About the Series

The PIA PlanTech Briefing Series for 2026 connects PIA’s recently launched PIA PlanTech Core Competencies document with real tools and technologies shaping planning practice today. Each session brings together a practitioner grounded in planning principles and professional standards, followed by on the ground examples of best practice, their experiences and what they’ve learned along the way. The series is practical, reflective and focused on helping planners build confidence in using digital tools responsibly.

Special Offer: Register for full series now for special price: 7 seminars for the price of 5. Purchasing this series, includes access to the recording of any past events in the series. 

• These seminars are Australian Eastern Standard Time (Brisbane QLD) : 12-1pm, with exception of October and November ones due to daylight savings. October and November seminars are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). For a time converter for your state please see HERE

• All sessions are recorded for your convenience and will be made available after the live event on PIA On Demand.

**Attendees will be sent the Zoom link before the briefing.

This is a personalised link that will be emailed to you directly from Zoom, please keep an eye out for this as well as check your junk folders. Email [email protected] if you need assistance.**

Topics & Speakers

12 March

Responsible AI - governance, regulation, practical guardrails

This first session of the series looks at how planners can use AI in ways that are fair, transparent and effective, with a focus on professional responsibility and maintaining public trust. Speakers will share how they’re navigating regulation, setting practical guardrails, and making informed decisions about where AI has potential to enhance planning outcomes.

Case study discussed: Gold Coast Robina Review

Speakers

16 April

Data that Matters - Datasets every planner should know and use

Good planning decisions rely on good data, but knowing what to use, its limitations and how to apply it, aren’t always straightforward. This briefing will dive into an introductory overview of the key datasets planners regularly draw on for planning projects. A case study speaker will also show how data is turned into evidence that is able to support good decision-making.

Case study discussed: City of Boroondara – Housing Trend Tracker

Speakers

18 June

Maps, Charts and Dashboards for Planning decisions

Visualising data and making maps used to require special university courses, now there are many easy-to-use web-based  tools accessible to planners. With this new wave of digital tools, this session introduces how planners can use maps, charts and dashboards, to present data more clearly and impactfully, to support planning decisions.

Case study discussed: Land Supply Dashboard

Speakers

23 July

Modelling and Digital Twins - Tools for forecasting and scenarios

Planning is inherently about the future, and modelling is one of the key ways we test what different futures might look like. This briefing provides an accessible introduction to the guiding principles behind modelling, scenarios and digital twins, followed by a case study showing how these tools are being used to explore growth, land use change and long-term impacts in a real planning context.

Case study discussed: Auckland City Council – Land Use Modelling and Scenarios

Speakers

20 August

Workplace Automation

Automation is changing how planning work gets done, from speeding up routine tasks to reshaping entire workflows. This session explores what automation looks like in practice, where it can genuinely support planners, and what skills matter as roles continue to evolve

Speakers

15 October

Creating Space for Innovation - Advocating & Planning for Organisational change

Innovation in planning often depends as much on culture as it does on technology. Building on PIA’s PlanTech Best Practice Guidelines, this session looks at how planners can identify opportunities for change, make the case internally, and move ideas from concept to reality.

Speakers

19 November

Foresight Work

Foresight is about looking beyond immediate pressures to understand what may shape planning practice in the years ahead. As our final session of the year, this webinar offers insight into PIA’s foresight work and how future-focused thinking is being used to inform policy, skills development and professional practice related to PlanTech across the country.

Speakers

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