Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

Retha Steenkamp

Hocking,WA

Summary

Experienced strategic planner with 11 years of specialised experience in government, focusing on town planning, land use planning, strategic, social, sustainability, place planning and environmental planning. Detailed orientated, XXXXX and in leadership, community engagement and stakeholder management, people management, project management and report writing.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Freedom of Information Officer

City of Swan
01.2020 - Current
  • Point of contact regarding the provision of professional advice to staff and customers in various legislation applicable to Local Government
  • Regular and clear communication of deliverables, within clear timelines
  • Provision and maintenance of the corporate records management program to meet the needs of the City of Swan
  • Ongoing processing of enquiries under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (‘FOI Act’), and other relevant public records legislation
  • Support the coordinator information management and spatial systems and the senior records officer by provide assistance on key projects including XXXXX
  • Dealing with the City’s Executive, State government agencies including the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries in resolving complicated FOI requests, within a short turnaround under the FOI Act
  • Processing a large volume of FOI requests and prioritising data, activities and preparing Decision Notices
  • Achieved the highest ever turnaround of FOI applications in 20/21 and on target to hit the highest for 21/22
  • Nominated to represent the information services business unit on the CEO’s monthly round table and to present projects that will bring noticeable changes and improvements in how staff conducts everyday tasks.

Social Planner

City of Swan
01.2016 - 02.2021
  • Prepare and project manage the City’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2017 – 2022 outcomes, including the DAIP Implementation Plan, and strategic engagement management plan for the delivery of key actions
  • Develop project schedule, Gantt charts to manage the successful delivery of key actions, process map and cost analysis
  • Prepare the City’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) report including extensive research and facilitate breakout sessions with senior staff in the working group such as the vision workshop
  • Prepared project schedule and process plans for delivery of the RAP within a limited budget and timeframe
  • Prepare several briefing notes for projects presented to Council and Executive Team including the City’s homelessness paper; a paper on family and domestic violence; DAIP; and the RAP
  • Member of the interdepartmental working group established to develop the City’s first Community Health and Wellbeing Plan/Strategy (Draft), my role included the design and preparation of a project approach, strategic literature review, engagement strategy, public survey design, and information papers
  • Prepare a process plan for delivery of this Plan
  • Addressing challenges such as timelines, staff and policy changes
  • Offering sound evidence-based planning and research, from an intimate knowledge of strategic project outcomes and realistic implementable strategies and actions, process planning and social issues and needs from community consultation and research
  • Solutions are based on the City’s ability to respond effectively to community needs, in the light of current overarching issues such as rate rises, and internal review of business units
  • Conduct targeted community engagement and survey interviews to inform the City of Swan’s State of Homelessness (Ordinary Meeting of Council 14 February 2018) and preparing the paper and recommendations addressing homelessness and future direction in stakeholder management
  • Represent the City on an innovation working group to develop initiatives that will instigate internal change within the City including improved communication across the organisation, with both a top down and bottom up approach, breaking down silo’s through ongoing communications and engagement
  • Undertake complex research and analysis and prepare recommendations to support the development of innovative, evidence-based policy options and to influence design such as the redevelopment of Midland oval project
  • Facilitate the City of Swan’s leadership workshops for three consecutive years
  • Achievements:
  • As coordinator social planning and evaluation/acting responsible for managing the social planning and evaluation team priorities, marketing tasks for the Swan Volunteers Centre, and procuring a budget and consultant to facilitate the DAIP workshops and report
  • This had to be done within a two-week period, including completing the project charter, identify suitable consultancies, issue an EOI, obtain a RFQ, assess the submissions and appoint the recommended consultant
  • As social planner I managed the consultant’s workshop findings report and draft DAIP report and running an internal workshop with staff to finalise the DAIP implementation plan
  • Represent the City at cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams, at State government workshops, on working groups, and stakeholder networks to include: a state wide working group with six other local government authorities, including City of Wanneroo, to develop an evaluation framework and toolkit for community development officers to measure outcomes of projects, programs and initiatives
  • While participating in the working group I displayed strong abilities to analyse information, and translate data within the workshop formats and align it to the project outcomes; applying critical thinking I demonstrated how trends and patterns can be translated into practical solutions
  • Considering complex issues and identifying innovative solutions, identify opportunities for improvement and work together with other group members in achieving the desired outcomes
  • Nominated to represent the City of Swan as part of a research and planning working group with other Local Governments across Perth to develop an evaluation framework and toolkit for community development officers in Local Government to develop an evaluation guide that is a tailored response to their needs
  • The report and toolkit will be an online tool for Local Government officers to use when evaluating the effectiveness of current community projects
  • Https://www.csi.edu.au/research/project/local-government-professionals-wa-evaluation-framework-and-toolkit/
  • Represent the City on the WA Access and Inclusion network group represented by local government officers across the State, WALGA, and Department of Communities, through actively participating in discussions relating to access and inclusion matters; provide ongoing advice; and give regular updates on activities across the City
  • Prepared the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in a short space of time with an outstanding recommendation from the Executive
  • I was responsible for developing the project charter, process plan and strategic engagement management plan, the assessment of candidates on the RAP Advisory Committee and preparing TORs, assist in facilitating internal workshops, and document findings from internal engagement.

