Dynamic Duos: BMF’s ‘masters of vibe’
This week on Dynamic Duos, BMF creative directors, Casey Schweikert and Rees Steel, delve into their undeniable work connection, the time a pack of border collies knocked Casey's soul from her body, and Rees' passion for the unusual.
In Dynamic Duos, Mumbrella each week asks two colleagues with a professional and personal affiliation to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly hybridised world of work.
Casey Schweikert:
Rees and I met when we were both working in New York, but I don’t remember it. Not in a rude way, it was a NYE party in Brooklyn after all. Anyway, cut to 2020 where we were teamed up as freelancers at BMF. After a quick, “hey I know you!?” We were working together.
Three years later and we’re leading the charge on amazing clients like Tourism Tasmania and Tennis Australia. It’s my longest stint at any agency which I think says a lot about the place. We’re loving the work we get to do, both brands being very different tonally – but each wanting to stand out in their respective category, which we love.
Rees Steel:
I was the consolation prize.
Casey had teamed up with my wife on a freelance job at The Monkeys, then later made the move to BMF. While my wife stayed back, I was offered up as the lesser Steel. I couldn’t have stumbled into a better partnership.
She’s the best. All the big stuff just clicks with Casey – being really honest with ourselves, clients and teams, and making the work as good as we possibly can. The job’s not worth doing if the work’s not fun.
Christina Aventi once described us as ‘masters of vibe’ and I liked that a lot. We get very excited when an idea isn’t merely smart and simple, but the feeling itself is refreshing, strange or satisfying.
I also realised the other day that we’re both firstborns. It does explain a lot.
Casey on Rees:
Most memorable moment with Rees: A moment that springs to mind is when we were shooting a Tassie summer campaign atop a stunning albeit unpredictable mountain. After waiting for six hours for “the fog to lift” we started getting desperate and writing ways we could use the fog in a new script…to sell summer. Turns out it’s not possible.
Best word to describe him: I started keeping a list of interesting words Rees has used (he doesn’t know I do this) and thought this one feels fitting. “Grokable” which means to understand profoundly and intuitively. Rees is the most grokable person I know. He’s a quick thinker, he’s confident, and he somehow always knows the right thing to say to get an idea over the line.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has: Rees is incredibly thoughtful and has excellent taste in the unusual. Like the kumquat jam he made me. Or the hand sewn bleeding gash artwork he exhibited. Or his impressive library, complete with a plush replica version of his head.
Rees on Casey:
Most memorable moment with Casey: Casey is the most conscientious and hardworking person I’ve ever worked with. Easily. Only once have I seen her go completely AWOL. We were shooting in central Tasmania on a farm with five of the most incredible, smart, loyal, beautiful sheep dogs, and I think I saw Casey’s soul leave her body. She hung out with the border collie pack all day, truly having found her people.
Best word to describe her: Can I say ‘human border collie’?
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Like me, she insists on eating lunch at midday or earlier. It sounds small, but that’s the kind of fundamental alignment of values that means the world to me.
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Lauren McNamara was the associate editor at Mumbrella. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left Mumbrella in August 2025.
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