Queensland Emerging Planners are excited to invite you to join us for our much-anticipated second annual pitch the plan event, designed to initiate and spark new ideas within the planning industry.
The theme we are exploring this year is: Brisbane’s Next Chapter – What is Brisbane’s Next Identity?
This high-energy, shark tank-style event is geared to get planners thinking and pitching bold, visionary ideas that will define Brisbane for its next 20 years.
The question we're looking to address is: The Future of Brisbane. What decisive moves will define the next 20 years?
Participants will deliver innovative projects, policies, or urban interventions to a live audience and a diverse range of ‘sharks’ to ensure that Brisbane and the wider region are unique for the next two decades.
Event Details
Thursday 11 June 2026
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
QUT Gardens Point Campus
Followed by Informal networking drinks at QUT Botanic Bar
Event registrations close Friday 5 June 2026
Speaker Expression of Interest
Speaker Expression of Interest has now closed !
We encourage participants to think creatively and explore ideas that respond to key planning challenges and opportunities.
Key Dates
- EOI opens Tuesday 5 May 2026
- EOI closes Friday 15 May 2026, 6pm
- Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 25 May
- Successful applicants to submit full presentations by Monday 8 June, 6pm
Sharks and Presenters
Sharks
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Stephen Buhmann, MPIA
Associate Director, Urbis
Stephen Buhmann has more than 25 years’ experience in the planning and development sector.
Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degrees in urban planning and business administration. He specialises in strategic and statutory planning, project management, infrastructure planning and policy development.
He advises clients from both the public and private sectors and is an expert in the planning and development processes in Queensland.
Stephen has acted as an expert witness in the Planning and Environment court.
At Urbis, Stephen is the principle planner on projects, providing advice and delivering planning outcomes for master planned communities, mixed-use developments, commercial centres and transport infrastructure project.
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Ruby Stockham
Senior Planner, DSDIP
Ruby is a Senior Planner in the Regional Planning Division within the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning. Over the past three years, she has been a member of the SEQ Regional Plan team, contributing to both the drafting and implementation of the SEQ Regional Plan. Ruby's active involvement in the industry and broader planning community led her to receiving the Female Student Minister’s Planning Award in 2021 and nomination for QLD Young Planner of the Year award in 2024.
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Aydin Soltan
Urban Planning and Science Student, Griffith University
Aydin Soltan is a penultimate student at Griffith University, studying a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Bachelor of Science double degree. He is concurrently working as a Cadet at Bitzios Consulting and taking on sessional teaching roles throughout the University. Aydin is passionate about integrating sustainable transport and urban design outcomes into existing and future cities and is a strong advocate for the next generation of planners.
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Presenters
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Presentation 1: Shrungeri Shrowty and Dorina Pojani
Shrungeri Shrowty
Shrungeri Shrowty is a Master of Urban and Regional
Planning student at The University of Queensland with a background in
architecture and a strong interest in sustainable cities, transport planning,
and community engagement. As an international student and emerging planner, she
brings a diverse perspective to discussions on urban growth, mobility, and
sustainable city-making. Her studies focus on planning theory, urban design,
environmental assessment, and sustainable development, with a passion for
creating more connected, resilient, and inclusive communities. She is excited
to contribute to conversations about Brisbane’s future through the Pitch the
Plan competition
Dorina Pojani
I am an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Since joining the University of Queensland in 2015, my research has focused on the built environment triad: urban design, mobility, and housing - in both the Global North and South. I approach my work from a feminist perspective, considering the role of gender in the city.
My personal and academic journey has been international in nature. I am a native of Albania. Over the years I have held guest teaching and/or research positions in Austria (UWien), Canada (UBC), Chile (PUC), Italy (IUAV), the Netherlands (UvA/TUD), Oman (GUTech), and Vietnam (UTC), and I have provided consultancy services to various United Nations agencies including the UNDP, UNESCAP, and UN Habitat. I speak Italian, Spanish, and French in addition to English and Albanian.
My latest books are Trophy Cities: A Feminist Perspective on New Capitals (Edward Elgar, 2021), Alternative Planning History and Theory (Routledge, 2023), Planning as Political Theatre: Chronicle of Two Megaprojects Foretold (Routledge, 2025), and Early Planning Utopias: A Feminist Critique (Anthem Press, 2025). For five consecutive years (2021-2025), I have been included in the 'Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Researchers' list, and have ranked among the top-ten 'urban and regional planning' researchers in Australia. Alongside my academic research, I also publish broadly in non-academic outlets and regularly give interviews on national and international media. My articles in The Conversation have reached more than 700,000 readers. Prior to joining academia, I worked in urban design and planning in California. My research has been funded by domestic and international granting bodies, including the Australian Research Council. I have attracted more than $1 million in grant funding
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Presentation 2: William Collier
William Collier is Senior Planning Officer with the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works. He and his team facilitate planning approvals for new Social housing development across the state.
Where William grew up, it was easy to be healthy, easy to be social, and easy to be in nature. This drove him toward urbanism and the planning profession, where these simple aspects of a great life come together.
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Presentation 3: Niloofar Dehghani Samani and Stuart Brogan
Niloofar Dehghani Samani
I am a PhD candidate at Griffith University with a
background in urban planning and design. My research focuses on maximising
outcomes for cycling in an Olympic and Paralympic Games city, with a particular
emphasis on Brisbane 2032 and cycling legacy. I am passionate about sustainable
transport and creating more active and connected cities.
Stuart Brogan
Stuart’s experience is extensive having been gained while living and working in a variety of environments throughout Australia, Asia, and the Middle East covering a broad range of project types. His primary role as a master planner and design lead.
Most recently he has been the principal designer, in differing and challenging environments while collaborating with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and clients. His current projects are in the Western Ghats between Mumbai and Pune.
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Presentation 4: Katie Pearce
Katie is an Urban Designer at Urbis and recent Masters
graduate from the University of Queensland. She has both planning and design
experience creating future liveable communities working on the recent Far North
Queensland Regional Plan and various greenfield developments. Katie is
passionate about designing urban environments that encourage its users to
better connect with their community and local environment. She believes that
inclusive, vibrant cities can inspire us to lead healthier and happier lives.
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Presentation 5: Natasha Schwerin
Natasha Schwerin (they/them) is an emerging
environmental scientist in SMEC’s Planning and Approvals team, with experience
in environmental impact assessment, regulatory planning processes, and
community-focused project development. Their practice focuses on delivering
practical, evidence-based solutions that advance long-term sustainability and
meaningful environmental outcomes. Natasha brings a thoughtful, analytical
approach to complex challenges and is driven by a commitment to strengthening
community resilience and supporting systems that balance ecological integrity
with responsible development.
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Thank you to our Partners
Major Partners
Venue Partner
Terms & Conditions
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In all other situations we cannot issue a refund or credit.
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