Strategic Planner

City of Swan
01.2013 - 03.2016
  • Collaborate with City staff to develop the new Local Area Planning approach replacing the City’s Place Planning approach
  • Develop an organisational process map for the preparation of the City’s Local Area Plans and related detailed process maps for the City’s business planning
  • Develop work plans, implementation schedule (Gantt charts), a community engagement framework, risk assessment, budget and actions relating to Local Area Plans for the team to use and implement
  • Responsible for conducting complex research and analysis, engagement with internal and external stakeholders, to identify priorities and actions
  • Prepare Midland, Guildford Hazelmere, Ballajura, Altone, and Gidgegannup Local Area Plans and running community workshops for the Swan View Local Area Plan
  • Dealing with several customers inquires relating to the Heritage and the Local Government Inventory, assisted the planning team with scoping heritage tasks related to the City of Swan’s Heritage Strategic Plan
  • Achievements:
  • Developed the City’s Local Area Planning approach, the model is still being used today, templates, and organisational process mapping
  • I have developed the Midland LAP engagement strategy and worked in collaboration with the community development officer and Place Manager to: design the workshop outcomes; record information; public notices; stakeholder group engagement; facilitating and scribing; preparing the findings report; and findings into strategies and outcomes
  • The Midland LAP was the first LAP to be developed and would set the approach to community engagement and stakeholder engagement.

Community Planner, and Engagement Officer

City of Swan
01.2012 - 01.2013
  • Leading the review of the City’s place planning approach to better align with the City’s Strategic Community Plan (SCP) and the Integrated Planning Framework
  • Responsible for the research in place planning related models and frameworks; internal management meetings and surveys, and researching place planning trends
  • The place planning review informed the outcomes of the SCP
  • Conduct research tasks to establish the level of service delivery, managing the projects and services to better align the new business unit with the Council endorsed SCP
  • Undertake complex research to develop the State of Aged Care Report as well as a briefing to the Executive Management Team relating to an aged care strategy in the Ballajura and Altone Place areas
  • Achievements:
  • Leading the review of the City’s place planning approach to better align the City’s Place Planning approach to the Strategic Community Plan (SCP) and the Integrated Planning Framework
  • Research included place planning related models and frameworks; internal management opinion surveys, and researching place planning trends
  • I was then able to design a Place Model that is still being used by the Place Management team
  • Part of my role was to develop and implement a community engagement approach that will support the place planning process.

