QLD Emerging Planners Committee

Emma Reardon MPIA | Emerging Planners Co-Convenor

Tract Consultants

With Tract since 2019, Emma is a Senior Town Planner with proficient capabilities across a broad range of sectors, including residential, community, commercial and industrial developments.

In her work, Emma has a strong interest in the value of consultation to add variety, integrity and ownership in planning outcomes and projects. Emma strongly believes and advocates for the importance of planning for all and is passionate about including and empowering community in the planning process through communication and education.

As member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the 2026 QEP Co-Convenor, Emma enjoys contributing to the industry through her involvement in the institute and the QEP Committee. Particularly, Emma is passionate about the importance of supporting a strong emerging planner network and community in Queensland.

Felix Wong MPIA | Emerging Planners Co-Convenor

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Felix Wong is a planner in the Planning Group of Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning . Since commencing his professional planning career, Felix has developed a sound understanding of the Queensland Planning system with experiences in development assessment, planning policy and case management of proceedings filed under the Planning and Environment Court.

Felix is passionate about the Queensland planning community and aim to contribute and support the community to connect, learn and evolve to support the future of Queensland.

Meg Luton MPIA | Industry Lead

Therefor Group

Meg is a driven Town Planner who has recently joined Therefor Group. She graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in July 2022 with First Class Honours in a Bachelor of Urban Development (Honours) (Urban and Regional Planning).

Over the past five years and prior to joining Therefor Group, Meg has gained invaluable private sector experience, allowing her to develop a detailed understanding of state and local legislative planning frameworks. Meg has supported and managed an array of projects across Queensland and New South Wales, and she now primarily practices statutory planning in Queensland.

Meg is also the Industry Lead in Queensland Emerging Planners 2026. She is very passionate about the emerging planner community and strives to foster an equal and supportive environment for emerging planners to develop confidence and form lasting connections in the wider built environment profession.

Isabella Steffen PIA (Assoc.) | Student Lead

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

In 2025, Bella graduated from QUT with her Bachelor of Urban Development (Urban and Regional Planning) (Honours). She is currently a Project Officer at the Office of the Coordinator-General within the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning. In this role she works in planning services, learning skills in the development application and approvals process within the governments State Development Areas (SDA's), unlocking regional development for hard to locate uses. Previously during her studies, Bella worked at the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority as a Community Engagement in the Strategic Communications and Engagement team. In this role she engaged with various members of the public to educate them about the benefits of a major public transport infrastructure project. 

At university, Bella was heavily involved with the QUT Planning Students Association (QUTPSA), holding the position of President in 2025. She is passionate about advocating for students entering their careers and their transition from life studying. In her new position as Student Lead in 2026, she is excited to continue her advocacy for students, in understanding the many different pathways planning has to offer. 

Redmond Li MPIA | Mentoring Lead

Department of Education

Redmond Li is currently a planner within the Queensland Government. He has experience in both strategic and statutory planning across the public and private sectors, with a particular focus on development assessment and infrastructure planning. He has previously worked as a town planning consultant at Bespoke P&D, contributing to a diverse range of projects across varying scales and contexts.

Lara Layton PIA (Assoc.) | Social Media & Marketing

Brisbane City Council

Lara holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Environments from the University of Sydney and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Queensland, graduating in June 2026. She brings experience from both private and public sectors and is currently working as a Student Planner within Brisbane City Council’s Urban Renewal Brisbane branch. In this role, she has contributed to major inner-city strategic planning projects, including the Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan.  

As an emerging planner, Lara is passionate about creating a built environment that is inclusive, accessible, and safe for all. Her professional interests and experience span strategic planning, development services, community engagement and urban design. In her role as the 2026 QEP Social Media & Marketing  Lead, Lara aims to promote an inclusive and innovative space that encourages collaboration, creativity, and professional development for emerging planners.

Louise Wilson PIA (Assoc.) | Social Media & Marketing

PSA Consulting

Louise Wilson is a final-year urban planning student at Griffith University and has experience in local government at Redland City Council and private sector at PSA Consulting. Louise brings passion into the planning industry with a special interest in transport planning. Growing up in Brisbane her whole life, she has seen what it is like to live in a car dependant city. She hopes that within the future, we will see a world where transportation is more equitable and sustainable for everybody. 

Throughout university, Louise has seen the value in networking and attending events. It is her hope being part of the emerging planner committee to bring new life into networking and getting more emerging planners involved in industry. 

Rodney Hung PIA (Assoc.) | Social Media & Marketing

Logan City Council

Rodney is a fourth-year student studying a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (Honours) at the University of Queensland. As a Student Planning Officer working at Logan City Council, Rodney has gained the exposure in Domestic Assessment. 

Rodney is also passionate about climate resilience as an emerging planner and he is keen to apply the concept into planning practice. He is currently working on a Honours project analysing the climate-resilient infrastructure for mega events. 

Tom Kennedy PIA (Assoc.)

