Planning Xchange

In PlanningxChange episode 94 our guest is Laura Gannon an Associate Director at Meridan Urban with almost 20 years of experience in strategic land use planning, bushfire risk and community resilience across both the public and private sectors. Laura specialises in management consulting approaches to the integration of natural hazard risk management into land use planning policy and strategy, with...

In PlanningxChange 93 the tables are turned and we are interviewed. PX was a guest at the Ratio Consultants breakfast speaker series. Colleen Peterson (PX23), the CEO of Ratio presented and asked questions. The interview reveals the formation of PX, the mechanics of how we put interviews together, what we have learnt and how we work together. A bit self indulgent but there you go. We hope you enjo...

In PlanningxChange episode 92 the subject is Phil Priest, Group Manager City Development at the Moreland City Council. The following is an extract from VPELA's Journal 'Revue' of October 2021 which described Phil's career and his recent awarding of the Paul Jerome Award for contributions to the public sector.   "When planners think of Moreland Council, they think of Phil Priest. Phil has been a ma...

In PlanningxChange episode 91 we interview Matt Roberts about Ian Nairn, an architectural and planning critic in the UK during the 1950s - 1970s. Matt is an architectural historian and a member of the podcast team that produces About Buildings and Cities .   Details are at https://aboutbuildingsandcities.org . The About Buildings and Cities podcast produced a three part series on Ian Nairn. This i...

In PlanningxChange episode 90 we interview Scott LaMont the CEO of EDSA, an international planning and landscape architecture consultancy. Scott joined EDSA in 1996 and has been a driving force in the firm's practice and strategic growth since. Before being named CEO, he was a Studio Leader and Principal for 12 years, instilling the firm's ethos with a design sensibility and comprehensive approach...

PlanningxChange Episode 89, features Peter Malley. Peter is a traffic and transport engineer with over 17 years' experience consulting to numerous private and government clients in Victoria and NSW. Peter has a passion for master planning and large-scale developments where he applies a holistic transport planning approach. He has contributed expert advice to a range of significant projects includi...

PlanningxChange Episode 88, features Catherine Heggen, a town planner with UK and Australian experience over a 35 year career. Catherine's 35-year career has been devoted to the provision of project based consulting advice to a wide range of private sector and government clients. Her professional capabilities and experience lie at the intersection of urban planning, statutory control, place making...

PlanningxChange Episode 87, features   Steve Oates, the Chief Executive of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA). Formerly a property professional who then spent 20 years in commercial radio, Steve has had an active lifelong interest in heritage and steam railways. From his teenage years, and for more than 40 years, Steve has worked with the award-winning Isle of Wight Steam Railway in a non-exec...

PlanningxChange Episode 86, features Deb Ganderton CEO of The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) and James Reid, the Chief Future Built Environment Officer of GMCT. GMCT is a self-funding, not for profit organisation that runs 19 cemeteries and memorial parks and three crematoria across Melbourne, Australia. It is also responsible for two greenfield sites to be developed on Melbourne's u...

In PlanningxChange Episode 85, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Stone Librande, the lead designer for SimCity 2013.  Stone is currently a Lead Designer in the R&D group at Riot Games, and has worked in the video game industry for 20 years on games such as SimCity 2013, Spore, and Diablo 3. In addition to his full-time job designing video games, he also teaches a game design course at Carnegi...

In PlanningxChange Episode 84, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Gerard McHugh; this interview is all about mountain bike trail development and what it can achieve for participants, towns and regions. Gerard is the General Manager of World Trails. The company provides trail designs for all types of recreational trails, from the earliest conceptual stage to the final design stage including det...

In PlanningxChange Episode 83, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Adam Cohen.   Adam is a transportation mobility futures researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative mobility strategies, including urban/advanced air mobility, automated vehicles, shared mobility, smart ci...

In PlanningxChange Episode 82, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Russell ('Russ') Dickson a licenced land surveyor. Russ gives listeners an excellent introduction to the world of land surveying, through its culture, vocabulary, exacting requirements and the feared 'land surveying cops'. He talks of the incredible technological changes he has experienced and offers a glimpse into the future. A...

In PlanningxChange Episode 81, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Marshall Sullivan a private planning consultant based in regional Victoria. Marshall came up 'through the ranks' of local government starting as an enforcer officer and ending as a senior manager. Now he runs his own very prosperous planning consultancy based in Geelong and the Surf Coast. Marshall discusses his journey through...

In PlanningxChange Episode 80, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Nicole Gelinas an author, columnist and podcast regular based in New York. Nicole is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal , and a columnist at the  New York Post . She writes on urban economics and finance. Gelinas is a CFA charterholder and the author of  After the Fall: Saving Capit...

In PlanningxChange Episode 79 Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Sebastian Gurciullo. Sebastian is a professional archivist, editor, curator and writer. He has worked at the National Archives of Australia, Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) and University of Melbourne Archives. He has been the editor of the Australian Society of Archivists journal Archives and Manuscripts and PROV's journal...

In PlanningxChange Episode 78 Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview John Myers (UK) and Michael Hendrix (USA) about the hyper local zoning initiative. John has developed a 'bottom up' approach to fixing chronically underperforming housing markets that occur throughout the western world. This consists of citizens within a block or similar smaller area petitioning to up zone their properties to ena...

In PlanningxChange Episode 77, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Loudon Luka, a planner with experience in both Australia and Malawi. Loudon went to Australia from his homeland Malawi in the mid 1990's to undertake post graduate study. He gained a Post Graduate in Urban Planning and a Masters in Planning both from Melbourne University. He then commenced work as a local government planner. His...

In PlanningxChange Episode 76, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Brian ('Harry') Haratsis and Max Shifman about the many consequences of Covid on how we work, where we live and on our economic and social circumstances. Brian Haratsis is highly regarded as one of Australia's foremost strategic advisors – with a particular focus on private sector property involvement, understanding communities,...

In PlanningxChange Episode 75, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Dr John Stone. John is a Lecturer in Transport Planning and Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture, Building at Planning; Melbourne University. His research seeks to improve public transport performance in Australian cities through a greater understanding of the professional practice and the political and institutional co...

In PlanningxChange Episode 74, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Elle Davidson, a Director of Zion Engagement and Planning. Elle is a qualified Aboriginal town planner who not only runs Zion but also lectures at university. The Zion website sets out that the company " aims to work alongside communities to empower their voice and vision for the future of their places and spaces. Many cultural...

In PlanningxChange Episode 73, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Elizabeth (Liz) Hui, an acoustic engineer with over 25 years experience. Liz started working in the acoustic engineering field in the pre internet age, spending over 20 years as a consultant at Marshall Day Acoustics before retiring early in 2013. During that time, Liz regularly presented expert evidence at both VCAT at Panels....

In PlanningxChange Episode 72, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Peta Charles the principal of Brisbane Town Planning (BTP). Peta has introduced many innovative features into her practice. She has produced and appeared in 100's of YouTube videos explaining different planning and design issues. A major information resource for the general public and clients. BTP applies a fresh and exciting ap...

In PlanningxChange Episode 71, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Tamara Brezzi, the President of VPELA. Tamara is also a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. Tamara started professional life as a Council town planner with the former City of Malvern. She then undertook a law degree and transferred to legal practice. Tamara talks of the importance of mentors in her professional development, essent...

In PlanningxChange Episode 70, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Nick MacHale, the CEO of BRITE. Nick is an experienced executive having spent time in both commercial and not for profit sectors. His passion lies in bringing together people from all walks of life, to achieve a common purpose. Hailing from Ireland, Nick states he has been lucky enough to call Melbourne home for the last 13 year...