Managing Director Landscape Architect

Deiter Lim (he/him)

As the landscape and urban design director, Deiter has a great deal of experience in large scale masterplanning, urban, landscape and infrastructure projects. He has overseen the integrated environmental, landscape and urban design aspects for projects across a diverse field of typologies including green and brownfield residential development, activity centres, public facilities, campuses, transport and infrastructure corridors. Even as Managing Director of the firm, Deiter is directly involved in all major facets of project developments from the day to day running of the job including site analysis, conceptual design, design development, documentation through to contract administration.

Prior to joining Tract in 1996, he worked with VicRoads, being involved with the multidisciplinary teams of consultants and engineers on site analysis, masterplanning, design, documentation and administration of landscape works associated with major road and freeway projects such as the award winning Eastern Freeway extension and Eastlink.

Deiter has a wealth of experience with a wide range of significant public and private sector strategic clients, bringing a strong philosophy of collaborative integration of design teams, with client and stakeholder communication and consultation within the project management process.

Executive Director Chief Operating Officer

Lona Parker (she/her)

Lona has over 20 years consulting experience in the property industry providing commercial and financial advice to major corporations and government organisations. She has substantial experience as a lead financial advisor on major property transactions including representing land owners in commercial negotiations of structured disposal and development arrangements. Having managed numerous bid processes, Lona has both prepared and reviewed development analysis and commercial assessments across all sectors.

Often working as a client side Project Director, Lona has experience in end-to-end project delivery from master planning, design development and business case evaluation through to project procurement, funding and delivery. She has advised on commercial dealings, financing options, corporate ownership structures, assessment of project feasibilities and consideration of tender evaluation and prequalification processes.

Lona has also undertaken several projects involving options analysis and disposal of formerly contaminated land holdings and is well versed in the commercial and risk considerations involved.

Executive Director Landscape Architect

Janis Fischer (she/her)

Janis is a landscape architect with over 25 years’ experience. She’s best known for her work in shaping urban infill neighbourhoods including Moonee Valley Park, Caulfield Village, and several social and affordable housing developments. She adds value from the inception of projects to shape masterplans and ensure all landscape opportunities are realised at the earliest stage of a project. She believes that landscape architects play an important role in shaping the future of our cities and enhancing wellbeing, providing a sense of community, and mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss.

She advocates for the value of landscape in all her work.

In her 25 years of practice, she has contributed to numerous award-winning projects of all scales and types including Cairns Esplanade, Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, MPavilion 2017 and 2018, and the ‘Best in Show’ garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in 2019.

She led Tract’s landscape architecture discipline for 6 years before becoming an Executive Director in 2021. She is an active member of AILA and has chaired the Gender Equity Committee and authored their Guide to Equitable Practice.

Executive Director Town Planner

Justin Slater (he/him/his)

Justin first became interested in town planning during his high school studies having earlier grown up in shared housing and later social housing in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

With 20 years of professional experience, Justin provides statutory and strategic planning advice, development facilitation, land use planning and policy services to a range of government and private clients.

Executive Director Town Planner

Luke Chamberlain (he/him/his)

Luke has developed a broad range of skills through his work in both the private and public sectors. During his early years as a planner he was responsible for statutory and strategic planning processes in one of Melbourne’s major growth corridors. Luke was exposed to the gentle art of balancing the many competing objectives in planning and worked effectively with the full gamut of stakeholders from local communities to government agencies.

Throughout his 15 years at Tract Luke has achieved great results for clients across Victoria, including in greenfield and urban renewal areas. Over the past 10 years Luke has been a driving force in some of the most innovative infill developments in metro Melbourne, including the iconic 9-11 Cremorne Street which heralded the revitalisation of Cremorne as a cornerstone of Melbourne’s creative economy.

Luke consistently adds value to his clients’ projects through his refined skills in effective communication and negotiation. Luke understands that his clients rely on accurate and timely advice at the front end of projects and that often a planning solution requires some creative thinking.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Alistair Wenn

Alistair is currently the Manager of Tract’s Melbourne office and brings together Tract’s core disciplines of: Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture and Media. Alistair provides leadership, coordination and management of Tract’s interdisciplinary resources ensuring that Tract’s specialists are aligned with project needs and requirements to deliver the best possible project outcomes.

As Landscape Architect with two decades of experience, Alistair takes pride in delivering authentic places and spaces that balance community needs and expectations with existing context, natural environment and sustainability drivers.

Alistair’s extensive project experience covers a range of sectors including; residential communities, golf course development, public open space, sporting facilities, aged care and retirement, institutional and landscape planning projects. He is directly involved in all facets of project management and delivery form inception through to constructed project delivery.

Director of Town Planning

Andrew Robertson

Andrew is a town planner with experience in the areas of statutory and strategic planning gained from over 28 years of employment in Local Government and planning consultancy. He has extensive experience in development planning in the private and public sectors in both Victoria and Queensland. Andrew recently worked from the Brisbane and Melbourne Tract offices where he provided planning services for projects across both States. This role is integral to the multi-disciplinary approach of Tract across the planning, landscape architecture and urban design services in Melbourne. Brisbane and Sydney.

Andrew is now based in Melbourne where he has particular skills in Activity Centre planning, urban renewal projects, subdivision, master planned communities and higher density housing. Andrew has prepared and co-ordinated development approvals for subdivision and housing estates as well as small to large scale mixed use residential, commercial and industrial developments. Andrew has proven skills in negotiating development approvals and co-ordination of major project approvals from rezoning to implementation stages.

Andrew offers specialist skills in coordinating approval of large scale complex urban renewal projects on infill and brownfield sites. This includes a high level of government negotiation to facilitate rezoning requests, development plans and permit applications for new infill development. Andrew also has extensive experience in expert evidence representations at panel hearings and VCAT, and in the preparation of due diligence reviews and planning investigation reports for site acquisition and land disposal.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Ben Daly

Ben is a planning generalist whose experience extends across statutory and strategic projects of many scales. Since joining Tract Ben has enjoyed a balance of private and public sector work across Victoria including a number of local and State government secondments.

A former Committee Member of PIA’s Victorian Young Planners, Ben takes particular care and interest in providing guidance to Tract’s junior planning staff.

Ben is a committed commuter cyclist. He enjoys travel writing and has held multiple sessional teaching positions at The University of Melbourne and RMIT University.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Chris Downie

Chris is a Principal Landscape Architect and Horticulturalist with 15 years of experience in the landscape industry. With previous experience in the allied field of horticulture, Chris has brought his expertise to a broad range of projects. His experience includes the design and delivery of public domain, waterfront, residential, commercial and private landscapes.

He has a keen interest in built form, urban and rural landscapes, but naturally Chris’s previous studies influence his approach to design, which places plant selection and planting design on a footing equal to that more commonly afforded to the built form.

Chris’s horticultural expertise is similarly diverse, he has a keen interests in arboriculture, urban ecology, revegetation, sports turf management, plant selection and detailed planting design.

Chris is directly involved in all facets of project management & implementation, from master-planning and concept design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration.

Publications: National Association of City Transport Officials and Global Designing Cities Initiative. Global Street Design Guide, Island Press, Oct 2016.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Daniel Soussan

Daniel is a Principal Town Planner with over 18 years of both public and private sector experience. From 2009 to 2015, Daniel was planning co-ordinator at the City of Melbourne working on a wide range of statutory and strategic planning projects within what was at the time the fastest growing municipality in Australia. During this time Daniel worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from public realm plans, to large scale urban renewal projects in Melbourne’s growth areas (Docklands, Fishermans Bend, City North and Arden-Macaulay) to some of Melbourne’s tallest residential skyscrapers.

Over the course of his career Daniel has developed excellent working relationships with a wide range of government and private stakeholders. He has highly developed skills in negotiation, consultation and development facilitation.

Daniel has expertise in high density residential developments, student accommodation, education facilities, industrial and commercial developments, liquor licensing and gaming applications, as well as a highly developed appreciation of urban design and heritage.

Daniel is a creative and innovative thinker with a no-nonsense practical approach to achieving positive planning solutions. Daniel also has considerable experience appearing before VCAT as both an advocate and expert witness.

Senior Principal Urban Designer

Danielle McCann (she/her/hers)

Danielle is an urban designer and Registered Landscape Architect with broad range of experience in the areas of strategic planning, master planning and landscape design, within metropolitan and regional Victoria, as well as nationally and internationally. She enjoys the variety and challenge that comes from the diverse range of the projects she is able to work on as part of her role and is keen to constantly expand her knowledge and experience across all facets of the property industry.

For Danielle, urban design and landscape architecture is about delivering site responsive and appropriate design outcomes that respond to the needs of the community. With experience in delivering projects for both the public and private sector, she understands the importance of providing design solutions that are realistic, feasible and achievable and focused on the people that will use and enjoy them.

Danielle is currently the project manager on a number of greenfield projects including Woodlea, Springwood Estate and Ascot Estate. Woodlea is one of Melbourne’s largest and fastest growing new communities, located in the western growth corridor. Woodlea is also the largest master planned community in Australia to achieve all six of the EnviroDevelopment accreditation ‘leaves’ which is performance based on a broad range of elements including: ecosystems, water, energy, waste, materials and community’.

Danielle has recently assisted Woodlea in gaining planning approval for Precinct 3 and 6, which include over 2000 residential lots. It is through her involvement on such greenfield developments that Danielle is able to realise her passion for urban design and placemaking.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Dave Cameron

Since establishing Tract’s landscape capabilities in Geelong and regional Victoria over six years ago, Dave has extended Tract’s already established legacy of creating great places in and around Victoria’s second city.

Dave brings significant industry experience and expertise having worked in both Sydney and Melbourne delivering on the entire design process from concept inception through to project delivery and contract administration across a wide variety of projects including complex master-planned residential communities in Melbourne’s growth corridor, open space, heritage, environmental, civic, retail, industrial and institutional.

Dave’s leadership of Tract’s Geelong landscape team has seen it grow to seven staff since 2014, further supported by a staff body of over 200 nationally.

An added string of Dave’s bow is his successful completion of a Masters of Planning at Deakin University, where he specialised in the areas of urban waterfront renewal and revitalisation.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Emma Stevens

Emma is a registered Landscape Architect with a keen interest in built form and urban landscapes, having previously completed a combined degree in Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Since her commencement at Tract in 2007, Emma has worked on a diverse range of projects including public realm, tourism, medium-high density developments, education, masterplanning, and community developments. During this time, she is proud to have been part of the teams which delivered the AILA award winning Penguins Plus Viewing Area (2016) and St Kilda Foreshore Connections project (2010), and the 2016 UDIA award winning Somerfield Estate (a project she managed the landscape delivery of, for almost a decade).

Emma is involved in all aspects of project management and implementation, from masterplanning and concept design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration.

Emma is excited by landscape architecture’s capacity to uplift our environment. She has a particular interest in design research and environmental psychology – the interplay between individuals and their surroundings, and the impact of architecture and landscape on human physiology and well-being.

Director of Landscape Architecture

George Gallagher

George’s skills in landscape architecture and civil engineering enable him to translate design concepts into built form.

Since joining Tract in 1979, he has been responsible for the resolution of complex design and technical issues relating to a wide range of commissions including urban, waterfront, institutional, infrastructure, recreational and environmental rehabilitation.

Specialising in site detail design, George’s particular interest is in working with clients, design professionals and construction industry to add value and quality to projects. By repeatedly demonstrating the tangible advantages which his skills can bring to the tasks of problem analysis, and resolution, George continues the Tract tradition of actively promoting landscape architecture in Australia.

George’s work is integral to Tract’s major projects throughout Australia and overseas, often involving extended periods of on-site residency, where his natural enthusiasm and dedication have not only added to the success of the project, but also to the acceptance of this profession. As the manager of Tract’s Sydney office, he has been responsible for all design, documentation and technical issues related to the NSW commissions since 1988.

