The Second Urban Research Festival

The Trust commissioned a research project in 2013, which examined the attitudes of urban practitioners to urban research – how they currently engage with research. The study also explored what strategies researchers could use to increase the impact of their research with policy makers. It was presented by Dr Joe Hurley from RMIT and Dr Elizabeth Taylor from the University of Melbourne.

• Download this paper by Joe Hurley and Elizabeth Taylor (pdf, 1.1MB)
• Download the summary of the above paper (pdf, 460.2KB)

Communities of Practice
Focusing on getting to the heart of workplace learning, sharing and innovation. With a case study for establishing a community of practice amongst social housing asset managers across Australia and New Zealand.
Presented by practitioner-in-residence, Mr Donald Proctor.

• Download this paper by Donald Proctor (pdf, 2.2MB)
• Download the summary of the above paper (pdf, 881KB)

Council Decision Making and Independent Panels
A discussion based on the evolution of planning panels and their contribution to improving development assessment in NSW.
Presented by practitioner-in-residence, Ms Yolande Stone.

• Download this paper by Yolande Stone (pdf, 4.4MB)
• Download the summary of the above paper (pdf, 861.5KB)

• Donald Proctor has worked for many years as an architect, planner, project manager and asset manager in private practice, local and state government. Until recently he held the position of Director of Asset Programs for the NSW Land & Housing Corporation.
• Yolande Stone recently retired after 20 years in the Department of Planning where she headed teams responsible for the planning policy, systems and reform. She has also had extensive experience in environmental impact assessment and other planning and environmental policies particularly relating to infrastructure and industries.
• Dr Joe Hurley, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University
  Joe Hurley is the Program Manager of the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning at RMIT University and associate member of the RMIT Urban Research Centre. His research interests have an applied focus and encompass urban sustainability, urban planning, and housing supply.
• Dr Elizabeth Taylor is a McKenzie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Her post-doctoral work on “Understanding Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)” seeks to build an improved and evidence-based understanding of the incidence and nature of land use conflicts. Her research centers on planning and housing and has a spatial and quantitative focus.