Our Board

The Planning Institute of Australia has a rich history from its founding as the Royal Australian Planning Institute in 1951.
Known as the Planning Institute of Australia since 2002, we became a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2011.
Across nearly 72 years since establishment, we have been led by a succession of distinguished National Presidents.

View past National Presidents

Emma Riley RPIA (Fellow)

Position: President

Location: National

Emma Riley RPIA (Fellow)


Wendy Evans MPIA (Fellow)

Position: Vice-President

Location: QLD

Wendy Evans MPIA (Fellow)


Rukshan de Silva RPIA

Position: Vice-President

Location: NSW

Rukshan de Silva RPIA


Stephen Smith RPIA (Fellow)

Position: Vice-President

Location: SA

Stephen Smith RPIA (Fellow)


Sandra Hogue RPIA (Fellow)

Position: Director

Location: TAS

Sandra Hogue RPIA (Fellow)


Peter Johns MPIA

Position: Director

Location: ACT

 Peter Johns MPIA


Laura Murray RPIA

Position: Director

Location: VIC

Laura Murray RPIA

Phillida Rodic RPIA (Fellow)

Position: Director

Location: WA

Phillida Rodic RPIA (Fellow)


Catriona Tatam MPIA

Position: Director

Location: NT

Catriona Tatam MPIA


Amy Wilkins MPIA

Position: Emerging Planner Director

Location: National

Amy Wilkins PIA (Assoc.)


Matt Collins MPIA

Position: Company Secretary

Location: National

 Matt Collins MPIA

Past National Presidents

  • 1951-1953 Prof. Dennis Winston
  • 1953-1954 Harold Learnard Egerton Tranter
  • 1954-1956 Br. William Charles Douglas Veale
  • 1956-1958 Br. William Garnsworthy Bennett
  • 1958-1960 Maurice Charles Edwards
  • 1960-1962 Allen Allworthy Heath
  • 1962-1964 Phillip Foster Pearce
  • 1964-1966 Gavin Walkley
  • 1966-1967 Henry John Sperry Wardlaw
  • 1967-1968 Bruce James Opie
  • 1968-1970 John Berkeley Fizhardinge
  • 1970-1972 Prof. Fredrick William Ledgar
  • 1972-1974 Prof. Lewis Bingham Keeble
  • 1974-1976 Alan Egerton Welbourn
  • 1976-1978 David Allan Briggs
  • 1978-1980 David William Hain
  • 1980-1982 Malcolm Clark
  • 1982-1984 Max Rodney Hardman
  • 1984-1985 John Leslie Thomas Butler
  • 1985-1987 Stephen Charles Hains MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1988-1989 Michael John Stafford Collie RPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1989-1991 Gary Allen Shiels AM RPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1991-1993 Peter David Webb MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1993-1995 Rob Milner MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1995-1997 Sandy Vigar RPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1997-1999 Barrie Melotte MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 1999-2001 Barbara Norman MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 2001-2003 John McInerney MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 2003-2005 Marcus Spiller MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 2005-2007 Sue Holliday MPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 2007-2011 Neil Savery RPIA (Fellow)
  • 2011-2014 Dyan Currie AM RPIA (Life Fellow)
  • 2014-2018 Brendan Nelson RPIA (Fellow)
  • 2018-2020 Steve O’Connor RPIA (Fellow)
  • 2020-2024 Darren Crombie RPIA (Fellow)