Prof. Edward Blakely Executive Director, Office of Recovery Management New Orleans, Chair, Urban Regional Planning, Director, Planning Research Centre University of Sydney

Professor Blakely is the Chair of urban and regional planning and Director of the Planning Research Centre at the University of Sydney, and Mayor’s Executive Director for the Office of Recovery Management, New Orleans. His previous experiences at the New School University in New York, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Southern California were as a senior administrator/faculty leader with the responsibilities of interfacing with the local city and state governments in urban policy matters. The University of California recognised Professor Blakely’s contribution in creating the Edward J. Blakely Centre for Sustainable Suburban Development at the Riverside campus. Professor Blakely is very familiar with Australia and Sydney in particular. He is directly involved in the planning process to re-shape Sydney as the Chair of the Reference Panel for the Metropolitan Strategic Plan.

Christopher Brown Managing Director Tourism & Transport Forum

Kevin Byrne Mayor Cairns

Ron Clarke Mayor Gold Coast

Ron Clarke was elected Mayor of Gold Coast City in March 2004 after campaigning on a platform of six basic principles – independence, integrity, inspiration, integration, innovation and impact. These guiding principles have been constant throughout his extraordinary life, which has seen him scale the heights of sport and business before entering politics at the tender age of 67. An icon in sporting circles, Ron set 19 world records between 1963 and 1970, in races ranging from two miles to 20 kilometres.  While the Olympic gold has eluded him (he won an Olympic bronze and four Commonwealth Games silver medals), he is widely considered the ultimate ethical competitor and the words ‘great Australian’ often accompany his name. In speaking of his challenge as Mayor of the fastest growing city in Australia, Ron is similarly focused on success.  He has set an extensive series of personal goals to help the City continue its growth in a sustainable manner.  These goals include the development of an efficient transport infrastructure network to meet the current and future needs of the community.  He believes this network should be complemented by a city-wide ferry service, which would offer additional transport, a reduction in traffic congestion and tourism potential.

Philip Cox Director Cox Richardson Architects & Planners

Philip Cox is the founding partner of the firm.  He commenced practice with Ian McKay in 1963 and formed his own firm, Philip Cox and Associates in 1964.  The firm has grown to become The Cox Group Pty Ltd with 400 personnel. Philip Cox graduated from Sydney University with honours in architecture in 1962.  He was a Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) silver medallist and was awarded the NSW Board of Architects Travelling Scholarship.  He graduated from Sydney University with a diploma in Town & Country Planning in 1972.  He is a Professor of Architecture at the University of NSW and in 2000 received an Honorary Doctorate of Science. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his contribution to architecture, including the RAIA Gold Medal in 1984, Life Fellowship to the RAIA in 1987 and Honorary Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects in the same year.  In 1988 he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to architecture.  In 1993 he received the inaugural award for Sport and Architecture from the International Olympic Committee, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Humanities. Philip has published nine books on the history of Australia’s towns and buildings. Philip Cox is responsible for the concept design of most of the firm’s projects and reviews all the designs produced by the practice.  He visits all branches on a regular basis and is responsible for the design management of the firm.

Peter Droege Asia Pacific Chair World Council for Renewable Energy

Prof Peter Droege is an expert on the role of renewable energy within the fields of urban design, development and urban infrastructure. He has directed and developed Solar City®, borne of a research development effort conducted under the auspices of the International Energy Agency. Droege has performed academic roles at major universities in the United States and Japan, and presently is a Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is Chair of the World Council for Renewable Energy, for Asia Pacific, and directs Epolis, a Sydney-based design consultancy active in sustainable urban change worldwide.

Lindsay Enright Executive Director Office of Urban Management

Adele Farina Chair Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Planning & Infrastructure

Adele chaired the Ministerial Tourism Planning Taskforce and the Transport, Planning and Housing Working Group to the WA State Greenhouse Taskforce, the Review Committee conducting a Statutory Review of the Forest Products Act 2000  and the Ministerial Fishing Industry Advisory Committee. She was also a member of the Ministerial Coastal Planning and Management Taskforce. Since her election to Parliament, Adele has held the positions of Deputy Chair of Committees, Chair of the Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and General Purposes and member of a number of Parliamentary committees. Prior to her election to Parliament, Adele was a solicitor.  She has extensive public sector and Government experience, having held Chief of Staff and Adviser roles to two State Ministers and two Federal Ministers, covering a range of portfolio areas.  She has also served as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor in Local Government.

