Three of the award categories celebrate professional achievement. The Planner of the Year Award recognizes a planner who provides visionary leadership, the Young Planner of the Year Award recognizes outstanding contribution or achievement by a young planner, and the Planning Champion Award recognizes a non-planner involved in promoting good planning or the planning profession to the public.
Planner of the Year
Award: Gary White MPIA (Life Fellow) (NSW)
Jury comment: The judges commended Mr White on his contributions as NSW Chief Planner, his tireless promotion of strategic planning and planning excellence, and his willingness to mentor young planners.
Commendation: Malcolm Griffin MPIA (QLD)
Young Planner of the Year
Award: Thomas Gardiner MPIA (QLD)
Jury comment: The judges commented on the quality of Mr Gardiner’s lateral thinking and his ability to forge effective professional relationships in an often-challenging regional planning environment.
Commendation: Brad McCormack MPIA (SA)
Planning Champion
Award: Paul Shanahan, Future Bayswater (WA)
Jury comment: The judges lauded Mr Shanahan for his role in developing a positive community model for gaining public permission and galvanising community support for planning initiatives.
