2023 JUDGING PANEL
PETER SEAMER AM
FORMER CEO VICTORIAN PLANNING AUTHORITY, FORMER CEO FEDERATION SQUARE, FORMER CEO CITY OF SYDNEY AND CITY OF BENDIGO
With separate Master’s degrees in Engineering Science and Urban Planning, Peter’s career started in the planning of new towns in Australia and the UK. Much of his career was in Local Government as the CEO of four major Councils, including the City of Sydney.
Peter was the CEO of Federation Square during its construction and early operational phase and CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority for a decade from 2007 until 2017. He is an industry Fellow at RMIT and a judge for the Victorian UDIA Awards for Excellence Program..
He is currently undertaking a number of advisory roles with both Government and non-Government organisations.
He has recently published: “Breaking Point: The Future of Australian Cities” which examines ways to manage growth and make our cities more efficient, liveable and equitable.
Peter has been made a member of the Order of Australia for significant service to urban and regional planning and design, to public administration and to local Government.
LIZ RONSON
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC ADVISOR AT JINDING AUSTRALIA, HEAD OF RONSON CONSULTING
Liz is a highly skilled development professional with almost 25 years’ experience in some of Australia’s most successful development businesses. Liz has overseen development portfolios in Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. She specialises in residential assets and is also experienced in commercial, industrial and infrastructure delivery.
Liz now heads up Ronson Consulting, providing strategic advice to landowners and investors. Before starting her own business, Liz has held senior roles with Mirvac, Peet Limited and most recently Jinding where she was Managing Director – Developments, growing its project pipeline to > $2BN & more than 4000 homes.
Liz is committed to delivering excellence across the development industry and has been actively involved in the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA, Qld & now Vic. Liz has a degree in Property and Finance (Curtin University), a Diploma in Project Management (RMIT) and Diploma in Business Administration (UTS).
BETTINA SHEERAN
PARTNER AT MADDOCKS, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ADVISORS AT PROPERTY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION, FORMER UDIA VICTORIA VICE PRESIDENT
Bettina is a partner in Maddocks Development team, and has more than 20 years’ experience providing property advice throughout all stages of the project lifecycle, from asset acquisition through to income realisation.
Bettina provides legal advice to a variety of public and private, listed and unlisted clients, including Stockland, Cedar Woods, Burbank and Metro Property Group. She is passionate and highly engaged with the property development industry, having previously contributed as a UDIA Board member for over 8 years, and currently sits on the Board of the Property Industry Foundation.
IAN BRIGGS
DIRECTOR AT PLUS ARCHITECTURE , MEMBER OF THE AIA VICTORIAN CHAPTER COUNCIL
A Director at Plus Architecture, Ian is acknowledged as an accomplished designer with the ability to transform ideas into inspired design outcomes that challenge convention. His master planning and design expertise is evidenced through his lasting work which has helped to define many prominent precincts and created urban markers across the cities in which they stand.
Through his unique design perspective and ability to be inspired by the relationships between the built form and the environments in which they sit, Ian is skilled at distilling the essence of an idea and refining it until he arrives at an honest and authentic design concept that appeals to clients and end users alike.
Using thoughtfulness and deliberation, Ian feels a sense of responsibility to ensure each development captures the spirit of its location while cleverly weaving a considered narrative through every design he undertakes. Working closely with his clients throughout the design process, each project is approached in a way that is reflective of the client’s personality and values. The result is a body of work whereby every building is unique in form and responsive to the site in which it sits.
Connectivity is a concept that’s critical in Ian’s approach. He believes in generating a profound sense of ‘place’ and creating an environment that connects people culturally, socially and spatially. Ian believes in creating tactile, environmentally and socially responsive architecture sympathetic to its surrounds.
Dedicated to the advocacy and promotion of architecture as an instrument for positive change, Ian frequently speaks at events and conferences across the country and internationally. An active member of the Victorian Chapter Council for the last two years, Ian is also a representative at the Practice of Architecture Committee (POAC) both at state level and national. Ian has previously held positions on the judging panels for a number of architectural awards including the 2018 UDIA Awards for Excellence and was a key part of the discussion panel during the launch of the 2018 Urban Innovation Ideas Competition.
JUDI CARR
DIRECTOR AT PROPERTY REPUBLIC
Judi has extensive experience in the property sales and marketing area and has a passion for working with teams to improve the customer experience.
She founded Property Republic in 2012 and focuses on providing niche strategic sales and marketing services to the residential, retirement and building sectors of the industry.
PETER VLITAS
DIRECTOR ALKINOIS ADVISORY
Extensive experience in property development, residential building, medium density housing and detached housing management across the full development life cycle from acquisition through to sales/marketing, construction and final settlements/completions.
He has held senior positions in a number of prominent Australian private and government housing and development companies. Recent Senior Executive roles at AVID Property Group, Development/Places Victoria and AVJennings, he has also occupied senior positions in a variety of prominent Australian housing development companies, including Central Equity, Urban Pacific and Dennis Family.
Life Member and Past President of Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Victoria.
Bachelor in Surveying (Honours) and Post Graduate of the Mount Eliza Business School Leadership Development Program.