Sydney North Planning Panel

Chair 

Peter Debnam is currently Independent Chair of the Code Authority (Ethics Committee) of the Fundraising Institute of Australia. In recent years, Peter was also Chairman of NSW Kids in Need Foundation, Chair and a Director of The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of Australia, Muscular Dystrophy NSW and the Advisory Board of Our Big Kitchen as well as Vice Chair of CARE Australia. Peter was also formerly a Director of Paraquad NSW, PaddleNSW, Soils for Life Limited and Disability Sports Australia.

Peter is a former member of the NSW Parliament (1994 – 2011) and was Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2007. Peter also held shadow portfolios for Treasury, Planning & Urban Affairs, Housing, Infrastructure, Transport and other key portfolios.

He graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College and has an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.  He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

State Members

Brian Kirk

Brian has post-graduate qualifications in both town planning and land economics and is a member of Planning Institute Australia and the Australian Property Institute.  He held various senior positions in local government and the NSW Public Service before starting his own consultancy over 20 years ago.

Brian’s experience in planning and property is wide ranging, with particular expertise in statutory and strategic planning.  He continues to provide considered advice to local and State government, industry and the wider community on major projects, environmental impact assessment and land use planning matters.  Brian also has a depth of experience as an expert witness in litigation and dispute resolution in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Brian is a current member of a number of Local Planning Panels and was appointed as a member of the Sydney North Planning Panel in January 2020.

Nicole Gurran

Nicole Gurran is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney. Nicole has led and collaborated on numerous research projects, with a focus on affordable housing, and has worked with local and State government in several roles related to planning and housing issues. Nicole directs the University’s Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) node.

Nicole lives in Sydney and has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and an Executive Member of the International Urban Planning and Environment Association. Nicole also has a Doctorate of Philosophy, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Arts, all from the University of Sydney.