In celebration of International Women’s Day the Planning Institute of Australia hosted a series of Women in Planning events across Qld.
These events brought industry professionals together to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the women in planning and to inspire the next generation.
Supporting the Cairns Event
Members of the P & E Law team – Tanya Knauer, Anna Vella and Lestar Manning – attended the Cairns breakfast event, held at the Pullman Cairns International.
As a proud sponsor P & E Law hosted a table of eight and invited a number of our valued clients and colleagues to join us as guests.
The keynote address was delivered by Liz Taylor, a highly experienced planning professional, who provided valuable insights into the evolution of planning and planning legislation. Liz related how the industry had changed over time, both positively and negatively. She shared her take on the current state of play and her consideration on options for improving the future direction of planning.
P & E Law’s Tanya Knauer had the honour of thanking Liz and attendees at the breakfast, drawing on her long term association with Liz.
Pictured: Anna Vella, Tanya Knauer, Liz Taylor and Lestar Manning. Pictured: Tanya Knauer (P & E Law) delivering the speech of thanks.
Sunshine Coast Event
The Women in Planning celebrations also extended to the Sunshine Coast, with an event hosted at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
P & E Law was again honoured to sponsor the event, reinforcing our commitment to supporting gender equity within the profession.
The event featured four distinguished speakers from diverse backgrounds :
- Dr Sharon Harwood (Planner)
- Christine Brindley (Engineer)
- Lisa Moore (Architect)
- Lauren Newton (Landscape Architect and Planner)
Each speaker shared their experiences, offering valuable insights into how they navigated the road to success in their respective fields.
P & E Law team members Michelle Neil, Georgia Louth, Tara Phillips and Andrew Williams, had the pleasure of attending and benefitting from the thought-provoking presentations.
Key Takeaways for Women in the Workforce
Michelle Neil from our team has shared her perspective of key insights from the speakers’ presentations.
- Overcome Barriers: Women can break through gender bias in traditionally male dominated industries such as planning and engineering and succeed! The speakers were inspiring in what they had achieved in their life experiences.
- Support One Another: It is vital for women who break through the gender barrier to take other women with them – lift them up and not leave them behind.
- Address the Pay Gap: The gender pay gap remains a challenge, especially at senior levels of leadership.
- Prioritise Wellbeing: Maintaining personal and mental wellbeing is a priority. It is the primary priority for achievement in other areas of life and forms the foundation for a successful family and career.
- Back Yourself: Don’t let outdated or conventional views hold you back. Be persistent and confident with your goals and dreams. Several speakers shared stories of trailblazing in times when such professional work paths were far less supported than today. They balanced working and raising families whilst studying a degree. One particularly inspiring example was Christine, who pursued her lifelong dream to become an engineer. After returning to study as a mature aged student, she went on to contribute to major infrastructure projects including the Pacific Motorway between Beenleigh and the Gold Coast – an impressive achievement given the challenges faced at the time. This was especially resonating and inspiring for our team member Michelle, who pursued law as a mature‑aged student as a second career while working and studying at the same time.
Events such as the PIA’s Women in Planning play an important role in fostering connection, sharing knowledge, and encouraging future leaders.
March 2026