Director of Town Planning and Landscape Architecture

Graeme Harvison

Graeme offers over forty years of experience in the field of landscape architecture, urban design and master planning. He has been extensively involved in the planning and design of major infrastructure, foreshore and public realm, commercial, residential, industrial, education, resort and tourism projects throughout the world, including working extensively in Australia.

Graeme has held managerial roles within a global design practices During this time Graeme also took on several international roles at a management level Board Representative of Suzhou Joint Venture (Jinji Lake). He has held Board positions on Alliance Projects for large infrastructure projects including the Inner Northern Busway, Brisbane.

Graeme is dedicated to the creation of attractive and functional environments that represent innovative, site responsive design solutions. His work has been recognised with a number of industry awards. He is a strong supporter of collaborative teamwork and leads with an ongoing commitment to high quality, integrated, multidisciplinary design.

Combining a comprehensive understanding of urban planning issues with strong design skills, his responsibilities have ranged from broad-scale structure planning and project conceptualisation through to detailed urban design implementation.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Greg Wood

Greg is a town planner with over 35 years’ experience in statutory and strategic planning. His experience encompasses a wide range of expertise involving inner metropolitan planning (including heritage planning), outer Metropolitan planning and regional planning.

Concentrating primarily on strategic land use planning since the 1990’s, Greg has developed experience in Greenfields Urban Planning, New Town Development and Rural Land Use Planning in both the public and private sector, this includes policy development, strategic plan development, planning Scheme amendments and whole of planning process management through to implementation.

Greg’s extensive experience in local government has enabled him to implement, on the ground, policy that he has been involved in developing giving a unique insight into effective planning for implementation. Greg has particular experience in preparation and implementation of development contribution plans having developed Wyndham’s policy in the mid 1990’s, managing the scheme, monitoring development contributions income and expenditure and assisting in overseeing the expenditure on infrastructure development.

More recently providing advice and facilitating the implementation of DCP’s and the emerging ICP plans has been a specific focus. Regional and peri urban planning is an increasing focus at a strategic planning level.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Greg Teague

Greg is a Senior Principal Landscape Architect with over 10 years’ experience working across a range of unique public realm projects primarily focused on infrastructure work.

Greg’s extensive experience in delivering high-profile railway infrastructure projects in Melbourne is evident in his work on the South Morang Rail Extension Project (2012), and his current work on the North Western Program Alliance as the Landscape Architecture lead. He has successfully overseen the management and design of various railway grade separations, new railway stations and public realm associated with the rail corridor.

Currently, Greg is leading the delivery of the Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project. Consisting of Pakenham Station and East Pakenham Station, connected by 2kms of linear public realm. His role is characterised by a collaborative design approach with clients, consultants and stakeholders.

Greg is a regular attendee and presenter at workshops with key stakeholders and advisory panels, such as the Office of The Victorian Government Architect.

Greg also possesses exceptional technical, graphic and 3D skills that have led him to be a valuable staff member and guest speaker at the School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Jess Noonan (she/her/hers)

Jess has held a number of key town planning positions in the industry. Jess has over 10 years of experience working across statutory, strategic and social planning projects. Jess is also the Co-Founder of the Planning Xchange podcast, an independent podcast which seeks to promote a better understanding of urban affairs and city design across Australia.

Jess has also completed a Masters in Public Health at Deakin University. Her thesis investigated the factors contributing to social connectedness in older Australians living in aged care facilities. Jess has a true passion for creating and designing environments which consider the determinants of health and promote healthy living principles.

Jess has had experience with a diverse range of urban planning projects, including a range of approvals for high profile, medium and high-density mixed-use developments, greenfield subdivision and various tourism-based developments. Jess also has extensive experience as a strategic and social planner having provided town planning and social planning inputs on a number of large structure plans, development plans and urban design framework plans. Jess specialises in social planning matters, having prepared community infrastructure plans and economic, social and land use assessments for various metro and regional municipalities. Jess has a particular understanding of demographics and how this can influence long-term strategic planning.

Jess is an active participant in the planning industry and has established contacts amongst consultants, developers and Government. She has previously held a number of roles with the Planning Institute of Australia, including the National Young Planner Representative for Victoria between 2009-2012, Chair of the Social Planning Chapter for the Victorian Division and since 2018 has held the position of Vice-President of the PIA Victoria Division Committee. In 2011, Jess was awarded Young Planner of the Year by the Planning Institute of Australia and in 2017 was awarded the Female Achiever of the Year Award from the Planning Institute of Australia and the Women’s Planning Network.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Joanne Green (she/her)

Joanne is a Registered Landscape Architect with over 15 years’ experience in both Australia and the UK.

Her project experience includes mixed-use, commercial, retail, residential developments and institutional projects with a particular interest working on mixed use and commercial projects that include public realm and podium level landscapes. Joanne has significant experience working in the growth areas delivering open spaces for a number of developers across Victorian Local Authorities.

Joanne has a keen interest in the support and development of junior staff and has been involved in the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) registration programme having mentored a number of landscape architects to successful registration.

During her time in London Joanne worked on a number of large scale mixed use and commercial public realm projects from concept to construction within central London as well as the Masterplanning of institutional facilities across the UK.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Joseph Indomenico

Joseph is a Senior Principal in Tract’s Melbourne planning team. In his 15 years at Tract, Joseph has developed a strong interest in medium and high density development in and around metropolitan Melbourne. He is passionate about good design and the opportunities that present for both the private and public sectors with a growing population.

Joseph’s knowledge of the planning system, and the nuances that exist within it, allows him to provide quick and value-adding planning advice, and preparation and coordination planning approval services.

Joseph is a firm believer in collaboration and building strong relationships with clients, industry colleagues, and external stakeholders. He also prides himself on his fastidious project management skills and ability to think outside of the square to find practical solutions whilst minimising risk.

Joseph has extensive experience in community engagement, local government and parliamentary briefings and presentations, and providing representation at VCAT and Planning Panel Hearings.

Director of Landscape Architecture

Julie Lee (she/her/hers)

Specialising in urban settings that pair a comprehensive knowledge of policy and process, Julie has delivered many awards for master planning and design outcomes across Australia and internationally. As a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Julie continues to successfully deliver a range of infrastructure, health, educational, cultural, housing and public landscape projects.

She is well informed on statutory policy and guidelines at state and local level, through practice and her involvement with advocacy as member of AILA’s Advocacy committee and representing AILA on the AIA Built Environment Committee. Julie was the co-author of the Living Streets Paper on behalf of AILA to seek a new approach to greening our mature suburbs.

Julie’s experience has been informed through rigorous community engagement and that good design needs to be a process that brings all significant stakeholders together to ensure there is ownership around decision making processes.

More recently on the State Design Review Panel, Julie has reviewed state significant developments including strategic planning of precincts, hospitals and new apartments. She also consults for TfNSW as a panel member to review major infrastructure developments. Her placemaking public realm experience encompassing spatial frameworks, master planning, active transport and strategic greening projects. In 2022, she was on the Places to Roam Regional Trails grant panel for DPIE.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Katie Murphy

With a strong background in both statutory and strategic planning, Katie has over eighteen years’ experience as a Town Planner. Katie is an accomplished advocate for her clients across a range of projects, and is extensively skilled in the planning application and coordination processes. She has secured town-planning approvals for a raft of projects spanning various sectors.

Within the residential sector, Katie has coordinated approvals for several high yielding developments including student apartment projects.

Katie has broad experience in the non-residential sector, having facilitated approvals for a range of land uses, including emergency services facilities, educational facilities and places of worship. In recent years, Katie has also developed a key expertise in tourism projects and has coordinated the planning approvals for several major recreational, resort and accommodation projects within Victoria.

She has gained expertise in strategic planning processes having coordinated amendments in both regional, growth area and urban settings. Her involvement in the new communities sector spans from Precinct Structure Plan inception to staged subdivision delivery. Katie has provided consultant town planning advice and advocacy for the City of Darebin as part of two successful planning scheme amendments implementing the new residential zones. As an example of one of her many tourism projects, she secured the site specific rezoning of the RACV Cape Schanck Resort to facilitate its recent redevelopment.

By coordinating a broad range of projects, she continues to consolidate her proficiency with the Victoria Planning Provisions and associated land use policy and allied legislation. The diversity inherent in the complex projects she manages keeps Katie’s passion for planning alive. Her commitment to applying rigour to project management produces excellent results for her clients and a track record of successful outcomes.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Kylie Jordan

Kylie is a Principal Landscape Architect at Tract with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Her skills combine a high degree of artistic detail and technical knowledge to enable the design and implementation of site responsive landscape design projects – meeting both client and community expectations.

Kylie’s professional experience centres upon growing communities, building connections and strengthening the community’s attachment to place. Of particular interest to her, is to improve the public amenity of designed stormwater and environmental systems. Kylie furthers her understanding of new and emerging practices through the inspiration of industry leaders and colleagues at seminars and national conferences.

Through a variety of mostly public domain projects (including open space reserves, trails, streetscapes, wetlands, shelters and playground design), Kylie manages all stages of the design process including marketing, design, documentation and contract administration – with a keen intention to ensure the design objective is followed through to completion.

She regularly collaborates with various local councils and other authority regulators; and is involved in all aspects of project management including client liaison, design, approval processes, budgeting, time commitments and quality control.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Leah Tait

Leah is a talented Landscape Architect with over 16 years’ experience. During this time, she has contributed a wide range of projects including mixed used, residential, civic and large-scale infrastructure projects throughout Australia.

Leah excels in multidisciplinary environments, is hard working, dedicated and determined to deliver quality outcomes for every project. She is confident in all aspect of project delivery, from project management, design documentation through to construction administration.

Her enthusiasm for design lies in the integration between landscape and built environment, and she is skilled in the interpretation of conceptual design into detailed design outcomes through to completion of project.

She has wealth of DDA and standard compliance experience in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design and has a particular interest in how we deliver innovative solutions for every project.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Mariano Lopez

Mariano completed the Master of Landscape Architecture in 2006 at the University of Melbourne. He also has a bachelor degree in Architecture from Ricardo Palma University in Peru with several years of work experience within the industry.

He has been a part of the Tract team since 2005, working in both Melbourne and Suzhou, China. During this time Mariano has contributed to the development of a range of landscape & urban design projects through all levels of the design process, from strategic planning and schematic design to design development and construction documentation.

Mariano has extensive experience in the design of education facilities. He brings a wealth of experience and design understanding on recent trends in University and School design, and the ways in which campuses now utilize their outdoor spaces as an extension of the teaching environment. Current projects include Shepparton School and Latrobe University Garden View.

Mariano is motivated by the application of innovative design strategies to improve the quality of landscape and open spaces. He is consistently dedicated to the pursuit of integrated design solutions and the delivery of projects to the highest standard.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Matthew Easton

Matthew is a landscape architect with experience in environmental management and urban landscape projects. His studies have broadened his understanding of environmental processes and the legislative framework used to manage the environment. This experience has been applied to his work in landscape architecture. In mid-1994, Matthew joined Tract and has since been involved in the design, documentation and supervision of a number of projects.

Matthew has dealt with a broad range of site planning and residential developments throughout his career. He has been project landscape architect for the works at Darling Island from the master planning stage through to construction as well as many other residential projects. Matthew has also been involved with the environmental review process of Pacific Dunes Golf Course and residential estates, which needed to address the impacts of the development on a number of environmentally sensitive areas. Matthew is responsible for the environmental management of projects.

Matthew has received Tract’s travelling scholarship to undertake a study tour of Germany, Italy, France. During these tours he has built on his urban design and environmental management knowledge and explored current best practice project examples including: Water sensitive urban design practices at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin; Kronsberg, Hanover; and a subdivision in Potsdam, Greenwall Technologies – including the work of Patrick Blanc in Paris and Singapore and Public Spaces and their use – Throughout Europe including the urban renewal of Zurich, Switzerland, The heritage plazas of Italy and Bridges – including the works of Calatrava in Spain, Wave and Helix bridges in Singapore

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Melinda Blunt

Melinda joined Tract’s Geelong office in August of 2019 expanding the senior team and extending Tract’s landscape capabilities in Geelong and regional Victoria.

