YPConnect08 - The National Young Planners Conference

The Planning Institute of Australia’s National Young Planners Group (NYPG) will be hosting the fourth annual national young planners conference, YPConnect08, in Sydney in April 2008.

YPConnect is an annual event that allows young planners, both students and graduates, to have a voice on a national scale and to participate in professional development specifically targeted at young planning professionals. YPConnect also enables delegates to keep up-to-date on issues that will assist them in building successful careers in the planning and development industry.

In association with the Planning Institute of Australia’s National Congress "a climate for change", YPConnect 2008 will commence with an opening study tour / challenge around Sydney CBD and welcome party at Darling Harbour on Saturday 12th April, followed by a full day conference on Sunday 13th April, at the Crystal Palace Function Centre, Luna Park.

Building on the successes of previous YPConnect conferences in Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Perth, the NYPG seeks to provide a forum where students and young planning professionals can listen, learn and participate in an environment specifically targeted towards them, showcasing some of Australia’s leading professionals and planning experts.

We encourage you to take part in this valuable professional development and networking opportunity with young planners across Australia and we look forward to seeing you in Sydney.

Best regards,

	Tiffany Lacey National Young Planners Group Convenor
	James Li YPConnect08 Convenor
	Javier Valderrama NSW National Young Planners Group Representative

YP Connect Sponsors

Speakers and Program

Ryan Heath - keynote speaker

Ryan is the author of the infamous 2006 book "Please Just F* Off, It's Our Turn Now." Ryan was a student leader and contributor to the Sydney Morning Herald before moving to the United Kingdom in 2003 where he has worked as a Private Secretary, Press Secretary and Speechwriter at the UK Cabinet Office. He was responsible for figures such as the Leader of the House of Lords, the Chief Information Officer and the Cabinet Secretary. His most recent role was as media adviser to Peter Garrett.

His keynote address is titled central:planning

"Planning occupies a unique career position in an increasingly two-tracked society needing to grapple with the enormous challenges of climate change and an aging population.

Unlike many of the great challenges facing generations before us - we can see many of the threats and obstacles years ahead, and the prizes are great if we succeed.

So how do young planners use not just their professional skills, but also the technological, networking and cultural advantages they possess as young people to meet these challenges? What can you do as a young planner to understand politics and the media and volunteering, and then use these skills as leverage in your chosen task?

This is a lively, thought-provoking and sometimes interactive session that will challenge your attitudes."

Carla Rogers - workshop facilitator

Principal, Evolve Facilitation and Coaching www.evolves.com.au

Carla will be our facilitator for YPConnect08 and be running skill development workshops. Carla is well in tune with Young Planner’s needs, having worked previously as an urban and regional planner for over 20 years and was awarded 1997 NSW Young Planner of the Year.

Carla’s interactive workshops will reveal how Young Planners can create a life and a career of PASSION, POWER and TRUTH by way of realising your strengths and personal power.

Through these workshops and a ‘meeting marketplace’ running throughout the day, Carla will demonstrate tools and present techniques in working in synergy with others to create impact and sustainable results; realising our power to release energy, spirit and creativity to compel others to act and share; and ways to properly manage your career and daily life expectations - plus techniques for powerful and effective self promotion.

But above all, the workshops intend on assisting Young Planners in becoming leaders in their workplace and community. So, unleash YOUR magnificence by taking a leap forward towards a more inspiring and integral life.

Dr Haydn Washington

Director Sustainability Projects, Willoughby Council

Sustainability - beyond the personal: reaching organisational, industry and government sustainability

It is very fashionable today to hear that its up to the individual citizen to take action to slow climate change. And its true, it is. But is that all or is their more? Is it just up to the individual? There are many things that the individual can’t change. Take an apartment owner whose owners corporation won’t agree to put in solar hot water - what can he or she do? In fact its up to all parts of society. We need good organisational, corporate, industrial and government sustainable citizens. It’s not and never can be just up to the individual, as more greenhouse gases are produced by industry than by individual people. Industry is of course making things for us, but until recently they didn’t necessarily ask us how we wanted things made. It’s time they did … and it is happening. Given we have at most 50 years to decarbonise our society, it’s time we stepped this up. It’s up to all sections of society to act sustainably and take action to reduce their carbon and ecological footprints.

Planning Expert Panel

Got a question about your career development? Do you have a burning question about planning today and direction in the future? Want to find out more about working in different employer groups? How did the leading planners got to where they are today?

