Our Directors.
Find out more about each of our Directors below.
Michael Rowe
Director
BPlan(Hons) RPIA REAP
Michael loves planning and he loves Sydney. During nearly two decades working as a planning consultant, he has worked on the largest and most complex planning projects in our amazing City. Until recently he was the NSW Regional Director of Ethos Urban with responsibility over managing an office of 120 people, including the largest consultant planning team in the State.
​
Michael is passionate about facilitating good development outcomes. He takes a big picture view to planning, and his aim is to help stakeholders focus on the outcomes not the controls or the process. Michael prides himself on developing innovative solutions to problems, and it is his strategic and driven approach that consistently achieves timely results for his clients.
​
He has been responsible for getting approval for millions of square metres of floor space and tens of thousands of apartments. Significantly, for over a decade he was the project director for Barangaroo South, the largest urban development in Australia, providing on-going strategic advice and working with Lendlease to obtain the approvals for the precinct. Michael also has a strong portfolio of mixed use residential projects across Sydney, overseeing large award winning developments such as Frasers’ Edmondson Park Town Centre and the Midtown (Ivanhoe Estate), Macquarie Park projects.
Whilst he specialises in large scale complex urban projects, he is also passionate about working with not for profit groups, such as churches and community housing providers to undertake their mission, building communities and caring for the most vulnerable people in our society.
More broadly his experience includes working on both large and small commercial, residential, industrial, education and health projects across NSW.
He holds a Bachelor of Planning with Honours Class 1 from the University of New South Wales, is a Registered Planner and now lectures third year planning students on Development Processes as part of the UNSW City Planning program.
​
Brendan Hoskins
Director
BPlan(Hons) GradDipEnvMgt RPIA REAP
Brendan is a trusted planner and design competition advisor with over 13 years of experience, working across Sydney, Australia and Toronto, Canada. Brendan provides his clients with the highest level of service, relishing in finding innovative and tailored solutions to navigate the complex NSW planning system.
He has experience across large-scale projects, including challenging planning proposals, State and Regionally Significant Development, and in managing international, national and local competitions. In Sydney, Brendan also has unparalleled experience in the management of design competitions, managing over 14 design competitions. He has been a respected and leading voice in promoting the better use of design competitions, pioneering new methods of management as a trusted advisor.
Through many years of experience, Brendan has also grown to specialise in CBD planning, advising clients on the evolving planning frameworks applicable to Sydney’s CBDs and successfully gaining multiple rezonings and approvals for some of Sydney's most significant projects. Further afield, Brendan has been involved in the planning of multiple high density projects including Putney Hill, Darling Square, Discovery Point, Barangaroo South, and Woolooware Bay Town Centre.
Brendan is a Registered Environmental Assessment Planner, CPTED-qualified, and also a member of the Property Council of Australia NSW Planning Committee and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat NSW Committee.
Chris Forrester
Director
BPlan(Hons) RPIA REAP
Chris has nearly 15 years of experience in statutory and strategic planning, gained through his work in both private sector and government roles. He holds a Bachelor of Planning with Honours Class 1 from the University of New South Wales.
​
He has wide-ranging planning experience, having worked across all sectors and application types, from DA’s to rezoning proposals. He specialises in providing strategic advice and leading the planning process for complex projects, notably those of regional and State significance across Sydney, Newcastle and regional NSW.
While Chris thrives on the challenge of problem solving across a diverse spectrum of projects, he holds particular expertise in health and education, residential and seniors housing, retail and marine/waterfront projects. Originally from Tamworth, he is also passionate about promoting sustainable development in the regions.
With a comprehensive understanding of the NSW planning system, he approaches projects with a pragmatic outlook and places collaboration with clients and partners as key to achieving success and negotiating commercially minded outcomes. Through his experience, Chris has built strong relationships across the industry and with Government departments.
His breadth of experience allows him to tailor innovative approval strategies, leveraging the various pathways under the EP&A Act, to achieve the best results for his projects in the most expeditious manner. Chris backs what he does and offers steadfast support to his clients throughout their planning journey.
​
Chris is also a Registered Environmental Assessment Planner (REAP), accredited to authorise the submission of EIS’s for State significant development and infrastructure applications.
​