VicUrban becomes Places Victoria

VicUrban has become Places Victoria and Sam Sangster has been appointed its CEO.

Places Victoria is the trading name of the Urban Renewal Authority, which was formed with the announcement of a new board on October 27.

Mr Sangster has been VicUrban’s acting CEO since Pru Sanderson resigned the position last December.

Places Victoria has reverted back to geographic portfolios with Simon Wilson being appointed general manager for Docklands, Fisherman’s Bend and E-Gate.  In 2009 VicUrban restructured itself to give general managers functional portfolios across all of its projects.

In explaining the reversion back to portfolios based on regions, Places Victoria chairman Peter Clarke said there was simply too much for one person to do under the old system.

Mr Clarke said Places Victoria’s City West division would concentrate on designing only Docklands, Fisherman’s Bend and E-Gate.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy appointed deputy chairperson Ken Fehily and nine directors to join Mr Clarke.

The new directors are William Bowness, Lorna Gelbert, Judith Nicholson, Graeme Parton, Timothy Shannon, Janet West and Professor John Stanley.  

Six former VicUrban directors were not reappointed to URA – Gabrielle Trainor, Andrew Fairley, Julia Mason, Michael Roberts, Hamish MacDonald and
Meredith Sussex.

Messers Clarke, Fehily, Parton and Ms Nicholson have been appointed for five-year terms. The remaining directors have been appointed for three years.
Director profiles

Peter Clarke (Chairperson)
Mr Clarke was appointed to the role of chairperson of VicUrban in June 2011 and has led the transition. He has a Bachelor of Architecture and was a councillor of the City of Melbourne and planning  chairman.

Ken Fehily (Deputy Chair)
Mr Fehily is a director of Fehily Advisory and a taxation specialist. He is a former partner of Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Arthur Andersen. Mr Fehily has previously advised a number of state departments and agencies.

William Bowness
Mr Bowness is CEO of the Wilbow Group which focuses on the provision of venture capital and funding for property development and investment activities.

Lorna Gelbert
Ms Gelbert is a law partner in Madgwicks with over 35 years extensive experience in property and commercial law. She is chair of the Law Institute Property Law Advisory Committee and a member of the Board of the Women’s Legal Service Victoria.

Judith Nicholson
Ms Nicholson has 25 years consulting experience in town planning. She is a former member of the Building Appeals Board and Victorian Heritage Council and former vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Planning Institute of Australia.

Graeme Parton
Mr Parton is a director of Charter Keck Cramer and has over 35 years of experience in property development and construction.

Timothy Shannon
Mr Shannon is an architect and was the managing director of Hassell from 1993-2008. He is a noted urban designer.

Professor John Stanley
Professor Stanley is an economist and adjunct professor and consultant in transport and logistics.

Jan West AM
Ms West is a chartered accountant and senior audit partner with Deloitte. She is also a member of the Financial Reporting Council and former national president and chairperson of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.