VIC Women's Planning Network Committee

Catherine Sherwin MPIA (Fellow) | Women's Planning Network Convenor

Department of Transport and Planning

Catherine is WPN Convenor and Co-Chair of the UN Women Melbourne Chapter. Catherine is passionate about promoting gender equality. She has extensive urban planning experience in local government, private consultancy and works at DTP.

Mariah Stellato MPIA

Pacific Blue Australia

Mariah is the Deputy Convenor for the WPN Committee 2026. Working for a renewable energy developer, Mariah manages the required environmental and planning approvals for major projects (wind, solar & BESS). Mariah joined the WPN Committee to learn, network and advocate for women’s perspectives in all elements of planning.

Klare Zhang MPIA

Whittlesea City Council 

Klare is the Principal Planner at Whittlesea City Council with experience across various local governments. With international study and life experiences, she is passionate about fostering inclusivity and cultural diversity in planning and the broader industry. She also serves as a board member of the Australasia Property Advisory Association (APAA).

Jo O'Byrne MPIA

Department of Transport and Planning

A Strategic Urban Planner, Jo made a career change into planning to make our cities better for the communities living there.  Lived experience has led her to focus on planning that adopts a nuanced contextual approach that works for everyone with a particular emphasis on gender and age equality.

Lisa M Kendal MPIA (Fellow)

Planning Panels Victoria

Lisa is an experienced environment and planning professional. She has over 30 years’ experience across local and State government, and private practice

Alison Fong MPIA

VPA

Alison is a Strategic Planner with experience working across not-for-profit, public and the private sector. She is passionate about connecting people, communities and their stories in place – in particular advocating for gender diversity policies and strategies that contribute to a safer place narrative for women.

Lily Brown MPIA

Arup

Lily is a Senior Environmental Planner at Arup. With degrees in environmental science and planning, she provides approvals advice to clients across a range of infrastructure project. Lily is passionate about learning and advocating for gender equality in planning and urban design.

Tamara Lowen PIA (Assoc.)

City of Stonnington

Tamara is a strategic planner with over 10 years’ experience across both public and private sectors. She is passionate about good design, social equity and regenerative environments, and adores the urban planning industry as one that can seek to push the boundaries seeking better outcomes in these areas.

Heidi Duncan MPIA

Tract

Heidi is a Principal Town Planner at Tract. She joined the WPN committee in 2022 and has enjoyed meeting likeminded planners. Heidi moved to Melbourne in 2021, having previously worked as a town planner in Brisbane and London. She is particularly passionate about her renewable energy projects throughout Australia.

Lisa Brassington MPIA

Student

A strategic planner who advocates for best fit development and climate smart land uses across peri-urban regions, has been Lisa's area of expertise across Local, State Government and Industry for over 20 years. A leader in maintaining equitable food systems, Lisa is an enthusiastic rural woman with diverse lived experiences. She enjoys the creativity of good design and facilitating inclusive placemaking when shaping safe and healthy spaces.

Sarah Collie MPIA 

Department of Transport and Planning

Sarah is a planner with over 15 years’ experience in local and State government.  She is a Principal Planner in regional planning at DTP and joined the WPN Convenor to advocate for the role and interests of women in planning.

Benita Bunting PIA (Assoc.)

Contour Consultants

From a background in architecture, small business and community engagement, Benita began her second career as a consultant town planner in 2022. Inspired by good design across all scales, she is excited to be able to contribute to the facilitation of sustainable built environment outcomes for everyone.

Madeleine Kruspe MPIA

Urbis

Madeleine is an urban planner with a comprehensive understanding of socio-spatial, environmental and sustainability challenges present in cities. She has experience working across the public sector and private consultancies

Aleksandra Lobaza MPIA

Brimbank City Council

Aleksandra is a strategic planner working on complex projects in local government at the intersection of policy, place and community. She enjoys bringing together different perspectives and turning big ideas into practical outcomes that support stronger, more resilient cities with people at the centre

Claire Scott MPIA

Claire Scott Planning

Claire is qualified in both planning and design and has over 30 years' experience in the public and private sectors.  She specialises in the protection and management of natural landscapes and has been responsible for the delivery of major landscape assessment studies across the state. Claire is passionate about the integration of First Peoples' cultural values in Victoria’s planning system and its places.