Warren Rowe

Warren has vast experience in planning at the international level and across three tiers of government and the private sector in Australia. He retired from the Gold Coast Council in 2011 following 17 years as Director of Planning, Environment and Transport, where he was instrumental in the development of the Gold Coast Light Rail Project—a significant transport policy and capital works program—and in implementing numerous programs to improve the planning framework and outcomes for Australia’s sixth-largest and fastest-growing city. This included the development of the City’s first comprehensive housing strategy in 2010.

Warren has contributed broadly to planning strategies in his region, including his roles in the National Reform Working Group, Australian Housing Industry Development Council, Regional Planning Senior Officers Advisory Group, the Local Government Association of Queensland Planning Advisory and Infrastructure Charges Think Tank, the State Government’s Infrastructure Charges Task Force, the Gold Coast Rapid Transit Executive Group, Gold Coast Light Rail Gateway Review Panel, and the Project Control Group for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. He was also instrumental in managing the Building Better Cities program, which included the Gold Coast Heavy Rail and a major upgrade of the sewer system to facilitate Brisbane’s Urban Renewal precinct.

In recent times, he has been invited to visit regions including the Middle East, Korea, Malaysia, North America, and Scandinavia to assist with aspects of their metropolitan strategies and urban management frameworks and processes. Alongside his experience in Australia and internationally, Warren is highly skilled in operating within complex governmental environments.

Currently, Warren is regularly engaged in the assurance review process underway in New South Wales as part of the State Government’s expanded infrastructure rollout program. This has involved assessing risks, opportunities, and improvements across several high-profile programs and projects in NSW, including the Parramatta and Newcastle light rail projects, Sydney Southwest Metro, the new Bradfield City Centre associated with Western Sydney Airport, the Newcastle Urban Renewal Strategy, and the Sydney Central Station redevelopment.

Warren’s commitment to the planning profession has been acknowledged through the award of a Public Service Medal and a Fellowship from the Planning Institute of Australia. He has also served as a director on the Board of Place Leaders Australia.

Warren is an Adjunct Professor in the Urban Research Program at Griffith University and with the University of Queensland Planning Program. He was appointed as the University of Queensland’s first Planner in Residence from 2016 to 2018. From 2018 to 2023, he served on the Queensland Government’s Land Supply and Housing Expert Advisory Panel. He has also been a referee on the Queensland Government’s Development Tribunal since 2021.