Therefor Group

Tom Kennedy is a Planner at Therefor Group and graduated from the University of Queensland in 2025 with First Class Honours in a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (Hons).  

As an emerging young planner, Tom is particularly passionate about unlocking opportunities for affordable housing, changing community perceptions of development and bringing more students into the profession. In his three years working at Therefor Group, Tom has contributed significantly to industry and advocacy, through a leading involvement in the ‘Yes in Faith’s Backyard’ reforms, and various large affordable housing projects and residential developments.

Tom takes a values-based approach to planning, that is intentional and collaborative, and seeks to bring this approach to his work and the Committee so that emerging planners have a platform and that their voices are heard.

Callym Dunleavy PIA (Assoc.)

Water Technology

Callym is an Urban and Environmental Planner with a passion for delivering sustainable development outcomes. Having recently graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning, Callym is currently completing a PhD and publishing research focused on integrating spatial planning with water management. While working full-time at Water Technology, Callym has experience across a diverse range of projects, including coastal management, flood mitigation, strategic land-use planning, disaster response, environmental approvals, and development applications. Callym’s interests lie in exploring innovative approaches to adaptation, water-sensitive planning, water literacy, environmental planning, and climate change.

Karan Rao Padbidri MPIA

Urbis

Karan is a Consultant Planner at Urbis with experience across government and private sector planning. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor Architecture, having previously worked as a Senior Planner in the Queensland Government and an Urban Planner at Brisbane City Council. His expertise spans strategic and statutory planning, with a focus on development assessment, policy formulation, and master planning across Queensland. He has contributed to major city-shaping projects, including the City Centre Master Plan and the Kurilpa Precinct Plan.

Karan is passionate about creating sustainable, people-focused cities and thrives on tackling complex urban challenges. He values collaboration, clear communication, and innovative problem-solving to drive positive planning outcomes. Dedicated to strengthening the profession, he actively supports emerging planners through mentorship and advocacy, fostering knowledge-sharing and professional growth. He is committed to building a more inclusive and connected planning community, ensuring early-career professionals are well-equipped to navigate the industry.

Kylie Tan PIA (Assoc.)

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Kylie is a final year Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) student at the University of Queensland, and concurrently working as a Student Planner with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning in the Ministerial Infrastructure Designations team. 

Growing up in the outer west suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand, Kylie has developed a strong appreciation for the importance of delivering inclusive cities that respond to the diverse needs of our communities. This interest has inspired her honours thesis, which explores how political affiliation affects the NIMBYism culture in Queensland. 

Kylie is excited to contribute to the Queensland Emerging Planners Committee, where she looks forward to learning and growing together with experienced planners and inspiring young students to pursue careers in the planning profession. With over two years of experience in the UQ Planning Society as secretary, Kylie is excited to continue contributing to the planning community in another capacity.

Katrina Christensen MPIA 

Katrina brings a range of Development Assessment and Strategic planning experience from both private and public sectors in South East Queensland.

Her expertise with development applications spans a wide range of developments from master planned communities to shopping centres and intensive animal industry to renewable energy developments. She has prepared policy responses, master planning projects and a range of strategic projects including her contribution in drafting a new planning scheme.

She is passionate and advocates for achieving high-quality planning outcomes that enhance lifestyle opportunities across our cities and regions. This drives her strong interest in the legislative framework and statutory requirements that underpin the planning system and shape the outcomes achieved within the industry.

Lauren Hall PIA (Assoc.)

The University of Queensland (Student)

Lauren is a fourth-year planning student at the University of Queensland, and currently has an internship at the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning. In her last year of her degree, she is completing an honours thesis on informal housing in South East Queensland, as she is particularly passionate about housing affordability.

As an older university student but a younger planning professional, Lauren hopes to both learn from experienced planners and encourage younger students through the Queensland Emerging Planners Committee. She is excited to begin her career alongside other emerging planners. 

Jared Muller PIA (Assoc.)

Planning Initiatives

Jared Muller is a recent graduate of Urban and Environmental Planning from Griffith University (Nathan campus). His academic journey was both challenging and rewarding, beginning with balancing full-time study alongside employment in a wholesale warehouse during the pandemic. This period helped develop a strong work ethic and resilience, which later evolved into a focused pursuit of professional planning experiences and a growing interest in sustainable, climate-responsive urban outcomes.

In his third year of study, Jared further strengthened his commitment to the Town Planning profession through an internship with Brisbane City Council, followed by part-time employment with the private planning consultancy Planning Initiatives. These roles provided valuable exposure to both public and private sector planning and strengthened his understanding of the responsibilities and expectations of planning practitioners.

Through a combination of academic study and practical industry experience, Jared confirmed his passion for planning as a long-term career pathway. While he maintains a strong interest in sustainability, resilience, and environmentally responsible urban development, he has not yet confined himself to a single specialisation. he does not limit himself to a single specialisation and is motivated to pursue a broad range of opportunities that best support his professional development and enable him to contribute meaningfully as a Planner.