Urban Futures Brisbane Advisory Panel members

John Aitken is Managing Director of Inspiring Cities, specialising in the economic development of globally competitive cities; inspiring precincts, destinations, tourism and major events.

Since 1980 John founded many of Queensland's major event traditions before overseeing the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

During his tenure as CEO of Brisbane's economic development organisation Brisbane Marketing (2008-2017), some of his team's achievements included establishing Brisbane Australia's new world city positioning globally, delivering $4 billion economic outcomes, creating Brisbane's Digital Strategy including The Capital innovation hub and being responsible for Brisbane's G20 leveraging strategy.

John is also currently a board member of Tourism Transport Forum (TTF), Queensland Community Foundation, Redlands Economic Development Advisory Board, Global Games Brisbane 2019 (for people with intellectual disabilities), Little Tokyo Two Advisory Board, Daejeon Representative Brisbane Sister Cities Steering Committee and AICC (Qld) Advisory Board (Chair).

Nigel Chamier AM has a background in property and infrastructure and sits on a range of public and private sector boards including South Bank Corporation and Queensland Airports Limited.

Nigel is the Honorary Consul for Sweden (since 2000) and was made a Commander of The Royal Order of The Polar Star in Stockholm.

Following a highly successful career with Jones Lang Wootton (JLL), Nigel now provides high-level strategic advice and focuses on ensuring major projects are delivered on time and on budget.

Appointments and achievements include:

• Chair of the highly acclaimed $215m restoration of Brisbane City Hall and the refurbishment of Anzac Square 
• Chair of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation and the Commonwealth Games Infrastructure Authority
• Chair of The Menzies Health Institute of Queensland and is a director of the Business School Griffith University
• Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Awarded an OAM in 1994 for services to the property industry
• Awarded an AM in 2017
• Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Fellow of The Australian Property Institute

Serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland (the Institute) since February 2018, Kirsty Chessher-Brown is uniquely positioned to lead the organisation due to her wealth of sector expertise.

Prior to becoming CEO, Kirsty was responsible for the Institute’s policy, research, and sustainability business units. Joining the Institute in 2006, Kirsty has directly overseen the growth of the UDIA’s EnviroDevelopment program and was instrumental in the establish of the Research Foundation. She has extensive experience in the development and leadership of the institute’s policy stakeholder engagement and research endeavours, and has consulted on an extensive amount of state and local government policy creation and development.

Kirsty holds First Class Honours in Environmental Management, and postgraduate qualifications in Conservation Biology and Urban and Regional Planning.  She has a particular interest in ecological functions within the urban environment and is passionate about driving change within the development industry to facilitate greener, smarter and more resilient communities whether this be through advanced research methods or the development of effective policy.

Ross is Chair of Brisbane City Council’s Better Suburbs Initiative Board and a member of the Urban Futures Brisbane Advisory Panel. He currently works as an industry consultant. He has 30+ years’ experience in the property and urban development industry, including state and national leadership roles for the Property Council of Australia as its Executive Director, then Chief Operating Officer and later as National Executive Director for the Residential Development Council. In this time, he pioneered policy initiatives for the industry focused on cities policies for Australia. He has both authored and edited monographs and articles on urban development policy, housing and cities policies for Australia.

Ross was also founding CEO of Brisbane Marketing, winning an International Downtown Association’s (USA) award for City Marketing in 2003.

In recent years he has focused on senior advisory roles across property businesses from design to engineering to development. A frequent speaker, author and commentator on market trends and urban development policy, he was in 2016 invited to be international keynote speaker for the American Planning Association’s Utah conference and in 2017 was published in a global joint MIT/Chapman University project: Infinite Suburbia.  In February 2020, he was invited to speak at Texas A&M University (USA) on urban growth policy, and just prior to this invited by the MIT Center for Advanced Urbanism to provide industry guidance to MIT students on their polycentric cities projects. Ross is also a founding Director of not-for-profit think tank The Suburban Alliance (now known as Suburban Futures).

He has a BA (Hons) from the University of Queensland and a 2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Certificate in Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment.

Chris Freeman was born and educated in Queensland. He has worked in most Australian states and overseas, but remains passionate about the development and future of Queensland.