Melinda has applied her passion for timeless, site specific design solutions across a broad range of landscape architectural project sectors, including institutional, public realm, commercial development, medium density housing and high-end residential. She is driven by a passion to create landscapes that mutually benefit people and the environment.

Prior to joining Tract, Melinda worked in the profession in the United States where she was involved in all aspects of project management & implementation from conceptual design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Melissa Vukovic

Melissa is a Landscape Architect with 15 years of experience in the development industry. Prior to commencing at Tract in 2007, she worked at a smaller Melbourne practice where she gained experience in both on-structure public realm landscape, and waterways.

Whilst at Tract, Melissa has worked on many facets of Landscape Architecture projects including aged care, public realm, medium and high density housing, commercial, wetlands and community developments. She was heavily involved in the delivery of the 2015 UDIA award winning Acacia Place development in Abbotsford.

Melissa is involved in all aspects of project management & implementation from master planning and conceptual design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration. She prides herself on being enormously capable, and is a clear and direct communicator.

Melissa enjoys working on challenging projects and solving difficult problems with innovative design solutions, whether at the design phase or during construction. She relishes the opportunity to work collaboratively within a team to ensure the best outcomes for every project she is involved with.
Melissa is a registered landscape architect, and a 500 Women in Property participant.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Meredith Hartigan (she/her/hers)

Meredith leads the Brisbane Planning and Urban Design team and has over 12 years’ experience as a town planner in South East Queensland, including over seven years in local government. Meredith has extensive knowledge of local government statutory planning processes and experience across of a range of residential, commercial and large scale greenfield projects, as well as strong skills in the leadership and management of multi-disciplinary teams, project coordination and stakeholder liaison.

Meredith regularly assists clients with advice on statutory approval pathways, and has extensive experience with standard and alternative pathways under the Planning Act 2016 including standard RAL and MCU applications, variation requests for alternative planning provisions and Ministerial Infrastructure Designations.

Meredith’s key strengths are in the understanding, interpretation and application of statutory planning processes to assist clients with strategic advice to inform due diligence and approval processes. Meredith’s excels in understanding client needs, and building strong networks and relationships with clients and industry contacts to achieve optimal project outcomes.

Meredith also has experience in strategic masterplanning and urban design projects, excelling in synthesising and simplifying complex planning and design ideas into policies and guidelines to suit a wide range of end users.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Mia Zar (she/her/hers)

Mia is a passionate planning professional with over ten years’ experience working in both local government and private consultancy. Prior to studying planning, Mia was employed in the financial services and educational sectors.

This diverse experience informs Mia’s holistic approach to her role as a planning consultant where she applies her knowledge of the planning system, local government process and the development market to provide clear and accurate advice to clients.

Mia is particularly skilled in managing complex projects and has experience with a broad range of planning applications including residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial and community uses throughout Victoria.

Over recent years, Mia has developed a strong interest in social inclusion and housing affordability and is a strong advocate for improved state and local government policy in these areas.

Mia enjoys the challenge of keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of planning and has a keen interest in worldwide trends and best practice in planning, urban design and sustainability and recently took part in a study tour of Singapore with the Property Council of Australia.

Media Senior Principal

Michael Cowled

Michael is a creative designer with an aptitude for designing narratives and innovative visualisations. He founded Tract’s Media department in 2002, and since then, has been heading up a highly creative design team to bring innovation and a design eye to the production of videos, animations, photography, graphic design and 3D visualisations.

Michael and Tract’s Media team bring a highly evolved creative eye to graphic, web and new media productions for the land management industry, specializing in providing intuitive order and legibility to detailed projects through thoughtful graphic design and visualisation.

In addition, Michael and the Media team perform a range of corporate design, advertising and information management tasks to support Tract’s Landscape Architecture, Planning and Urban Design disciplines including the creation and maintenance of fully networked digital asset libraries, knowledge sharing platforms and design training.

Senior Principal Urban Designer

Michael Natoli

Michael is a passionate and dedicated Urban Designer with 20 years experience across a broad range of urban design and strategic planning projects. He is a creative and innovative thinker, driven by creating and improving communities.

Michael brings a highly developed appreciation of Urban Design principles and the application of these in creating a unique sense of place in both the public and private realms. He uses this understanding to develop urban design concepts, masterplans, land use and built form strategies and design guidelines for projects at all scales. With a good mix of public and private sector projects, Michael understands the needs and requirements of a range of planning and design clients.

Michael has extensive experience in masterplanning communities of various scales from the regional and corridor level through to subdivision design and site layouts. He has a particular strength in the clear representation and communication of design analysis, concepts, policies and guidelines.

Director of Landscape Architecture

Mike Stokes

Mike’s experience in landscape and urban design, (practiced within a landscape architectural context for over 35 years), combined with formal training in Architecture, positions him as one of the leading practitioners of this design form in Australia.

Mike’s core creativity was refined and reinforced at Prahran College of Advanced Education, widely acknowledged as the most innovative art and design school in Australia, provided a unique platform for studies in Art, Industrial Design. After graduating in Architecture, Mike honed his design skills with several leading architectural design firms including Gunn Hayball Architects.

A strong interest in the integration of built form with the landscape was the impetus to join Tract Consultants, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers and Town Planners in 1984, where he became Director in 1990.

A career-long fascination with place, defined by the underlying complexities of scale, activity, theme and character has been a core driver of Mike’s career, and the basis of his considerable expertise.

Mike regularly travels abroad to keep abreast with design and development trends, the most recent focusing on mixed use high density residential developments along the West coast of USA and Canada.

Director of Town Planning

Nevan Wadeson

Nevan is one of the Directors of Planning in the Melbourne office of Tract. Nevan joined Tract in 1992, having worked as an assistant Regional Manager at the Victorian Department of Planning. In that role he exercised delegated responsibility for deciding planning application requirements and approving major planning proposals on behalf of the Minister for Planning and Housing.

Nevan has extensive experience in the development and implementation of statutory and strategic planning in Victoria and Australia. With over twenty five years work in the private and public sectors, he has been involved in many diverse areas of planning and has comprehensive skills in statutory and strategic planning; local, metropolitan and state urban and non-urban planning; environmental planning; presentation of major planning appeal and amendment hearing cases; negotiating at senior levels; project team management work; policy development and implementation; and amendment preparation and recommendation for approval.

Nevan has been responsible for the management and completion of a variety of individual and team projects for corporate, private, local and State Government clients. He regularly provides comprehensive strategic and statutory planning advice on major projects and practical urban design and development expertise for clients.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Nick Clements

Nick is a statutory and strategic planner with significant experience in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Having spent a significant period of time in Tract’s Melbourne office, Nick now jointly leads the expanding team in Tract’s Geelong office.

After relocating his family to Geelong, Nick has immersed himself in the intricacies of the local development industry and he prides himself on having an excellent understanding of Geelong and the wider region’s rapidly changing industry conditions. He is proud to be part of the changing demographics of Geelong and looks forward to being a resident of the region for many more years to come.

Nick was previously a committee member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association’s Young Professionals Group and is currently the Chair of the Geelong Chapter of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Nick has a particular interest in the planning for and delivery of recreational and tourism projects and the delivery of major metropolitan and regional growth areas.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect and Urban Designer

Rob Copeland

Rob is a passionate and accomplished Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with an exceptional track record for developing complex and inclusive residential and mixed-use communities; open space, sports and recreational facilities; comprehensive streetscapes and public realm. He has extensive experience in local, regional and global roles within renowned design companies based in Australia and United Kingdom. Rob has a proven ability to deliver high quality projects, lead teams and satisfy complex project requirements as well as community and client expectations.

In each project, he seeks to integrate a considered urban design and landscape that responds to the site and context, incorporating robust and honest detailing and materiality, equitable and inclusive access, public art and enjoyment, sustainability and biodiversity, and to deliver beauty and logical simplicity which allows ‘design’ to be subsumed by ‘place’.

Rob has extensive experience in engaging with diverse range of stakeholders and co-consultants to manage complex and significant projects – achieving cost and quality targets, client requirements, design integration and sustainability. Throughout his career, he has developed understanding of community, architectural and political aspects of mixed-use development and management of resultant impacts on delivery of built form.

Senior Principal Landscape Architect

Ryan Davis

Ryan has been a member of the Tract team since 2007. During his time at Tract Ryan has been involved in a wide range of projects across the industry including; greenfield residential, high density living projects, brownfield residential, private residences, memorial sites, urban squares and public parks and playgrounds. Ryan has significant experience working in the growth areas delivering new residential communities and open spaces for several developers across Victorian Local Authorities.

Ryan’s particular areas of interest include public parks & plazas, animal environments and memorial spaces and how landscape can impact and inform the user experience.

Working on this wide range of projects has given Ryan experience in a number of aspects of landscape architecture across all project phases from site master planning, design development & documentation, project management and contract administration.

Senior Principal Town Planner

Simon Loader (he/him/his)

Simon is an esteemed Senior Principal in Tract’s planning team who connects, nurtures and delivers. Armed with an extensive background in both local government and private consultancy, he has led major projects across statutory and strategic planning fields.

When you work with Simon, you’re working in synergy as a team. He understands that to deliver results, you firstly need to understand the vision. Simon seeks the strengths that come from collaboration, and thrives on building relationships with clients, project teams and stakeholders. His network is wide, and his dedication deep.

Drawn to the ever-changing landscape of regional Victoria, he appreciates the true potential of the area and the endless opportunities it holds for future generations. He was a key player in growing the Geelong office, while developing a rich knowledge of the region, its people and their needs.

Simon also brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, briefings and presentations, preparing planning scheme amendments and development plans, and providing representation at VCAT and Planning Panel hearings.

Senior Principal

Will Dodgin

With over 20 years of design and project management experience, Will leads Tract’s National Digital Engineering strategy, overseeing how design layouts and models are shared in project management systems across CAD/BIM platforms.

He joined Tract in 2010 with significant experience in golf course design and sports field construction in Europe and the Middle East. His wide skill set, focusing on landform design, has helped shape and mould many Tract projects across urban and landscape design. Will works across all stages of the project lifecycle, from; developing large scale landform manipulation concepts, implementing CAD/BIM frameworks on complex infrastructure projects, to detailing intricate path and terrace layouts within stringent construction standards.

Beyond overseeing the planning and construction of many successful Tract projects, Will also leads the implementation of Tract’s Quality Management System (QMS) as well as the Integrated Management System (IMS) across Tract’s national framework, in accordance with the international ISO 9001 standard.

Principal Landscape Architect

Adam Jeffery

Adam is a Principal Landscape Architect and Horticulturalist, with professional experience in various projects, from Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessments (LCVIA) to horticultural, landscape architecture and master planning projects.

Throughout his eleven-year career as a landscape architect, Adam has developed a broad skill set, enabling him to complete an array of complex and diverse projects. In addition, he has built up an extensive portfolio within the specialist area of LCVIA. Projects include landscape-scale assessments of various types, including land use planning and development; infrastructure projects, including road, rail, solar power, and wind power; and new development within sensitive locations.

Adam also has experience in landscape design, where he provides a vital role in the master planning and documentation of public domain and open space projects. This experience provides an increased understanding of the opportunities and limitations of projects with landscape outcomes. Adam also has strengths in teamwork, collaboration, and project management.

Principal BIM Manager

Alex Hutchins

Alex joined Tract in 2021 with over 10 years of experience working on BIM projects in the built environment industry. His architectural background provides a good understanding of what all stakeholders need to work together in a collaborative environment.

Design Technology is where Alex’s experience in Project Management and Architecture come together. Retaining his passion for good design, he believes Design Technology can achieve efficiencies, elevate design solutions, and provide feedback on the performance of realised spaces.

At Tract, Alex manages the implementation and use of Revit and other Autodesk products. He understands the relevance of BIM at every stage of a project, realising it both in processes and completed and coordinated deliverables.

