Event Outline   

All projects, initiatives and policy that we engage with as built environment professionals, is work that we do on and with Country. We leave our imprint through the decisions we make, the processes we adopt and the voices we engage with.

The paradigm of western planners and designers in relation to place has traditionally assumed a hierarchy of human activity and economy, over land, culture, and environment. When we consciously plan and design with country, we align all systems and facilitate environmental sustainability and cultural connection.

Join two of Australia’s leading practitioners for this Planning with Country Masterclass to build your capacity to work more effectively with Indigenous communities and integrate cultural narratives and First Nations strategies into your design and planning work. Together we will explore the concept of connection to Country and how it impacts our approach as built environment professionals and place makers in Australia in 2026.

Join us for courageous planning and design conversations covering the following topics:

• How do we respect and integrate Indigenous knowledge, stories, and narratives in our approach?
• How do we respectfully and effectively engage and collaborate?
• What are the opportunities for a Country-centred approach to support enhanced planning and design outcomes?
• What is the legacy we leave through design, planning and construction?

Designed For

This masterclass is designed for:
• Urban Planners 
• Urban Designers 
• Sustainability Consultants 
• Environmental Consultants 
• Heritage Consultants 
• Infrastructure Planners 
• Project Directors 
• Project Managers 
• Architects 
• Building Designers 
• Engineers 
• Open Space Planners 
• Landscape Architects 
• Developers 
• Local Government Policy Maker 
• Infrastructure Policy Makers 

Learning Outcome:

In this masterclass, participants will:

• Develop an understanding of an Indigenous Australian approach to place.
• Explore the opportunities of  inter-cultural planning and design.
• Build capacity to work collaboratively with Indigenous colleagues and communities.
• Ability to apply culturally informed strategies to place-based projects.
• Apply frameworks for planning and designing with Country to policy and projects at different scales.
• Grow courage to navigate the process of personal and professional change.
• Welcome the future of unique Australian architecture and design

Registrations close 21 July 2026.

Presenters:

Michelle Howard MPIA (Fellow) - Managing Director, Collaborations Michelle is an internationally accredited facilitator and strategic planner, with a background in cultural, urban and social planning in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.As Managing Director of Collaborations, Michelle is renowned for her inclusive and practical approach to working with groups and inter-disciplinary teams. She has over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, urban renewal, housing diversity, open space, infrastructure planning and public policy. This breadth of experience includes working with community constituencies, technical experts peak organisations, elected representatives and policy makers to support informed decision making and effective change management.  Michelle is a founding member of the PIA Planning with Country Knowledge Circle and hosts the Allies Community of Practice Yarns nationally. She has developed and implemented training and professional development programs in Australia and internationally, including her work with Dunghutti colleague Carol Vale supporting Two Way Planning and Design.

Carol Vale - CEO Murawin Pty Ltd Carol Vale is a Dunghutti woman from NSW with extensive experience in public policy and a career spanning  over 35 years across a range of portfolio areas including Aboriginal affairs, education, housing, family, and community services. Since resigning from government in 2013, Carol founded Murawin, where she is committed to creating impact, enhancing leadership, management capabilities and cultural competencies in her clients. She has supported her clients in the planning, infrastructure and development arena to assist with the integration of Country into projects. She has an in-depth appreciation of the challenges and opportunities for those in leadership roles in walking between two worlds, and experience in major Government infrastructure and planning projects.

Terms & Conditions

Registrations cancelled more than 14 days prior to the event date will not incur any fees and a full refund will be granted.

If you cannot attend and you are within 14 days of the event date, you can transfer your ticket to another person.

In all other situations we cannot issue a refund or credit.

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