Kathy Mitchell AM

Strategic Planning Consultant; Board Member at Villawood Properties and Baptcare Affordable Housing

Work with me

Kathy Mitchell AM (awarded in 2021 for services to urban planning and to professional associations). Kathy is the former Chief Panel Member of Planning Panels Victoria (2004 – 2024), serving under seven Ministers for Planning. Currently she is a member of the Villawood Properties Advisory Board (and Chair of the People and Culture Committee) and a member of the Baptcare Affordable Housing Board, as well as running her own strategic planning consultancy.

kathy-mitchell-am

Years of experience

urban planningplanning scheme amendmentsenvironmental effects inquiriesstrategic planningpolicy developmentplanning advisorypublic sector leadershipdevelopment contributionsinfrastructure planningenvironmental planningstakeholder engagementministerial advisoryhousing renewalgrowth area planninggovernancementoringtribunal work

Education & Affiliations

Bachelor of Arts (Planning) – University of South Australia, 1980

Graduate Diploma in Urban Sociology – Swinburne University, 1983

Master of Arts (Major Thesis) – Victoria University, 1998

Fellow and Life Fellow – Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association

Honorary Fellow – Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)

Fellow – Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA)

Long-standing service as judge and board member across PIA, UDIA, and VPELA

kathy-mitchell-am

Career Highlights

Chief Panel Member, Planning Panels Victoria for 20 years, under seven Planning MinistersKathy Mitchell CV

Appointed as Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, 2021, for significant service to urban planning and professional associations

Led major Environment Effects Inquiries, including the Suburban Rail Loop East, Melbourne Metro Rail Project, East West Link, and Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi

Chaired Ministerial Advisory Committees including on Social Housing Renewal, Activity Centres, Fishermans Bend Planning Review

Oversaw complex Planning Scheme Amendments for state-significant sites and growth precincts (e.g., Armstrong Creek, Dandenong Railway Precinct)

Recognised among the Top 50 Women in the Victorian Public Service, inaugural awards 2017

Foundational leader and Life Fellow of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association (VPELA), including roles as President (2004–2011)

Recipient of Distinguished Service and Excellence Awards from VPELA, UDIA, and the Planning Institute of Australia

The 'Kathy Mitchell Award' established in her honour by VPELA in 2023 to recognise emerging public service leaders

About

Kathryn Mitchell AM is a celebrated urban planner and strategic leader with over four decades of experience shaping Victoria’s planning and development landscape. As the Chief Panel Member of Planning Panels Victoria for two decades, she has played a pivotal role in advising Ministers, leading Environmental Effects Inquiries, and overseeing transformative planning reforms. Kathryn’s extensive portfolio spans major infrastructure projects like the Suburban Rail Loop and Melbourne Metro Rail, as well as statewide growth frameworks and community planning initiatives.

Her leadership style—described as inclusive, rigorous, and fair—has left a lasting legacy in the public service. Kathryn’s commitment to planning excellence extends beyond government through her substantial involvement in professional bodies, including VPELA, UDIA, and the Planning Institute of Australia, where she has served in senior leadership and mentoring roles.

Recognised nationally for her service, Kathryn was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021. The 'Kathy Mitchell Award' launched in 2023 is a testament to her influence and legacy in fostering the next generation of planning professionals.

Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM

Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM

Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM
Testimonial
Kathy has been hugely influential in the development of planning in Victoria over her time as Chief Panel Member. One of her greatest strengths has been her strategic vision and appreciation of the political environment. Victoria has a proud history of third-party involvement in planning decision making there is extreme pressure when large projects are before you, and Kathy’s work ethic and discipline are second to none in driving delivery of advice to Government in tight time frames.

Nick Wimbush
Former Deputy Chief Panel Member
Testimonial
During COVID, Kathy stridently led PPV into a new era of online hearings, adamant that from the outset that strategic planning in this State could not be allowed to grind to a halt if the economy was to survive the pandemic. And following the pandemic, Kathy has ensured that the gains made in the use of, and investment in, technology, hybrid hearings and electronic materials have very much become the new normal under her leadership.

Tamara Brezzi
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and former President, VPELA
Testimonial
Your life long service to the planning profession deserves loud applause for your enormous contribution. You are a leader with insight and empathy and a highly respected mentor to hundreds of women.

Noeline Duff
PSM

Kathy Mitchell AM

Strategic Planning Consultant; Board Member at Villawood Properties and Baptcare Affordable Housing

Years of experience

Education & Affiliations

Career Highlights

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