Strategic Planner

City of Swan
01.2010 - 12.2011
  • Prepare the Community Infrastructure Plan for Bullsbrook Place area including leading a series of internal workshops to prioritise planning issues, formulating strategies in developing applicable and relevant recommendations
  • The initial investigation informed the implementation plan prepared by the Facilities Planning section under Strategic Planning
  • Prepare the first draft Bullsbrook Land Use Master Plan to set the vision for this community for the next 20 years in terms of delivery of land use objectives to facilitate the development of more than 7,000 allotments to the north and south of Bullsbrook Townsite area
  • Provide land use advice and support as part of a working group responsible for developing an Access Strategy for the Great Northern Highway
  • Achievements:
  • Represent the City of Swan on a project team consisting of senior staff from Department of Planning, Main Roads WA and City of Swan to design a strategy to control all access onto the Great Northern Highway north from Upper Swan to north Bullsbrook
  • The plan was developed and still being applied
  • Much of what I have contributed to the team were used by the traffic engineers to construct findings and recommendations
  • Complete the community infrastructure plan within a short space of time
  • This was the first internally prepared strategic report undertaken in this team to inform the Asset Management team regarding facilities planning
  • City of Fremantle
  • The City of Fremantle is a local government authority located 20km south of the Perth CBD
  • The City employs more than 400 people and services approximately 30,000 residents over a land area of 19 square kilometres
  • The Town of Fremantle Councils was founded in 1871 and gained city status in 1929
  • The City has some of the oldest heritage listed buildings in Western Australia and the Fremantle Prison is World Heritage Listed.

Coordinator Strategic Planning

URS
01.2010 - 11.2010
  • Responsible for coordinating the strategic planning team and provide technical and general advice to Council, management and customers relating to strategic planning and land use matters
  • Participate in the business planning process as a key team leader and/or member
  • Review, consult and report on significant proposals affecting strategic and sustainable land use planning within the City
  • Undertake complex research and analysis of planning issues and provide recommendations including liaising with and presenting to Councillors, community and business groups and other interested parties
  • Ensure policies and guidelines support State and Council policy objectives in liaison with Council and other key internal and external stakeholders
  • Provide professional advice and decision making in specialist Planning Projects and Policy matters
  • Achievements:
  • Responsible for coordinating the planning and stakeholder consultation activities to advance the City’s first Developer Contribution Plan along Knutsford Street, Fremantle
  • This included the review of engineering and cost schedules, and stakeholder engagement, which included liaison with landowners such as LandCorp, and arranging workshops to finalise the cost schedules
  • Significant changes were made to the DCA, as a result of the stakeholder engagement process
  • Perth
  • URS is an American company with offices in Perth and Sydney
  • The Perth office provided engineering, environmental, sustainability and planning services to clients in the mining and government industries.

Principal Sustainability Consultant and Strategic Planner

GHD Pty Ltd
01.2009 - 03.2010
  • As principal sustainability consultant and strategic planner my responsibilities included managing projects and budgets, supporting the sustainability team with planning and environmental matters and integrating planning and environmental sustainability principles within all divisions of the organisation
  • Provide planning support to the sustainability group and to other principals across the organisation
  • Plan and manage the resource allocation for projects managed within the sustainability group
  • Manage the formulation of the Western Trade Coast Plan (WTC) and Vision, including the development of a project scope, budget, resource plan and timeline
  • Once fully developed will be the largest Heavy Industrial area in Western Australia and the first of its kind in Australia
  • Oversee the research and analysis of identifying critical economic and planning issues affecting the development of the WTC; overseeing stakeholder engagement in formulating a governance structure that will manage the complex planning issues and major infrastructure initiatives and stakeholder workshops with State government and land owner groups
  • Achievements:
  • Coordinate an interdisciplinary team of specialists and consultants to deliver the WTC Vision and Plan
  • The project team consisted of an interdepartmental team of senior staff from Department of State Development, LandCorp, Department of Planning, and Department of Commerce
  • The significance of this project relates to the complexity of issues associated with the heavy industry core at Kwinana Industrial Area
  • The WTC will deliver greater economic output and employment opportunities for Perth and its region
  • The Governance Structure was recently approved by State Cabinet
  • Responsible for a stakeholder workshop on mine closure as part of the project team responsible for developing a mine closure plan for the first Uranium mine in WA
  • Prepare a three-day workshop with twenty specialists in Uranium mining from the United States of America, Canada, and Australia
  • Nominated as member of the Western Australia Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Urban Planning Committee whilst working at URS
  • Committee members consisted of Local Government, private planning companies, and developers including Mirvac & Australand
  • While on the working group we were tasked to develop a vision for Perth as part of Directions 2021 and prepare our comments on the future development of Perth Metro by working collaboratively with other members and leaders in UDIA
  • GHD is a leading professional services company operating across the globe with 200 offices across five continents, in sectors of water, energy and resources, and environment
  • The company employed over 10,000 people in 2018 with a revenue of 2.16 billion AUD (2019).