Nicole Gurran Senior Lecturer, Co-ordinator, Urban and Regional Planning Program USYD

Nicole Gurran is a senior lecturer in the Urban and Regional Planning Program at the University of Sydney.  She is the author of the book ‘Australian Urban Land Use Planning; Introducing Statutory Planning Practice in NSW’ published by Sydney University Press (2007).  Her research focuses on local planning, housing, and managing urban development in highly sensitive environmental contexts.  In 2007 she established the online Australian Urban Land Use Planning Policy Monitor, revealing how Australian local plans address matters like urban growth, housing diversity and affordability.

David Harrison Chairman Australia Trade Coast

Michael Hynes Docklands and Major Projects VicUrban

Michael Hynes is General Manager - Docklands and Major Projects for VicUrban, the State Government’s sustainable development agency.  Michael leads a multi disciplinary team responsible for overseeing development of the Melbourne Docklands, a $10b waterfront urban renewal project, including securing development commitment, infrastructure planning and development and managing agreements with private sector developers.  Michael is also responsible for delivering other high impact projects within Inner Melbourne. Melbourne Docklands is a large urban renewal project, converting a 200 hectare former port, rail and industrial area into a high quality, mixed use urban domain with 7 kilometres of generous, public waterfront.  Immediately adjacent to the existing Melbourne CBD, the development is providing a waterfront and new front door to the city.    Melbourne Docklands is being developed as a partnership between the public and private sector with over $8b currently contracted to be delivered.  Michael has worked with VicUrban since 1998 prior to which his background was in civil engineering and project management, having worked in consulting and construction both in Australia and overseas.

Chris Johnson Executive Director Cities & Centres Department of Planning NSW

Chris Johnson is the Executive Director, Cities and Centres in the Department of Planning. He was previously NSW Government Architect from 1995 to 2005. Chris is currently the Director for the 9th World Congress of Metropolis, an event that will bring 100 leaders from the world’s major cities to Sydney, October 22-25 2008. Chris is a member of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Board, the Heritage Council of NSW, and the Central Sydney Planning Committee.  He is also on the Ministerial Advisory Board for the Minister for Housing and represents New South Wales on several national building and planning related boards and committees. He is currently heading the Cities Taskforce to prepare plans for six regional cities including Wollongong, Newcastle, Penrith, Gosford, Parramatta and Liverpool. Chris has contributed to debate about the future direction of cities, particularly metropolitan Sydney by writing books, articles and contributing to radio and television programs on these issues.  He has written ten books including: “Greening Cities – landscaping the urban fabric”, “Shaping Sydney – Public Architecture and Civic Decorum”, “Celebrating Sydney 2000 – 100 Legacies”, “James Barnet”, “Australian Architecture Now”, “Geometries of Power”, “Homes DotCom/architecture for all” and Healthy Environments”.

Geoff Lawler Acting Chief Executive City of Melbourne
Geoff is currently the Acting Chief Executive officer of the City of Melbourne.  He joined the City in 1996 after 17 years working for the Victorian Public Service in a variety of heritage and urban planning roles.

Nick Low Director Governance & Management of Urban Transport

Paul Low Executive Director Integrated Transport Planning Program Queensland Transport

Paul Lucas Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure & Planning QLD

Romily Madew Chief Executive Green Building Council Australia

Romilly is the Chief Executive of the Green Building Council.  In 2005 Romilly authored the GBCA’s publication “The Dollars and Sense of Green Buildings 2006 – Building the Business Case for Green Commercial Buildings in Australia”.  Romilly has been involved with the development of the Sustainable Building Pathways report, the national summit on Sustainable Communities, Built Environment Meets Parliament and the Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development. Romilly represents the GBCA on the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and is involved with their Climate Change project. Romilly is a Board Member of the Australian Capital Territory Governments, Land Development Agency  and a member of the Canberra Biennial Advisory Committee Previously Romilly was the Executive Director – ACT, Property Council of Australia, and their Executive Director for the national internal portfolio of Sustainability.  Romilly presents and writes regularly on Sustainability and the Built Environment.

