Managing Director
Director/Project Manager
Founder
Construction Manager
Interior Designer
Marketing Manager
Site Supervisor
Operations Manager
Peter Derbyshire is the Managing Director of the Derbyshire team. Growing up as a builders son meant he was immersed in new homes and renovations from a young age. He has a background business with several years spent working in Melbourne and London.
Peter is the first face you’ll see at Derbyshire as he looks after all project inquiries and runs our design process. He’ll ensure your journey gets off to a great start and has a people first approach to building.
Peter is a big advocate for mental health and founded a local charity, Healthy Minds Geelong, in 2017. Outside of running Derbyshire and HMG you’ll find him playing guitar, surfing down the beach or chasing after his baby girl Charli or one of his ten nieces and nephews. That or talking about the Doggies 2016 Premiership. Yes, still…
Michael brings invaluable and extensive experience in design, architecture, estimation and project management. He has previously owned and run a award winning custom-building company for over 14 years and brings vast experience in all aspects of the industry. He is incredibly detail focused and has remarkable problem-solving skills.
Michael is completely dedicated to achieving the absolute best possible outcome for our clients and works in an honest and transparent way. Apart from pumping iron at the gym every day, he enjoys copious amounts of Thai food washed down with a good red.
Noel Derbyshire is the founder of our company and was its driving force for over 30 years. Noel is a great family man and started this family company with his wife Kerri. He brought a rich understanding of the contemporary building process and the building industry.
Since his teenage years, Noel has spent much of his time working with his hands. From rebuilding the engines on his Kombi vans, creating pieces of furniture and renovating properties, to even shaping and glassing surfboards ahead of his trips to Phillip Island.
In the late 1970s when he was 22, Noel went to a new level and built his family’s first home in the coastal Victorian town of Barwon Heads. More than 40 years on and it’s this same ambition and innovation from which the character of Derbyshire is carved.
Noel sadly passed away in 2019 after a challenging battle with cancer. He was just 66 at the time. He is and will continue to be greatly missed by all who met him but none more-so than his family; his wife, four children and his eleven grandchildren. RIP Noel.
Joel is our office based Construction Manager. He is a qualified carpenter but spends his days chasing down trades and working with our construction team to turn house-plans into reality.
Scheduling trades, placing orders for site and keeping things moving are his mantle. Joel has a strong customer focused background which helps the team work with our clients to achieve the best possible outcome.
Working on the job site makes him appreciate the realities and challenges of building and the importance of communication across the trade disciplines.
When not keeping his client’s project on track, Joel enjoys time with his young family, camping and finishing his own reno projects.
Michelle originally from Vancouver Canada, brings a diverse knowledge of Interior Design and experience to the Derbyshire Team. Michelle not only has a varied technical education in the field, but she also has over 12 years of hands-on experience. Most of her work includes extensive custom builds encompassing various styles and aesthetics. She is always looking forward to the next job as she finds every project unique and enjoys working closely with clients to deliver their dream home. Given her technical background she can produce base drawings for architects, site details for trades, and the interior & joinery drawings for clients.
This gives client the ability to fully customise their home with attention to detail. In addition to custom builds, she has also worked on various extensions and commercial jobs. Each project presenting its own interesting brief.
Whether you’re looking at developing a custom floor plan, assistance with colours and material selections, or just someone to bounce your interior design idea’s off of, Michelle is happy to help!
Originally from New Zealand, Elizabeth brings a unique blend of psychological insight and creative expertise to the Derbyshire team. With a background in psychology and a passion for film and communications, she transitioned into marketing by simply giving it a go. Elizabeth’s eagerness to learn and tackle new challenges drives her to continuously innovate and refine Derbyshire’s marketing strategies.
As Marketing Manager, Elizabeth oversees the development and execution of all marketing campaigns, from creating engaging content to managing digital platforms and traditional marketing efforts.
Outside of work, Elizabeth loves connecting with nature, whether it’s going to the beach or exploring local walks while staying fuelled by lots of coffee.
As our Site Supervisor, you’ll find Andy at any one of our construction sites, managing trades, checking every last detail of a project, and making sure everything is up to standard. Andy keeps our projects running smoothly and our clients’ minds at ease.
Andy brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Originally from the UK, he has also worked in New Zealand, France, and Thailand—including a project for the Prince of Thailand on his palace.
Outside of work, Andy lives a busy life. When he’s not recovering from an injury, you’ll find him running or practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. And when he’s not keeping active, he’s probably grilling up BBQ and sharing beers with friends (he’s especially partial to a chicken wing or fifty). He also enjoys family camping trips with his dog. How does he manage it all? By making sure he’s never far from his next coffee.
Kate has lived all over the globe. She grew up in Spain and spent ten years working on luxury yachts across Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. She later moved to Australia to study nursing and worked as a midwife, which eventually brought her to Geelong. Now, as a mum and wife to Pete, she leads a busy life while keeping everything running smoothly as Derbyshire’s Operations Manager.
Kate keeps the wheels turning at Derbyshire, handling accounts, paying invoices, and managing all the small but essential details that keep the business running seamlessly. From tying up loose ends to ensuring everything is organised, she’s the one making sure it all comes together behind the scenes.
Outside of work, it’s all about family time. She loves getting out in nature, heading to the beach, going on bike trips, baking, and spending time on family holidays.
You could say I’ve lived a blessed life, my owners treat me well and while I don’t need to work for a living I do find myself frequenting the Derbyshire building regularly. I like to use my unique motivational skills to gee-up the team, this includes the odd bark when least expected and the very occasional lick of the face when I feel a colleague requires my version of a “pat on the back”.
I do enjoy the meet and greet with our clients, some of them slip me a little treat to nibble on under the table. I suspect Kate and Peter (my owners) haven’t caught on to this ruse yet, but it’ll only be a matter of time, they like me trim and muscular. What can I say, I am a fine specimen, this body takes work.