Principal Landscape Architect

Anne Lucas (she/her/hers)

Anne is a Landscape Architect with over 25 years experience, working in private practices in the United Kingdom and Australia. She has acquired expertise across the breadth of the landscape architecture profession, including site assessment, visual impact studies, conceptual design, heritage restoration and conservation, master planning, urban renewal strategies, design and documentation packages for construction and contract administration.

Her experience covers a wide range of project types from commercial development to public realm spaces, streetscapes and metro infrastructure. Anne has experience of managing complex projects and much enjoys the collaboration of the multidisciplinary team environment.

Past notable projects include design and delivery of the public domain for Sydney Metro North West, numerous Health sector projects from precinct master planning to implementation and has also enjoyed a focus on creation of some of Sydney’s South West residential estate creation including master planning, recreational parks, sporting precincts, cycleway networks, wetland recreation and community facilities.

Her broad experience gained over the years of designing public domain allows her to appreciate the importance of understanding the project place and how to respect this with an appropriate project response, as well as the significance of early and open cross discipline conversations. Anne also has many years’ experience with stakeholder and community engagement and enjoys this listening, learning and knowledge sharing role.

Principal Town Planner

Ben Cooke

Ben is an articulate and experienced Principal Town Planner.

He works across a diverse range of statutory and strategic planning projects including rezoning applications, planning scheme amendments, due diligence analysis and planning permit applications. Ben is recognised as a successful advocate for projects in established urban and suburban contexts and has a strong working knowledge of the Victorian Planning System.

Ben is particularly skilful in his urban design and strategic planning expertise which enables him to holistically assist with design-focused projects. Ben is also a recognised leader in encouraging improved consultation and engagement practices within planning and development proposals to improve public planning discourse as well as strengthen the outcomes of people oriented projects.

Ben has a Master of Urban Planning (University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Urban & Regional Planning / Bachelor Landscape Architecture (RMIT University) and holds tutoring positions at both universities. Ben is an active member of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), is a former committee member of the Victorian Young Planners (VYP), was the co-convenor of the 2018 PIA Symposium and is a longstanding participant in the PIA mentoring program.

Ben has a particular passion in advocating for improved urban governance structures and decision-making processes which better align with best practice planning and design outcomes.

Principal Landscape Architect

Bridget Mcguigan (she/her/hers)

Bridget is a Landscape Architect bringing to Tract, ten years’ experience in the field in both Australia and England.

Bridget has led and collaborated on diverse projects ranging from public realm, urban design and regeneration, infrastructure, commercial spaces, streetscape revitalisation, residential masterplanning, public parks and playgrounds, community productive gardens, to climate change training and community workshops.

She strives to enhance the unique the environmental and experiential qualities of each site, drawing inspiration from contrasting landscapes, cultures and experiences, within the context of progressing towards sustainable design outcomes.

Bridget is passionate about guiding masterplan concepts and visualisations, to detailed design development, through to construction, providing a well-rounded collaborative design journey.

Principal Town Planner

Cristen Sullivan (she/her/hers)

Cristen Sullivan is a Principal Planner with over 20 years industry experience, having previously worked with Glen Eira and Darebin City Councils and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

Cristen has extensive experience in all areas of planning, particularly within local government with a focus on statutory planning, drafting planning scheme provisions, process improvement and planning reform. She has a detailed understanding of the Victorian Planning System its strengths and its challenges. Her background in local and state government provides her with a strong understanding of the mechanisms that guide government decision making.

As part of her work in DELWP’s Smart Planning Program, Cristen has worked on various aspects of planning reform including drafting the residential extension to VicSmart and the drafting of multiple reforms to the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) as part of VC Amendments. Cristen has played a key role in the creation of the Victorian state-wide Planning Policy Framework (PPF) including creating the structure and framework, drafting policy clauses and associated amendments to the VPP and creating guidance and other supporting documentation. Most recently, Cristen worked with DELWP on the translation of Local Planning Policy Frameworks into the PPF.

Principal Town Planner

Elle Harrington (she/her)

Elle is a passionate planning professional with experience working in both public sector and private consultancy. This diverse experience allows Elle to successfully navigate complex planning approvals involving a broad range of stakeholders. She applies her knowledge of the planning system from the public and private perspective to provide clear and accurate advice and deliver positive outcomes for her clients and the community.

Elle has a broad range of experience with planning processes and approvals across Victoria, including planning permit applications, planning scheme amendments, rezoning, VCAT advocacy, representation at planning panels and town planning evidence. Elle is particularly skilled in managing large, complex projects and has experience with a broad range of planning applications including residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial and community uses.

Elle is driven by a desire to help shape the way people experience the city and their environments. She enjoys challenging the status quo and finding innovative solutions to achieving best practice outcomes.

Elle also has a strong interest in natural conservation and environmental sustainability, having previously held roles at not-for-profit organisations which have successfully advocated for greater protection of important biodiversity sites.

Principal BIM Designer

Elise Bertret

Elise joined Tract in 2016 with over 10 years’ overseas experience in the architectural and engineering industries. Her engineering background combined with her thorough CAD and 3D modelling skills brings a high level of technical expertise to our team.

Through her ability to visualise complex 3D model solutions, Elise contributes to a wide range of landscape projects – from small playgrounds and urban design frameworks to large, state level infrastructure projects.

Elise now leads many of Tract’s BIM collaboration projects, where she ensures Tract’s landscape grading and landform design is produced and delivered on time and budget, in 3D to widespread project stakeholders.

Elise is passionate about the use and growth of 3D and BIM across all projects as the evolution of CAD towards BIM becomes the norm. She actively participates in industry-related events to ensure Tract continues to lead the way in these rapidly evolving technologies.

Principal Landscape Architect

Esther Barker

Esther is a registered Landscape Architect with experience across a variety of public and private projects, including residential and high-density developments, educational and sporting facilities and health precincts. Over this time she has developed a skill set that lends itself to the design and delivery of site specific outcomes in a timely and professional manner.

Esther is involved in all aspects of project design and delivery from initial schematic design and development through to detailed documentation, contract administration and on-site construction administration.

Esther has a keen interest in the benefits of landscape on community health and wellbeing and enjoys working both independently and as part of a team to develop and deliver diverse and sustainable landscapes that consider key social, environmental and economic issues.

Principal Landscape Architect

Hayley Valentine (she/her/hers)

Hayley has 20 years of experience in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, though also has qualifications and working experience in a range of agriculture fields. Drawing on this breadth of experience, coupled with living in numerous countries when young, Hayley can understand a wide range of perspectives. Giving her the ability to find creative solutions that produce pleasing outcomes that satisfy a range of stakeholders.

Hayley relishes the opportunity her current role offers to improve lifestyles and connections with the outdoors and landscape in general. Understanding that designed outdoor spaces are increasingly becoming integral to the experience of the outdoors, Hayley takes pride in working to create spaces that give to the community with opportunity for users to interact on a close level, should they choose. Hayley’s particular interest in plants and the innate connection to nature is the incentive to use public open spaces to improve quality of life for users, whether it be passing though, or the longer-term.

Hayley works to create opportunity for enjoyable interactions with the outdoors to generate positive connections that then filter into everyday life. As more time is spent indoors, it is critical that outdoor spaces provide the biophilic connection to nature and connection to community in a pleasant, usable space.

Hayley has experience in the full life of projects, from project conception discussions, master planning & concepts, through to documentation and construction administration and completion. Recent projects include district and local play spaces, wetlands and parks. Recently delivering a range of parks and beautification works at Merrifield by MAB, and Waverly Park’s major parklands, Finale Park, by Mirvac.

Principal Landscape Architect and Urban Designer

Heath Edwards

Heath is a passionate advocate for the design & planning professions in South Australia.

Heath is active with both the Planning Institute and Institute of Landscape Architects, serving as State Co-President for AILA in 2014-2015 and serving on Awards juries for both Institutes over many years. In 2016 Heath was awarded as a Fellow of AILA for his services to the profession.

With a career that spans public sector and private practice, Heath has been fortunate enough to work on an extremely broad range of projects.

Heath is sought after for his planning and design expertise for design review panels, guest critics for the University of Adelaide and was on the City of Adelaide CAP Panel from 2017-2019. He is a current deputy member of the City of West Torrens CAP.

Principal Town Planner

Heidi Duncan (she/her/hers)

Heidi is a qualified town planner with nine years’ experience working in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She has worked in both the private and public sector, and her experience includes preparing, managing and assessing development applications for residential, education, commercial and industrial land uses. Her experience in the industry also includes undertaking socioeconomic impact assessments, project management, tender evaluation, reviewing infrastructure and financial contributions for projects, duty planning, development feasibility investigations and undertaking market analysis for clients.

Heidi’s experience with development management is underpinned by her ability to identify and satisfy client needs, maintain an efficient working relationship with local planning officers and her colleagues, and her ability to accurately interpret statutory planning instruments.

Heidi has a passion for achieving social value in her projects, with a focus on improving sustainability, achieving good design, and providing housing choice.

Principal Town Planner

Jackie Kirby (she/her)

Jackie Kirby is a Principal Town Planner with industry experience in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. With a strong background in both statutory and strategic planning, she assists a range of clients within the property industry in navigating the planning system through all stages of development, from feasibility through to completion of construction and opening.

Her experience includes a broad range of planning permit applications, planning scheme amendments, strategic planning, and representation of landowners. This experience has been gained within areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne, major regional centres in Victoria, rural Victoria, and Commonwealth airport land.

Her statutory planning experience includes managing and facilitating planning approvals for major and complex developments. Her strategic planning experience includes the development of planning policy, preparation of planning approval frameworks, Development Plans, highest and best use analyses and the preparation of design guidelines.

Since joining Tract in 2017, Jackie has extended her interest in large and complex planning applications, including ongoing expansion of the Tarneit Park Hub Centre and Manor Lakes Town Centre, as well as involvement in a range of State Government social and affordable housing projects. By coordinating a diverse range of projects, she continues to consolidate her knowledge of the Victoria Planning Provisions and associated land use considerations such as cultural and European heritage, biodiversity, economics, and urban design.

Principal Landscape Architect

Jordan Kuiti

Jordan is a Registered Landscape Architect who joined the Tract team in 2018 after moving to Melbourne from Wellington, New Zealand. His project experience includes recreation and sport, education, public space, new communities, and landscape assessment.

Having been involved in all stages of a project Jordan can take an idea from concept inception through to client / Council handover. He focuses on client / contractor / consultant relationships to ensure the design vision is delivered as intended.

Growing up around sports Jordan has developed a keen interest in the design and construction of sporting facilities. He enjoys the community aspect of these projects and balancing the varying needs of different sports codes, ages, and genders to deliver sporting precincts that welcome all user groups.

Jordan is a discipline co-lead at Tract for the Sports and Recreation project typology. Most recently he has led the La Trobe Sports Stage 3, Monash Sports Precinct and Eureka Stadium/Ballarat Athletics projects.

Principal Urban Designer

Justin Kliger (he/him)

Justin is a passionate and energetic urban designer. Across nearly 20 years of professional experience he has worked in both public and private sectors in Australia and internationally. For Justin urban design is essentially about people. While good urban design leads to the creation of sustainable places, Justin believes excellent urban design is like successful product delivery – where the output delivers an exceptional end-user experience.

Justin has experience in strategic planning, masterplanning and framework planning for urban renewal and greenfield projects alike, the development of urban design policy and guidance and has experience working on major infrastructure projects. With good design lying at the heart of Justin’s professional ethos – his expertise includes delivering design advice and guidance and negotiating for high quality design outcomes on residential, commercial and civic projects at both high and low densities.

In the UK Justin worked for an urban innovation lab where he was responsible for leading the digital transformation of the built environment by designing and prototyping new digital tools for architecture, urban design and planning practice. Having developed skills in software design and delivery – Justin can see the synergy between urban design and user led design.

Justin has developed extensive thought leadership skills, including presenting at global conferences, serving as industry supervisor for an urban design doctoral candidate and mentor for Public Practice.

