Panel Members

Graham Brown is a retired Commissioner and Acting Senior Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court of NSW, having served three seven-year appointments. During his tenure, he heard over 2000 appeals on various planning and related issues across NSW. Currently, he serves as Chair, Alternate Chair, or Expert on six local planning panels and is a delegate of Northern Beaches Council on the Sydney North Regional panel. Prior to his Court appointment, Graham was the Director of Planning Services at Baulkham Hills Shire Council (now The Hills Shire Council), overseeing urbanization projects, including the Rouse Hill Release Area. He holds a degree in Environmental Planning, a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Graham is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Nationally Accredited Mediator.

Elizabeth Kinkade holds a Bachelor of Town Planning and is currently undertaking a Master of Laws (LLM) at UNSW. She is the Director at EK Strategy and has held senior positions in the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE). She is a Town Planner with over 25 years of experience in state and local government and consultancy across strategic and statutory planning, policy, governance and leadership.

Steve O’Connor holds honours degrees in Planning and Environmental Science. Prior to entering the private sector in 1994, Steve worked in the public sector where he held senior positions at the State and Local Government. He therefore has valuable public and private sector experience. Steve served as a Ministerial appointment on the New South Wales Natural Resource Advisory Council during 2010/ 2011, was Chair of Sydney’s Water Delivery Alliance during 2008/2009, was a Commissioner on the NSW Independent Planning Commission during 2016/ 2022 and was a Board Director of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), holding the positions of Vice President and National President over a period of 6 years.

Kate Bartlett has over 17 years of professional experience in town planning, economics, and social policy. She holds degrees in all three fields. Kate has worked in both government and private sector roles on significant projects, focusing on delivering economic and equity outcomes through the statutory planning system. She has assisted private clients with complex development applications and planning proposals within Greater Sydney and regional NSW, including residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, seniors, and social housing projects. Kate has collaborated with various government agencies, including the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and multiple Councils, on strategic planning projects. She is accredited as a Registered Planner PLUS (EIA) by the Planning Institute of Australia.

Sheridan Burke is trained in urban planning, architecture, education, and tourism management and consults on heritage issues in Sydney, Australia. She served as Deputy Chair of the NSW Heritage Council and Chair of the State Heritage Register Committee from 2018 to 2020. Her recent collaborative publications include “Future of Our Pasts: Engaging Cultural Heritage in Climate Action” (ICOMOS, Paris, 2019), the “Eames House Conservation Plan” (Getty Conservation Institute, 2018), and the “Twentieth Century Historic Thematic Framework” (Getty Conservation Institute, 2021).

Kevin Hoffman served as a Commissioner for the Land and Environment Court for 14 years. He was a town planner at Wyong Council from 1978 to 1986 and is currently the Principal at Hoffman Design and Planning. He also served as Director at EJE Architecture Town Planning Consultants for nine years starting in 1995.

Linda McClure has had an extensive career in Local Government, including Strategic Planning. Her areas of expertise include planning, heritage, urban design, and government and public administration. Linda also serves on the Central Coast Panel.

David Milliken, is a Registered Planner with over 23 years of experience and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. He has extensive experience in development assessment, strategic land use, transport, and infrastructure planning. David is a highly skilled project manager, capable of motivating high-performing teams in a collaborative environment. Drawing upon his experiences in strategic and transport planning, business strategy, project management, communication, and leadership, he has a distinct ability to prepare strategic visions, develop outcomes, and implement requirements.

Juliet Suich specializes in strategy, adaptive planning, urban renewal, and community engagement. She is the Managing Director at Two Trees & Co., where they provide clear thinking, meaningful research, targeted strategy, and pragmatic development advice. The company offers specialist technical advice in urban renewal, liveability, social and environmental sustainability, and urban ecology. They practice community-led and shared values-based place making as core business.

Deborah Sutherland is the Principal at DSA Planning & Design, specializing in large-scale development project approvals, strategic planning, master planning, and community engagement. She is an award-winning strategic land use planner with over forty years of experience in Sydney. Deborah has worked on diverse projects across numerous industry sectors and has held senior leadership roles throughout her career. In 2013, she was recognized for her work on the Dee Why Town Centre Master Plan, which won the NSW UDIA Award for Excellence in Government Leadership in Urban Development, the NSW Planning Institute Award, and a Commendation from National UDIA. Deborah sits on three Local and one District Planning Panel in Sydney.

Lisa Trueman is an expert witness on heritage matters in the Land and Environment Court (LEC) and a heritage consultant with over 30 years of experience in built heritage conservation. She has spent 15 years as a heritage adviser in local government. Lisa specializes in providing design advice and statutory guidance to local and state government agencies and private developers to facilitate outcomes based on heritage best practices.

Sue Weatherley, 2018 PIA NSW Planner of the Year, is a highly experienced urban planner and local government executive. She is an experienced board member with a demonstrated history of working in the architecture and planning industry. Sue is skilled in urban planning, government, economic development, community engagement, and project management. She is a strong business development professional.

