Urban Mentors Collective

Paula Grant, RPIA (Fellow)

Director Campaign Planning & Communication | Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia

Work with me

Paula Grant is an experienced urban planner, leader and educator with a proven ability to deliver good and lasting results for local government and university communities. With a passion for regional places and outcomes, Paula uses evidence-based research, coupled with a servant leadership approach, to balance politics, people and policy.

paula-grant

Years of experience

government planning policyplanning scheme drafting and implementationdealing with political representativesgovernanceregional developmentproject leadershippeople leadershipcommunity engagementacademic research training and assessmentplanning curriculum development

Education & Affiliations

Registered Planner (Fellow) of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).

Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (Honours), University of Queensland.

Doctoral Candidate, University of Queensland.

Certificate IV Training and Assessment.

Member of the Queensland Government Urban Design and Places Panel.

Member of National Education Committee, PIA.

Member of various National and Queensland Awards for Excellence judging panels, PIA.

Member of the Editorial Board of the Australian Planner.

Member of the Toowoomba Development Industry Reference Group.

Member of the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme and Policy Advisory Panel.

paula-grant

Career Highlights

Director Planning Services at the City of Thuringowa to implement the National Award for Excellence planning scheme and developing the City Centre Masterplan, along with the funding and construction of the Riverway project.

Manager Policy and Planning, Townsville City Council, drafting the Townsville City Plan and implementing the Townsville Economic Gateway Strategy, including various CBD Urban Renewal projects.

Executive Project Specialist at Toowoomba Regional Council leading the creation of the combined Customer Service Centre and Branch following the local government amalgamation of eight councils into one.

National Award for Excellence for a Medium Sized Customer Service Centre (Australian Telecommunications Association).

Manager Strategic Planning and Economic Development at Toowoomba Regional Council, securing funding for the Gowrie Creek Catchment Flood Mitigation Works following the 2011 inland tsunami, the Goods Shed and the Armitage Centre.

National Award for Excellence (Flood Management Australia) for the Flood Risk and Planning Scheme Amendment project.

Creation and successful accreditation of the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) at the University of Southern Queensland.

BURP student success stories of regional students staying to plan and thrive in regional communities.

Research supervision and mentoring of planning students to document evidence-based conversations about real problems in the world.

Presentation and publication of academic peer-reviewed journal papers presented at international and national conferences.

Contributing member of the Science and Gender Equity Committee to achieve university-wide SAGE accreditation.

School academic performance supervisor coaching and mentoring academic staff across two campuses.

Visiting Board member for university planning programme accreditation (PIA).

Contributing member of various state government legislative reform committees.

Contributing member of various committees for the Local Government Association of Queensland, Local Government Managers Australia, Council of Mayors Southeast Queensland (COMSEQ), City Deals and the original COMSEQ Olympic business case.

Trainer, assessor and mentor for the Diploma of Local Government (Planning), proudly delivered by the Planning Academy across Queensland for many decades.

AusAID mentoring planning staff from the National Central District Commission, Port Moresby.

About

Paula has been involved in the delivery of people-focused, statutory and strategic planning outcomes for over 33 years, mainly in local government in Queensland. She has covered the broad spectrum of local government planning work at the strategic and executive level and enjoyed leading and mentoring effective teams to deliver well managed and executed projects. She has represented local interests on many legislative and regional growth strategy committees with a clear agenda and vision for those communities. She is a pragmatist with an ability to influence and negotiate balanced outcomes in a political environment.

Paula has been a coach and mentor throughout her career, delivering the Diploma of Local Government (Planning) for many years, supervising emerging leaders and planners within local government teams, advising developing international planning teams through AusAID, providing considered and detailed feedback on emerging policy, award submissions, peer review of journal papers and course curriculum. Most recently she has fulfilled this calling to mentor within a university setting, dedicating herself to the coaching, education and success of undergraduate and postgraduate thesis student planners.

Paula is a pracademic with a seasoned educator’s ability to provide coaching and mentoring across the fields of governance, urban planning and leadership with empathy, tact and constructive support.

Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW

Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW

Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW
Testimonial
Paula Grant is an outstanding senior planning professional and mentor, who has been an invaluable member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel providing strategic planning advice across Queensland. Through her dual role as a leading academic and practitioner, she offers rare depth in navigating complex planning processes, and the ethical dimensions of the profession.
Leah Lang
Queensland Government Architect
Testimonial
I had the pleasure of working with Paula early in my career as a junior planner in Townsville. … and we worked closely together during a period of significant planning reform in Queensland. Paula was consistently thoughtful and patient in her approach—both in her dealings with government and in her interactions with me personally. She brought not only deep professional expertise, but also a genuine sense of warmth and good humour, which made collaboration enjoyable. I learnt a great deal from Paula—not just about planning, but about the value of a considered, measured, and mature approach to the profession.

Sally Smith PSM | Deputy Executive Director
Property Council of Australia SA
Testimonial
Paula is an exceptional planning professional distinguished not only by her depth of knowledge but also her generosity in sharing it. Paula brings clarity, sound judgement and encouragement to challenging situations, while remaining approachable, thoughtful and selflessly investing in building the confidence and capability of those around her.

Deanne Frankel | Manager Strategic Planning Projects
Central Coast Council NSW

Director Campaign Planning & Communication | Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia

Years of experience

Education & Affiliations

Career Highlights

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