Sharon Fingland

Background

Sharon is an architect and urban planner with over thirty years of experience participating in major projects in the fields of city planning, housing policy & design, urban research, social policy and the upgrading of older areas.

Over the past six years in her role as Assistant Director (Planning and Research) in the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC Ltd), she has been responsible for the integration of strategic outcomes for issues affecting the Western Sydney region, which covers eleven local government areas.

With considerable experience in the policy development of many areas of urban policy and management, Sharon joined the Urban Research Centre in March 2010 to undertake her PhD.

Research

Sharon's research on the urban renewal of the older suburbs in West Central Sydney seeks to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between housing, employment and transport to provide a clearer and more accurate basis for decision-making in the urban context.

She is seeking to reveal the unique territorial relationships between housing, employment and transport capacities and behaviours with a view to enhanced social, economic and sustainability outcomes in Sydney's West Central planning sub-region.

For further information, you contact Sharon on s.fingland@uws.edu.au.

Michael Grosvenor

Background

Michael is an experienced urban and transport planning professional who specialises in the development of sustainable planning policies and strategies. He is also a freelance writer on sustainable living and travel.

Through his work and writing, Michael promotes the community benefits of making sustainable lifestyle choices and is a strong advocate of the important role that public transport, walking and cycling plays in our cities and towns.

Michael has a Master of Science (Urban Affairs) degree from the City University of New York and a Master of Policy and Applied Social Research degree from Macquarie University.

Research

Understanding the relationship between urban form and sustainable behaviour.

For further information, you contact Michael on m.grosvenor@uws.edu.au.

Martin Nichols

Background

Martin Nichols has spent the last twenty years involved in planning with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. His work has involved the economic analysis of road projects, traffic analysis, the development of long term road plans for the Authority and business planning. In recent years, he has provided advice to government on future road priorities and the relationship between land use planning and transport needs. He holds an Honours degree in economic geography from the Universities of NSW and Adelaide and a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney. Martin retired from the Authority in 2010 and has set up his own planning consultancy.

Research

Martin's research invesigates the infrastructure costs associated with compact versus dispersed city forms. In effect, the research will seek to determine which city forms can provide infrastructure at the least cost.

For further information, you can contact Martin on mnicholsassoc@gmail.com.

Tayanah O'Donnell

Background

Prior to joining the Urban Research Centre, Tayanah worked as a solicitor in the areas of litigation and environment & planning for both private practice and local council. From 2009-2010, she worked as a legal researcher for Justice Sheahan AO of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales.

She completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Hons), a Bachelor of Laws, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with UWS in 2006.

Research

Tayanah's PhD research examines policy responses and adaptation in the context of sea level rise and other global climate change induced coastal activities and occurrences. The core of the thesis is focussed on policy and adaptation responses for a small number of NSW coastal councils.

For further information, you can contact Tayanah on t.caldarella@uws.edu.au.

Jeeva Sajan

Research

The impact of perceived urban density upon the sustainability of cities.

For further information, you can contact Jeeva on j.sajan@uws.edu.au.

PhD Graduates

Dr Jane Bringolf

Barriers to Universal Design in Housing: Why they exist and how they might be resolved

Jane’s research was based around the topic of universal design, which is a process of creating products and environments that suit people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Jane investigated the drivers and barriers to universal design, particularly in housing, and examined the economic costs to the community of not having universally designed products and environments.

Dr Tamara Weyman

The aim of this research was to determine whether a technological spatial innovation, such as online spatial portal, would provide an effective mechanism to support better policy dialogue between the technical capacity and decision-making spheres within and between local government, enabling improved policy development and application.

Dr Samantha Sharpe

Regional Dimensions of Innovative Activity in Outer Western Sydney

The aim of this research was to understand the socio-economic development of a metropolitan region in Sydney through an analysis of regional innovative activity. Click here to read the abstract.