Tony Morgan Chief Executive Officer East Perth Redevelopment Authority

Tony Morgan is Chief Executive Officer of the East Perth and Subiaco Redevelopment Authorities. In his role as CEO, Tony places a strong focus on achieving sustainable outcomes in urban planning and redevelopment. Prior to joining the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA), Tony was Director of Urban Operations at LandCorp.  During his career, he has overseen the highly successful Joondalup City and Bunbury Marlston Hill projects, and currently presides over the Claisebrook Cove, Subi Centro, New Northbridge, Riverside, East Perth Power Station, Perth Cultural Centre and Northbridge Link projects. Through his ethos of ‘making it happen’ Tony is committed to delivering the EPRA Board’s vision of ‘Vital Perth’ by redefining the city’s inner urban areas, attracting new investment, and making them places that people want to be part of.

Peter Newman Prof. of Sustainability Curtin University

Kevin O'Conner Head of Urban Planning University of Melbourne

Jason Perica Executive Director Strategic Sites & Urban Renewal Department of Planning NSW

Ben Pritchard Manager Brisbane Urban Renewal Taskforce

Martin Richardson Executive Director, Urban Policy Department of Planning & Infrastructure WA

Vincent Ryan Manager Strategic & Economic Development Greensborough, Banyule City Council

Lisa Scaffidi Lord Mayor City of Perth

Lisa Scaffidi was elected the first female Lord Mayor of Perth in October 2007.  Lisa had already diligently served 7 years as a Perth City Councillor, being also a city resident and property owner. Western Australia is currently seen by many as the engine room of the national economy.  This is enabling Perth to forge ahead to develop into a city which some may say can learn from the planning mistakes of others, while aiming to remain uniquely Western Australian in character.  There is a focus by Perth City Council on some key precinct renewal projects, which will enable Perth to develop a new urbanity and vitality.   Lisa is working closely with the State Government, Council and key planning staff to achieve robust urban planning outcomes for the realization of Perth’s future vision as it grows and evolves in the 21st century.   Issues of public transportation, quality infrastructure, heritage matters and (good) social services need to be adequately planned for and viewed in a forward-thinking and long term manner, with relevance and context uppermost in our thinking at all times.   As we continue to plan for the future we must enhance the city’s vitality through the promotion of an increased city based residential population.  The critical mass required to achieve our vision is fundamental to achieving real growth.  This along with a focus on diversity be it cultural or social within the city context will enable Perth to realize a very dynamic future in a local, national and global sense

David Sim Associate Gehl Architects

Well-known in Swedish professional circles as an educator, he has taught at architecture and design schools the world over, while his work at Lund University expanding and developing teaching methods has led to a number of pedagogical awards and distinctions. While in Lund, David also researched and developed patterns for greater density and diversity in urban areas. This research has been successfully applied in urban design projects and competitions. David continues his work as an educator at Gehl Architects both with professionals and the public, giving lectures and guest critiques, as well as facilitating workshops and other planning events. His main area of work at Gehl Architects is urban design, collaborating with other professionals in the planning and building process, applying Jan Gehl’s theories to large-scale projects. These projects include Heuston Gateway Strategic Study , Dublin Markets Regeneration, Urban Design Studies for Guinness, as well as master-planning new settlements in Ireland at Cherrywood, Kishoge, Clonburris and Sir John Rogerson’s Quay (including new position of U 2 T ower) and in Scotland at Camus Mor and Calderwood.

Maha Sinnathamby Chairman Springfield Land Corporation

Maha’s lobbying and negotiating skills as he and his team lay the foundations of Springfield were extraordinary – he once approached Premier Wayne Goss at a business function and pounced on him on the way out the door, just so he could get a face-to-face meeting with Goss about State Government support for Springfield. He lobbied the Education and Transport Departments just to get their co-operation to help build basic infrastructure to the area. Eventually, it needed a special act of Parliament to enable things to happen and he achieved the extraordinary – getting all 89 members of Parliament to vote in favour of the legislation. Maha assembled a team who shared his vision and commitment and has in just 15 years developed Greater Springfield - Australia’s first privately-built city and the country’s largest master planned community. It is the tenth largest master planned community in the world. Greater Springfield has a present population of over 15,000 people. With an average number of three families moving to the city per day, a population growth of over 100,000 is predicted within the next 20 years.

Malcolm Snow Chieft Executive Officer South Bank Corporation, Queensland

Haydn Washington Director of Sustainability Projects Willoughby City Council

Phil Woodcock Director, Shell Cove Business Division Shell Harbour City Council