About Planning Panels Victoria

What we do

We independently assess planning proposals by considering submissions, conducting hearings and preparing reports.

We give submitters an opportunity to be heard in an informal, non-judicial manner and give expert advice to the planning authority (usually the local council) or the minister about an amendment and about submissions referred to it.

Final decisions about planning matters are made by the appropriate statutory bodies, or the Minister for Planning.

Panel members overview

Our members include the Chief Panel Member, the Deputy Chief Panel Member and five senior panel members.

Our office is supported by 58 sessional members, of whom 9 are senior sessional members.

Our 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

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 practising 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.

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.

Sarah was appointed as a senior panel member in December 2021.

She holds a Bachelor of Law and Arts, and has previously been a privately practising lawyer. Sarah has over 14 years experience in complex planning and environmental law associated with property development, planning scheme amendments and environment effects inquiries.

Sarah has extensive expertise in the retail and residential space, social and strategic planning, built form, renewable energy, land management issues and land use classification.

Sarah is a member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.

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.

Lisa Kendal was appointed as a full-time senior panel member at Planning Panels Victoria in October 2020.

Lisa has a Masters of 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 Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and a member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.

Kathy was appointed as the Chief Panel Member in 2004 until 2024. She 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.

Kathy was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List in recognition of her significant service to urban planning and to professional associations.

Sessional panel members

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.

Project and administration team

The project team work closely with the 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.

Amy Selvaraj is the Manager, Major Projects and holds a Bachelor in Science (Geography and Biology) and Master of Science in Physical Geography (Hydrology).
Chris Brennan is a Senior 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).
Gabrielle Trouse is a Project Officer and holds a Bachelor of Science (Plant Science).
Georgia Brodrick is a Project Officer and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability.
Sarah Vojinovic is a Project Support Officer

The Business support team is responsible for the provision of high level financial and administrative services including:

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
management of corporate issues including business planning, freedom of information and information technology
web page maintenance
payment of sessional member claims
sessional member support

Adrian Williams – Senior Business Coordinator
Sharon Walker – Finance Manager
Laura Travis – Office Manager
Laura Agius – Panel Coordinator
Amelia Theodorakis – Information and Communications Coordinator
Rashid Afsar – Administration Officer
Diana Curavic – Business Services Officer
Stefanie Wilson – Business Services Officer On family leave until mid-2025