VIC Division Committee

Patrick Fensham MPIA (Fellow) | President

SGS Economics and Planning

Pat specialises in metropolitan and strategic planning, infrastructure planning and funding analysis, cultural development, regional and community economic development, development feasibility analysis and facilities audits and planning.

Jane Keddie MPIA | Vice President

Hansen Partnership

Growing up with an architect working in urban design, Jane always had an interest in the built environment. However, it wasn’t until she returned to uni (after many years of travel) to study sustainable land management that she recognised the power and potential of the discipline of planning in delivering better outcomes. Jane hasn’t regretted her choice of planning for one day – the variety, fluidity and importance of the work we can do as planners still inspires her.

Kim Marriott MPIA | Vice President

Whitehorse City Council

Kim reflects that becoming a planner was the result of a suite of early influences in her life. Her mum had studied architecture and geography, then became a librarian, meaning she had exposure to lots of books on architecture, design, and the environment. Kim also had an intrinsic passion for the environment, which led to a love of geography. Her upbringing gave her a strong desire to contribute to the community, so, when looking at uni courses, just post-recession (and Victorian council amalgamations), planning was obvious – a likely job and working in a field she loved.

Matthew Buckmaster RPIA

Niche Studio

Matthew is a qualified Urban and Regional Planner with over 20 years experience in a wide range of planning and development roles in government and the private sector across Victoria.
After more than a decade working local government, Matthew established his own planning firm, and four years later joined the team at Niche Studio as Associate Director.
Matthew is experienced in motivating teams and providing mentoring to colleagues to improve their capabilities to drive positive outcomes. He believes that excellent communication, emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, and his ability to deal professionally with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, are some of his greatest strengths.
An experienced advocate at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Matthew has represented both Council and permit applicants in a variety of land use and development applications, ranging from residential developments to rural and commercial proposals.

Louie Chen MPIA

City of Casey

Louie is a dedicated urban planner interested in pushing the boundaries of the industry, developing genuine partnerships and collaboration with industry and advocating for policy changes to assist in delivering high-quality, liveable urban communities. Louie is also highly committed to uplifting the future leaders of the industry and strongly believes that there are great opportunities to harness the passion and forward-thinking of emerging planners whilst utilising the growing technology available to inform better decision making and more efficient planning processes.

Daniel Herrmann MPIA

Suburban Rail Loop Authority 

 

Daniel is a well-rounded town planning professional with over 10 years experience. Daniel's experience spans statutory planning, planning scheme amendments, due diligence, ResCode, strategic planning, infrastructure and environmental approvals, master planning, landscape design, urban design and project management.

Jane Homewood MPIA

Strategic Outcomes Consulting 

As a recognised public sector Executive Leader, Jane has extensive experience working across complex, multijurisdictional organisations at significant scale and across federal, state, and local government spheres, specialising in housing, urban and regional development and delivering major complex projects. Jane thrives building great people centred organisations. As a champion of gender equality, Jane transforms organisations so that they are inclusive and develop effective partnerships with clients, stakeholders and partners.
Jane was recognised among Victoria's Top 50 Public Sector Women (2022), for outstanding leadership in delivering $4.26B in fast-tracked planning approvals creating nearly 18,000 jobs and led the national $9.2B housing initiative at Housing Australia, delivering 13,700+ social and affordable homes across Australia, demonstrating ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs.

Eric Keys MPIA

Director at Eric Keys & Associates and Researcher at RMIT

 

Eric has over thirty years of experience in transport planning, operations, and project delivery. He is motivated to work with those seeking to create effective and efficient transportation systems in the pursuit of sustainable cities. He has held senior roles with the government, operators, and consultancies. In his professional career, he was focused on leading and implementing change, including developing major projects and reforming processes and policies. He is best known for his work in strategic planning, having supported many major planning studies, including integrated development plans and significant transport studies. As a consultant, he has worked extensively throughout Australia and internationally. Eric recently completed a PhD examining planning practice. The thesis provides an ethnographic account of the decisions that shape planning outcomes and the roles played by human and non-human actors in this process. The research builds upon the emerging field of relational planning. Since retiring from full-time employment, his focus has switched to advocacy. He works on selected campaigns that offer the potential for strategic change in areas traditionally too politically fraught to be addressed through the usual mechanisms of public policy-making.

Scott Matheson MPIA

MyLot

An experienced and awarded planner, Scott’s background includes local and State Government, and private practice. He’s passionate about making planners’ jobs more enjoyable and rewarding.
Scott leads and supervises myLot's customer success, policy development and technical review services. Scott's industry knowledge, leadership experience and passion for better outcomes drives best practice for myLot's customers across Australia.

James Mant MPIA

StreetCo - Urban planning, walkable urbanism

James is an urbanist and town planner with 25 years' experience. He is one of the world's leaders in walkable urbanism, having led development of Victoria's renowned, award winning 20-minute neighbourhood policy, a globally acclaimed initiative shaping planning policies worldwide. He has also led a range of policies and projects for government, including Future Homes, which strives to create well-designed, sustainable medium density development.

Philip Paton MPIA

Beveridge Williams

Philip is a seasoned Town Planner with over 26 years’ experience, holding a degree in Environmental Planning and a postgraduate qualification in Town and Country Planning.

His career spans private and government sectors, where he integrated planning expertise with project management, business improvement, and change management to deliver successful projects and foster organisational development.

Kiran Shinde MPIA

LaTrobe University

Dr. Kiran Shinde taught in the planning program at La Trobe University and led the delivery of professional degrees in Planning (undergraduate and postgraduate). He combines research training of an academic and professional practice of a planner with vast experience in planning sectors across India and Australia.

Scott Spargo MPIA

Yarra Ranges Council

The constant challenge to deliver great places and support communities is where Scott's passion lies. Whether it be rural, growth or established areas, everyone deserves the opportunity to love the place where they live. Scott's work practice is based on the intersection of place (the physical environment), people (the users of this space) and policy (the statutory framework). For Scott, understanding these P's is the foundation for fostering strong relationships and delivering holistic outcomes.

Michelle Wang MPIA

Department of Transport and Planning

Michelle is an urban planner who gets excited about innovation and bringing people together. With nearly 10 years’ experience in local government and private consultancy as a statutory and strategic planner, Michelle has a well-rounded understanding of the Victorian Planning System across urban, regional, and growth area planning issues. Michelle advocates for and champions PlanTech and the possibilities of digital planning.

Laura Murray RPIA | National Board Director

URPS

Laura is an influential industry leader and nationally recognised urban growth and renewal expert with significant advisory experience in the public and private sectors. She is a specialist with strategic and statutory capabilities providing guidance at the highest levels of government for urban decision making and has presented at multiple conferences on important development topics. Influence has included national representation at city transformation and urban design focussed Government round tables for national policy development, including on behalf of PIA.

Catherine Sherwin MPIA (Fellow) | Women's Planning Network Convenor

Department of Transport and Planning

Catherine is WPN Convenor and Co-Chair of the UN Women Melbourne Chapter. Catherine is passionate about promoting gender equality. She has extensive urban planning experience in local government, private consultancy and recently commenced with DPT.

Hugh McIntyre MPIA | Victorian Emerging Planners Convenor

Zesty Planning

Hugh is the Convenor of the VEP Committee, excited to engage emerging planners with the industry and bring them to the table in discussions on state and national policy. Beyond PIA, Hugh founded Zesty Planning in 2024 which provides town planning services to private and government clients.