I have worked in local government planning since 2005 and am currently a Senior Town Planner at Wagga Wagga City Council, where I am the depa delegate and chair of the Consultative Committee.

I first joined the Committee of Management in 2018 and have served as President since 2020. I am proud of the role depa plays in local government, always on the front foot and taking action while others are still deciding what to do. The union is respected in both the industry and government and continues to advocate strongly for its members.

Through my role as President, I have been appointed to the Minister’s Planning System Reform Reference Group, where I advocate directly to government on behalf of local government planning, building and environmental professionals during the implementation of the recent significant reforms.

I am seeking re-election as President to continue contributing to the strategic direction of the union and achieving positive outcomes for members. The NSW planning system is undergoing significant reform, and emerging technologies such as AI present both opportunities and risks. It is important that members’ interests are represented as these changes develop.

I am a health and building surveyor and have been in local government for the last 45 years. I have been a long-standing member of the Development and Environmental Professionals’ Association (depa) and have been on the Committee of Management for a number of years.

I am proud of what depa has achieved over the years and having been at the forefront of many initiatives and negotiations including the removal of Government term contracts for senior staff, been at the forefront of the award negotiations, the right to disconnect, to mention a few.

I have a strong conviction in protecting the interests and rights of development and environmental professional in local government.

I look forward to continuing my role on the depa Committee of Management if re-elected.

I’ve not yet begun to fight! Last year the Government removed term contracts for senior staff. We have fought against them for 36 years. That’s true grit.

Next, to extend the protections to general managers. In February we filed the first local government Application to Stop Bullying in the new Anti-Bullying jurisdiction of the NSW IRC. We will get an order for the serial pest councillor to stop bullying a GM member. When the pest breaches it, as he will, there are financial penalties. Nailed! Why wouldn’t it be us, who else would do it?

Plus the requirement for employers to provide proper resourcing, the Right to Disconnect, health and well-being leave to be expanded in the 26 Award, we still hate private certification, we respond to calls from members almost instantly, and always within 24 hours, we have an unparalleled memory of what has happened in the industry with my 42 years in the job in May. No one can match that.

The Golden Turd Awards in December are legendary.

No foe too big, no challenge too daunting, no miasma of HR too unfathomable, I’m only getting into my stride.

Four more years!

I am woman hear me roar!

Now I have your attention, I'll leave the roaring to Helen Reddy and use my inside voice to tell you about me.

I have over 30 years of wisdom gained as a town planner in roles from Trainee to Manager. My work has taken me from Goulburn, Gosford, Queanbeyan, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang to my current council, the beautiful Lachlan Shire. My short sojourns into state and federal government along the way have confirmed why local government is for me.

I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to be a depa delegate, identifying issues and solutions, while also giving me the chance to get my "legislation/legal nerd" hat on, to go through our Award conditions.

A big part of my role as a town planner when looking at development and land-use change, is giving a voice to the environment, the future generations and the voiceless. I bring that skill and purpose in nominating for the Committee of Management. I would love to continue to give back to depa and contribute to the Committee by speaking up for those who need support and adding volume and weight for those quiet voices, including those out west.

I'm here, listening.

Over nearly 30 years working in local government in South Western Sydney, my role in strategic infrastructure planning has centred on supporting financially sustainable urban growth in some of Australia’s fastest-growing regions. During this time, I have consistently observed the need for stronger industry-wide capability to attract, develop, and retain the skilled workforce required to effectively serve local communities.

As a depa member for 14 years, a Committee of Management member for more than four years, and a former delegate on Council’s Consultative Committee, I remain committed to contributing to the strength and professionalism of our sector. I believe that it is the people working within local government who make councils integral to their communities, and depa embodies the values that position local government as an employer of choice.

In seeking re-nomination to the Committee of Management, I welcome the opportunity to continue supporting depa and its members across NSW.

I am nominating for a position on the Committee of Management of the Development and Environmental Professionals’ Association (depa) to contribute to strong organisational oversight, effective advocacy across the industry, and the ongoing fairness and safety of our members.

depa plays an important role in representing development and environmental professionals at a time of significant reform, increasing workload pressures and heightened public scrutiny. I believe the Committee’s responsibility is to ensure the organisation is well governed, financially sound, and a credible, respected advocate for members across local government, consultancy and industry.

As a Committee member, I would focus on supporting clear, balanced and evidence-based advocacy that reflects the real-world experiences of our members and constructively influences government, regulators and industry stakeholders. Strong advocacy is essential to improving systems, professional conditions and outcomes for all.

A key priority for me is ensuring depa remains a fair, safe and inclusive professional association. This includes promoting respectful engagement, supporting psychological safety, and ensuring members can undertake their roles impartially and professionally.

I am committed to collaborative decision-making and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to depa’s continued professionalism, credibility and impact.

I am a principal strategic town planner working at Hilltops Council since 2018 and am seeking nomination into a third term as a member of the Committee of Management.

depa for me has been supportive in challenging workplace situations and a great advocate for my rights as a worker. As has been done for me, I aim to continue to do the same of members who I am representing.

As a part of the current Committee of Management, we have advocated to the NSW Government against rhetoric of Council planners being a problem in the NSW Planning System, discussing AI in the workplace and seeking for more flexible work arrangements from increase productivity such as a four-day work week.

I am currently the Chair and depa delegate on my Council’s Consultative Committee where I advocate for members to Council’s Executive and HR department. Additionally, as the delegate, alongside the Secretary, I have and will continue to support other depa members with workplace change or workplace disputes as they come up.

Thank you for the opportunity to nominate to continue my role on the depa Committee of Management for the next two years.