Principal Town Planner

Karmi Palafox (she/her)

Karmi is a strategic planner with 20 years of international experience encompassing city development strategies, planning, economics, urban design and policy. She has led the masterplan of communities, islands, new and historic urban areas, infrastructure and public spaces. She specializes in creating solutions for cities undergoing rapid change.

Her multidisciplinary teams have successfully delivered projects that range from precincts, leisure developments and airports, to post-crisis rehabilitation. These involve active engagement and collaboration with stakeholders at all levels of government, community and the private sector. Karmi thrives on tackling complex urban challenges, whether it is driving economic growth in regional areas, promoting tourism and investment, or reactivating town centres.

In Australia, she has managed NSW and national planning studies that guided infrastructure planning and delivery, housing policy, and process reforms.

She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and has served in advisory panels in Sanya and Foshan in China and in Detroit in the US. She was recognised in ULI’s inaugural 40 under 40 list, celebrating young global real estate professionals making a positive impact.

Karmi has spoken at conferences and written several articles about housing, the future of cities, transport and mobility, and the environment. For four years she was consulted by the Philippine Senate’s Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement providing advice on key legislation affecting 115 million people

Principal Town Planner

Kate Matthews

Kate is a Principal Planner with over 11 years of industry experience, having previously worked in statutory and strategic planning roles at Yarra Ranges, Bayside and Whittlesea Councils.

Kate has extensive experience across a wide range of planning issues and processes, with a particular focus on greenfields and infrastructure planning. Through her background in local and state government roles, she has developed strong working relationship with key stakeholders across the planning industry, as well as having a strong understanding of the mechanisms that guide government decision making.

Kate also has a strong interest in planning for Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM), having developed a strong working knowledge of stormwater management policy, modelling and asset design through her previous roles at Melbourne Water and Cardno.

Kate’s experience across a broad spectrum of statutory and strategic planning projects, combined with her strong project management skills and experience working across a variety of different technical fields allows her to efficiently identify and resolve planning issues and bring an integrated, pragmatic approach to planning projects.

Principal Town Planner

Katherine Matthews (she/her/hers)

Katherine is a Principal Planner with over 15 years’ experience in private consulting across Queensland. She has extensive experience across a broad range of urban and regional planning issues and processes, with project experience spanning the health, education, residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Katherine specialises in statutory planning, development advisory services, and development facilitation. She has a proven track record of managing significant and valuable redevelopment projects; advising on project positioning, due diligence and site selection; formulating development approval strategies; and leading major developments from inception to approval.

Katherine is valued for her ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary teams; build trusted relationships; and find integrated and pragmatic solutions to planning problems. She is a respected figure and active participant in the planning and development industry and has strong relationships with a broad range of industry and Government contacts.

Principal Landscape Architect

Katie Allen

Katie is a registered Landscape Architect with nearly 15 years’ experience in the industry. During her time at Tract, she has worked on a diverse range of projects including public realm, medium-high density developments, rooftop gardens and residential subdivisions.

Katie is involved in all aspects of project management and implementation – from schematic design and masterplans, through design development, to tender and construction documentation and contract administration. Her work involves day to day liaison with clients, consultants and landscape contractors to ensure the most desirable project outcomes. In recent years she has worked as the lead on various projects guiding a team of staff through the various project phases ensuring the design objectives are met upon project completion – an immensely rewarding process for Katie.

Katie has a keen interest in the positive impact an effective landscape design can have on the well being of individuals, bringing communities together and shaping the future of our cities. She is an active team member and enjoys collaborating with other Tract staff, clients and consultants to achieve the best quality results.

Principal Town Planner

Leonard Slabbert

Leonard is an accomplished principal town planner with over fifteen years’ industry experience in statutory and strategic planning. His strong business acumen and project management expertise ensures a solid understanding of workable processes and planning systems, while team leadership and negotiation skills allow him to provide superior client service and work with people from many technical, professional and cultural backgrounds.

His expertise includes:
· Providing expert planning advice and services to state and local government, and major development companies;
· Managing a variety of applications including development applications, planning proposals, and state significant developments;
· Managing specialist project teams on complex development proposals and infrastructure project; and
· Overseeing greenfield development projects and infrastructure designs, including telecommunication facilities, renewable energy facilities and critical infrastructure.

Between 2008 – 2017, Leonard owned and operated his own town planning consultancy abroad. This has helped him ensure that his analytical aptitude and extensive problem-solving, organisational and time-management skills guarantee precise attention to detail, good performance under pressure and the attainment of deadlines in fast-paced environments.

Principal Landscape Architect

Linda Hoang

Linda joined Tract in 1996 and was appointed Principal and Team Leader of Sydney Landscape in 2017. She has been involved in a broad range of projects including residential subdivisions, urban streetscapes, public domain, industrial estates, infrastructure, educational and institutional projects. Linda has experience in all facets of project development, with a focus on design, tender and construction documentation.

Linda was the Principal Landscape Architect for the documentation of Notts Avenue Safety Upgrade, Walter Gors Park Dee Why, Kooyoo Street Upgrade Griffith, Redman Road Plaza Dee Why, Botanica Lidcombe Housing Estate, Garangula Gallery, Echo Point Revitalisation, College Street Separated Cycleway, City of Sydney Eastern Suburbs Connections, King Street Cycleway, Castlereagh Street Cycleway and Park Street Cycleway.

Linda has completed projects within the ACT including the Memorial for Australian Lost Overseas in Natural Disaster with the National Capital Authority, public domain at Kingston Foreshore, Veterans Park Canberra City, City Walk Improvements, Crace Residential Development, Belconnen Arts & Cultural Centre Project, and Emu Inlet Redevelopment at Belconnen Waterfront, Bunda Street Revitalisation and Canberra City West Streetscapes.

Linda is currently involved in projects including Marrickville Public Domain Plan, Dulwich Hill Public Domain Plan, Pitt Street Cycleway and Dunning Avenue Cycleway and Kevin Betts Stadium Precinct Masterplan.

Principal Landscape Architect

Lisa Coutts

Lisa is an outgoing Landscape Architect, experienced in designing and delivering complex infrastructure projects, large scale theme parks, commercial landscapes, public parks, residential and hotel landscapes, highways, hospitals and land subdivisions. She has a broad folio of work acquired by living and studying abroad in China, Europe and USA.

Lisa joined the Tract team in 2016. Her skills include client liaison, project management, delivery of construction packages, design reports, concept masterplans and quality implementation. She enjoys working on challenging projects and solving difficult problems with innovative design solutions.

Principal HR Manager

Lisa Martin (she/her)

Principal Landscape Architect and Urban Designer

Mark Fuller

Mark is a principal urban designer and landscape architect with over 30 years professional experience, having worked extensively in Australia and internationally. He has held a wide range of leadership roles where he has directed the design outcomes for award winning projects.

Mark’s professional career is founded in Architecture and Landscape Architecture and his experience is at all scales, from masterplanning and regional strategies through to detailed design, delivery and implementation. This broad perspective provides him with a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities inherent in any built environment undertaking.

With much of his work being undertaken for the public sector he is a passionate champion for an integrated approach to problem solving and the value of collaborative working at all levels of design. He has brought this approach to a number of high profile projects where superior outcomes have been achieved through creative alliances.

He is a registered landscape architect in Australia and the UK, and a registered architect (Architects Registration Board United Kingdom). Mark is a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FAILA), a chartered member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) and a member of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA).

Principal Landscape Architect

Mel Currey (she/her/hers)

Mel has over 15 years’ experience in the design and delivery of Landscape Architectural projects across Australia and the UK. Her project experience includes high density residential, mixed use, commercial, public realm projects and roof gardens.

She has extensive experience in the design and delivery of ‘on-structure’ landscapes and enjoys working with built form and architecture. In recent years, this has included several projects which has transformed existing inner-city rooftops into accessible gardens, green roofs and urban farms.

She has an interest in biophilic design and how Landscape Architecture can reinvigorate our cities with green, ecological, and lush urban spaces that provide a connection to nature. In each project, she seeks to integrate a considered design response that responds to the site and context, incorporating sustainability, biodiversity, and enjoyment for the users.

Mel has extensive experience working with stakeholders and co-consultants to manage complex and significant projects to from inception to completion. She prides herself on producing a high-quality work with a design style that is both creative and functional.

Principal IT Manager

Michael Mauer

Principal Urban Designer

Nathan Collins (he/him)

Nathan is a principal urban designer with direct experience across the Urban Design, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning professions. He has tertiary qualifications in both Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, and has held previous roles in both local government and the private sector. This background has led him to develop a unique understanding of the challenges of implementing and navigating development concepts through the planning and consultation processes.

Nathan has prepared masterplans and detailed plans to support retail, commercial, and community facilities for new communities across the growth regions of Victoria. These include high level concepts plans for residential development, detailed subdivision plans, yield assessments and lot design for greenfield developments in various growth corridors in Melbourne and Geelong.

Nathan aims to achieve a creative balance between sustainable development and the retention of existing character, and is a passionate advocate for protecting significant landscapes across Victoria. His work is founded on a respect for the rural and peri-urban context and is responsive to existing site constraints. Within these complex environments he actively promotes creative collaboration as a means to achieving integrated outcomes. He understands that collaboration with government agencies, developers, commercial experts and architects is crucial to get the best outcome for any development opportunity.

Nathan pursues a range of professional development and leadership opportunities outside of project work, including a role as the chair of AILA Fresh (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Young Professionals) committee for several years. He has an ongoing interest, and has undertaken research in the use and effectiveness of Urban Design Guidelines in achieving the best project outcomes.

Principal Landscape Architect

Nathan Noack

Nathan joined Tract in 2015 as a Landscape Architect and has since worked on a broad range of projects including infrastructure, civil, parkland reserves, cultural spaces and greenfield developments.

Nathan has a proven capability managing and collaborating with various disciplines on high-profile projects with multiple stakeholders.

He has worked extensively with DPTI with experience in feasibility studies, tender submissions and detailed design through to construction of large scale infrastructure projects in both landscape and urban design.

With a proficient skill set including design documentation, graphic representation, design development, construction administration and conceptual design, Nathan continues to develop his project management skills and experience to create engaging and creative work.

Principal Landscape Architect

Nick Stephenson

Initially trained in architecture, Nick has spent more than a decade evolving his design practice to focus on landscape architecture and its interface with the built environment. His expertise spans from large urban scale public settings to finely resolved landscapes with a strong attention to detailing and construction.

An innovative designer, he is adept at all aspects of the design process and is comfortable leading projects through all phases including design, timeline and cost management, client liaison, drawing production and coordination of consultant teams through to construction.

He has a proven history of engaging with clients, particularly state and local government and is skilled at both formulating and running community and stakeholder consultation.

He is skilled at managing complex public and private environments. He communicates well with a range of audiences and enjoys translating the ideas and stories of others into meaningful and memorable places through design.

Principal Urban Designer

Patrick Nispel

As a Principal Urban Designer, Patrick offers over 15 years of experience working in multi-disciplinary teams on a wide range of urban design and architecture projects from residential, commercial, public transport, aviation, healthcare, sport and master planning projects from across multiple countries.

Patrick’s key strength lies in design management of projects of small to large scale, bringing together internal team members, external consultants and stakeholders to deliver high quality design, documentation and project management outcomes.

Patrick strives to achieve 100% accuracy rate in all deliverables through exact responses to the brief, and high attention to detail and documentation. He is dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable solutions that meet and exceed the project brief.

Principal Town Planner

Paul Lewis (he/him)

Paul joined Tract in January 2017 and is currently employed as an Associate Town Planner. Paul holds a Master of Urban Planning from The University of Melbourne, where he was awarded the SGS Graham Larcombe Scholarship and the Dean’s Honours Award, having previously completed a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne.

Since commencing with Tract, Paul has gained experience across a variety of projects, including medium and high-density residential development across inner-metro and suburban contexts, major statutory reform, hospitality venues and creative enterprises, galleries and community facilities, and a range of commercial and industrial developments.

