WA Emerging Planners Committee  

Joyce Chung PIA (Assoc.)  Emerging Planners Convenor

Niche Planning Studio

Joyce is a passionate urban planner and always keen to embrace new experiences. After moving from Melbourne to Perth, Joyce has immersed herself in all that WA has to offer while building her career in planning. With 5 years of experience across consultancy and State Government, she is IAP2 qualified and brings a strong focus on community and stakeholder engagement.

Building on her involvement with the PIA VIC Emerging Planners, Joyce is excited to co-convene the WA Emerging Planners committee, supporting the future generation of planners to connect and build their own foundations in the industry.

Aiko Syafari PIA (Assoc.)  Emerging Planners Co convenor

Development WA

Aiko Syafari is a fourth-year Urban Planning student at Curtin University and currently serves as a Planning Officer at DevelopmentWA. With a strong passion for placemaking and creating connected, sustainable communities, Aiko brings a unique perspective shaped by her Indonesian heritage and upbringing in regional Kalgoorlie. This dual lens enhances her approach to planning urban spaces and community development.

Aiko has demonstrated leadership within the planning profession, serving as the 2025 Events Lead for the WA Emerging Planners Committee and continuing her contribution as Co-Convenor in 2026. Her commitment reflects a dedication to advancing the profession and fostering collaboration among emerging planners.

Srinivas Nanjangud Balachandra MPIA  

City of Stirling

Srinivas Nanjangud Balachandra (Sri) is a Senior Strategic Planning Officer at the City of Stirling, bringing expertise in statutory planning, heritage assessments, and strategic land‑use planning. Sri holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Construction Technology and Management from India, providing a multidisciplinary foundation for his work.

Sri developed much of his planning capability at the Town of Port Hedland, one of Western Australia’s fastest‑growing resource regions. As Senior Urban Planner, he managed complex statutory assessments, scheme amendments, and structure plan review, while coordinating with state agencies and guiding development outcomes across industrial, commercial, infrastructure, and residential projects.

At Stirling, Sri contributes to long‑term planning, policy development, and process improvement, applying strong problem‑solving and engagement skills to balance strategic priorities with legislative requirements and deliver sustainable outcomes for diverse communities.

Ravi Mahato PIA (Assoc.)

 

Reyna Leaw Youn PIA (Assoc.)

City of Canning

📱 Social media lead for the 2026 committee

🎓 Master of Urban & Regional Planning student at Curtin

🌿 Advocate for inclusivity, housing needs and sustainable development

🏙️ On a quest to weave together the past, present, and future of this land into the "city experience" through technology, empathy, ux and aesthetics

Lena Jaetschmann PIA (Assoc.)

Rowe Group

Cities are constantly evolving, shaped by the people who live in them and the developers and planners who help bring ideas to life. My passion for planning roots in a deep curiosity about how places function, how communities connect, and how we can create spaces that truly feel like home for everyone.

My personal journey has taken me across cultures and planning systems to Perth, where I hope to engage and share my experiences with the local planning community. With a Geography degree from Germany and previous experience from Ireland, I aim to bring creativity and fresh ideas to the field. As a member of the Emerging Planners Committee, I am excited to contribute to meaningful discussions, support fellow emerging professionals, and help shape the future of planning in Western Australia.

Tim Gates PIA (Assoc.)

Curtin Student

Giselle Sarmadi PIA (Assoc.)

Niche Planning Studio

Maria Raras PIA (Assoc.)

Curtin Student

Oliver Ford MPIA

Hatch

Oliver is an urban planner at Hatch EP&P, dedicated to promoting the planning profession and shaping communities that are inclusive, resilient, and reflective of diverse needs. With prior practice in local government, Oliver has experience in statutory planning processes and strategic land use planning, coordinating stakeholder input and community feedback to achieve mediated development outcomes.

As a member of the Emerging Planners Committee, Oliver wishes to promote the planning profession by supporting emerging professionals, contributing to meaningful discussions, and encouraging diverse perspectives. He advocates for the profession’s important role in addressing Australia’s housing needs, while ensuring we create better places and liveable cities for all

 

 

Angela Shaw PIA (Assoc.)

City of Swan

With a background in planning, geography and political science, Angela has an interest in sustainable development and creating enjoyable spaces for our community. They are excited to contribute to a planning community that advocates for a range of diverse voices within planning conversations.

Florent Combe PIA (Assoc.)

City of Swan

With international and national experience in urban planning, Florent is passionate about medium to high-density walkable precincts where people can live, work and recreate. Florent also has an interest in the interaction between economics, urban planning, and development financial viability.

Eamon Ryan PIA (Assoc.)

Rowe Group

Alyssa Read  PIA (Assoc.)

Rowe Group

Pham Nguyen PIA (Assoc.)

Urbanista Town Planning

Pham is currently studying a Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning at Curtin University, with a strong interest in shaping inclusive, sustainable, and well-designed communities. Alongside academic studies, Pham is working at Urbanista Town Planning, gaining practical experience in the planning profession and developing a deeper understanding of the built environment in real-world contexts. She is passionate about making a positive contribution to the built environment, with a focus on planning outcomes that enhance community wellbeing and long-term sustainability. Highly motivated and eager to learn, Pham values opportunities to gain knowledge and insights from committee members and industry professionals.

Sophie Trinh PIA (Assoc.)

Curtin University

Ali Asad  PIA (Assoc.)

City of Melville

 

Coming from a legal background but wanting to make a positive and tangible difference within communities, Ali is currently progressing through the Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University while working as an Assistant Statutory Planner. Creating outcomes for the greater good of communities is a personal motivator for Ali and he is excited to achieve it through the statutory and strategic realms of planning.

Sonam Dorji  PIA (Assoc.)

Committee member

Sonam is a Graduate Urban Planner with international experience in urban planning and development. He holds postgraduate qualifications in Environment and Climate Change, bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to planning.

Passionate about Net Zero and sustainability, he is dedicated to creating climate-resilient cities that balance urban growth with environmental stewardship. His work focuses on integrating ecological principles into urban planning to foster communities that are adaptive, inclusive, and carbon free.

With a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience, Sonam aims to contribute to projects that drive innovative solutions for sustainable urban living and carbon free communities. He is excited to join the Emerging Planners Committee and contribute fresh perspectives, energy and forward-thinking ideas.