PPV comprises the Chief Panel Member, the Deputy Chief Panel Member and five Senior Panel Members.
The office of PPV is supported by approximately 65 Sessional Members, of whom eight are Senior Sessional Members.
PPV members have expertise in:
- strategic, statutory and social planning;
- architecture and urban design;
- landscape architecture;
- civil and structural engineering;
- environment and environmental assessment;
- economics and development contributions;
- cultural, built form and aboriginal heritage;
- mediation;
- property development;
- traffic and transport;
- coastal management;
- water/flooding/groundwater;
- waste management and contamination;
- geomorphology and hydrology;
- noise, acoustics and vibration;
- air quality/emissions;
- native vegetation;
- land capability and agriculture;
- regional/rural land use;
- bushfire planning;
- open space/recreation planning;
- and flora and fauna.
Full-time panel members
Chief Panel Member - Kathy Mitchell
Kathy was appointed as the Chief Panel Member in 2004 and has undergraduate qualifications in town planning and post graduate qualifications in urban sociology and a Master of Arts in Research by major thesis. She has significant expertise in social and strategic planning, activity and precinct structure plans, retail development, environmental effects inquiries and built form. She has previously worked in the private sector, Local Government and as an academic.
Kathy is a Life Fellow of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association and an Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Deputy Chief Panel Member - Nick Wimbush
Nick was appointed as Deputy Chief Panel Member in early 2018, following on from 10 years as a Senior Panel Member. He has under graduate qualifications in environmental science and post graduate qualifications in public policy and law. He has significant expertise in environmental assessment, coastal planning and strategic planning. He has previously worked in the private sector in Australia and overseas.
Nick is a Fellow of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
Senior Panel Member - Con Tsotsoros
Con Tsotsoros was appointed as a full time senior panel member at Planning Panels Victoria in July 2013.
Con has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Planning, with 14 years’ experience in the private sector and stints in local government, and has been with state government planning since 2006. Con was formerly Assistant Director Statutory Systems in the former Department of Planning and Community Development, where he led major planning reform agenda initiatives. He specialises in retail, economic and strategic planning and heritage.
Con has been involved in significant planning scheme amendments involving residential zones, building heights, mandatory provisions, solar energy facilities, master and strategic planning.
Con is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
Senior Panel Member - Sarah Carlisle
Sarah was appointed as a Senior Panel Member in July 2018 after three years as a Senior Sessional Member. Sarah has qualifications in Law and Arts. She has significant expertise in planning, environmental and administrative law, and social housing and strategic planning. Sarah has previously worked as a practicing lawyer in private practice in Melbourne and the United Kingdom, as well as in the public sector in Victoria.
Sarah is a Member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
Senior Panel Member - Lester Townsend
Lester was appointed as Senior Panel Member in 2005, following several years as a sessional member. He has under graduate qualifications in town and regional planning and post graduate qualifications in sociology. Lester has significant expertise in strategic and statutory planning, project implementation and plain English communication and drafting. He has previously worked in the Local Government and private sectors.
Lester is a Fellow of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
Senior Panel Member - Tim Hellsten
Tim was appointed as Senior Panel Member in August 2018. He has qualifications in Planning, Management and Project Management. He has significant expertise in statutory and strategic planning, including heritage and urban design, activity and settlement planning, rural and coastal area planning. Tim has previously worked in Local Government in regional Victoria and in the private sector.
Tim is a Member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association and a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Senior Panel Member - Lisa Kendal
Lisa Kendal was appointed as a full-time senior panel member at Planning Panels Victoria in October 2020.
Lisa has a Masters Environmental Science and a Master of Social Science (Environment and Planning) and has expertise in environment, strategic, rural and regional planning, sustainable development, climate change, community engagement and governance. Lisa has previously worked in local government, private practice and the not for profit sector, and was a sessional member of Planning Panels Victoria from 2015 – 2017.
Lisa is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
Sessional panel members provide a source of expertise on planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, environment and social planning.
They are appointed to a panel as required depending upon the nature and complexity of the proposal being considered.
Membership of the list of sessional panel members is reviewed on a regular basis.
- Rodger Eade
- Mandy Elliott
- Michael Kirsch
- Trevor McCullough
- Dalia Cook
- Jenny Moles
- Bill O'Neil
- Geoff Underwood
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The office of PPV is supported by project and business support teams, all of who support and interact with key stakeholders.
Project Team
The Project Team work closely with Chief Panel Member, Deputy Chief Panel Member and Panel Chairs to manage and co-ordinate all facets of major Panel, Advisory Committee, Environmental Effects Statement and Permit call-in processes. The Project Team act as a conduit between Panels and interested parties to ensure an independent and transparent process is upheld.
Andrea Harwood is the Senior Project Manager and holds a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management, a Master of Urban Planning and is completing her Juris Doctor (expected completion 2020).
Greta Grivas is a Senior Project Officer and holds a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (Politics) and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. (currently on secondment)
Amy Selvaraj is a Senior Project Officer and holds a Bachelor in Science (Geography and Biology) and Master of Science in Physical Geography (Hydrology).
Chris Brennan is a Project Officer and holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Hons).
Georgia Thomas is a Project Officer and holds a Bachelor of Arts (History and Sociology).
Business Support Team
The Business Support Team is responsible for the provision of high level financial and administrative services including the:
- management of the hearing process from the pre-set exhibition stage right through to the submission of the Panel Report to the Planning Authority
- budget and human resource management for PPV
- management of corporate issues including business planning, freedom of information, Information technology,
- web page maintenance
- payment of sessional member claims
- sessional member support
Business Support team:
- Russell Bell – Business Manager
- Adrian Williams – Senior Business Coordinator
- Sharon Walker – Accounts Manager
- Laura Travis – Senior Executive Assistant and Project Support
- Laura Agius - Panel Coordinator
- Rashid Afsar - Administration Officer
- Sarah Vojinovic – Panel Coordinator
- Stefanie Wilson – Business Services Officer
More information
☎ Phone: (03) 8624 5719
✉ Email: planning.panels@delwp.vic.gov.au
Post: GPO Box 2392, Melbourne, 3001
Planning Panels Victoria is located at 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Page last updated: 11/02/21