An independent voice on the life of our cities.

Lynne Sheridan is a highly respected town planner, project manager, and property development industry leader with an exceptional multi-decade career spanning state and local government, private practice, and the NSW Land and Environment Court. As Chair of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies (AIUS), Lynne brings an unparalleled "360-degree" view of the planning system, driven by a genuine passion for urban policy and a commitment to creating equitable, well-designed built environments. Throughout her distinguished career, Lynne has held senior executive roles at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), where she was instrumental in developing groundbreaking planning reforms, including the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code and Design Guide. Her landmark work in simplifying the planning system earned her a prestigious Premier’s Award for the development of the Simplified House Code. Beyond her extensive policy and private sector leadership—including her current role as an Executive Director of Planning and Special Projects at Berrys Bay Studio — Lynne was appointed in 2021 as an Acting Commissioner in the NSW Land and Environment Court. This rare combination of high-level policy authorship, private sector development insight, and judicial experience ensures that under her leadership, AIUS remains at the absolute forefront of contemporary urban discourse, translating complex planning theory into practical, impactful practice.

Advisor in strategy, government activation and capacity building. Sunil specialises in foresight and scenario planning and strategic intelligence to enable long-term decisions for city-making practices, international relations and complex global programs.

Cody Sheridan is an accomplished builder, project manager, and delivery specialist who brings a highly practical, cross-disciplinary perspective to the urban development sector. As founding Director of Berrys Bay Studio, Cody possesses considerable experience in project managing complex strategic planning projects and successfully navigating major Development Applications (DAs) from initial concept design through to determination and construction. Complementing his planning expertise, Cody has a time-tested track record of delivering premium, high-end residential construction projects. His background as a licensed builder allows him to bridge the gap between high-level planning policy and real-world execution, ensuring strategic projects are always grounded in buildability and financial reality. Cody’s interest in urban affairs is driven by a deeply practical passion for how city-shaping ideas translate from paper into liveable, physical realities. Rather than viewing urban policy through a purely theoretical lens, he is fascinated by the mechanics of the functional city — specifically how strategic planning and zoning directly impact community interaction, public health, and the daily experience of the streetscape.

For over 40 years, Michael has advised public and private sector clients on managing the approvals process from regulation to litigation. An experienced expert witness, he has presented urban planning and design evidence before the NSW Land and Environment Court in nearly 700 cases. This long and diverse experience has led him to the conclusion that the NSW Planning System must change as it moves through the 21st century. Together with the late John Mant, he co-authored a proposal for a NSW Better Places Act to guide development applications and assessment in urban areas. Michael is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies NSW, a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.

David Wilmoth serves as a Committee Member of AIUS NSW. A fuller biography outlining his experience and contribution to urban affairs will be published shortly.

Phil brings over 40 years of comprehensive urban planning experience across the UK and Australia to his committee role with AIUS NSW. Educated at Oxford Polytechnic with postgraduate research in Comparative Planning from the University of Lodz in Poland, Phil has built a diverse career spanning both the public and private sectors. His background includes pivotal roles with UK Local Government, the NSW Department of Planning, and extensive private sector consultancy, culminating in running his own successful Sydney-based practice prior to his recent retirement. An active voice in the industry, Phil also serves on the PIA NSW Transport Committee and has been a long-standing committee member for the UDIA. While his expertise covers all aspects of town planning across Australia, he has a specialized focus on residential development and the critical integration of planning with transportation. Phil is a strong advocate for the independent, critical review of planning policy to meet the complex challenges of the modern urban environment.

Halvard Dalheim has four decades of strategic planning experience across government and private sectors. He served in executive roles for the NSW and Victorian planning departments and the Greater Sydney Commission. Notably, he led major metropolitan plans for Greater Sydney and Melbourne , alongside numerous regional and town centre plans , often integrating urban economics and transport planning. An Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney , Halvard also teaches at UTS and RMIT and authored Planning Better Cities: A Practical Guide in 2023. Since 2020, he works as a senior advisor , advocating for evidence-informed, community-engaged, and transit-oriented city planning.