Explore the outstanding women who have taken home their respective State or Territory’s Women in Planning Awards in previous years.
No content found
With nearly two decades of experience in the urban development industry spanning both planning and law, Emily has made a profound and enduring impact on South Australia’s planning landscape through her work, advocacy and commitment to shaping a more inclusive profession. A powerful role model and mentor within both Future Urban and the broader planning community, she actively mentors junior staff, offers guidance and encourages collaborative practice. Emily was also instrumental in supporting the rollout of the award-winning “Build a Planner” program which was piloted in the Wattle Range region, another example of Emily’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of planners through structured, impactful engagement. Her influence in shaping future planners extends to her involvement with the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning at Flinders University. Emily’s genuine passion for the profession is matched by her proactive advocacy, sharing her expertise in ways that have helped elevate the profile of urban and regional planning and inspire future practitioners. Her ability to bridge professional practice and education with such impact is a testament to her influence and deep commitment to the field. Emily has also played a vital role as mentor to students, offering practical career advice and highlighting the value of starting out in local government. She consistently emphasises the diversity, dynamism, and social impact of planning as a career, helping to shape confident, future-ready graduates who understand the breadth of possibilities in the industry. Beyond her technical expertise, she is a natural leader in the industry. She is a supportive and approachable role model for young women in the industry, and she is always willing to share her knowledge for the benefit of others. Emily offers a genuine commitment to both clients, projects and the industry alike. Her work consistently reflects a deep respect for both people and place. Emily’s career is defined by her commitment to better planning outcomes, strong governance and community engagement partnered with a desire to create a more accessible and inclusive industry. Her genuine contribution to South Australia’s planning sector, her leadership both within and outside her organisation and her dedication to mentoring others make her a highly deserving nominee for the Outstanding Women in Planning Award.
As a highly respected Planning practitioner with over 20 years in urban planning, Zoë Garnaut has delivered sustained impact across South Australia’s strategic and statutory planning sphere. Zoë has directly contributed to the South Australian planning profession through education, governance leadership, and standards-setting roles that connect industry, academia and statutory practice. As Chair of UniSA’s Urban & Regional Planning Programs Advisory Committee Zoe provided feedback on program structure and content, creating a bridge between university and industry ensuring South Australian graduates were practice-ready and that academic inquiry addressed real-world planning challenges. Drawing on her years in local-government and extensive private-sector experience, she regularly provides mentoring to others (both formally and informally) on career opportunities, communication strategies, skills development and networking. Through these platforms—education, governance, engagement, accreditation and leadership, Zoe has and continues to meaningfully elevate planning capacity and culture across South Australia. Through visible leadership in education, governance and statutory decision-making, Zoë Garnaut actively creates pathways where women can see themselves, participate confidently and progress. Zoë also models women’s leadership at Ekistics, and in statutory forums as an Independent Member on council assessment panels. Representation in these decision-making settings matters: it normalises women’s authority in interpreting policy, negotiating outcomes, and making balanced determinations—signalling to emerging planners that ‘if I can see it, I can do it.’
View all the day's photos HERE.
The Judging Team this year had a difficult time with the excellent standard of nominees. However, one nominee especially shone, and they were delighted to bestow the 2025 Award to Anna Deller-Coombs for her outstanding efforts for the role of women in her workplace, URPS, and also PIRSA, creating lasting change for women within that organisation. Anna has also done exemplary volunteer work for PIA and has set an outstanding example to women with her leadership in the field.