Program

In Congress sessions you will hear global change agents and national leaders talk about innovative solutions to the challenges facing planners including the following themes:

»  Climate Change—Envrionmental, Economic and Social Implications

»  Housing Affordability and Managing Growth

»  Demographic and Intergenerational Shifts

»  Creating Sustainable Places

»  Urban Design and Renewal

»  Urban and Regional Futures—Economic and Political

»  A Climate For Change—International Perspectives

»  Generation Gaps and Boomer Pressures

»  Politics / Economics and Planning

Located in Sydney, Australia’s premiere global city, we will host invited guests from other key international cities — London, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

You will also hear speakers from other cities and countries internationally who are leading the climate change adaptation and sustainability push.

Our national and international guests include demographic change commentators Bernard Salt (Sydney) and Ryan Heath (London & Sydney), ANZ Chief Economist Saul Eslake (Melbourne) and Dr Nicole Gurran Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, University of Sydney (Sydney)*

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Housing, Minister for the Status of Women

Tanya grew up in the southern suburbs of Sydney, the youngest of three children. Her parents emigrated from Slovenia in the 1950s. She completed a Master of Politics and Public Policy at Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications (Hons) from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Tanya worked for the NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women on domestic violence policy and research before joining the staff of Senator Bruce Childs.

Tanya was elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member for Sydney in 1998 and became a shadow minister in 2004. During her time as a shadow minister, Tanya was responsible for a wide variety of issues including childcare, work and family, community, women, youth, human services and housing.

Following the election of the Rudd Government in 2007, Tanya was appointed the Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women.

Dr Martin Parkinson
The Secretary, The Department of Climate Change

Dr Parkinson was appointed as Secretary to the newly created Department of Climate Change on 3 December 2007. Prior to his appointment he worked as the Deputy Secretary of the Climate Change Group in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with responsibility for leading and coordinating implementation of the emissions trading scheme and coordinating climate change policy. This immediately followed his work as Head of the Secretariat to the Task Group on Emissions Trading.

Dr Parkinson previously spent six years as Executive Director (Deputy Secretary) in the Treasury with responsibility for all domestic and international macroeconomic issues. He was Australia's G-20, IMFC and Development Committee Deputy and Co-chair of the G 20 Deputies process in 2006. He has also worked at the International Monetary Fund where he headed a unit dealing with issues related to the reform of the international financial architecture. Prior to joining the IMF, he headed Treasury's economic conditions branch, with responsibility for analysing economic developments and preparing the official forecasts for the domestic economy and external accounts.

In the early 1990s Dr Parkinson served as Senior Adviser to Treasurer Dawkins; he also worked for Treasurers Kerin and Willis. During his Treasury career he also worked on taxation reform, structural policy, and labour market and industrial relations policy issues. He is a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at the Australian National University and has previously served as a member of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council and of the advisory boards of the School of Economics at the University of Adelaide and the Centre for Business Cycle Analysis at the Melbourne Institute. In the mid 1990s he also served as a committee member of the Review of the Australian National Accounts Program.

Saul Eslake
ANZ Chief Economist (Melbourne)

Saul Eslake has been ANZ's Chief Economist since August 1995. He was previously Chief Economist (International) at National Mutual Funds Management, a funds manager (1991-95) and Chief Economist at McIntosh Securities, a stockbroker (1986-1991). He has a First Class Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Tasmania and in 2003 completed the Senior Executive Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business in New York.

Within ANZ Saul is a member of the Chief Executive's Group; the Group Asset and Liability Committee (which oversights the management of ANZ's balance sheet); and the Corporate and Institutional Banking Sustainability Steering Committee. He is also Chairman of ANZCover, ANZ's internal crime, fraud and professional indemnity insurer.

Outside of ANZ Saul is a member of three Federal Government advisory panels - the Trade Policy Advisory Council, the Foreign Affairs Council, and the Tourism Forecasting Committee. At the State Government level he is Chair of the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board and a member of the Premier of Victoria's Business Advisory Network. For local government he chaired Launceston 2020, which over 2005 and 2006 developed a community-based vision for the City of Launceston in Northern Tasmania for the year 2020. In the University sector Saul is Director of the University of Tasmania Foundation and a member of the Advisory Committees for the Economics or Finance schools at the University of Tasmania, Monash University and RMIT University.

