NT Division Committee

Rory Mackay MPIA | NT President

Cunnington Rosse Town Planning & Consulting

Rory brings a combination of practical planning expertise, regional insight, and professional leadership to the role of President of the NT Division of PIA. As a qualified town planner and building surveyor, he has worked across both the Northern Territory and Western Australia, building broad experience in statutory planning, development assessment, and stakeholder engagement across local government, state agencies, and private practice.

Since relocating to the Territory, Rory has developed a strong understanding of the planning issues affecting Greater Darwin, Katherine, and remote communities. His work on complex projects in the tourism, logistics, and energy sectors, together with his reputation for clear advice, collaborative engagement, and efficient outcomes, positions him well to represent the profession and lead meaningful contributions to planning practice across the Northern Territory.

Having participated in local community group boards and committees in the past, Rory is now eager to contribute to the land use planning profession by providing practical leadership to the NT Division of PIA.

Sabella Fuss MPIA | Vice President

Masterplan

Sabella holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and joined MasterPlan’s Darwin office in 2023 after relocating to the Northern Territory from Queensland. She has worked in a range of roles in both public and private sectors predominantly in Queensland as well as some time in the UK.

Sabella’s approach to planning work is always informed by an awareness of the ‘big picture’ that each project or decision contributes to, and her desire to achieve good long-term outcomes for communities.

Sabella’s focus on working efficiently and achieving results is complemented by her experience in a range of planning work including integrated approvals for major infrastructure projects, strategic planning and policy drafting and local heritage assessments.

Catriona Tatam MPIA | Board Director

Tatam Planning Co.

Catriona is a qualified Urban and Regional town planner and runs her own planning company Tatam Planning Co., which provides town planning, development feasibility and project management services across the Northern Territory and Northern Australia. Cat is able to leverage 15 years of planning experience in both private and public sectors across WA, QLD, NSW and the NT.

Cat first moved to the NT over 10 years ago, originally hailing from Perth, WA. As a passionate town planner, Cat has a keen interest in rural and remote community planning, strategic policy and procedures, and ensuring urban density through urban design.

Cat is the current Board Director for the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Northern Territory. Cat was previously the PIA NT President from 2019 to 2021, and 2023 to 2025. Cat also served as the PIA NT Vice President from 2021-2023.

Kaleb Thomas PIA (Assoc.) | Awards Convenor

Northern Territory Government

George Dakis MPIA

Masterplan

George Dakis is a qualified Urban and Regional Town Planner working for MasterPlan Darwin, NT. Within MasterPlan his primary focus is development feasibility and the preparation and management of development applications to obtain permit approvals for clients. George’s planning consultancy experience includes assisting NT local government councils with the assessment of planning applications.

George also holds qualifications in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and has significant GIS and cartographic experience working with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) of the NT. He has worked on a myriad of projects and work programs within DIPL’s Survey Branch and Land Information Services. His cartographic experience includes maintenance of strategic plans to support DIPLs Lands Planning work programs.

George is committed to living and working in the NT and is dedicated to making the community better through careful, considered planning.

David Burrow RPIA

Northern Territory Government

David is a Registered Planner with a Masters in Urban Planning (Urban Design) from the University of Adelaide. He has worked as a town planner in South Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory, in both public and private sectors. 

David was previously President of the PIA Northern Territory Division from 2017 to 2018 before moving to Victoria. In 2024 he moved back to the Northern Territory. Now working for the Northern Territory Government, David believes that the Northern Territory is a great place to live and work, and is hopeful about its future on the national and world stage.

Rebecca Jennings PIA (Assoc.)

Freelancing Consultant

Rebecca is an experienced project manager and consultant with a background in Environmental Science and Economics. Currently undertaking a Master of Tropical Urban and Regional Planning, she has spent the past decade working across the land management sector, delivering projects in natural resource management, healthy country planning, contract and grant management, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery.

Rebecca has worked extensively across the Top End with local government councils, government departments, Aboriginal corporations, and Ranger Groups, supporting land management initiatives on ALRA land, Native Title estates, and other tenures. She has led teams in the development and implementation of land management strategies, including projects within National Parks, Indigenous Protected Areas, and environmental research programs.

Her experience spans planning and consulting on land use projects, ensuring that environmental and cultural values are embedded in project outcomes. Having grown up in the Northern Territory, Rebecca has a deep appreciation of the region’s unique social and cultural landscape, which underpins her ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Rebecca’s expertise in project management, policy development, and stakeholder engagement allows her to deliver practical and strategic solutions that support sustainable land and community development in Northern Australia.

Cameron Judson MPIA

Upside Planning

I set up my planning consultancy in Katherine because it's a fascinating place as an Australian to learn about Australia, especially given I spent the majority of my career in London. The town also has a lot of great people, and my partner likes it here too. It's treated us well.

In my 13 years in London most of this time was at Jones Lang LaSalle, and over time I stepped up to be the firm's lead on economic and town centre impact. Sitting in the Planning and Development team, but integrated into the wider business, I advised government, global investors, developers, business and national retailers on retail and town centres, in particular how to create successful town centres that attract investment, spending, the community and visitors.

Sydney (my hometown) was my next destination, and the NSW Department of Education was my reintroduction to working in Australia. My planning, development, economic and commercial skills were recalibrated to manage a team to prepare strategic infrastructure plans to address an unprecedent uplift in demand. New schools, redevelopment and expansion being the core response, but we also directed a lot of energy in co-location and joint use with Council's, universities and the non-government sector. I also spent a lot of time talking to educators and preparing briefings for the Minister.

In January 2020 we (including the dog) arrived in Katherine. After a year the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics I had learnt all I could. It was time to go back to a place where I could affect positive change, be part of interesting projects and be able satisfy my hunger to learn. Being part of the PIA NT Division Committee gives the chance bring my experience from the UK (I remain a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute) and elsewhere in Australian to improve outcomes for the NT.

Sebit Rambang MPIA

Northern Territory Government

Sebit arrived in Brisbane in 2005 where he completed high school and tertiary education.

In 2017, he completed a Bachelor of Regional Development and Town Planning from the University of Queensland and began his career as a Town Planner with Brisbane City Council. He spent 7 years in various roles within the Development Assessment Services and harness his communication skills, assessing development applications and interpreting planning policies and regulations.

In 2024, he relocated to the Northern Territory where he spent 6 months in Darwin before moving to Alice Springs as a Senior Planner for Development Assessment Services.

Sebit strived to build on his qualification and abilities to better serve communities through sensible leadership. In 2021, Sebit completed a diploma of Leadership and Management from Site Institute. Currently, he is undertaking Certificate of Business Management (Public Sector Management Program) through the Queensland University of Technology.

As of 2026, Sebit became the Manager of Planning and Development (Southern Region) and co-opted into the PIA Northern Territory Division Committee. As an active member of local and emerging communities,  Sebit aim to make a positive contribution through planning and appreciate the opportunity to be part of planning and development in the Northern Territory.