Doncaster, Victoria, Australia
In practice, I am a firm believer as a designer in collaboration (or co-design) in order to achieve outcomes which consider both the existing context of a site, as well as the future users and potential it offers. Along with my skills in manual and digital design, I value evidence-based practices to inform the outcome, and have had experience contributing to multi-disciplinary processes. In this space, I have had the pleasure of contributing to large-scale greenfield developments, being involved from concept to master plan in multiple jurisdictions in Australia whilst practicing at Gerard Coutts & Associates (GCA). Such highlights in this time include the delivery of a master plan for 50ha plot of land in Regional Victoria (which formed part of a multidisciplinary S96A Application), as well as contributing to guidelines for Medium Density Housing for the Northern Grampians Shire Council (tailored to small-scale developers in an effort to tackle a foreseeable housing shortage in the LGA). As a Planner, I have applied self-learning of the Victorian Planning Scheme to successfully deliver positive outcomes on behalf of a number of clients. These include 'Changes of Use' and 'Building and Works' permits within Greater Melbourne; whilst I have had experience delivering Boundary Consolidation permits in Regional Victoria also whilst employed at GCA. Additionally, I have delivered general planning advice across a number of Planning Jurisdictions in Australia (including Tasmania, South Australia, and NSW) which is supplemented by my mapping abilities to support projects in the renewables sector. In 2024, I graduated from the Master of Urban Planning and Design, wherein I was recognised by the Award for Outstanding Achievement - graduating at the top of my class. Particular interesting to me, was the scope of projects I had the opportunity to work on - such as the Urban Design Guidelines for Huntingdale (as part of a study of the SRL East), and also addressing industrial opportunity in Victoria's Greenfields when so much environmental consideration is at hand.
My tenure at Gerard Coutts & Associates centres around the provision of high-quality Urban Design and Planning Advice through the scope of the Project Management expertise provided by the managing director.
Apart from a focus on selling, the role of supervisor means that extra responsibilities such as the opening and closing procedures were mine to oversee (eg. till counting, store floor preparation, theft prevention), and also forming a rapport with other branches of Lacoste in communicating item transfers at the request of customers.
Acted as a senior member of staff who specialised in problem solving, communication skills, and was often left in charge of duties such as booking preparation, waiting tables, bar tending, and training new staff.