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The 2024 Female Achiever of the Year (FAY) announced...

The 2024 FAY Award was presented at the PIA VIC International Women's Day Breakfast on 6 March at Park Hyatt Melbourne. The judges had to make the difficult decision of choosing between 7 strong candidates. The nominees have all shown incredible dedication to the planning profession and a passion for improving the communities in which we live and work. This is why the judges have decided to present a commendation as well as an award winner.

2024 Female Achiever of the Year

Emily Hobbs MPIA, Associate and Partner at SGS Economics & Planning

PIA Victoria’s Women’s Planning Network (WPN), is pleased to announce that Emily Hobbs, Associate and Partner at SGS Economics & Planning was announced as the 2024 Female Achiever of the Year.

Emily was nominated by her colleague Natalie Blanco at SGS who identified Emily as epitomising excellence in planning, demonstrating unwavering commitment, exceptional leadership, and profound support for her colleagues and the broader community.

Emily has led numerous complex regional housing and planning projects and has demonstrated an exceptional capacity to navigate complex challenges with finesse. Her expertise in social and affordable housing is evident through her collaboration with community housing providers and initiatives like the secondment opportunity with the City of Melbourne. She has mentored aspiring planners through the PIA mentoring program as well as within her organisation.

Emily has made significant contributions to the planning profession in Victoria. Actively serving as a committee member and contributor to the Policy and Advocacy Sub-Committee, she has presented insightful papers at conferences, including the MAV Regional and Rural Planning Conference and the Ballarat Diverse and Affordable Housing Forum. Her contribution to the broader profession has also included engaging with undergraduate planning schools where she actively promotes planning and supports the development of future professionals.

2024 Female Achiever of the Year Commendation

Rachel Butler MPIA, Senior Planner, Victoria Planning Team Leader at ARUP

Receiving a commendation for the 2024 Female Achiever of the Year Award was Rachel Butler from ARUP.

Rachel is an exceptional planning leader with a passion for environmental sustainability. She currently leads Arup’s Planning team in Victoria and is also Arup’s Australasian Connect Disability Leader.

She is an advocate for gender equality in the industry and uses her role as a leader in her organsiation to create avenues for the professional advancement of female emerging professionals and underrepresented groups. She has been recognised for her contribution to diversity and inclusion within her organisation and has actively assisted female planners through formal and informal mentoring relationships. She continually advocates for the role of planners, presenting project outcomes at key forums, including a recent global seminar on Major Transport Projects.

Rachel is actively engaged in the industry, and has participated in events and committees including the PIA National Congress, state conferences, PIA’s Major Project Delivery Industry event, has sat on congress selection committees, been a mentor in the PIA mentoring program and participated in career sessions for students at Melb Uni. She also sat on VPELA’s Young Professional Committee for a number of years.

Our Congratulations to Rachel.

2024 FAY Nominees

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