Dr Nicole Gurran
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, University of Sydney (Sydney)

Nicole Gurran is a senior lecturer in the Urban and Regional Planning Program at the University of Sydney. She is the author of the book ‘Australian Urban Land Use Planning; Introducing Statutory Planning Practice in NSW’ published by Sydney University Press (2007). Her research focuses on local planning, housing, and managing urban development in highly sensitive environmental contexts. Recent projects have included studies for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, the National Sea Change Taskforce, and the United Nations. In 2007 she established the online Australian Urban Land Use Planning Policy Monitor, revealing how Australian local plans address matters like urban growth, housing diversity and affordability, environmental sustainability and climate change. Nicole is an Executive Board Member of the International Urban Planning and Environment Association.

Rod Fehring
Lend Lease Ventures Chief Executive Officer (Sydney)

Rod Fehring was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Lend Lease Ventures in May 2007 and is based in Sydney.

In the role of Chief Executive Officer, Lend Lease Ventures, Rod is responsible for working with all Lend Lease businesses to screen and identify emerging technologies / ideas that could drive new growth; and actively invest in the transition of new technologies into new business streams whilst ensuring that invested businesses are adequately capitalised and resourced to operate effectively within Lend Lease’s minority shareholding.

Rod has more than 25 years’ experience in the Australian property sector and previously worked for Delfin Ltd for 6 years before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Delfin Lend Lease in November 2001. Subsequently, Rod was responsible for the Lend Lease Communities business in Asia Pacific for a period of nearly 6 years.

Rod has a Bachelor of Applied Science and Graduate Diplomas in both Urban & Regional Planning and Sports Administration (Facilities) and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School, Philadelphia, USA.

Rod is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Trustee of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust.

Judy Yates
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Sydney (Sydney)

Judy Yates is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Sydney. Judy is recognised as one of Australia's acknowledged specialists on housing economics and housing markets. She has contributed to many Federal and state government inquiries, ministerial committees and reports on housing, housing policy and housing finance in Australia. She has been a member of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council and a board member of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation, the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the Home Purchase Assistance Authority. Over the last three years she has directed an AHURI funded national research venture on 'Housing Affordability for Lower Income Australians'. The central aim of this research has been to undertake evidence-based research on housing affordability to inform the development of policies that can effectively address housing affordability problems.

Bernard Salt

Bernard Salt is a KPMG Partner based in Melbourne. Bernard has established a reputation as a trend forecaster for the property and financial services industries.

His best selling book The Big Shift predicted a surge in the demand for lifestyle and residential property underpinned by the imminent retirement of the baby boom generation.

His second book, also a best seller, The Big Picture, looks at how work, life and relationships are changing in the Western world in the early decades of the 21st century.

Bernard Salt is a best selling author, a columnist with The Australian newspaper, a regular on the Australian and more recently European and US speaking circuits, and a business advisor. Bernard heads a group of consultants within KPMG that provide demographic-based strategic advice.

His views are regularly sought by the Australian business and general media. He appears regularly on local radio and television programs including 60 Minutes.

Bernard Salt is an experienced speaker whose energetic and compelling session is not to be missed.

Jan Gehl
Professor, Dr.Litt. Architect MAA, FRIBA
Founding Partner: GEHL Architects-Urban Quality Consultants, Copenhagen

International teachings includes visiting professorships in Edinburgh, Toronto, Calgary, Melbourne, Perth, Berkeley, San José, Oslo, Dresden, Wroclaw, Hanover, Guadalajara, Vilnius, Cape Town and Costa Rica. Major projects concerning city centre improvements for New York, Sydney, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington, Cape Town, Amman, Zürich, Riga, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Publications include:
- Life Between Buildings – Using Public Space.(Latest version 2006) Published in 15 languages.
- Public Spaces Public Life, Copenhagen, 1996
- New City Spaces, Danish Architectural Press, Copenhagen, 2001.
- New City Life, Danish Architectural Press, Copenhagen, 2006.