Paul’s long-standing interest in architecture and eye for urban character allows him to provide clear and direct advice to translate planning requirements into high-quality and inclusive design outcomes. Paul has experience in representing clients at Planning Panels Victoria and in the preparation of expert evidence at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

In his planning practice Paul combines a holistic strategic outlook with fine-grained attention to detail, at all times seeking to collaborate and communicate with decision makers and key stakeholders to ensure the best result for his clients. His broad experience allows him to interface fluidly between high-level objectives and statutory specifics, critically evaluating issues and solutions to deliver effective planning outcomes.

Principal Landscape Architect

Sam Otto

Sam is a Registered Landscape Architect who joined Tract in 2013. He is a dedicated landscape architect with widespread experience across all aspects of landscape architecture with an emphasis on project management and construction administration.

Throughout a project Sam focuses on clear communication with the client and other key stakeholders to ensure a smooth project delivery. His background in sciences gives him an analytical approach to problem solving and critical thinking.

Sam has experience at all stages of a project’s delivery from initial concepts sketches and masterplan reports, through to design development, documentation and contract administration.

Sam chose to become a landscape architect as it allowed him to combine his interests in plants and horticulture with the design and layout of public open spaces. He strongly believes that a well-designed space can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of the users, regardless of the type of project.

Principal Landscape Architect

Tara Graham-Cochrane (she/her)

Tara is an internationally award-winning Landscape Architect with over 20 years experience in landscape architecture within the private and public sectors across Australia.

Having now joined Tract in 2022, she builds on her 14 years as the Director of Designwell Landscape Architects, a design firm that specialises in therapeutic and biophilic design for the healthcare, aged care, disability and education sectors.

An award-winning designer of healing and therapeutic landscapes, Tara is a strong believer that physical environments can be designed to reduce stress, improve health, and to support people’s welfare. She is also a strong advocate for the use of the outdoors as a tool for therapy and education.

An industry leader in healing and therapeutic landscapes, Tara is the author of Dementia Australia publication “Gardens That Care: Planning Outdoor Environments for People with Dementia” and is highly recommended by many health advisory bodies as a leading light in her field of expertise.

Tara is involved in all aspects of project management & implementation from master planning and conceptual design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration.

Principal Urban Designer

Yan Xing

Yan is passionate about place design, particularly in how that space is to be used, enjoyed and celebrated by people.

As a NSW registered architect, Yan combines her knowledge and experience of architecture with passion, skills and expertise in urban design. She completed her Bachelor degree of Architecture at the Beijing Polytechnic University before traveling to Australia and completing a Master degree of Urban Development and Design at the University of New South Wales.

Yan has worked both in Australia and overseas. Since 2002, she has gained extensive experience in design, teamwork, project management, collaboration and leadership from diverse projects and for clients including both public and private sectors. Her urban design experience ranges from urban renewal, urban activation, transit oriented development, mixed use, greenfield, brownfield, urban infill, public realm, master planning, design guidelines and planning framework peer review.

Yan is a well organised, motivated, cross-skilled individual, always with a responsible attitude. She brings a friendly, diplomatic and cooperative approach to her work and a meticulous attention to detail.

Yan is actively engaged with the broader profession industry such as Committee for Sydney and keen to contribute to the broader community.

Associate Town Planner

Adriano Zarosinski (he/him/his)

Adriano is an Associate Planner with over 5 years’ industry experience in both statutory and strategic planning. His interests surround the intersection of policy and design, particularly through the lens of social cohesion.

Having completed his Master of Landscape Architecture, Adriano approaches planning with a keen eye for design in facilitating successful planning outcomes. His Master’s Design Research Compendium interrogated the role that small public open spaces in suburban environments can play in strengthening community identity and, in particular, how design can inform the policies that shape those spaces.

Adriano’s experience spans diverse sectors having been involved in statutory and strategic planning projects across Victoria and interstate. His project experience ranges from medium- to high-density residential development, industrial estates, commercial developments, greenfield subdivisions, and complex development proposals in rural contexts. Adriano has also had experience in planning advocacy having represented clients before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and supported submissions before Planning Panels Victoria (PPV).

During his studies, Adriano spent a year abroad at the University of California, Berkeley, during which he was involved in a community program with the Center for Cities and Schools. The program involved working with disadvantaged youths to empower and facilitate access to city planning with actionable recommendations to the local Council.

More recently, Adriano has been a tutor at the University of Melbourne in the school of Architecture, Building and Planning. Adriano is a Committee member for the Victorian Division of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). He is also a member of Moonee Valley City Council’s LGBTIQA+ Reference Group which endeavours to ensure Council’s decisions are evidence based and informed by strong community input.

Associate Landscape Architect

Ben Moorcroft

Ben is an Associate Landscape Architect and Horticulturalist of Tract and has accumulated a diverse array of industry experience in both design and construction on a wide range of private and public domain projects since 2001.

He has a strong practical grounding having previously worked as a qualified landscape tradesperson and consultative horticulturalist. His unique background and experience has provided Ben with an informed position from which his award-winning design ability and process continues to flourish.

Having completed a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at UNSW with First-Class Honours, he received the coveted AILA Future Leader’s Award and was also nominated for the University Medal. His experience includes the design and delivery of public domain, institutional and educational projects; residential, commercial and private landscapes.

His design approach is founded in the genius loci of any given place and endeavours to create a unique, enjoyable and desirable space that integrates the social, ecological and sustainable fabrics through artistic integration and interpretation of the ‘grey’ space as reflected within the built form.

Ben is highly experienced in complex nature associated with public and private podium landscapes including urban pocket parks and streetscapes to extensive public open projects including plazas and multi-storey residential, commercial and institutional spaces.

Associate Landscape Architect

Beth L’Estrange (she/her)

Beth is a landscape architect with 15 years of experience in the Middle East, USA and Australia. Her career has included many facets of projects from strategic planning, master planning and conceptual design, through to design development, construction documentation, tendering and contract administration. Projects have varied from medium and small-scale projects in sectors including public realm and urban design, parks, medium and high density residential, mixed-use development, academic, hospitality and commercial.

Beth has extensive experience in the design and delivery of ‘on-structure’ landscapes and working with built form and architecture. She has also been involved in all aspects of project management and implementation. Beth is a strong advocate creating a collaborative environment with internal teams and with all project stakeholders including clients, architects, engineers, industry partners, authority reviewers and community.

Beth is motivated by the challenges of integrating the urban environment with the surrounding landscape, ecology, culture, and history of each site with innovative and sustainable solutions to amplify the landscapes function of placemaking, connecting people to the land.

Associate Landscape Architect

Bianca Ayrosa

Prior to joining Tract in 2012, Bianca practiced as an Architect and Landscape Architect in Brazil and Australia. Since joining the Melbourne Tract office she has been involved in predominantly Landscape Architecture projects including: public realm and civic spaces, schools and university campuses, multi-residential developments, land developments, playgrounds and wetland reserves.

Within these projects Bianca has been performing a project lead role through all phases of the project including master planning, schematic design, design development, documentation and contract administration.

Her areas of interest include planting design with various specific requirements; permaculture; wetlands and design of playgrounds that provide children with opportunities for development of physical, social and emotional skills, as well as engaging their imagination.

Associate Landscape Architect

Brenton Baltetsch

Brenton completed the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at RMIT with distinction in 2017 and is also qualified in landscape construction and graphic design.

He joined the Tract team in 2018 as a Landscape Architect. Prior to this, he worked predominantly on residential garden design and custom playground design within the private sector with a strong focus on construction documentation and 3D design.

Brenton brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise from having spent several years working in the landscape construction industry, where his responsibilities also included quoting and project management.

He is passionate about producing work that is well thought out and meticulously planned from concept right through to detailed documentation.

Associate Landscape Architect

Caitlin Brosnan

Caitlin is a Registered Landscape Architect and joined the Tract team in 2017. She has experience on a wide range of projects including public playgrounds and reserves, streetscape renewal, waterways and wetlands, schools and aged care facilities.

Caitlin has a keen interest in play space design, having been involved in a number of projects for both local government and private clients. She promotes the design of playful and engaging public spaces which encourage children to test their boundaries, learn through discovery and foster respect for others and the environment. She is also interested in exploring the relationship between art and Landscape Architecture practice and how public art can be used as a tool to promote and advocate environmental and social messages.

Caitlin has experience at all stages of a project’s delivery from initial sketch planning and concept design, to design development, documentation and contract administration.

Associate Landscape Architect

Cameron Macdonald

Cameron has been a part of the Tract team for just over 3 years following 5 formative years working as Project Landscape Architect at a design-based studio in Melbourne. He has experience in a wide range of project typologies of varying scale and scope including master planning, health, commercial, public, residential, cultural, institutional and infrastructural projects.

Cameron has experience in all stages of a project’s delivery from master planning and schematic design, design development, client / stakeholder consultation, construction documentation, and contract administration. His strengths include delivering projects using clear illustration to communicate a range of complex design parameters including both constraints and opportunities; through developing the design to produce precise contract documentation. He has experience with a range of different clients and stakeholders to provide outcomes which respond to the brief and the wider urban context.

In his previous role Cameron was a part of the award-winning Bendigo Hospital team that was recognised at the ALIA State and National award ceremonies. His experience within the health sector continues to develop through the New Footscray Hospital team at Tract. From winning the bid phase in 2019 he will deliver the landscape package with the completion date scheduled for 2025.

Cameron is passionate about capturing the character of place, analysing contextual, cultural and ecological systems and exploring the role of making within an iterative design process. Designing social environments that enhance public life.

Associate Town Planner

Caroline Graham

Caroline is a statutory and strategic planner with experience in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Over the past six years at Tract, Caroline has worked across a range of projects at varying scales for public and private clients.

Caroline has gained knowledge and skills in a wide range of sectors, including residential (greenfield and infill), commercial/retail, industrial, and tourism. Caroline also has experience in the preparation of various strategic planning documents, including Development Plans and Urban Design Frameworks across Victoria.

Caroline’s knowledge and interest in urban design and liveable communities has assisted throughout her consulting career, aiding in the drafting and implementation of these strategic guiding documents.

Caroline has a thorough working knowledge and understanding of both the Victorian and Tasmanian planning system and utilises her expertise to obtain a beneficial planning outcome on her projects.

Associate Town Planner

Claire Whelan (she/her/hers)

Claire is a passionate planning professional with over twelve years’ experience working in both local government and private consultancy. Claire has worked on projects across metropolitan Melbourne, as well as rural and regional areas in Victoria and New South Wales.

Claire has an extensive background in statutory planning and infill development, with a thorough understanding of the approval process. She has also worked on a number of strategic planning projects, where her thorough understanding of the finer grain development approval process has proved invaluable.

Over her career thus far, Claire has managed the planning permit process for a variety of projects including residential, mixed use, commercial and office, industrial and community uses. She also has experience preparing planning evidence statements and submissions for VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria. In addition to her planning experience, Claire has spent a number of years working within urban design teams and has prepared urban design advice for clients as well as evidence statements for the Tribunal.

Claire is an avid traveller and has worked or studied in different planning systems including in Canada and the UK.

Claire’s varied experience in both planning and urban design informs her overall approach to the built environment, and her role as a planning consultant. She applies her knowledge of the planning system, state and local government process and strategic thinking to provide clear and accurate advice to clients.

Claire enjoys the diversity of projects that working in planning brings, and helping clients through some of the challenges the system presents.

Associate Town Planner

Drew Westbrook (he/him/his)

Drew is an associate town planner with over 20 years nation-wide (predominantly Queensland) planning and development industry and 15 years tourism and hospitality industry experience. Drew has previously worked on a variety of infrastructure, industrial, commercial, and residential development projects.

Drew has held the following key responsibilities on various projects:
• Project management
• Research and consultation
• Statutory development planning and approvals
• Expert witness in court appeals

Drew has also been involved in the consultation and research for several government agency projects involving community renewal, demographic analysis, population projections, industry development and urban renewal master planning.