Senior Planner

GHD Pty Ltd
01.2006 - 02.2009
  • Provide planning advice and environmental planning support to all planning business units within the organisation and externally to clients
  • Develop a planning team in Central QLD, including the recruitment of planning staff in the North QLD Operating Centre
  • Undertake community engagement relating to environmental and planning projects, and provide social planning and community engagement advice as part of an interdisciplinary team of professionals working on large and complex infrastructure projects
  • Collaborate with staff to conduct complex research and analysis pertaining to sustainability, social, planning projects and stakeholder identification and management
  • Prepare and submit several development applications and oversee planning and environmental permit applications with successful outcomes
  • Collaborate with teams from across QLD to develop a Priority Infrastructure Plan for Livingstone Shire Council my role included preparing project scope, land use analysis, managing data capturing at the Local Government offices and client liaison
  • Achievements:
  • Prepare and assist in facilitating a vision workshop with the Aboriginal Council of Hope Vale, Far North QLD to develop the first freehold subdivision on land in Deed of Grant in Trust and managed by the TO of the land
  • The terrain was difficult to access due to seasonal rains, and the locality and under severe environmental conditions I was able to prepare and assist the project team to successfully complete the engagement process which informed the DA reports submitted to the amalgamated Council
  • Prepare and complete several complex structure plans, master plans, planning reports, feasibility reports and DA’s to Local Government and Department of Planning and Infrastructure, and Department of Housing including consultation and stakeholder engagement seeking exceptional outcomes for the impacted communities
  • As planning coordinator for GHD Northern QLD Operating Centre I have managed and coordinated planning in the Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone offices
  • Working with management in the Cairns and Brisbane offices to develop a planning strategy that will establish and grow a planning group for the N.QLD
  • Design and implement a consultation and stakeholder engagement strategy for targeted communities across QLD
  • The challenge was the vast distances between communities and recruiting senior staff in these communities with a passion for community, engagement and planning
  • This was successfully undertaken and recruitment of staff in all offices was done.

Senior Planner

Connell Wagner, Aurecon
07.2005 - 07.2006
  • Responsible for providing planning advice and environmental planning support to planning business units within the organisation, and also to develop a planning group within the Central QLD office in Gladstone
  • Develop and foster on-going relationships with clients and management of large stakeholder groups, including local community groups and local government networks
  • Prepare several structure plans, planning reports in support of DA’s, provide land use planning advice to client in support Greenfields developments and redevelopment of land within Central QLD
  • Achievements:
  • I have been part of the planning team responsible for developing the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal and Rail Environmental Impact Statement
  • My responsibilities included, assisting with the development of a planning framework and the consultation and engagement planning
  • Several site investigations were undertaken to collect site and planning and stakeholder information as extensive research was required
  • Excellent reviews were received from the Local Council on the direct and inclusive approach to stakeholder consultation and inclusion of information in the EIS
  • Subsequently appointed by the Regional Council to review several EIS reports following this project and my recommendations were approved by State government to create a housing fund that will support the local communities with homes, facilities and services.