Awards include the "Sir Patrick Abercrombie prize for exemplary contributions to town planning" from the International Union of Architects , an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, International Fellow Royal Institute of British Architects, Edra/PLACES Research Award 1998 & 2006 (w/City of Melbourne), Australia Planning Award, 2003 (w/City of Adelaide), Australia Urban Design Award 2005 (w/City of Melbourne)

Lawrence D. Frank
Ph.D., AICP, ASLA

Dr. Frank is the Bombardier Chairholder in Sustainable Transportation at the University of British Columbia and a Senior Non-resident Fellow of the Brookings Institution. He specializes in the interaction between land use, travel behavior, air quality, and health. He has been studying the effects of neighborhood walkability on travel patterns and sustainability for over 15 years. He has co-authored numerous papers and two books on these topics: Health and Community Design, The Impacts of The Built Environment on Physical Activity and Urban Sprawl and Public Health. In June of 2004, his study “Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars” was released documenting for the first time relationships between travel habits, neighborhood design characteristics, and the odds of being obese and was featured in Time Magazine, on CNN, ABC news, and over 300 media outlets worldwide. Over the past five years, Dr. Frank and his colleagues have been evaluating relationships between community design, travel patterns, air quality, fuel consumption, and climate change. He has also been conducting research to document a causal link between community design, travel choice, health, and the environment.

Nick Rowley
Kinesis (NSW)

Nick is a director of Kinesis, an Australian based consultancy working with business and government on sustainability and climate change. From March 2004 to January 2006, Nick worked at 10 Downing Street as Senior Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was part of a small team advising the Prime Minister on climate change prior to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in July 2005 working closely with the likes of Sir Nicholas Stern and the Prime Ministers Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King. Nick also contributed to the 2005 Labour manifesto and was one of three policy advisors asked to work on the Labour campaign prior to the May 2005 General Election. From 1995 to 2004 Nick was advisor to Bob Carr, Premier of NSW, working primarily on policy on the environment, urban development and medical research.

Nick has recently been appointed Special Advisor to the Copenhagen Climate Council (http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/): a global initiative working with some of the world’s largest businesses and climate experts to help achieve a new global climate treaty at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Nick is a regular commentator on climate issues in the Australian and international media and is on the Advisory Board of the Climate Group (http://www.theclimategroup.org), is a Director of SpinalCure Australia, and is a Fellow of the Australian New Zealand School of Government Reform Commission.

Dr Stephen Schneider
Stanford University (USA)

Stephen H. Schneider is the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biological Sciences and (by courtesy) of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Plasma Physics from Columbia University in 1971, followed by post-doctoral fellowships at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He was a member of the scientific staff of NCAR from 1973-1996, where he co-founded the Climate Project.

Internationally recognized for research, policy analysis and outreach in climate change, Dr. Schneider focuses on climate change science, integrated assessment of ecological and economic impacts of human-induced climate change, and identifying viable climate policies and technological solutions. He has consulted with federal agencies and/or White House staff in the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations.

Actively involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Schneider co-authored “Uncertainties in the IPCC Third Assessment Report: Recommendations to Lead Authors for More Consistent Assessment and Reporting” and the cross-cutting theme paper #4: “Assessing the Science to Address UNFCCC Article 2.” He has contributed to all four Assessment Reports and is currently a Coordinating Lead Author of Working Group II Chapter 19, "Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from Climate Change." He is also part of the Core Writing Team for the Third and Fourth Assessment Synthesis Reports, which integrate the contributions of Working Groups I, II, and III. After decades of work, Dr. Schneider, along with four generations of IPCC authors, received a collective Nobel Peace Prize for their joint efforts in 2007.

Elected to membership in the US National Academy of Sciences in April 2002, Dr. Schneider is the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/ Westinghouse Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology, a MacArthur Fellowship for his ability to integrate and interpret the results of global climate research through public lectures, classroom teaching, environmental assessment committees, media appearances, Congressional testimony and research collaboration with colleagues, and the Society of Conservation Biology’s Edward T. Law Roe Award. He is founder and editor Climatic Change and has authored or co-authored several books, over 345 scientific papers, proceedings, legislative testimonies, edited books and book chapters, and145 book reviews, editorials and other pieces for popular media.

Currently, Dr. Schneider is counseling policy makers about the importance of using risk management strategies in climate-policy decision making, given the uncertainties in future projections of global climate change and related impacts. In addition, he consults with corporate executives and other stakeholders in industry and the nonprofit sectors regarding possible climate-related events and is actively engaged in improving public understanding of science and the environment through extensive media communication and public outreach.

Tim Costello
Chief Executive Officer, World Vision Australia (VIC)

Tim Costello has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on domestic issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. Tim is a sought after public speaker and every year addresses thousands of people from diverse backgrounds

Since February 2004, Rev Tim Costello has been the Chief Executive of World Vision, Australia’s largest overseas aid organization. In this current role, Tim has witnessed the worst of humanitarian disasters and seen the most inspiring human responses to suffering. After the Asian Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, Tim travelled immediately to the disaster area, and his presence and media profile added significant weight to the World Vision appeal, which ultimately raised more than $100 million.