Communications and Engagement Strategist

Emily Mignot (she/her/hers)

As an urban planner with experience across local government and consultancy, Emily is passionate about driving positive change and facilitating collaborative planning outcomes at all scales. Having worked across both strategic and statutory planning within a range of sector areas including tourism, residential, social housing, mixed use, commercial and engagement, Emily is adaptable, able to think outside the box and brings different perspectives to each project.

Alongside planning, Emily brings experience in engagement and facilitation, helping to navigate the complex layers of communities, stakeholders and planning processes.

Emily has been actively involved in leading a project alongside the Walhalla Board of Management and Architects Without Frontiers to develop an analysis and scoping report to assist the Board in their strategic endeavours, supporting the Big Build community housing project at Mason Street, Warragul with Housing Choices Australia, and assisting Homes Victoria’s Homes for Aboriginal Victorians program.

Emily has a Bachelor of Environments (Urban Design and Planning) from The University of Melbourne, and is an active member of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association (VPELA) and International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Emily is also an IAP2 accredited engagement practitioner.

Associate Landscape Architect

Eric Balakas

Eric is a Associate Landscape Architect with 10+ years of professional industry experience. Previously working at Robert Boden Design, one of Melbourne’s leading residential design offices, Eric has acquired an eye for detail and has been crafting personal and unique gardens throughout Victoria. His current experience at Tract has exposed him to a wider range of project types and his previous design skills and experience in high end residential projects has been reflected into all his larger scale work to date.

Eric has worked on projects ranging from concept to completion that includes conceptual design, masterplans, technical documentation, planting plans, town planning documentation and contract administration services throughout the construction process. Eric has been able to work closely with the clients to meet their brief while complementing site and place to achieve a design that will stand the test of time.

Eric’s willingness to explore his boundaries and strives for further development and accomplishment towards improving greenfield developments and the residential realms. He has also completed his Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) which has provided him with greater insight on theoretical knowledge of construction which further complements his hand on experience.

Eric’s exceptional eye to detail provides each project the solid foundation they need in order to provide well executed landscape outcomes that respond to the client’s brief, site context and acknowledging existing and future life for its users.

Associate Town Planner

Georgia Banks (she/her/hers)

Joining Tract as a Senior Town Planner in 2017, Georgia has already gained valuable experience and technical knowledge in both consulting and local government environments throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Most recently she has enjoyed the challenge of complex Greenfield projects within Melbourne’s north and east. Providing services for both private and Government clients, this work has included residential and town centre master planning, planning scheme amendments, and coordination of infrastructure delivery. Over the past two years’ she has also assisted DELWP on their Smart Planning Program to simplify the Victoria Planning Provisions, as well as worked on a range of more specialised projects.

Georgia is methodical and highly organised and excels at problem-solving and managing challenging deadlines. People-oriented and approachable, Georgia has a strong network of relationships in state and local government and enjoys being able to give advice, add value and help people achieve their project goals.

Georgia has been a committee member of the VPELA Young Professional’s Group for the past three years and remains active in the industry. She has well-developed advocacy and negotiation skills and is willing to go the extra mile to achieve positive project outcomes. She has a special passion for providing better communities on Melbourne’s fringe, and more diverse and user-friendly housing options in medium density settings.

Climate and Biodiversity Strategist

Georgina de Beaujeu (she/her/hers)

Georgina de Beaujeu joined Tract in 2021, coming to Landscape Architecture from a previous 20-year career in strategy and business improvement within the not for profit sector. Georgina embarked on this career change given a deep concern around Climate Change and biodiversity loss and a desire to combat these challenges.

Georgina has recently completed her Master of Landscape Architecture and is currently undertaking a PHD in Living Streets, which is co funded by Tract and Deakin.

Highlights of her career to date include:

• Winning the 2020 NSW Public Space Awards, resilient street idea, which illustrated how a residential street could be transformed into a Living Street.
• Being invited to visualise a Living Street Concept for central Geelong as part of Geelong Design Week 2021.
• Introducing Tract to a Community Health organisation, which led to an interesting collaboration that sought to bring together service model amendments with physical space innovation to deliver better outcomes for clients and the surrounding community.
• Working as part of a Board for an indigenous nursery focused on securing the genetic diversity of species and engaging the community in the benefits of planning endemic species.

Georgina is interested in projects that connect community to the natural environment and consider ways to maximise benefits for the community and environment. This includes street and city greening, waterway restoration and reclaiming underutilised space for people and the environment.

Associate Town Planner

Gillian Christie (she/her/hers)

Gillian is an Associate Town Planner with over 12 years of public and private sector experience in strategic, statutory planning and policy advice.

Gillian has strong project based strategic planning and advisory skills developed in her various roles with the Victorian Government, formerly as a Policy Adviser at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, providing high quality advice in relation to planning, major projects, local infrastructure, indigenous and post-contact cultural heritage matters across Victoria.

Prior to this, Gillian worked on a diverse range of planning projects in Melbourne’s greenfields as a Senior Structure Planner at the Victorian Planning Authority (formerly the Growth Areas Authority). Gillian was involved in the sub-regional planning of the Wyndham West area and management of a PSP in one of Australia’s fastest growing areas.

Gillian has a broad range of skills in balancing the many competing objectives in planning, working effectively with a range of stakeholders throughout the planning scheme amendment, permit and subdivision processes. Gillian is experienced in preparing planning permit applications and planning reports for a range of projects, including residential, non-government education, mixed-use, commercial and industrial projects in Melbourne. She has been involved with the rezoning of a key site in inner Melbourne through the Government Land Planning Service and assisted the City of Ballarat with a range of strategic planning projects.

Gillian recently completed work on the translation of Local Planning Policy Frameworks into the new Planning Policy Framework as part of DELWP’s Smart Planning Program.

Associate Landscape Architect

Grace Sawley

Grace is a recognised associate landscape architect with over eight years experience. Her rural upbringing has provided her with a strong sense of connection with the natural environment.

With a passion for regional and remote projects she has delivered a wide variety of projects across throughout South Australia including town master plans, playspaces, streetscapes and National Park and open space infrastructure. With a passion to deliver exemplary engaging spaces for all, this work is strongly complemented with work in the education sector.

She is involved in all aspects of project delivery including project management, master planning, concept design and construction documentation. This is complemented with a strong reputation for contract administration and superintendence, with extensive experience in project delivery, Grace has the ability to streamline processes throughout construction phase services.

Associate Town Planner

Hayden Noble (he/him)

Hayden is an accomplished urban planner who has had significant professional and academic exposure over the course of his career. He holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Melbourne, where his study focused on land use and transport planning, urban design, and environmental policy.

With a solid understanding of both the strategic and regulatory planning contexts, Hayden works across a diverse scale of projects from municipal wide housing and character studies to precinct-based land use and urban design frameworks. Hayden also prepares planning application reports and due diligence assessments for commercial and industrial clients across metropolitan Melbourne.

He has a keen interest in urban development and renewal, having had experience with large scale development projects including the Fitzroy Gasworks Development Plan, as well as other strategic work including Major Activity Centre Structure Plans and Housing Strategies.

Associate Landscape Architect

James O’Dwyer (he/him/his)

James has amassed a wide range of experience through the past 10 years of professional practice within Australia and the UK. This includes involvement in the design and documentation of a variety of commercial, residential and institutional spaces. James has also taken part in the design and delivery of significant public realm projects in the state of Victoria, as well as luxury residential and resort developments within London, Europe and the Middle East.

His experience includes, commercial, residential, institutional and public realm projects, at all stages of construction, as well as Master Planning of parks and urban spaces.

Some significant projects include the Lancer Square Residential Development in Kensington London, the Melbourne Olympic Park Redevelopment, and the Bendigo Chinese Precinct landscape.

James also brings experience from within the local government sector, with an understanding of community consultation, heritage and environmental processes helping to shape his approach to landscape architecture.

Associate Landscape Architect

Josephine Hansen

Josephine is a Registered Landscape Architect with over eight years’ experience in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. She developed a wide range of skills which include initial sketch design, design documentation, tendering, contract administration and final handover. She was heavily involved in the delivery of the award-winning project of Dawn.

With her project management background, Josephine is driven to work efficiently and constructively. She is a reliable team member with a positive nature and a determined attitude. Josephine is proud to be associated with like-minded peers within the landscape architecture profession who are equally passionate about combining their love for nature with the creation of built spaces.

Associate Landscape Architect

Melissa Yong

Melissa joined Tract in 2022 as a Senior Landscape Architect with 11 over years of professional experience after working in landscape practices in Australia and Singapore. Since moving to Melbourne in 2013, she has worked on a diverse range of landscape architectural projects including conservation reserves, national reserves, regional parks, wetland and waterway, streetscapes and water sensitive urban design.

Melissa has a genuine interest in environmental site design and tourism planning, in particular developing stronger and meaningful connection with the First Nations people, to elevate both ecological and cultural values in shaping the cultural importance and future built environments.

Melissa offers specialist skills in project delivery, site analysis, master planning, client and stakeholder consultation, concept design, design development, detailed construction documentation, tendering and contract administration.

Melissa is a registered landscape architect, and a 500 Women in Property participant.

Associate Landscape Architect

Nathan Down

Nathan joined Tract in 2015 as a Landscape Architect, after completing his Master’s degree at RMIT.

Nathan brings previous design experience and has expanded on his professional practice knowledge at Tract with 5 years of combined industry experience. He has worked on projects ranging from large residential housing developments, commercial streetscapes, entry statements, parks, reserves, and more recently within the infrastructure realm.

Nathan is involved with the delivery of landscape construction for several housing estates in the outer East of Melbourne, that include key clients in Frasers Property Australia, and ISPT supergroup. These projects involved concept design, council endorsement and contract admin services throughout construction process and within maintenance period.

More recently Nathan has been involved within the West Gate Tunnel Project with key stakeholders, including local municipality and state government agencies.

Nathan has a keen interest in researching various landscape urbanism strategies and building upon his knowledge from his Master’s topic in Golf/Housing Urbanism and green open space redevelopment. Also, a key aim is to pay close attention to the history of the site, its context, and the potential users to produce a coherent and well-articulated landscape for people to enjoy.

Nathan strives for a sense of accomplishment from not only the landscape team at Tract, but to deliver memorable landscape outcomes for the clients. His communication skills aim to facilitate and involve the client for the benefit of not only the project, but the overall industry as well.

Associate Landscape Architect

Nikki Paix (she/her)

Nikki is a registered Associate Landscape Architect with 5 years’ experience in the industry, working in London, UK, and Melbourne, AUS.

Whilst abroad, Nikki gained experience in wide range of London based projects including mixed-use, residential, heritage building redevelopment and prominent institutional projects.

Joining Tract in 2018, Nikki brings a strong understanding of dynamic landscapes and an interest in resilience, conservation and integrated landscape systems to her projects. With a strong background in graphic software, Nikki has since worked on a diverse range of green-field, residential, educational and commercial projects based in and around Melbourne, where her approach to systems in design ensures holistic design outcomes. Her wide-ranging experience covers various open space designs including interconnecting wetland and waterway reserves, local community parks, school playgrounds, service easements and streetscapes.

With a focus on water use in these open space networks, Nikki is particularly interested in the conservation of waterways, passive irrigation, water capture and recycling. Building upon her knowledge gained through the underground irrigation ‘reservoir’ created on the Hyde project in the UK, Nikki seeks to further explore the benefits of systems thinking into her design work at Tract.

Nikki’s recent involvement in city-based developments includes private residences, public realm and residential podium landscapes and rooftop gardens to commercial buildings, where she continues to explore integrated landscapes within the built form.

Associate Urban Designer

Quang Tran

Quang is an Associate urban designer with extensive experience in the development of award winning masterplans for large to medium scale urban, commercial and residential projects.

