Our Team

Liz Elam

Internationally recognized as a pioneering force in the coworking movement, Liz Elam stands out as a dynamic leader who seamlessly combines collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. A natural entrepreneur, Liz founded Link Coworking in Austin, Texas, in 2010, successfully expanding it to three locations and positioning it as the fourth-largest coworking brand in Austin before its notable sale in 2019—an unprecedented achievement that established her as the first woman globally to exit a coworking brand.

In 2011, Liz further solidified her impact on the industry by founding the Global Coworking Unconference Community (GCUC), now the largest coworking conference globally. Under her visionary leadership, GCUC has evolved into a cross-cultural epicenter for the workspace industry, spanning the U.S., South America, China, Canada, the UK, Australia, and beyond.

Embracing the role of a futurist, Liz recently earned a graduate certificate in foresight from the University of Houston. This journey to understand the methodologies behind forecasting the future fuels her passion for inspiring better societal choices.

A highly sought-after consultant and speaker on the future of work and workplace. In 2023 Liz joined forces with Derek Lutz to launch Bottle Rocket Search. Bottle Rocket is the only headhunter that is solely focused on the coworking and flex industry. You can learn more about Liz and coworking as she shares her insights on the GCUC Podcast, released bi-weekly.

Liz Elam fearlessly propels the coworking movement to adopt sound business practices and envision greater possibilities for the impact of individual operators and workspace brands. Her commitment to dismantling the loneliness epidemic through coworking and community-building resonates with both space operators and members alike, establishing her as a driving force in shaping the future of the hospitality workspace.

Emilie Lashmar

With a background in brand strategy, experience design, and community-led spaces, Emilie works at the intersection of identity, environment, and connection. Her work focuses on shaping brands and experiences that people don’t just attend, but feel part of.

As Director of GCUC UK, Emilie leads the curation and delivery of the UK edition of the Global Coworking Unconference Community. Her focus is on bringing together operators, landlords, investors, and partners who are actively shaping the future of coworking, flexible workspace, and community. Through GCUC UK, she is committed to creating rooms that prioritise real conversation, collaboration, and practical insight over performance or pitch.

She is also Creative Director of TOGETHER, a London-based meetings and events space operator, where she leads brand, experience, and creative direction across spaces. Her work centres on how physical environments, storytelling, and human connection come together to create meaningful experiences.

Antonette Benting

Antonette Benting brings 20+ years in the flexible workspace industry. Raised in an underserved community, she began in banking, then moved into hospitality and tourism, managing hotels and events—from concierge and food & beverage to winning conference bids at Sun International. She is Business Development Manager at Workshop17 across South Africa and Mauritius, promoting coworking, collaboration, and strategic partnerships. She completed the Management Development Program at Stellenbosch Business School (2023) and joined the inaugural 3 Cities Leadership Forum cohort (2024).

Beyond work, she mentors women through Oribi Village, serves on the Women in ICT board, and adjudicates Cape Town’s Youth Start Up competition, championing shared resources that help communities thrive and close spatial and digital divides.

Jessica Knapp

Jessica is a globally experienced entrepreneur and growth strategist who has spent over a decade shaping the future of coworking, community, and technology. Having led teams across multiple markets, from New Zealand to the United States, she brings a unique international perspective to the evolving world of work. Jessica has worked on both the operator and software sides of the Coworking industry and has held multiple CEO roles across SaaS and Consumer ventures. Passionate about helping founders and operators build thriving, connected ecosystems, she brings strategic clarity, commercial acumen, and community-driven leadership to her work with GCUC.