REFORMED ZONES MINISTERIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
- MEMBERS’ SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
GEOFF UNDERWOOD
Geoff Underwood is a planning consultant with experience in State government beginning with the Bolte
Government in 1971 through to the Baillieu Government. He has worked in government with ministers for
Local Government and Planning and at a senior level with the Department of Sustainability and Environment in
2004-2006 and with the establishment of the Growth Areas Authority. In 2011, Geoff was appointed Chair of
the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Victorian Planning System Ministerial Advisory Committee.
His government experience included a decade as Private Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and
Planning followed by contributions as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council [for then Minister
Maclellan] the Local Approvals Review Programme [for the Federal Government under then Deputy Prime
Minister Howe], the Developer Contributions Review [first for then Minister Maclellan in 1992 and for Minister
Delahunty in 2002], the Melbourne 2030 Reference Group [for Minister Delahunty], Chair of the Urban
Development Program within the Victorian Planning Department and Director of Development Facilitation [for
Ministers Delahunty and Hulls].
In private industry he has worked for councils, corporations and private clients advising on planning matters.
He has worked with industry groups and been on numerous national committees and inquiries and is Secretary
of the multi disciplinary Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
LIZ JOHNSTONE
Liz Johnstone is Executive Officer of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) in Victoria. PIA is the national body
representing planning professionals. Previously she was with the Municipal Association of Victoria, in various
roles, most recently the Manager of Planning Policy and Projects, a position she held for four years. Liz has a
small business and community background, and over twenty years’ experience in the local government sector,
working on key policy and service delivery issues with a diverse range of councils.
JOANNA STANLEY
Joanna has 20 years experience in community engagement and communications as a consultant in local
government, the arts and health. She is experienced in advocating for public rights in planning issues and
helping residents have a say through the media and public realm. Her advocacy background stems from
promoting the strengthening of new communities in the Melton shire when it was developing as a growth area
in the early 2000s, and since she has represented residents of the city of Moreland in planning issues. Recently
Joanna was nominated by Planning Backlash Victoria to make representations to the state government on
behalf of residents in the north and west of Melbourne. Currently a member and co-founder of Brunswick
Residents Network, Joanna liaises with communities in Melbourne’s north and west, and has dealt with
regional authorities and issues in rural areas. Joanna has practiced as a publicist since 1992, and has
qualifications in Media Arts and Science from the University of Melbourne.