Appointments and achievements include:

• Chair, Queensland Performing Arts Trust
• Chair, Tennis Australia Ltd
• Federal Member, Major Performing Arts Panel
• Member of the former Brisbane City Council Urban Futures Brisbane Board
• Non-Executive Director, Brisbane Airport Corporation
• Non-Executive Director, Sunland Group Ltd
• Chair, Economic Development Queensland Property Advisory Committee
• Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Queensland
• International Advanced Management Program, European Institute of Business Management Fontainebleau, France (INSEAD)
• Advanced Management Program, University of Hawaii
• Management Development Program, Australian Administrative Staff College, Mt Eliza

Professional memberships:

• Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Fellow, Australian Institute of Banking and Finance
• Fellow, Development Institute of Australia
• Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM)

Kirstie Galloway is a graduate of The University of Queensland’s School of Architecture and is currently practicing as an Associate Architect with Conrad Gargett. With more than 15 years’ experience across a number of Queensland’s leading architectural practices including Rickard Kirk Architect, Architectus and Cox Architecture, she has been integral to the design, documentation and delivery of award-winning public projects including the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.  She is currently working alongside Australia’s leading laboratory architect Richard Sale on the delivery of major teaching and research space upgrades across Griffith University.

With a talent for managing the design of complex buildings within the public realm, her ability to contextualise user requirements and distil complex programmatic requirements into simple yet elegant design resolutions demonstrates an ability to apply critical judgement and understanding - enabling human-centred design tailored for each project’s intended occupant. 

Promoting Brisbane’s unique design culture and championing local creative’s pathways to success has been a passion for Kirstie. She was instrumental in bringing Pecha Kucha Night to Brisbane and has a deep understanding of the cultural institutions of Queensland.  She is an ardent campaigner of sustainable development outcomes and believes in the importance of open dialogue to resolve the city’s challenges to be overcome over the next decade.

Guy Gibson retired in October 2021 as Lend Lease's Head of Development in Queensland.  In that role he was responsible for Lendlease’s master planned community and urban renewal projects in Queensland.

Appointments and achievements include:

• Honorary Life Member, Property Council of Australia (Qld Division), Past President (Qld) and Past National Director
• Various General Manager roles with Lendlease, including GM Communities Qld, GM Government Relations, and GM Affordable Housing and Sustainability
• Project Director of the award-winning North Lakes project in Brisbane's northern growth corridor
• Senior town planning roles with Brisbane City Council and the National Capital Development Commission
• Founding member of Urban Futures Brisbane Board (Brisbane City Council)
• Non-executive Director, Oxley Creek Transformation, Brisbane Sustainability Agency, and Suburban Futures
• Member of the Infrastructure Council (Brisbane City Council)
• Member, Lord Mayor’s Urban Renewal Task Force
• Member, Professional Advisory Boards, School of Environmental Planning and (current Chair) Cities Research Institute, Griffith University.

Kirsty is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management and a Board member of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

She is an experienced leader in the built environment, with 14 years leading national professional associations within the sector. She has collaborated nationally with leaders, governments, industry, and professionals on issues including climate change, resilience, healthy planning, and urban design. Prior to her association leadership roles, she worked as an urban and regional planner in local, state and territory government, the private sector and academia in Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. 

Appointments and achievements include:

• Chief Executive Officer, Planning Institute of Australia
• Chief Executive Officer, Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Fellow, Planning Institute of Australia
• Former Chair, Resilience Taskgroup, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
• Deputy Presiding Member, City of Marion Development Assessment Panel (SA)
• Master of Business Administration (University of Southern Queensland)
• Graduate Diploma Regional and Urban Planning (University of South Australia)
• Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Queensland University of Technology)
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors

Andrew has more than 30 years' experience in the Australian corporate real estate market.

During this time Andrew has conceived, facilitated and structured many billions of dollars’ worth of transactions and projects and has forged enduring relationships and friendships throughout the property and investment sector.

He has specialist skills in negotiating, building high-performance teams and businesses and funds management and development.

Andrew created Asher Capital at the start of 2010 as a solely-owned entity to allow him to focus exclusively on private equity and venture capital opportunities, mezzanine debt lending, property investment and development as well as philanthropic activities.

History of appointments and achievements include:

• Manager Project Leasing of Jones Lang Wootton
• Group Executive Director (main holding company) of PRD nationwide
• Joint Managing Director of DTZ Brisbane
• Diploma of Business majoring in Property Valuation
• Post Graduate Diploma majoring in Property Development and Financing.

Andrew was instrumental in the creation and expansion of the SEQ Domaine funds management business as a director and shareholder. Domaine had a portfolio of close to $900 million of funds under management when its sale to the ASX-listed Mirvac Group was completed in late 2007.

