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WAPC Board and Committee Member Profiles

David Caddy

David Caddy

Chairman, Western Australian Planning Commission

Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC, EFPC

Term expiry: June 2025

David has nearly 50 years’ experience in urban and regional planning and from December 1989 until January 2015, was Managing Director of TPG + Place Match, Western Australia’s largest Planning Consultancy. David was then the firm’s Executive Chairman retiring from the firm in March 2018 when he was appointed WAPC Chairman. David has spent the past 40 years at a senior management level specialising in statutory planning, strategic and structure planning, development control, project management and documentation, planning advocacy and formulation and delivery of policy.

David has a broad range of experience incorporating master planned communities, multiple dwelling projects, industrial projects, commercial projects, education and infrastructure projects to urban design analysis and strategic planning and development of planning controls. David held the position of Professor, Urban and Regional Planning at UWA from January 2010 until December 2018 and was appointed to the position of Adjunct Professor in September 2020.

David is a Registered Planner, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.

Emma Cole

Emma Cole

Deputy Chairperson, Western Australian Planning Commission

Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC, EFPC

Term expiry: July 2028

Emma brings extensive government and board experience and is currently Chair of the State Emergency Management Committee and a Keystart Homeloans board member. Emma spent 10 years in local government, is a former Mayor of the City of Vincent and has worked in various WA Government agencies. Emma previously served as a WAPC Commissioner and a Member of the Executive, Finance and Property Committee, appointed in February 2020.

Emma’s public sector background has provided her with sound experience across public policy, governance, planning and stakeholder engagement.  Emma has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Megan Adair

Megan Adair

Representation: WAPC, SPC

Term expiry: July 2026

Megan has over 30 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in planning and land development within the State Government, Local Government and private sectors. Megan’s experience has enabled her to develop an impressive skill set including; Project management, stakeholder consultation, policy formulation, statutory and strategic planning and urban design. Megan also has experience dealing with heritage issues and challenging environmental remediation matters. 

Megan has a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Planning), is a Fellow of Leadership WA, is a current member of the Board at Stellar Living and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jane Bennett

Jane Bennett

Representation: WAPC

Term expiry: July 2026

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, a DevelopmentWA board member, 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

Helen Brookes

Representation: WAPC, SPC, SVSPC

Term expiry: July 2026

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.

Ray Haeren

Ray Haeren

Representation: WAPC, EFPC

Term expiry: July 2028

Ray has some 30 years’ urban planning experience in both the public and private sectors, currently holding the position of Planning Director at Urbis.

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.

Ryan Hall

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 Development Services with the City of Greater Geraldton and has previously held the positions of the President of the Local Government Planners Association and Board Chair of the Business Centre Pilbara. 

Ryan has a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor in Social Science (Geography).

Paul Lakey

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 member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Bianca Sandri

Bianca Sandri

Representation: WAPC

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.”

Claire Franklin

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

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 project 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

Caroline Knight

Representation: SPC

Term expiry: July 2026

Caroline was elected to the City of Mandurah Council in 2011 and has served as the Deputy Mayor since 2017. 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* 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. 

*awaiting ministerial confirmation for >2024 term.

Rebecca Moore

Rebecca Moore

Representation: SPC

Term expiry: July 2028

Rebecca is an architect with extensive experience in architecture, planning and construction. Rebecca was the first woman to be appointment as Western Australia’s Government Architect in August 2020 to February 2024 and is currently working as a development consultant. Rebecca was a member of the State Administrative Tribunal for 15 years and has substantial experience in decision-making and mediation across a broad range of design, planning, heritage and construction matters. 

Rebecca is a previous chair of the State Design Review Panel where she played a key role in the design review and assessment of the METRONET projects and significant development proposals to be determined by the WAPC. 

Rebecca holds a Master of Planning (specialising in Cultural Heritage), a Bachelor of Architecture, a Graduate Diploma in Built Environment (Construction Economics and Management) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Rebecca is a current member of the International Union of Architects Heritage and Cultural Identity Work Program and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Rachel Chapman

Rachel Chapman

Representation: EFPC

Term expiry: July 2026

Rachel is a statutory and strategic planner with 30 years’ experience in the private and public sectors and has held the role of a Director at Taylor Burrell Barnett since 2015. Rachel is a current member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Masterplanned Communities committee and a former deputy presiding member of the Department of Planning Lands and Hertiage’s Development Assessment Panel. 

In addition to strategic planning, land development and built form expertise in the metropolitan area, Rachel has worked extensively in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, including assisting on native title negotiations for the State, working directly with Aboriginal communities in the planning of remote communities, as well as townsite growth planning. Rachel’s experience enables her to be well-equipped in risk identification and mitigation, stakeholder management, project management and strategic advice.  

Rachel has a Bachelor of Science (Geography and Anthropology) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning.

Sam Edmonds

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. As part of the WAPC, Sam wants “to utilise the diversity of her experience to address financial and infrastructure decision making with integrity”.

Sue Hurt

Sue Hurt

Representation: SVSPC

Term expiry: 31 December 2024

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.

John Rex

John Rex

Representation: SVSPC

Term expiry: 31 December 2024

John is a resident of the Swan Valley region, a grape grower, orchardist and an active member of many committees in his locality. John is a previous Chair of the Swan Valley Tourism Alliance and now an ex-officio member, representing tourism interests across the Swan Valley region. John has experience in the management of small business as well as in the banking sector and has since retired.

Charlie Zannino

Charlie Zannino

Representation: SVSPC

Term expiry: 31 December 2024

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.