. Even if you're undecided about what shape your career path might be, those instincts and passions will usually point you exactly where you’re meant to be.”

Georgie Shepherd (nee Hart)

Class of ‘96.