Emma Cole
Chairperson, Western Australian Planning Commission
Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC, EFPC
Term expiry: January 2029
Emma Cole is the Chair of the WA Planning Commission and brings urban and regional planning, board and governance expertise, and diverse state and local government experience.
Emma most recently served as WAPC Deputy Chair and first joined the Planning Commission in February 2020.
Emma is also currently the Chair of the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), which plays a pivotal role as a conduit between the public sector leaders of the State's Hazard Management Agencies. As a member of the Keystart Homeloans board, Emma understands the importance of affordable housing and has helped oversee Keystart’s transition towards a Government Trading Enterprise.
Emma has 10 years of experience in local government, including as a former Mayor and Development Assessment Panel local government member. During her time as Mayor of the City of Vincent, Emma oversaw significant reforms in good governance, community and stakeholder engagement and modernisation of the City's local planning framework, resulting in an innovative approach to urban renewal and development.
Emma is a full member of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia WA.
Emma holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ray Haeren
Deputy Chairperson, Western Australian Planning Commission
Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC, EFPC
Term expiry: January 2029
Ray has some 30 years’ urban planning experience in both the public and private sectors and was appointed WAPC Deputy Chair in 2025.
Ray’s range of experience includes statutory and strategic planning, managing complex projects, policy development and urban regeneration. His projects have included Gosnells Town Centre Revitalisation, Cockburn Coast District Structure Plan, WGV and Montario Quarter. As part of the WAPC, Ray “wants to achieve a genuine contribution to the liveability and sustainability of Western Australia”.
Ray holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban & Regional Studies) and Honours (Urban & Regional Planning). Ray is a past WA President and a current National Vice President and Board Member of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Jane Bennett
Representation: WAPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Jane has experience across local government and private practice in both planning and business management and is currently Managing Director at CLE Town Planning + Design. Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Planning), a Masters of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Jane has experience in the delivery of complex residential, industrial and centre projects.
Jane is a member of the Environmental Protection Authority, is an Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA Councillor and Chair to the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA Reconciliation Action Plan working group and is a member of UDIA’s Advocacy and Thought Leadership Strategic Committee. Jane is a recipient of the UDIA WA Women in Leadership Award and was also made a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia for her contribution to planning.
Helen Brookes
Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC
Term expiry: July 2030
Helen is a co-founding Director of Urbaqua, a not-for-profit environmental organisation that works to support and deliver water and environmentally-sensitive outcomes in Western Australia. Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in the environmental and water sectors, which has been gained while working as a consultant in Australia and in the UK, and as a regulator with the UK Environment Agency.
Helen has experience in coastal adaptation planning, environmental planning, natural resource management, urban water management and policy development. Helen also has extensive project and team management experience having been responsible for a large number of significant multi-disciplinary projects as well as for the management of a team of over 20 scientists, engineers, technicians and drafters. Her technical expertise includes hydrologic and hydraulic modelling and conceptual design of drainage and wastewater networks, receiving water quality modelling, statistical analysis and assessment of future risk.
Helen is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ryan Hall
Representation: WAPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Ryan has significant planning experience within the local government sector which has refined his skills in town planning, organisational strategy and economic development.
Ryan’s experience allows him to look at matters from a regional perspective and apply that knowledge in decision-making.
Ryan currently holds the role of the Director of Community Services with the City of Bayswater, is the WAPC appointed board member with Development WA and is a board member with Regional Development Australia - Mid West & Gascoyne. Ryan has previously held the positions of the President of the Local Government Planners Association, Board Chair of the Business Centre Pilbara and the Director of Development Services with the City of Greater Geraldton.
Ryan has a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor in Social Science (Geography) and is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Cath Hart
Representation: WAPC
Term expiry: July 2030
Paul Lakey
Representation: WAPC, SPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Paul has over 30 years’ experience on an international level in the delivery of major infrastructure, housing and mixed-use projects. Paul has previously been a member of a number of Boards in the private, state government and non-for-profit sectors, bringing a broad perspective to his role at the WAPC. Paul has been associated with the design, delivery and financial performance of projects involving property development, infrastructure and construction throughout Australia, United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East.
Paul has an Honors degree in Civil Engineering and is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Project Management and the Australian Institute of Management. Paul is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Bianca Sandri
Representation: WAPC, EFPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Bianca is an experienced town planner with considerable experience in local government and private practice. Bianca has worked for and with a number of local government authorities across Perth and Western Australia - notably as Deputy Mayor at the City of Stirling.
Bianca has received many prestigious awards in the planning industry, including the “40 under 40” Business News Award in 2019 and was featured in the inaugural Business News “Power 500” catalogue as one of Western Australia’s most influential business leaders in the ‘property, construction and architecture’ category. Bianca holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Planning) with Honors.
Co-founding a town planning consultancy in December 2015, Bianca has contributed to some of Western Australia’s most high-profile developments. Bianca is the current Director of Community Services at the City of Bayswater. As part of the WAPC, Bianca wants to “make considered and sound planning decisions for future generations.”
Amanda Sheers
Representation: WAPC
Term expiry: January 2029
Amanda has over 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors, having held executive roles in both State and Local governments in Queensland and Western Australia. Amanda has provided leadership on a diverse range of policy, planning and infrastructure matters, and encourages and supports lateral and progressive thinking – inspiring creative solutions to urban growth challenges and producing evidence-based policy. Amanda’s experience also includes extensive involvement in a wide range of complex development assessment matters including major projects, large subdivisions, mixed-use developments, complex planning strategies and polices.
Amanda is a past President of the Planning Institute of Australia (WA) 2022/2024 and is currently the Director Planning and Development at the City of Stirling.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Queensland and was the recipient of the Western Australian Local Government Association, Local Government Distinguished Officer Award in 2023.
