Engagement for Equitable Mobility - The why and how of community engagement for transport projects Webinar

Fran has worked in strategy, planning and delivery of public open space and park management in the Victorian public sector for over 30 years. She has a particular passion for creating access to nature based public spaces as intrinsic to the health and wellbeing of communities and in shaping healthy liveable cities. She has worked with Parks Victoria at a state and metropolitan level and now with state government leading the Open Space for Everyone open space strategy for metropolitan Melbourne.

Fran recently led the development of the Shrine to Sea masterplan, a new boulevard for Melbourne connecting Kings Domain gardens to Port Phillip Bay with safer and clearer links and connection for walking and cycling and a celebration of local history. Not all aspirations have been achieved, but extensive community engagement and inclusive design has been central to the planning process.

Denise has extensive experience in social planning and policy and delivering projects for public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She is an accomplished facilitator bringing people, teams, and stakeholders together to help navigate change, whilst ensuring participants feel safe, are challenged, and achieve collective creativity.

Denise and other members of the Capire team recently supported the City of Greater Geelong to plan and deliver a deliberative engagement process to co-design an Urban Design Framework for the Pakington Street North Precinct. 

This Framework was adopted by Council in May 2024 and will guide future development to revitalise the precinct and accommodate demand for new homes, shops, services and jobs.

One Councillor described it as “the City’s most extensive community consultation to date”. The UDF sets the stage for sustainable development in the Pakington Street North Precinct, including better connectivity, more greenery and much-needed housing, while respecting the area’s history.

Liz has worked in transport in Australia, the UK and Canada. Her work focuses on the planning and designing for walking, bike riding and other forms of sustainable transport. Liz works on projects for councils across Victoria and is also working on the pop-up bike route program with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planner.

Liz has a keen interest in the social equity side of transport, and in ensuring community engagement reaches everyone. Applying the Healthy Streets framework and using processes like the gender impact assessment centres the user in the planning and design of projects, ensuring a better outcome for all.