Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel
The Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel provides state agencies and local governments with independent expert advice on the design of major infrastructure and urban-planning projects, delivering better outcomes for Queensland communities.
How we can help
We can provide advice on:
- urban design
- urban planning
- engineering
- commercial assessment
- development economics
- architecture
- other built-environment aspects.
We are responsible for:
- championing high-quality architecture and urban design as a way to create greater prosperity for the broader Queensland community
- fostering a more holistic approach to best practice in place-making, land use and infrastructure planning
- supporting economically sustainable, vibrant and adaptable urban places for people in Queensland
- promoting community and industry awareness of the link between superior urban design and economic advantage and to spread the message that ‘good design makes good business sense’.
Benefits of involving the panel
Involving us, particularly in the early stages of project development and delivery, can benefit your project by:
- maximising the value and return from infrastructure and urban-development projects by obtaining advice on procurement processes and project risks
- ensuring government policy on urban design and planning is considered to supporting economic growth
- mobilising a team quickly to provide best-practice specialist advice and development-oriented expertise to government agencies, local government and private sector proponents.
Panel membership
Membership of panel meetings is drawn from all members. When sitting, the panel will generally be attended by up to five members together with the chair.
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Leah Lang (Chair)
Leah Lang an experienced Strategic Design Advisor and award-winning registered architect (FRAIA) has been appointed in September 2021 as the Queensland Government Architect in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic Games. Notably, she served a four-year tenure as the Gold Coast City Architect. Undaunted by large-scale, complex and ambitious projects, Leah understands site-specific subtleties, thanks to her wealth of broader experiences — including but not limited to her work on the Gold Coast Light Rail and the $60.5 million Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery. Leah’s expertise is in high demand — as evidenced by her appointments to multiple high-profile design Boards.
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Lindy Atkin
Lindy has worked as an architect for 30 years, eight of those with large practices in Brisbane, Sydney and London and the remainder directing a regional practice on the Sunshine Coast.
She has been an Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal Juror, Creative Director for the 2016 AIA Regional Conference, speaker at the 2018 AIA National Conference, an AIA QLD Chapter Councillor and member of the AIA QLD Regional Affairs Committee for the last eight years.
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Catherine Baudet
Catherine is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and is the former director of Ferrier Baudet Architects, a position she held for 37 years. She has recently launched Catherine Baudet Architect. Her experience covers all building types, including education, aged care, residential and commercial.
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Marcus Brown
Marcus is an applied economist with over 20 years professional experience in both corporate and consulting roles. He spent his early consulting career specialising in project evaluation and policy appraisal. However, over time he became increasingly interested in how economics could support other disciplines in improving community well-being.
Today, Marcus works with all levels of government, the private sector and non-government organisations by applying economic techniques to enhance decision making and solution development. He relishes the opportunity to support other disciplines by providing economic advice to better respond to market needs and policy objectives.
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Cameron Bruhn
Cameron is the Dean and Head of School – School of Architecture, The University of Queensland. He is a writer, editor, curator and advocate for architecture, landscape architecture and interior design. He has been a peer juror, sessional teacher, exhibition curator and guest speaker in Australia and internationally.
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Dr Catherin Bull OAM
Catherin is emeritus professor at the University of Melbourne and Adjunct Professor at QUT. She is widely published and has led consultancies in both landscape architecture and urban design, being awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to these in 2009. She chairs and serves on review panels nationally and is a board member of Building Queensland.
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Cathryn Chatburn
Cathryn is an award-winning urban designer with a diverse portfolio of project experience gained over 28 years of practice across the United Kingdom and Australia. She is a passionate collaborator and highly effective project director, leading the design and delivery of large scale projects for both public and private sector clients. She is the founding Director of Urban Enquiry, holds positions on a number of Design Advisory boards and contributes regularly to the teaching of urban design in University programs.
