Previous winners
2023 Winners
Megha Subodh and Meghana Dinesh, University of Queensland
Winner—Wicked Planning Problem
Megha and Meghana's project effectively outlines a proposed “Inclusive Homes Program”, which is based on affordable housing modules designed to be accessible to Queenslanders with disabilities and special needs. The judges were impressed with the thorough descriptions and the considered incentives for developers to join the program.
Rachael Leeson, Griffith University
Female student in planning award
Rachael is in her 4th and final year of a double degree in Urban and Environmental Planning and Science at Griffith University.
She has achieved outstanding results throughout her studies and received multiple awards including selection for the Griffith Honours College that provides mentorship and training opportunities to high-achieving undergraduate students. Rachael is from regional Queensland and is a highly resilient student who has overcome several major challenges throughout her studies, managing her full-time academic studies with a part time student planner position, and volunteer work.
Her Honours thesis is in transport planning as she has a passion for reducing car-dependency in Australia. It is her hope to contribute to the delivery of world-class public transit infrastructure in Brisbane by 2032.
Jada Gilbert, Queensland University of Technology
Indigenous student in planning award
Jada Gilbert is achieving outstanding results in urban development through a Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Urban Development (Honours) with majors in Urban and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture at QUT.
Jada is building connections with the QUT Planning Students Association and Oodgeroo unit and is the first member of her immediate family to attend university. She feels a strong determination to excel in her studies and plans to draw upon the wisdom inherited from her ancestors to guide her planning initiatives, aiming to infuse her cultural heritage into future land development plans.
2022 Winners
Taylor Miller
Best thesis or research project award
Taylor’s paper explores how Indigenous knowledge can be integrated into environmental management processes. Namely, the paper asks “How can the State of Environment reporting better incorporate the perspectives and narrative of First Nations peoples effectively?” The thesis strikes at the heart of a contemporary planning opportunity to work towards advancing the purpose of the Planning Act 2016 by recommending measures to value, protect and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition.
The paper provides a series of recommendations for planning practitioners that are clear to ensure delivery of communities that are prosperous, resilient and sustainable.
The planning opportunity is contemporary and the paper detailed all relevant aspects of the issue to inform a series of practical recommendations.
Melissa Hensley
Highly commended runner-up— Best thesis or research project award
Melissa’s thesis examines the evolving relationship between urban planning and health. The topic chosen is a highly contemporary planning problem and the thesis does well to explore policy implications and provide practical recommendations for planning professionals.
The paper provides a series of recommendations for planning practitioners that are clear to ensure delivery of communities that are prosperous, resilient and sustainable.
Georgia Quick
Female student in planning award
Georgia is a highly accomplished student with her work from last year published on the Griffith University website after receiving the school of excellence award.
Georgia is an active student and volunteers for activities to improve student learning. This year she provided feedback to PIA accreditation panel on the degree course.
Cassie Tregea
Indigenous student in planning award
This year Cassie was awarded the highest marks of all Indigenous students in the College of Science and Engineering for 2022.
Cassie is recognised as an Indigenous woman with a bright future ahead of her. It is clear she is highly motivated to address the socio-economic issues facing indigenous communities and building strong relationships between the planning profession and First Nations people.
2021 Winners
Sarah Gibson
Best thesis or research project award
Housing supply, diversity and affordability is one of the most significant contemporary issues effecting people across the state. Sarah’s exploration into key opportunities and limitations for medium density housing to address key urban development challenges in Cairns, provides a practical contribution to how diverse forms of medium density housing could support effective infill to help regional centres like Cairns achieve housing affordability, housing diversity and sustainable urban growth. Sarah’s holistic consideration of planning for this housing typology in a regional context represents a significant advancement of regional or town planning techniques.
Emma Gurney
Conversations about growth and change award
Emma’s paper explores how planners can improve methods and targets of outreach, dialogue techniques and relationship building to enhance traditional community engagement practices to progress effective conversations with communities about growth and change. This work gives thoughtful consideration to how planners can utilise increasingly digitalised community engagement methods to inform better place-making - encouraging meaningful conversations about growth and sustainable changes between communities and planners to generate successful solutions for urban areas.
Ruby Stockham
Female student in planning award
Ruby is recognised as an exemplary planning student who has demonstrated commitment to her studies and enthusiasm and passion across different aspects of the planning discipline. Ruby’s energy and focus into achieving top academic results is clear from her accomplishments to date, which have seen her recognised as one of the joint winners of the 2019 Planning Institute of Australia’s Student Bursary at the PIA Queensland Student Academic Prizes, as well the recipient of other academic excellence awards from her university.
Ruby has been recognised as an active member of her university and broader planning community, participating in PIA YP events and presentations as well as having taken on work in the industry as a student town planner.
Aidan Johnston
Advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition award
Aidan’s paper explores future opportunities to improve engagement with the Quandamooka People and Minjerribah residents to represent the significance of Minjerribah to ensure future land use planning effectively ensures urban development, ecological protections, and social benefits improve Minjerribah in the coming decades. This work demonstrates innovative thinking in response to advancing aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests in land use planning and undertaking meaningful community engagement in planning, to ensure communities like Minjerribah are well-planned, prosperous, resilient and sustainable.
Last updated: 30 Aug 2024