Jessica Farrell, Director, Metro & Cities Strategic Planning

Jessica is an experienced strategic land use planning leader and strategic transport planning expert at the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure, with extensive background shaping metropolitan and city-scale initiatives. As Director of Metro & Cities Strategic Plan, her team led the development of the draft Sydney Plan – the first new strategic plan for Sydney in 7 years and the Statewide Industrial Lands Policy. Jessica has held senior roles across state Government, most recently in Transport for NSW where she delivered the Future Transport Strategy, the Movement and Place Framework and the Active Transport Strategy. Jessica’s expertise and passion spans policy development, infrastructure planning, and strategic governance, ensuring cities are prepared for future challenges and opportunities.

Tom Loomes, Executive Director, Strategic Planning & Policy

Tom is an experienced senior executive in the NSW Government, specialising in property, development, planning and transport. He is currently Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Policy in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. He has previously served in numerous executive roles in the Department of Planning, including Executive Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Implementation, Chief of Staff to the Secretary, Executive Director of the Office of the Secretary and the Director of the Planning Concierge. Tom has also served on the senior leadership teams of various Ministers and a former Premier of NSW. 

Melissa Rassack

Melissa is an accomplished planner with over 15 years of experience across State and Local Government, currently Acting Director of Statewide Strategic Planning and Systems Policy team. She is highly skilled in both strategic and statutory land use planning, with extensive knowledge in the NSW planning system and industrial land planning. Melissa has led planning policy development, assessed major proposals, and played a key role in precinct-scale projects such as the Mamre Road Industrial Precinct.

Clare Brown MPIA, PIA NSW Policy and Advocacy Convenor, Urbis

Clare is a highly respected and accomplished planner who has a longstanding career across all levels of government and industry. Clare has held senior management roles in several organisations and is currently recognised for her expertise and dedication as a Director of the Board at Urbis.

Clare has both a town planning and legal background and her skill is demonstrated through her regular appearance as an expert witness in the Land and Environment Court and as an alternate member of Sydney and Regional Planning Panels.