State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) Advisory Committee

State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) Advisory Committee

BIOGRAPHY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Geoff Underwood - Chair

Geoff Underwood is a planning consultant with experience in State government beginning with the Bolte Government in 1971. He has worked in government with ministers for Local Government and Planning and at a senior level with the Department of Sustainability and Environment in 2004-2006 and with the establishment of the Growth Areas Authority. In 2011, Geoff was appointed Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Victorian Planning System Ministerial Advisory Committee. In 2012, he chaired the Reformed Zones Ministerial Advisory Committee.

His government experience included a decade as Private Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Planning followed by contributions as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council [for then Minister Maclellan] the Local Approvals Review Programme [for the Federal Government under then Deputy Prime Minister Howe], the Developer Contributions Review [first for then Minister Maclellan in 1992 and for Minister Delahunty in 2002], the Melbourne 2030 Reference Group [for Minister Delahunty], Chair of the Urban Development Program within the Victorian Planning Department and Director of Development Facilitation [for Ministers Delahunty and Hulls].

In private industry he has worked for councils, corporations and private clients advising on planning matters. He has worked with industry groups and been on numerous national committees and inquiries; he is currently Secretary of the multi-disciplinary Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.

Nicola Smith

Nicola is a qualified Urban and Regional Planner with over fourteen years’ experience in a wide range of planning and development roles in government and the private sector in both Victoria and WA.

This breadth of planning and design experience has provided Nicola with an excellent background in coordinating the statutory implementation of major projects, including scheme amendments, structure planning, plans of subdivision and planning permits.

Nicola has strong skills in project co-ordination, communications, negotiation, presentation and facilitation. These skills are highly valued in the variety of projects she leads as Director at Niche Planning Studio.

Nicola’s commitment to the planning profession is evidenced by her continual involvement in the Planning Institute of Australia for the past 13 years. She currently holds the role of Vice President of the Victoria Division of the Planning Institute of Australia

Cazz Redding

Cazz is a qualified Town Planner with a background in marketing and communications. After several years working in local government, Cazz established her own consultancy in 2006 and undertakes strategy and policy development projects for local and state government and the not for profit sector.

Cazz has detailed knowledge of the Victorian Planning Provisions and has been involved in the preparation of planning schemes and planning scheme amendments. She has taught both statutory and strategic planning at RMIT and has been a sessional member of Planning Panels Victoria since 2009.

Lester Townsend

Lester was appointed as a Senior Panel Member with Planning Panels Victoria in October 2005, and has considerable experience in strategic and statutory planning, and project implementation. Lester was a sessional member of Planning Panels Victoria from 1997 to 2005. He has qualifications in town planning and sociology, holding a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning (University of Melbourne) and Graduate Diploma of Sociology (LaTrobe University).

Additionally, Lester has provided strategic and statutory planning advice for a range of local and state government organisations and private companies. He has a particular interest in integrated planning and has been involved in a number of transport and urban design projects. Lester has expertise in plain English communication and drafting. He is a Fellow of VPELA and has previously served on its Board. He was also the former President of the Australia Institute of Urban Studies.