Here’s your chance to throw these questions and more to our panel of experts and find out through their knowledge and experience, how their career has taken them to today.

YPCONNECT08 PROGRAM

Registration Information

"A Young Planner is a student of a planning or planning related degree, or a member of PIA with no more than five (5) years experience since graduating from a PIA accredited planning degree".

The attendance of non-Young Planners at YPConnect is at the discretion of the PIA National Young Planner Group and numbers are strictly limited. If you are a non-Young Planner and would like to attend YPConnect please contact Conexion Event Management directly on 02 9518 7722 or by email: info@pia2008.com

To register for YPConnect08, you will need to follow the same process as registration for the Congress by clicking here

Registration Fees

Registration fees include:

• Welcome lunch and Study Tour on Saturday 12 April 2008
• Welcome Function on Saturday 12 April 2008
• YPConnect08 Delegate Pack
• Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea on Sunday 13 April
• A full day of contemporary and fun professional development and networking on Sunday 13 April 2008

Please note:

• To be eligible for Member Rates the Young Planner (whether student or professional) must be a current financial member of the Planning Institute of Australia (whether this is student/graduate or corporate). If you are not a current member of PIA but would like to become one please go to www.planning.org.au and select Membership in the left hand column. The membership forms can be downloaded from the Planning Institute website.
• To be eligible for student registration rates, students are required to nominate their current student number, course of study and educational institution.

Social Program

Staying in Sydney on a budget?

For some suggestions on budget accommodation in Sydney, click here

Testimonials from YPConnect07

"YPConnect was fantastic! It was great to meet planners - both students and professionals - from all over Australia. Bring on Sydney 2008!!!"

             - Rusa Sarros, Student at the University of Western Australia

"Thanks for organising YPConnect 2007 so well: provided a good opportunity to meet Young Planners from around Australia!"

             - Mabel John, QED Pty Ltd, SA

"Really great idea to have a conference exclusively for Young Professionals. No intimidation, just good fun, valuable networking, motivation and learning."

             - Jim Carter, WA Department of Planning & Infrastructure

"I have found the day to be very enjoyable and a worthwhile experience. I would recommend other young planners to attend and learn new material, philosophies and life experiences."

             - Clare Huxley, Infomaster, NSW

"YPConnect is a fun way to make new friends in the planning industry. It helped me realise I’m not alone in finding the balance of work and studies - which is difficult a lot of the times. I highly recommend YPConnect as an essential initiation into the industry!"

             - Victoria Brown, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment

"YPConnect was a positive experience that will assist with the development of my career."

             - Adam Henson, Ballina Shire Council, NSW

"It was a great experience as it was the first planning conference that I have been to. This conference has helped me network with new planners as well as present ones with valuable lessons and ideas to help me become a better planner."

             - Ashwin Subramaniam, Cardno BSD, WA

Sponsorship Opportunities

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities available for organisations to get involved with YPConnect08 to demonstrate their support for the profession's future leaders.

The YPConnect08 sponsorship packages ranges from $500 (Bronze) to $6,000 (Platinum). As such there is a range of sponsorship opportunities for organisations who may wish to be involved solely with YPConnection08 or jointly with Main Congress. In addition, with our bronze sponsorship package, it allows for smaller organisations, who may not necessary be able to provide significant sponsorship assistance, the opportunity to be a sponsor at YPConnect08 and still receive national coverage.

Here is your chance to promote your organisation among young planners across Australia!

Please review the Sponsorship Packages available and do not hesitate to contact our organising team to discuss sponsorship opportunities or how we can tailor a package to suit your needs.

Contact:

James Li	Stephen Attfield
YPConnect08 Convenor	Sponsorship Manager
	T 02 9518 7722
E nypg@planning.org.au	E stephena@conexion.com.au

Click here to Download the YPConnect Sponsorship Prospectus

More Information

Still want more information?

Please visit the PIA National Young Planner Group website at: www.planning.org.au/youngplanners

YPConnect 2008 Documents

Click Here to download the YPConnect08 Postcard
Click Here for the YPConnect08 Flyer
Click Here for the Special Edition of Connections on YPConnect08
Click Here for the Speaker & Program document
Click Here for the 5 Reasons to come to YPConnect Poster
Click Here for the YPEmployer Promotion Flyer
Click Here for the YPConnect08 Pre-conference Pack