Office Manager

MDA Town & Regional Planners, Bloemfontein
01.2003 - 05.2005
  • MDA was an engineering, town planning and environmental company with over 20 staff consisting of town planners, environmental staff, engineers and administrative staff
  • MDA was a subsidiary of Ninham Shand Engineers one of South Africa’s largest engineering companies prior to the merger with Connell Wagner, Ninham Shand and Africon in 2009 to form Aurecon
  • Responsibilities included statutory and strategic planning & environmental planning matters and business development, stakeholder management and providing planning and environmental outcomes on large scale redevelopment projects.

Manager

Botsitso Development, Bloemfontein
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Develop and project manage strategic planning projects, environmental and social impact assessments and agricultural development projects for clients in National, district and local governments
  • Responsible for managing the operation of the office and developing monthly and annual budgets with the Managing Director
  • Develop an environmental impact assessment toolkit for Department of Environmental Affairs to guide and assist local governments in successfully undertake Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
  • This toolkit was issued to all district and local government authorities across South Africa
  • Relevant Tertiary Qualifications

Senior Town Planner

Urban Dynamics, City
01.1998 - 09.2000
  • Of Swan
  • The City of Swan is one of the largest local government areas in Perth Metropolitan area, with a land area of 1,044 square kilometres and a population of 147,353 (2019, ABS ERP)
  • The City has 42 suburbs located approximately 20 km north-east of the Perth CBD
  • The City employs over a 1,000 staff operating from five hubs
  • Each Place has local areas with each Place having either one Local Area Plan or two per Place.

Education

Masters - Environmental Management

University of the Free State

Masters - Urban and Regional Planning

University of the Free State

Bachelors of Communication Science - undefined

University of the Free State

Skills

  • Research and report writing skills
  • Produce high quality strategic land use planning documents
  • Communication skills with ability to collaborate
  • Tailored Community and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Robust Problem-Solving Skills and Critical analysis
  • Policy, Strategy and Implementation
  • Collaborative Teamwork
  • Team Coordination and People Leading

Accomplishments

  • Achieved the completion of the City's first RAP effectively helping with XXXX
  • Collaborated with team of three in developing the City of Swan's social and services gap analysis
  • Documented and resolved XXXX which then led to XXXX
  • Supervised team of XXXX staff members as acting coordinator

Affiliations

Certified Planning Practitioner Program of the Planning Institute Australia (2009 – 2013) - Effective Communication, Negotiation and Mediation Unit (2009); Economics of Development Unit (2009); Project Management Unit (2009); Urban Design (2010); Climate Change Unit (2013) ATI – Mirage Training Solutions (2014 & 2013) - Effective and Executive Writing Skills; Microsoft Project 2007; Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator Creative Communities (2012) - Module 101 - Art of Place Making and Module 103 - Becoming a More Creative Place Maker. Australian Business Excellence Framework (2016) for young and upcoming leaders Outcomes Measurement Course by UWA (2019)

Additional Information

During 2021/22 I took a career break to focus on my studies and completed a certificate in wholeness and leadership. I am working on completing EAP2 in xxxx

Timeline

Freedom of Information Officer

City of Swan
01.2020 - Current

Social Planner

City of Swan
01.2016 - 02.2021

Strategic Planner

City of Swan
01.2013 - 03.2016

Community Planner, and Engagement Officer

City of Swan
01.2012 - 01.2013

Strategic Planner

City of Swan
01.2010 - 12.2011

Coordinator Strategic Planning

URS
01.2010 - 11.2010

Principal Sustainability Consultant and Strategic Planner

GHD Pty Ltd
01.2009 - 03.2010

Senior Planner

GHD Pty Ltd
01.2006 - 02.2009

Senior Planner

Connell Wagner, Aurecon
07.2005 - 07.2006

Office Manager

MDA Town & Regional Planners, Bloemfontein
01.2003 - 05.2005

Manager

Botsitso Development, Bloemfontein
01.2000 - 01.2005

Senior Town Planner

Urban Dynamics, City
01.1998 - 09.2000

Masters - Environmental Management

University of the Free State

Masters - Urban and Regional Planning

University of the Free State

Bachelors of Communication Science - undefined

University of the Free State

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Retha Steenkamp