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Peter Edwards
Peter is an award-winning Architect, an accomplished and recognised urbanist and a leading figure in this region’s urban design community. He brings over 30 years of experience in architecture and urban design to provide leadership, design expertise and strategic thinking to the major projects shaping our nation’s cities. He is regularly sort as a design leader, city making expert, public speaker, and is a consistent advocate for better cities through design.
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Dr Shaneen Fantin
Shaneen is the co-director of POD (People Oriented Design) and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and James Cook University. She is an architect, project manager, researcher and community engagement specialist with 25 years experience in urban, regional and remote areas. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects First Nations Advisory Working Group and has authored eight book chapters on Indigenous architecture and placemaking, and published many articles on tropical architecture, urban design, housing and health projects.
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Luke Franzmann
Luke is a leader in transport project development, strategy and planning. Born and raised in regional Queensland, he studied at the University of Queensland in economics and engineering. Highlights of his 30 year career include leading the development of some of the most significant and complex transport infrastructure projects in Australia, like Sydney Metro City and Southwest and Cross River Rail, and leading the formation of TransLink in SEQ, with the delivery of the go card and the TransLink Network Plan. His infrastructure advisory company Corview was acquired by RPS in 2019, and he is the Executive Strategy Manager, Advisory at RPS.
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Paula Grant RPIA (Fellow)
Paula is an urban and regional planner with over 25 years experience in statutory and strategic planning in Queensland. She is currently a senior lecturer in urban and regional planning at the University of Southern Queensland and is undertaking a PhD in citizen engagement in development assessment. She has a strong attachment to and interest in the future of vibrant regional communities.
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Alice Hampson
Alice is an architect, writer, installation artist, historian and heritage consultant with an expertise in mid-twentieth century architecture. She is a contributing editor to Architecture Media, and currently a member of the Queensland Heritage Council, the Board of Architects Queensland, the Official Residence Advisory Committee for Prime Minster and Cabinet and the Independent Expert Panel for the Queensland Cultural Centre.
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Paul Jones
Paul is an Architect and Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland, registered in several states across Australia.
With over 25 years professional experience, he sits on the inaugural WA Design Review Panel, QLD Chapter Council for the AIA (Australian Institute of Architects) and has led significant masterplan, commercial and cultural projects across Australia and Asia of respected global and local practices.
Paul has recently been involved in the design and delivery of the New Museum of Western Australia.
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Dr Michael Lavery
Michael is an architect with over 30 years’ experience focused on public buildings and the public realm. As a director of a Brisbane based firm his projects have won both national urban design and national architecture awards, with the work located in Brisbane and throughout regional Queensland. He is a member of several industry advisory boards and is the current President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Queensland Chapter.
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Helen Lochhead
Helen is cross-disciplinary, an architect and urbanist who combines academic and advisory roles with practice. Her career has focused on the inception, planning, design and delivery of complex public projects ranging from a city improvements programs to major urban regeneration projects both in Australia and the US.
She has held numerous leadership positions in private practice, government and universities including her current role as Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment at UNSW, Sydney and 2019 President of the Australian Institute of Architects. Her expertise is regularly sought on independent planning panels, competition juries and design review panels.
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Toby Lodge
Toby is an urban planner who has been working in city renewal, transit orientated development and urban infill growth management for over 20 years. He has worked on a range of major master planning projects across Australia and the United Kingdom.
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Michael Rayner
Michael Rayner has practised urban design and architecture in Queensland for 30 years, firstly at Cox Rayner Architects and for the past three years at Blight Rayner Architecture. He has designed many of Queensland’s public, commercial and university buildings, and prepared city centre and university master plans. He is an Adjunct Professor at both The University of Queensland and Griffith University, a Past President of the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Chapter, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and a Member of the Order of Australia.
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Peter Richards
Peter is an architect with a master's degree in urban design and is highly respected across the industry for his strategic thinking and design leadership. He has worked on a wide-range of projects, from housing and complex public buildings to neighbourhoods, town design and planning for new cities.
