Dr Mark Bachels, National Place Making Executive, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Australia

A skilled place making executive, Mark has many years experience creating vibrant, livable communities that realise the best of both the natural and built environments.

Before moving to Australia in 2005, he worked in the USA and New Zealand. Mark has successfully led a number of complex city building programs including large scale urban strategies and public transport corridor studies; transit oriented development projects and major urban renewal and transit planning programs. He regularly speaks at national and international conferences and has published widely, including numerous books and articles.

Mark Bassett, Fund Manager ISPT Core Fund and ISPT 50 Lonsdale Street Property Trust, Australia

An experienced fund manager, Mark is responsible for the strategy implementation, investment performance, asset management and developments within the ISPT Core Fund, as well as overseeing the investment management of the ISPT 50 Lonsdale Street Property Trust asset.
 
 

William Chandler, Director, Chandler Consulting Services, Australia

A highly experienced urban design and planning consultant, Bill is the Director of Chandler Consulting Services Pty Ltd. With more than 40 years professional experience, he has worked across Australia, as well as in England and South-East Asia. He has just returned from his eighth overseas study tour, a private initiative to test a best-practice approach to Australian projects. His most recent tour included Shanghai, Venice and the UK – exploring the theme of how to best use urban design to address intensity and diversity in sustainable cities and towns. Bill was co-founder and is ongoing convenor of Urban Design Forum.

Penelope Coombes, Managing Director, The People for Places and Spaces, Australia

An urban change practitioner, Penelope Coombes is Founder and Managing Director of The People for Places and Spaces (PPS), specialising in place activation, place making and sustainability. She has extensive experience in complex and politically sensitive place making projects throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Europe.

Over the last 28 years, Penelope has worked to enhance the quality of life of individuals and groups and to realise the potential of cities, towns, neighbourhoods, parks, streets and cultural and civic centres.

Paul Dartnell, Director of Visitor Experiences and Liveability / Deputy General Manager Parks Division, Parks Victoria, Australia

A well-rounded professional, Paul is responsible for the strategic planning of visitor experiences across Parks Victoria’s 4 million hectare estate and for planning major urban parks in the Melbourne metropolitan area which has 3.5m residents. Before joining Parks Victoria, he worked in a private landscape architecture consultancy; as an economist for the Federal Government in the Department of Defence; as a diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs; and as an International Relations Advisor with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Mary Del Casale, Lead Consultant, Groupwork Institute of Australia

A passionate groupwork and collaborative management specialist, Glen believes in the transformative potential of practical collaborative processes – that are well facilitated. Glen worked for 11 years at the Brotherhood of St Laurence developing and managing a variety of innovative programs. Since that time, Glen has operated as an independent facilitator/consultant. She has consulted broadly with large and small organisations in the public and private sector, plus a wide range of therapeutic and community based groups. Glen has been providing individual and group management coaching in a range of organisations for many years.

Professor Billie Giles-Corti, Director of the Centre for the Built Environment and Health, The University of Western Australia

A leading health promotion researcher in Australia and recognised internationally for her research on built form, Billie collaborates with researchers to study the impact of built environment on health, social and health behavior outcomes including walking, cycling, public transport use, overweight and obesity, social capital and dog walking. She serves on numerous international, national and state committees and boards.

In 2007, she was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award that enabled her spend four months at Stanford University, USA.

Neil McInroy, Chief Executive, Centre for Local Economic Strategies, UK

A geographer who has been involved in public sector policy and delivery for over 20 years, Neil McInroy is experienced in developing partnerships and innovative policy responses to global, regional and local economic, social and environmental challenges. Neil’s particular skills are in local economic and social research, analysis and development; policy practice, research methodologies; facilitation and strategy building.

He regularly works across the UK and is also developing a growing first-hand experience and knowledge of creative economic and social policy in locations around the world.

Jane-Frances Kelly, Cities Program Director, Grattan Institute, Australia

A policy strategist, Jane-Frances Kelly has been Cities Program Director at the Grattan Institute, an independent public policy think tank since 2009. Jane-Frances has worked as a senior adviser to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Boston Consulting Group, the Vice-Chancellor at Melbourne University and the Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Departments. She played a central role in the 2020 Summit and previous to this, worked at the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit.

Ethan Kent, Vice President, Project for Public Spaces

An internationally recognised public space professional, Ethan Kent works to support and connect place making projects, organisations and movements around the world. At PPS, Ethan works to evaluate and photograph public spaces in at least 50 cities and 10 countries every year. He has conducted more than 20 training workshops in Australia and New Zealand.

In New York City, he co-founded a broad-based advocacy campaign and series of demonstration projects that led directly to the radical organisational shift in the NYC Department of Transportation and the creation of the Public Plaza Program that is reclaiming street space for dynamic new public spaces.

Simon Knott, Director, BKK Architects, Australia

Co-founder of BKK Architects, Simon has extensive experience on a broad range of projects for government, institutional, commercial and residential clients. Beyond practice he has tutored design classes and technology subjects at RMIT University; is the co-host of a weekly architectural program, ‘The Architects’ for radio station 3RRR; and is an active RAIA contributor.