Claire Franklin
Representation: SPC, SVSPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Claire has over 30 years' experience in the planning industry in both the public and private sectors. Building on her earlier Bachelor of Arts (Urban Geography and Psychology) and urban and regional planning studies, Claire’s professional experience has shaped her strong skills in policy review and formulation, project management and strategic and statutory planning. Working previously on key projects and policies in state government, Claire has developed a comprehensive understanding of town planning matters and fostered excellent working relationships with key stakeholders. Her contribution to urban and regional planning and her leadership in the profession was recognised with her elevation to a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) in 2016.
Claire has taken an active role in advocacy and capacity building of the planning profession as a current member of the PIA WA Divisional Committee (former elected Vice President 2018-2021) and as a founding member and inaugural convenor of the Women in Planning Network WA.
Chris Harman
Representation: SPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Chris is the current Head of Commercial Development at the Satterley Property Group and has considerable experience in the field of retail and commercial property. Chris has well-developed skills in development management, asset management and stakeholder relationship management.
As an experienced town planner and now property developer, Chris has experience across both the technical planning aspects and the commercial reality that comes with major planning decisions.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Planning) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Caroline Knight
Representation: SPC
Term expiry: July 2030
Caroline was elected to the City of Mandurah Council in 2011, served as the Deputy Mayor from 2017 and Mayor since January 2025. Caroline brings significant local government experience and has been a part of the WAPC since August 2016. Caroline has strong experience in strategic planning, policy formulation and stakeholder consultation. Caroline has a Bachelor of Applied Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Science and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Caroline is the Deputy Chair of the Peron Naturaliste Partnership, a member of the Local Government Advisory Board, a member of the WALGA State Council and previously chaired the Peel Harvey Catchment Council from 2018 to 2024. Caroline was awarded the 2023 WALGA Local Government Merit Award for outstanding contributions made to Local Government.
Sean Morrison
Representation: SPC
Term expiry: July 2030
Sean brings over 18 years' experience in strategic planning, urban development and major project facilitation across the public and private sectors in Western Australia.
Sean has led advisory teams delivering complex planning approvals, policy development, research and project creation services across all property sectors. He has facilitated significant development investments, including major education, residential and commercial projects in Perth's CBD and metropolitan area.
Sean is Deputy Chairperson of the DevelopmentWA Land Redevelopment Committees and Chair of the Property Council of Australia WA's Planning Committee. He previously co-founded and chaired an urban advocacy organisation that contributed to planning reform and community engagement in Western Australia.
Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Planning, Honours) from Curtin University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Sean is passionate about Western Australia's future and believes a well-functioning planning system is fundamental to the state's liveability, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
David Cresp
Representation: EFPC
Term expiry: July 2030
David Cresp is a Partner at Urbis and a highly experienced property economist with over 30 years’ experience in the Western Australian property sector.
David has a detailed understanding of the Perth property market and provides evidence-based advice across residential, retail, industrial, commercial, mixed-use and government sectors. His work supports strategic planning, investment, development and policy decisions, with a particular focus on market feasibility, land use demand, housing supply and the commercial drivers that influence urban development.
David has worked as the property economist on a number of Perth’s major redevelopment and city-shaping projects, including Elizabeth Quay, Perth City Link, Subiaco Fine China, Waterbank and the East Perth Power Station. He also leads detailed market intelligence work, including analysis of Perth’s apartment and Greenfields land markets.
David holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Property) from Curtin University.
Sam Edmonds
Representation: EFPC
Term expiry: July 2028
Sam has over 20 years’ experience as an executive strategic leader with extensive experience in finance, governance, infrastructure, and corporate services. Sam has strong industry experience in state and local government and in private consultancy in remote and metropolitan environments across Australia and New Zealand.
Sam is a certified practising accountant and is the current Head of Financial Compliance at the University of Western Australia. Sam has brought her significant expertise in finance, audit and risk, negotiation, funding management and transformational change. Sam was appointed to the Department Of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Audit and Risk Management Committee in 2024. As part of the EFPC, Sam wants “to utilise the diversity of her experience to address financial and infrastructure decision making with integrity”.
Sue Hurt
Representation: SVSPC
Term expiry: June 2027
Living in the Swan Valley for over forty years, Sue brings a wealth of experience in advocacy, representing rural residents, the equine community and business. A key focus of Sue’s is to connect stakeholder groups with relevant government agencies, thereby promoting local business and networking linkages through her popular ‘Swan Valley & Regional Networks’ community organisation. In so doing, Sue gives a voice to and facilitate apolitical and positive working relationships across a wide range of interest groups within the Swan Valley.
Sue has served the community on many committees over the years and has been awarded honours for her leadership roles including an award from Rotary International, a Paul Harris Fellow Award, the City of Swan’s Premiers Active Citizen of the Year Award and the Community Citizen of the Year Award. Sue values the objectives of the Swan Valley Planning Act to protect the distinctive rural character of the region while enabling appropriate development and strives for consistency in planning decisions within the region.
Charlie Zannino
Representation: SVSPC
Term expiry: June 2028
Charlie is a Swan Valley-raised grape grower, winery and small business owner and member of the Swan Valley Statutory Planning Committee since 2021. Charlie has served the City of Swan community as a Councillor for the Swan Valley/Gidgegannup Ward for over 30 years, with eleven years as Mayor. He also represents the City of Swan on Development WA’s Midland Land Redevelopment Committee. Charlie believes quality planning is essential to maintain the Swan Valley’s distinctive rural identity including its viticulture, agriculture, equine and tourism sectors.
