Jude Munro AO named Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia

The VPA would like to congratulate chair Jude Munro AO, for being named Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.

Jude was provided the honour at the PIA Awards for Planning Excellence 2019 in recognition of her ongoing service to planning profession.

Jude Munro has provided outstanding leadership and guidance in a range of roles working with the planning profession and city-shaping projects for more than 30 years.

As CEO of Brisbane City Council (Australia’s largest local authority) Jude led the largest community engagement exercise at that time, the City Shape exercise. She was core to the engagement of the community in discussions of settlement patterns and engaging in their vision for the future.

Jude’s roles as Board Chair of the Victorian Planning Authority and Australia’s fourth largest water utility (Qld Urban Utilities) and her roles with major infrastructure providers such as director of a national aviation business, an airport, a state transit authority and a development company and CEO of two Australian capital cities have given her unparalleled insight into the planning profession.

This insight was recognised with her invitation to join the COAG Taskforce on Australian Capital Cities from 2011-2012.  This taskforce involved reviewing State Government planning systems for metropolitan areas of Australia.

It is however Jude’s passion for planning and the community that her staff speak of – her role in inspiring planners to think boldly, engage and bring the public along in a conversation and to inspire vision and commitment in those around her. This was particularly evident in her role with the community of Grantham in Queensland after the 2011 tragic flood event where Jude stood shoulder to shoulder with the planning team of the Qld Reconstruction Authority to help the community form a new vision for their new town location.

That same passion is evident in her work as Chair of the Victorian Planning Authority. Jude has overseen the transition of the organisation to a new broad-based, State-wide role, new enabling legislation and new governance and leadership. Her commitment to innovation, partnering with communities, engaging across Government and developing planning professionals – particularly female professionals – has been truly outstanding.

Jude has worked tirelessly both in formal and informal capacities to contribute to the planning profession and to the greater community. Her influence, professionalism and personal drive are unparalleled, earning her this well-deserved recognition as an Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.