He has extensive knowledge and experience in greenfield developments, and has played a key role in conceptualising and developing masterplans and framework plans for major development projects throughout Australia. His projects include the urban design and subdivision concepts for large residential projects in Donnybrook and Rockbank in Victoria, and several significant greenfield developments in New South Wales and Brisbane.

He has worked predominately within the property and infrastructure industries, particularly designing and completing full masterplanned communities, mixed use precincts and activity centre design frameworks.

His approach is based on developing strong conceptual designs founded on a commitment to sustainable design principles, thereby creating places that reflect and realise the unique attributes of a site and which provide for the evolution of viable and healthy communities.

Associate Town Planner

Robert Carletti (he/him/his)

Robert joined Tract as an Associate Town Planner in 2019 and has previously worked as a consultant within the private sector. He is people oriented and enjoys working with others in order to deliver positive projects.

Robert’s main work has been assisting clients in delivering infill developments throughout Metropolitan Melbourne. He has a strong focus on medium and high density housing projects (such as apartment buildings and townhouses), which has allowed him to develop an excellent understanding of the relevant housing standards within the Planning Scheme (such as the Better Apartment Design Standards and ResCode). In recent times, he has used this knowledge to assist in interpreting and applying the new standards that apply to Social and Affordable Housing as part of Victoria’s ‘Big Build’ program.

Robert is particularly passionate about improving the housing standards in order to deliver better amenity outcomes for future residents.

In addition to the above, Robert has worked on a wide range of commercial uses (such as Child Care, Hospitality, Medical, Offices and Retail), both new builds and refurbishments. He has developed a good understanding of the outcomes being sought by both clients and government.

Robert is excited about the continued evolvement of Metropolitan Melbourne and in particular, the rapid rate of densification and growth of Melbourne’s middle ring.

Associate Landscape Architect

Ryan Iudica

Ryan joined the Tract team in January 2017 after working as a Landscape Architect within the Melbourne profession. Throughout his 5 years of experience, Ryan has worked collaboratively on a broad range of projects across Victoria; including small, medium & large residential developments, wetlands & waterways, student housing, schools, aged care, public realm and several rooftop terraces.

Ryan delivers all stages of the projects from master planning & concept design, through to documentation and contract administration. His strengths comprise detailing, clearly illustrating intricate design parameters through hand drawn iterations, and innovative problem solving. Ryan’s experience with a range of different clients and stakeholders, enables him to provide flexible outcomes which meet their brief and budget, as well as respond to the wider context of site.

Ryan enjoys working on projects that challenge the conventional boundaries of landscape, both public and private, creating flexible and functional spaces.

His passion for design lays within the finer details, when combined deliver a refined outcome. He passionately embraces layering open space design, with a community focus and ecologically sustainable design principles.

Associate Landscape Architect

Sarah Bansemer

Sarah joined Tract in 2018 after completing her Masters of Landscape Architecture at the University of Adelaide.

Since her arrival in the Tact Landscape team, Sarah has been involved on a variety of projects including major road infrastructure, wetlands, play space, educational and high density developments delivering design solutions from tender through to the construction phase, demonstrating high skills in both design, documentation and 3d modelling.
These skills have helped shape the design outcomes on the West Gate Tunnel Project and Bell to Moreland in Melbourne as well as the Northern Connector Project in Adelaide.

Alongside her wider landscape knowledge, Sarah has a keen interest in Play Space design focusing on playful, interactive and engaging design layouts that encourage children to challenge themselves. Her passion is to create spaces that strengthen and build connections for the community whilst being sensitive to the existing site character. Further, she enjoys solving difficult and challenging project tasks through innovative solutions.

Associate Landscape Architect

Simon Meade

Simon joined the Tract team in mid-2019 after 5 formative years working as Project Landscape Architect at a design studio based in Melbourne. He has experience in a wide range of project typologies of varying scale and scope including large-scale civic landscapes, education and sporting facilities, streetscapes and furniture design.

Simon is interested in understanding the elements of technical design, streamlining construction and fabrication and engaging with the implementation of these projects on the ground.

As a registered Landscape Architect, Simon has experience in all stages of a project’s delivery from master planning and schematic design, design development, client / stakeholder consultation, construction documentation, and contract administration. He had experience with a range of different clients and stakeholders to provide outcomes which meet their brief and respond to the wider context of their sites.

Simon is passionate about the integration of sustainable design principles into the landscape as well as the progression of safe-cycling infrastructure within our cities.

Associate Urban Designer

Sophie Powell (she/her)

Sophie is an urban designer and a registered architect, who commenced at Tract in 2017, having gained a broad range of design experience in Australia and overseas. Sophie brings skills forged in architectural design, plus a passion for great urban design outcomes, adopting a strategic approach to master planning that is grounded in the human scale.

Previously practising at leading architectural practices in London and Sydney, Sophie has had exposure to diverse residential, commercial and mixed-use schemes on all stages from concept design to documentation. She applies a rigorous approach to urban design projects, and has recently worked on master planning, structure planning and urban regeneration projects in New South Wales, Victoria and ACT.

Sophie has experience in a range of software packages, using 3D software and parametric design tools, and uses a variety of graphic illustration methods including hand sketching. She has an ability to consider proposals at a strategic level, and to communicate concepts at various scales with key stakeholders. She has contributed to Bloomsbury’s ‘Representational Techniques for Architects’ book and was nominated for the RIBA President’s Medal.

Sophie is actively engaged with the wider profession and is particularly interested in sustainable master planning and how connecting with Country can inform us as designers, having recently been involved in forming Tract’s Reconciliation Action Plan. She has also represented Tract as a member of the Committee for Sydney’s Liveability Loveability Taskforce, acted as a visiting tutor at the University of Technology, Sydney and is passionate about how design can contribute to Sydney as a resilient global city.

Associate Urban Designer / 3D Visualiser

Tammy Shepherd (she/her/hers)

Tammy is a highly motivated and intuitive Architect and urban designer with extensive experience across all stages of projects, from concept, feasibility studies, Master planning and developing design principles.

As a registered architect (UK) with over 20 years’ experience in the UK and Australia, Tammy’s collaborative approach to Urban Design enables her to bring valuable insights to her work. As an integral part of multi-disciplinary teams, she brings a strong understanding of the complexities involved in multi-faceted projects that require the fusion of different disciplines.

For Tammy, urban design and masterplanning should focus upon delivering a cohesive, site responsive and sustainable design that is sensitive to the wellbeing of the community. She aims to produce a pragmatic and achievable solution that embodies successful sustainable and vibrant urban placemaking.

Tammy has been the project manager on several master planning and design focused projects that respond to the complex criteria associated with the rail and high-speed transport links including Armstrong Creek Village, Bridge Road Officer masterplan and Cairnlea Village. These projects all required careful consideration of adjacent highspeed ¬¬transit links, identifying uses and built form and how this could be coherently integrated within the identity of the whole development.

Tammy is currently working on a detailed concept, and mixed use Development Plan for a 41ha multi-precinct village in Cairnlea, which coherently responds to the sites proximity to the Western Ring Road, incorporating a strong focus on health and wellbeing initiatives and an urban forest streetscape to create a walkable and sustainable neighbourhood.

Associate Landscape Architect

Taneile Nixon

Taneile is an extremely motivated, award-winning, AILA (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) Registered Landscape Architect. She is amongst the most talented emerging generation of designers and leaders in the industry.

Over her professional career, Taneile has compiled a very impressive portfolio of exceptional work and is highly respected for her dedication to outstanding outcomes. With a love for both ecological and urban environments, Taneile’s interest lies in exploring and relieving the tension often created between these two ecosystems, through innovative and wholistic design solutions. Taneile’s creative mind pushes boundaries and questions the accepted to unlock innovative outcomes, which capture the essence of any project.

To compliment her creative flair, Taneile’s studies in Urban and Regional Planning provide her with the ability to produce ambitious yet practical outcomes.

Taneile demonstrates extraordinary team leadership qualities and a knack for communication, both verbal and visual. With a confident and energetic presentation style and an engaging attitude, she excels in facilitating design workshops, engaging with the community and stakeholders, leading topical industry discussions and mentoring the next generation of designers as a tutor/guest lecturer of QUT.

Associate 3D Visualiser & Production Manager

Tejal Patel (she/her/hers)

Tejal is an experienced 3D Visualiser with extensive knowledge of architectural 3D rendering and animation for both commercial and residential projects.

Tejal manages the 3d team to streamline production, Project planning and meeting deliverables Working with landscape and urban design teams Tejal creates beautiful landscape visualisations. Through her years of experience, she has gained leadership skills along with a combination of design and problem-solving capabilities, and advanced knowledge of 3D and Graphic Design software.

With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Tejal is good at resolving issues in 3d production without affecting deadlines. Tejal is experienced working in collaboration with marketing agencies and clients to create powerful visuals for marketing and communication of detailed design concepts.

Tejal brings to Tract extensive experience gained through her time with Marchese Partners assisting architects in the creation of architectural presentations, visualising planning and design concepts and producing high-quality marketing renders. Tejal also has extensive international experience gained through her time with Credence Multimedia and Kreate Media.

Associate Landscape Architect

Tezcan Birgin

Tez joined Tract in July 2017 after having completed a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree at RMIT university.

Since joining Tract, Tez has worked extensively on major road and rail infrastructure projects across Victoria, developing his design skills during tender and construction phases. Further, he has presented Tract ideas to clients and stakeholders, showcasing design opportunities and constraints at various stages in the project lifecycle. His growing knowledge and experience are spanning across both the public and private sector as wider design tasks are undertaken with education precincts, local parks, streetscapes and revegetation within these significant Melbourne infrastructure projects.

Tez has a special interest in wildlife conservation and horticulture with over 11 years’ experience of working with animals. This has fuelled his passion to become a Landscape Architect and the role it plays in promoting habitats through zoological, conservation and tourism design.

Associate Landscape Architect

Thomas Emrys-Evans

Tom is a Registered Landscape Architect who joined Tract in 2017. During his time at Tract, Tom has helped delivered 8 high profile rail & road infrastructure projects around inner Melbourne, the most recently completed being Bell & Preston Stations as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project initiative. Tom is accustomed to & enjoys the accelerated, highly collaborative inter-disciplinary design programs that are associated with infrastructure projects.

Tom embraces BIM & parametric design as a powerful tool in the design process, utilising his expertise to rapidly test iterations, produce conceptual illustrations and coordinate design details with other disciplines.

With over 10 years of experience in the Landscape Industry, Tom has valuable experience with the design and construction of mountain bike & hiking trail center’s along the east coast of Australia. As an avid mountain bike enthusiast, Tom has had unique working opportunities in a variety of remote locations and in highly ecological sensitive areas. Helping to delivering world class and iconic mountain bike tourism destinations, most notably Blue Derby, Tasmania.

Associate Landscape Construction Administrator

Tim Burger

Associate Graphic Designer

Tyler Maisano

Tyler has a passion for design and joined Tract’s Graphic Design team in 2010. Initially working on master plans, reports and design layouts, his role has naturally progressed with a keen focus for improving user interaction and experience through design.

With a creative vision and eye for detail Tyler has been able to deliver strong graphic presence to his projects, each benefiting from a tailored visual style and graphic communication outputs.

Tyler specialises in producing creative project branding and marketing material, interpretive and wayfinding signage solutions and engaging web/app user experience.

Associate Urban Designer

Vivienne Austin (she/her/hers)

Vivienne has over 10 years experience in the design industry and has private and public sector experience. Her expertise areas are neighbourhood planning, structure planning, urban design, and graphics across a range of projects. She has been responsible for maintaining client relationships, coordinating with consultants and managing time and resources to meet deadlines.

Vivienne has excellent graphic communication skills and takes pride in perfecting visual material to promote dialogue and reflection. She is an enthusiastic facilitator and is practiced in delivering design exercises and activities for participants without a design background.

Vivienne has experience in public consultation with the design industry, university students, schools and the broader community, engaging on complex design concepts in a meaningful and understandable format. She is passionate about pursuing the best outcomes for all stakeholders, and balances differing needs and ideas thoughtfully and professionally.