Urban Design Forum is a non-profit organisation that supports public interest outcomes in our cities. We believe in the role that cities can play in solving the major challenges of our time.
The Forum has three roles: creating a supportive network of urban designers and allied professionals, sharing knowledge on best practice urbanism, and researching and advocating for better urban education, systems and outcomes.
Urban Design Forum was launched in 1986 to raise awareness of the important role that urban design makes in shaping our built environments. Over 35 years, we have created the opportunity for urban designers across Australia to connect through public conversations and events. Our newsletter has raised the knowledge base for best practice urban design.
Our members understand the critical role that urban design has in shaping better environments for broader public benefit.
We welcome members from a diverse range of backgrounds, including urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, planning and other related professions from across Australia.
Leanne is the founder and Managing Director of Hodyl & Co, a research and urban design consultancy focused on creating cities people love. She has 20 years’ experience delivering urban policy and design projects critical to the future development of cities in Australia. She recently launched a not-for-profit publication, Cities People Love, which is dedicated to the creation and curation of urban research that can engage and empower communities and influence policy and practice.
Margie is a creative, compassionate leader who empowers teams to deliver design-led strategy, policy and projects that make great places. With over 20 years’ experience in architecture, urban design and strategic development, Margie is passionate about urban design’s role in improving social outcomes. In recent years, Margie has assumed leadership positions within government, believing that innovative, collaborative approaches are critical to solving our current complex city challenges.
Katherine is an Associate Director at MGS Architects, an architecture and urbanism consultancy that exists to create places with longevity and adaptability that deliver daily value to the people who use them. Drawing on her experience as an architect and urban designer in Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, she leads significant urban transformation projects, with a focus on university campuses, creative employment neighbourhoods and housing precincts. Katherine is also a sessional teacher at Monash University, inspiring the next generation of public interest urbanists.
Andy is an urbanist with a number of concurrent roles including Head of Urban Design at Assemble Communities, co-director of Melbourne Architours, Contributing Editor Architecture Australia and sessional teacher at Melbourne School of Design and Monash University. Andy works at the interface between architecture, urban planning and development with a strong interest in the relationship between urban governance, economics and design quality. Andy is passionate through advocacy, tours and public event programming about building the capacity of the community to more actively advocate for the cities we need.
Bec Fitzgerald, Leila Griffith, Shwiti Ravisankar, Carlos Reyes, Lucy Stratton, Gerhana Waty
We draw upon our individual members and supporters for their expertise and knowledge, collegiality and commitment to creating a better urban future for all.
Urban Design Forum would not be possible without the generous support of the following organisations, who respect our independent voice in the built environment.
As advocates we are committed to engaging in critical conversations about urban design in the media.