George Youhanna has over 30 years of experience in the NSW planning system in both the public and private sectors. He is the Principal Owner of Blue-Sky Urban and is highly experienced in urban planning, urban design, sustainability, and feasibility. George holds tertiary qualifications in urban planning, urban design, and law.

Christopher Young is an experienced town planner specializing in the assessment of major development proposals and leading a team of development assessment town planners. As the Principal Planner at CMY Planning, Chris has over 30 years of experience in development assessment in councils across Sydney and regional locations, including Wingecarribee Shire Council, Georges River, Ryde, and Blacktown Councils.

Helen Lochhead holds a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons 1) and Bachelor of Science in Architecture (Hons 1) from the University of Sydney. She is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (LFRAIA), a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), and holds honorary memberships with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

An architect and urbanist, Helen has combined professional practice, board, and academic roles for over 25 years. Her career has focused on the inception, planning, design, and delivery of complex large-scale urban projects, as well as providing expert advisory roles to government and industry. Recent leadership roles include Pro Vice-Chancellor, Precincts and Dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at UNSW Sydney, Australia, and President of the Australian Institute of Architects from 2019 to 2020.

Heather Warton holds a Bachelor of Town Planning (Hons 1), a Master of Business Administration, and a Horticulture Certificate from NSW TAFE. She is currently contracting part-time to the NSW Department of Environment and Planning in the State Significant Acceleration Team, having previously worked with Georges River Council as a Planning Expert in the Land and Environment Court. Heather is a member of six Local Planning Panels and the Sydney South Regional Panel. She serves as an Alternate Chair for the Wollondilly, Fairfield, and Inner West LPPs and as an Expert Member for the Randwick, Strathfield, and Wingecarribee Council’s LPPs.

Jason Perica holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from UNSW and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Sydney University. He is the Director of Perica and Associates Urban Planning Pty Ltd. Jason has extensive experience in local government and state planning authorities, including senior management positions such as Director of City Planning at the City of Sydney and Executive Director at the NSW Department of Planning responsible for major development. He has extensive experience across all types of development and strategic planning work, including rezoning, assessment, proposal formulation, court work, project management, determination of applications, and review.

Robert Montgomery holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Planning from Charles Sturt University. He is the Principal at Montgomery Planning Solutions and a qualified town planner, as well as a Corporate Member of the Planning Institute of Australia. Robert has 29 years of experience in Local Government, including roles in management, finance, town planning, and strategic planning. He has over 17 years of experience as a consultant town planner, working on commercial, industrial, tourism, residential, and rural development projects.

Helen Deegan holds a Bachelor of Town Planning from UNSW, a Graduate Diploma in Urban Estate Management from UTS, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). She is also a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). Helen is an expert in translating complex and multifaceted development and land use issues into workable solutions. With 30 years of experience in statutory and strategic planning, she has managed large planning scheme reviews and masterplan development projects. Helen sits on several local planning panels and is a member of Landcom’s Design Review Panel.

Darren Troy holds a Bachelor of Construction Management, a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (URP), and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. He is the Director of Urban Planning and Program Development, leading a team responsible for identifying sites for the delivery of 65,000 new dwellings under the NSW Government’s Future Directions in Social Housing initiative.

Rodney Lindsell holds degrees in planning and political economy and has been a long-time member of the Planning Institute of Australia. He has been a resident of Willoughby for the past 20 years and is an active and engaged member of the local community, participating in several online Willoughby community groups.

Annelize Kaalsen has 25 years of professional planning experience in both local government and larger consultancies. Her expertise spans residential, commercial, mixed-use, seniors living, boarding house, and greenfield developments. She has conducted independent assessments of Council-associated applications, provided expert evidence in the Land and Environment Court, and worked on planning proposals and master planning for larger complex sites. Annelize has been a resident of Willoughby since 2008 and has been running AK Planning since 2012.

Thomas Wilson, has lived in the Willoughby LGA his entire life. He is currently in the final stages of a Bachelor of Urban Planning at Macquarie University, with completion anticipated in mid-2024.

Leah Bulfin has lived and owned residential property in the Willoughby Local Government Area since 2003. She has worked in and operated a local business and owned commercial property in the area since 2001. Leah has been a member of the Willoughby South Progress Association since 2018 and served as its President in 2022. She is an active and engaged member of the local community, participating in several online Willoughby community groups.

Emma Rogerson is a long-term resident of the Willoughby LGA, born, raised, and still living in Artarmon. She is a Town Planner at Waverley Council with a Master of Urbanism (Urban and Regional Planning Specialisation) (2020) and a Bachelor of Architecture and Environments (2018) from The University of Sydney. She has experience as a Senior Strategic Planner in Local Government, as well as a Senior Town Planner, Team Leader, and Project Manager on residential, commercial, industrial, and rural development projects within the private sector. With a history of working with all 35 Councils in Greater Sydney, Emma specialises in the preparation of Planning Proposals and Development Applications in a metropolitan context.