In terms of development, Andrew has conceived and delivered a broad range of projects from residential subdivisions in south-east Queensland to a $210 million office building at 53 Albert Street in Brisbane's CBD, completed fully-leased in February 2009.

For over 30 years Rod has advised with respect to a wide range of land use planning and heritage issues and has appeared in many leading cases, both at trial and on appeal. His clients have included State Departments, Local Governments and major developers.

Rod has served as a member of the Queensland Heritage Council, the Brisbane City Council Heritage Advisory Committee, and the executive of the Queensland Environmental Law Association (including as President). He currently chairs the Bar Association of Queensland’s Environmental, Planning and Property Law Committee.

Bevan Lynch was born in Brisbane and has practised as an architect since graduating from The University of Queensland in 1971. He started his own practice in 1977.

Bevan Lynch was the Founding Principal of ML Design, a multi-disciplinary design practice providing services in architecture, master planning, urban design and interior design. Throughout his career, Bevan has been actively engaged in the design and delivery for a wide range of architectural projects in the private and public sectors. He has extensive experience in the design and development of major mixed-use projects and master planned communities.

Appointments and achievements include:

• Specialist Advisor, Urban Renewal and Design (Brisbane City Council)
• Former Chair of Urban Renewal Brisbane
• Bachelor of Architecture with Honours (The University of Queensland)
• Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Registered Architect (QLD, NSW, VIC and PNG)
• Founding Chair of the Independent Design Advisory Panel (Brisbane City Council)
• Member and Chair of the former Urban Futures Brisbane Board (Brisbane City Council) 
• Member of Brisbane Airport Corporation's Development and Design Integrity Panel
• Member of the Queensland Government's Precinct Advisory Committee for the Government Precinct Redevelopment
• Member of the Board of Oxley Creek Transformation Pty Ltd

Geoff McIntyre has more than twenty-four years' experience in real estate, specialising in the disposal of commercial, retail and development properties.

Geoff commenced his property career working as a valuer for Stanton Hillier Parker before joining Jones Lang Wootton, now Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), in 1993.

Since joining JLL, Geoff has had experience in all facets of property, including advising clients on major development/refurbishment projects, selling major CBD development sites, retail, industrial and office investments, and undertaking valuation assignments. In 2009 he was appointed Managing Director, and in 2012 International Director.

In 2000 he was appointed as the Director for the Queensland Capital Markets Team for JLL and works in a joint capacity with his colleagues around Australia and the Asia Pacific on major transactions.

Appointments and achievements include:

• Bachelor of Business – Real Property Valuation & Administration – The University of Queensland
• Associate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment - FINSIA
• Registered Valuer – Queensland, No. 2164
• Fellow – FINSIA
• Lord Mayor's Business Advisory Board, Member
• Financial Advisory Council, Sisters of Mercy, Brisbane Congregation, Member

Justin O’Neill graduated from The University of Queensland with First Class Honours, receiving the RAIA Bronze Medallion. In the previous year, he won the National Student Architectural Design competition.

He started Justin O’Neill Architects in 1992, which transformed into Arkhefield in 1994. Most recently, he founded O’Neill Architecture (ONA) in 2010 which has grown into a practice that has delivered more than $2 billion worth of projects in the public, institutional, commercial and private sectors.

His built work includes Q + A Towers, Portside, Global Arts Link Ipswich, Cairns Cruise Terminal and Waterfront and The Eminence. Current projects include Rivermakers Precinct, Queens Wharf Foreshore Works and Mackay CBD Revitalisation.

Justin was Chair of the Brisbane Powerhouse from 2000 to 2014 and is currently Precinct Architect for this city asset and its surrounds. In 2014, Justin became a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was awarded Life Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2019.

His industry contributions have included being State Director of the Queensland Architecture Awards, Chair of AIA Winter School and Property Council of Australia (PCA) Committee Member. He is particularly interested in the role that research plays in the design process and how it can be used as a bridge between form, function and user experience.

Appointments and Achievements:

• National Awards Judging Panel for the PCA Retirement Living Awards
• Board Member, PCA Queensland Retirement Living Council QLD
• Brisbane Powerhouse Precinct Architect
• Chair, Brisbane Powerhouse Board
• Deputy Director, RAIA Queensland Architecture Awards
• Queensland ‘Place Makers’ Exhibition GOMA
• State Director, RAIA Queensland Architecture Awards
• Juror Brisbane Architecture Awards
• Chair, Brisbane Powerhouse Precinct Committee
• Board Member, Brisbane Powerhouse

Professional Memberships:

• Life Fellow Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Fellow Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Associate Royal Australian Institute of Architects

Leisa is the Director of Leisa Prowse Consulting, where she and her team help organisations to deliver infrastructure and planning projects and explore complex and sensitive challenges with their community and stakeholders.