Tim first studied law and education at Monash University, followed by theology at the International Baptist Seminary Rueschlikon, Switzerland, and a Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity.

After ordination as a Baptist Minister in 1984, Tim established a vibrant and socially active ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church between 1986 and 1994. In 1993 he demonstrated his commitment to serving the community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda.

From 1995 to 2004 Mr Costello was Minister at Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. In addition, between 1999 and 2002 he was National President of the Baptist Union of Australia

In 2004, Tim was awarded Victorian of the Year, in 2005 was the Victorian Australian of the Year, and also in June 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for “service to the community through contributions to social justice, health and welfare issues, international development assistance, and to the Baptist Church”.

Tim has written several books including Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda; Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher and Wanna Bet? Winners and Losers in Gambling’s Luck Myth (which was co-written with Royce Millar).

Mr Costello and his wife, Merridie, have three adult children, Claire, Elliot and Martin.

Chris Johnson
Executive Director Cities and Centres
NSW Department of Planning

Chris Johnson is the Executive Director, Cities and Centres, NSW Department of planning, he also heads up the Cities Taskforce preparing city centre plans for a number of NSW cities. He is also leading the team producing the current planning reforms. Chris is a CPP and member of PIA, he is the NSW member of the Planning Officers Group and the Building Code of Australia Board. Before joining the Department of Planning he was NSW Government Architect for ten years. Chris is Director of the 9th World Congress of Metropolis to be held in Sydney in October 2008, a member of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Board, the Heritage Council of NSW,the Central Sydney Planning Committee, Adjunct Professor at UNSW and UTS and author of 10 books on architecture and urban design.

Ryan Heath
Author and Advisor to Governments in Australia and UK

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.

Mikey Robins

Mikey Robins is one of Australia's best loved, intelligent, hilarious and most in demand entertainers, his career in both radio and TV has led to him becoming one of the most recognisable faces and voices in Australian entertainment history.

Most recently Mikey successfully stepped back into the Breakfast Radio market in Sydney with Tony Squires, Angela Catterns and Rebecca Wilson on Vega FM. He's now a permanent part of the team and looking forward to helping the young station grow!

Mikey's career radio credits also include Hosting Triple M Drive shift in both Sydney and Melbourne as well as Hosting their Breakfast Show for Sydney market, prior to which he spent 7 super successful years as the Host of Triple J's National Breakfast Show.

Mikey's early TV career included “Live & Sweaty” and “McFeast”, before he moved on to the legendary “Good News Week” for 5 years on both ABCTV and Network Ten. He also devised and hosted a series of humorous documentaries for Network Ten on Australians and their favourite pubs, the success of which lead to shows being filmed in both Ireland and Las Vegas.

On Foxtel Mikey Hosted “Campaign” during 2001 and he's been a regular guest on ABCTV's “The Fat” and then with "110% Tony Squires" on the Seven Network.

Recently Mikey fronted the Foxtel's Movie Networks Hollywood Head 2 Head promotion, an exciting new option for viewers to vote on which movie they'd like to view on Saturday nights.

Mikey has co–authored two books “Three Beers and a Chinese Meal” with Helen Razor and “Big Mans World” with Tony Squires and The Sandman.

Mikey's quick wit, intelligent humour and years of experience make him an ideal MC/Host for corporate events. One of the many high profile events he has hosted was Gough Whitlam's 85th Birthday in 2001. Mikey's experience in TV, Radio and live theatre have given him enviable skills in the area of debating and public speaking.

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.

There are five study tours available, please find details below:

Inner City Renewal and Living
         Monday 14 April 3.15pm - 5.15pm

Sydney Harbour: Planning Around a Changing Foreshore
         Monday 14 April 3.15pm - 5.15pm

Adaptive Reuse: Housing and Industry
         Tuesday 15 April 11.00am - 12.30pm

The post-Olympic City 2000 - 2008
         Tuesday 15 April 3.30pm - 5.00pm

A Sustainable City (Buildings and Town Centres)
         Wednesday 16 April 11.00am - 12.30pm

Cost: $35 Young Planners and Student Registrations
         $45 PIA Member and Non Member Registrations

Further details on site tours will be available on this page soon