Simon has spent considerable time acquiring skills and knowledge in the area of environmental sustainable design. He is also a very vocal advocate for raising the public awareness of good design through his media work, numerous publications, lectures and exhibitions.

Kylie Legge, Director, Place Partners

Kylie Legge is a professional place maker. Trained as an architect and planner, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the complex task of place making. Kylie has led place making projects across Australia and in the Middle East including the Dubai Creekfront, Perth Waterfront, and Newcastle City Centre Revitalisation.

She is an experienced facilitator having conducted many place making training sessions and place making workshops for government, community and business. Her passion is sharing the value of ‘place’, the unique essence of a location that gives it an authentic point of difference, and building the relationship between people and their environments through a fuller understanding of their physical, intellectual and spiritual needs.

Dr Kathy Meney, Director of and Principal Scientist for Syrinx Environmental PL

An internationally renowned ecologist and sustainability expert, Kathy Meney has extensive experience in restoration ecology, environmental remediation, environmentally sustainable design, conservation science and ecological engineering. She is known for integrating scientific disciplines with strategic thinking to generate sustainable, appropriate and innovative solutions. Kathy has been active in developing sustainability benchmarks, particularly in the mining industry and more recently in urban developments. She is currently working with clients to produce vision documents and sustainable strategies and undertaking innovative designs for integrating water management and sustainable ecosystem principles into urban, river waterfront, mining and regional townships settings.

Glen Ochre, Founding Director of Groupwork Institute of Australia

A passionate groupwork and collaborative management specialist, Glen believes in the transformative potential of practical collaborative processes – that are well facilitated. Glen worked for 11 years at the Brotherhood of St Laurence developing and managing a variety of innovative programs.

Since that time, Glen has operated as an independent facilitator/consultant. She has consulted broadly with large and small organisations in the public and private sector, plus a wide range of therapeutic and community based groups. Glen has been providing individual and group management coaching in a range of organisations for many years.

Roger William Poole, Chairman, Bates Smart, Australia

One of Australia’s most effective urban and architectural designers, Roger is a strong strategic and conceptual architect, committed to an innovative and enduring approach to architecture.

He works to create innovative buildings which reflect the needs and dynamics of contemporary urban life. Roger is a member of the Executive Board of the Committee for Melbourne and Co-Chair of the Shaping Melbourne Task Force, which is addressing the governance, density and infrastructure issues arising from Melbourne’s growth beyond 5 million people. Roger has a strong focus on strategic leadership and the creation of collaborative teams empowered to achieve outstanding results.

Michael Spartalis, Architect, HASSELL, Australia

An experienced architect, Michael Spartalis has nine years experience in education, commercial and residential projects. His approach to architecture aims to produce urban places that deliver best practice outcomes for his clients, while also embodying place-specific sustainability to the surrounding environment and community.

Michael is also actively involved in student mentorship, pro-bono work and facilitating projects, public forums and workshops relating to good place making in Perth.

Dr Janet Stanley, Chief Research Officer, Monash Sustainability Institute

An accomplished researcher, Janet Stanley facilitates research to promote social and environmental sustainability in the areas of climate change, water, energy, biodiversity and transport. Janet’s current research interests are in relation to social policy, transport, equity and policy on climate change, bushfire arson, social exclusion, social capital and community development and project evaluation.

She is on the Ministerial Advisory Council for Minister Gavin Jennings (Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Innovation) in Victoria. Janet has published in many academically reviewed publications, as well as speaking widely in Australia and internationally.

Gary Topp, Manager of Sustainability, Knox City Council, Australia

A regular participant, project leader and policy advocate in regeneration projects, as well as an originator and deliverer of numerous high profile place making and regeneration projects, Gary enjoyed a career at the forefront of the UK regeneration industry before moving to Melbourne in 2009.

He has managed a wide range of arts and heritage services overseas as well as holding a position as Head of Service at the UK Arts Council. Gary was at the forefront of the ‘culture-led’ regeneration movement and the UK policy and practice concerning creative industries.

Michael Tudball, Director, School & Community Partnerships, Department of Planning & Community Development (DPCD)

A dedicated strategist, business planner and community engagement specialist, Michael Tudball is currently working with Local Government, State Government, private developers, businesses and local community in the planning, implementation and ongoing sustainability of school and community infrastructure and services into growth areas of Melbourne. Michael has held this and similar positions with State Government since 2005 and prior to this appointment held Directorships in various businesses.

Michael has a keen interest in his local community and also the transferability of models and success stories into new and emerging communities.

Professor William Young, Chair of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia

A distinguished professional and academic, William has worked at Monash University for 36 years and prior to joining Monash, in the transport industry in England, Germany and throughout Australia for four years.

William has wide-ranging interests and has researched, consulted and published widely in the land-use/transport/environment interaction, parking, engineering management and education areas. He has worked on several international research projects with teams from Sweden, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, Germany and Indonesia, and was an Associate Editor of the International Journal Transportation for 12 years.