Leisa has almost 30 years of experience delivering community and stakeholder engagement, communication, and social impact assessment projects. During this time, she has contributed to more than 230 public and private sector projects across Australia, including Brisbane’s Inner Northern Busway, Howard Smith Wharves, and Newstead Riverpark.

Leisa understands complex infrastructure and planning projects, the communities they serve, and the challenges they face. She particularly understands communities and their issues with infrastructure projects and proposed changes to the urban fabric.

Leisa is tertiary-qualified in both town planning and communication. This combination of skills enables her to meaningfully engage with a range of stakeholders, from landowners to legislators, while ensuring that the results of engagement processes are incorporated into technical studies and add value to project outcomes.

Leisa has spent her adult life studying, living and working in Brisbane. She is passionate about the city and its future. One of Leisa’s earliest roles as a planner was with Brisbane City Council, where she discovered her passion for community engagement. Throughout her career Leisa has worked in local and state government, and the private sector. She established her business in 2013.

Leisa is an AICD-qualified company director, and served on the Lady Gowrie Queensland Board for nine years, including six years as Chair. During her time with Lady Gowrie Queensland, Leisa led the board’s oversight of a long-term growth strategy that resulted in a tripling of total turnover and expansion of the organisation’s footprint across the state.

Leisa has also previously served on the Board of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia. She is a current IAP2 Ambassador and was recently a Lead Judge for the IAP2 Australasia Core Values awards.

Michael Rayner graduated in architecture in 1980 from UNSW with First Class Honours and the National Thesis Award Medal. He joined Philip Cox & Partners in 1980 and became a director in 1983.

Michael founded Cox Rayner Architecture in Brisbane in 1990 and led the practice until 2016 when he left to open Blight Rayner Architecture with fellow former Cox director Jayson Blight.

Michael has contributed significantly to Brisbane’s architecture and urban design. He created the first Brisbane City Centre Master Plan and the Newstead-Teneriffe Master Plan for Brisbane City Council. He has played key design roles in the National Maritime Museum of China, the Helix Pedestrian Bridge in Singapore, Kurilpa Pedestrian Bridge, One One One Eagle Street, Brisbane Magistrates Court and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre/BCEC on Grey. With his current practice, he is working on the New Performing Arts Venue at QPAC and the National Rugby Training Centre at Ballymore. His projects have won eight World Architecture Festival Awards and numerous National and State Architecture Awards from the Australian Institute of Architects.

Past appointments and achievements:

• Queensland Premier’s Smart State Council 2006-2012
• Queensland Design Council 2008-2012
• Past President Australian Institute of Architects 2000-2002
• Co-creative director Australian Institute of Architects National Convention 2012
• Australian Institute of Architects State Awards Director 2012.

Current appointments:

• Chair Griffith University Architecture Advisory Board and Adjunct Professor
• Adjunct Professor, The University of Queensland
• Board Member, Property Industry Foundation Queensland
• Member, Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel
• Life Fellow, Australian Institute of Architects
• Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
• Member of the Order of Australia (since 2011).

Noel Robinson is an accomplished architect with 45 years of experience, working extensively throughout Australasia, the Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, Korea, USA and Europe.

Noel has led a distinguished career in private practice and is the recipient of numerous architectural awards. He has pioneered alliances with other highly regarded architectural practices and has previously developed new offices offshore in the Middle East and China.

Over the years, Noel has continued to build a reputation for delivering innovation and excellence.

While continuing to guide and produce design works of exceptional quality, Noel is directing his expertise toward fostering and encouraging a focus on sustainable design to contribute to the future of his practice, and the world-wide professions of architecture, planning and design.

Noel was appointed Chairman of Brisbane City Council's Independent Design Advisory Panel in 2010, and was also a member on the following design advisory boards:

• Former member of Urban Futures Brisbane Board
• Urban Design Advisory Panel (Sunshine Coast Regional Council).

Noel's achievements include:

• Prime Ministers Centenary Medal
• Life Fellow - Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Diploma in Architecture (Queensland University of Technology)
• Graduate Diploma in Urban & Regional Planning (Queensland University of Technology).

Overall, Noel Robinson has been responsible for designing more than $100 billion worth of projects in Australia and overseas, including Brisbane's tallest building (90 storeys) Brisbane Skytower.