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Kirsti Simpson
Kirsti is a Principal of Hassell and global leader of the commercial Architecture and workplace sector.
She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Queensland.
She is an internationally recognised specialist in workplace design who has earned a place on numerous boards – a testament to an impressive career defined by a number of ‘firsts’ in her profession.
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Jenny Ryan
Jenny is a planner with more than 25-years experience in leading strategic and land use planning and economic development projects for mixed use, urban renewal, industrial, ports and marine developments. More recently, she has specialised in business cases and feasibility assessments for a range of large-scale and commercially-complex infrastructure projects.
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Andrew Smith
Andrew is a registered Architect and Planner who is currently employed as the Chief Planner of the National Capital Authority. The National Capital Authority is charged with representing the Australia Government’s role in the planning and design of Canberra as the national Capital. As Chief Planner, Andrew is responsible for Strategic Planning, Planning Approvals, Master planning, Urban Design, Capital Works and Heritage within the Canberra’s Central National Area.
He has worked in a variety of roles in Australia and overseas and has won a number of awards for his planning and design work.
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Bridget Smyth
Bridget has more than 30 years experience as an urban designer and is currently the City Architect/Design Director for the City of Sydney. She has worked on major public domain and infrastructure projects in Australia and the United States, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
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Caroline Stalker
Caroline is a highly skilled designer, communicator and leader of teams on complex city shaping projects. Her experience spans 31 years and projects designing new communities, urban regeneration around transport hubs, city and town centres, universities, public spaces, public buildings, mixed use and multi-residential buildings.
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Michael Stott
Michael is an urban designer and strategic planner who has spent the last 20 plus years working on projects around the world. In his practice, Michael focuses on creating compelling, place-led design solutions and delivering projects that work to increase the quality of life of community residents, whether through strategic planning and policy development, individual site design or large-scale master plans, urban design for new transportation corridors, or the design of a community park or intimate urban plaza.
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Shy Tay
Shy is an architect with extensive experience in Australia and overseas who has played key roles in many city shaping projects including projects in urban design, infrastructure and integrated developments. He brings considerable capabilities in leading the design process and delivering award winning multidisciplinary designs with an emphasis on place making.
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James Tuma
James is an accomplished strategist, urban thinker and advocate for sustainable cities. His background in design combined with his ability to develop strategies for change, and to prioritise those quickly, enables them to come to life with pace and passion. Working internationally with both Government and the private sector for over 20 years, James has advised on the creation of new towns and communities, global innovation hubs, strategic infrastructure, major events, tourism precincts and significant higher education campuses.
He is qualified in urban design, built environments and landscape architecture – disciplines he draws on while coordinating projects, master planning and structure planning, as well as advising on design codes, public realm strategies and public space implementation.
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Nathalie Ward
Natalie is a landscape architect who has been involved in the design and implementation of major public realm and infrastructure projects, parks, commercial developments, residential and land rehabilitation projects for the last 28 years. She has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong and is passionate about creating meaningful places that contribute to the sustainable future of our cities.
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Simon White
Simon is an architect who is currently Head of Design at the country’s most awarded private residential developer, Aria Property Group.
He drives Aria’s creative direction across a range of high-rise residential, retail, public art and laneway urban renewal projects.
Simon holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Queensland University of Technology, and prior to joining Aria, he established and grew an award winning national architectural design practice for 14 years.
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Ruth Woods
Ruth is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), a practicing architect working in heritage for over thirty years and was a member of the Queensland Heritage Council for eight years from 2002 to 2009. She is also a Member of Australia ICOMOS and the heritage sub-committee for the Queensland Chapter of the AIA.
Fifteen years ago, Ruth started her own practice which specializes in the adaptive re-use and conservation of heritage listed buildings.
Ruth owns a State listed property which she has adaptively re-used as her family home and this, as well as other adaptive re-use projects has won her awards from the Australian Institute of Architects and National Trust.
Contact us
- Last updated:
- 4 January 2023