Who We Are
Here at Urbis, we have one simple goal – to shape cities and communities for a better future.
“...you’re dealing with the experts who will connect you to a better outcome, every time.
It’s something we achieve by drawing together a network of the brightest minds. Think of Urbis as a creative community of practice experts, working collaboratively to deliver fresh thinking and independent advice and guidance – all backed up by real, evidence-based solutions.
So what does this mean for you? Whether you engage with us in the areas of planning, design, policy, heritage, valuations, transactions, economics or research, you know you’re dealing with the experts who will connect you to a better outcome, every time.
How we work
At Urbis, we don’t just work for you. We work with you.
“We help you achieve remarkable, sustainable outcomes.
We work hard to understand what you want to achieve. We guide and provide independent advice. At Urbis, we’ll manage your expectations, and help you see what’s possible. We help you achieve remarkable, sustainable outcomes – places or policies that work, that make our cities and communities better.
Our approach makes us agile, imaginative, entrepreneurial and pragmatic.
We believe that the most workable and elegant solutions will emerge – and ultimately, the best cities and communities – when the best minds think and talk and work together.
What we do
We act for clients who are making the places we live and reshaping the way we live there.
“We advise developers, property owners, investors, private firms, NGOs, community groups, industry associations and all levels of government.
We advise developers, property owners, investors, private firms, NGOs, community groups, industry associations and all levels of government – local, state and federal.
Among the many lines of work we perform, we:
- design and master plan urban developments
- guide development projects through the complex process of planning approval
- help our clients imagine and build new places of work, leisure, entertainment and commerce – from shopping malls to business parks and retirement living
- provide property market and economic analysis
- research and analyse shopping trends and market forces
- consult with communities
- evaluate policy and advise on strategy
- provide heritage advice
- value properties, and advice on property transactions.
We balance stakeholder interests.
We help our clients find a way through the competing interests that surround any project involving people, places and property – community and social concerns, environmental and heritage values, planning policies, commercial imperatives.
What we value
Four values guide the way we work together and with you, to deliver fresh thinking and evidence-based solutions.
Authenticity.
We mean what we say. We offer independent, impartial advice, and communicate clearly, honestly and respectfully with each other and our clients.
Collaboration.
We communicate openly and constructively. We deliver world-class solutions because our people work together and partner with our clients.
Decisiveness.
We think beyond the brief. We draw on the know-how of the brightest minds. We base our advice on evidence and clarity of thought. We find a clear way forward for our clients, and guide them towards the outcomes they want to achieve.
Spirited.
We have a passion for good ideas (big and small), for expertise and for helping each other out. We value innovation and we demand rigour. We are entrepreneurial and agile
Awards & Recognition
Recognised excellence.
Urbis has won many major state and national awards across all areas of its expertise – in planning and master planning, urban design and landscape architecture, property and retail, policy evaluation and research, and parks and leisure
We prize excellence and work at the cutting edge in everything we do. The awards aren’t the reason we do our work, but they show what can happen when talented and creative people work together to help their clients shape great spaces and places, wise policies and strategies, and vibrant communities and cities that improve the lives of all Australians.
PIA 2023 QLD Women in Planning
Winner: 2023 Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland) Outstanding Woman in Planning Award
Julie Saunders
AILA 2023 Landscape Architecture Awards Queensland
Award of Excellence - Hinterland Adventure playground
Urbis
AILA 2023 Landscape Architecture Awards Queensland
Regional Archievement Award - Hinterland Adventure playground
Urbis
AILA 2023 Landscape Architecture Awards New South Wales
Excellence Award for Health and Education Landscape - Meadowbank Schools
Urbis
AILA 2023 Landscape Architecture Awards New South Wales
Regional Achievement Award - Wagga Wagga Riverside Precinct
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Client Choice Awards 2023
Winner: Best Built & Natural Environment Consulting Firm
Client Choice Awards 2023
Winner: Best Provider to Property
Winner: Australia’s Best High-Density Development
UDIA National Awards for Excellence 2022
PIA 2022 International Women's Day Awards
Dr Helen Proudfoot Women in Planning Award
Clare Brown
Client Choice Awards
Best Built & Natural Environment Consulting Firm ($50 - $200M)
UDIA Awards for Excellence 2020
Winner: Small Scale Development Award
Howard West
National Trust Heritage Awards
Conservation Interiors & Objects
Australian Urban Design Awards
Commendation - Leadership, Advocacy and Research City and Regional Scale Award
Minister's Award for Urban Design, QLD Department of Housing and Public Works
UDIA QLD Awards for Excellence
Winner: Master Planned Development
Australian Urban Design Awards
Winner: Built Projects - City and Regional Scale
National Trust of Australia (QLD) Heritage Awards
Silver Award: Adaptive Reuse
Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards
Winner: Student Employability Awards
The Urban Developer Industry Excellence Awards
Winner: Development of the Year - Retail
Minister's Award for Urban Design, QLD Department of Housing and Public Works
Commendation
Self Storage Association of Australasia (SSAA) Awards
Winner: Service Member of the Year
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards
Winner, : Excellence in Food Retailing (Over six tenancies)
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards
Winner, Queensland Retail Property of the Year Award
AILA National Awards
Landscape Planning - WA
AILA National Awards
Parks and Open Space - WA
Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA) Central QLD Regional Awards
Regional Commendation, Commercial Architecture
Minister's Award for Urban Design, QLD Department of Housing and Public Works
Commendation
Australian Property Institute (API)
Sydney Ferguson (Dick) Whittington Memorial Award
Brian Dudakov
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW Awards for Planning Excellence
Winner, Outstanding Student Project Award
Kathryn Weaver
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW Awards for Planning Excellence
Commendation, Young Planner of the Year
Jocelyn McDowall
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards
Winner, Retail Property of the Year
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards
Winner, Excellence in Food Retailing
Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards
Winner, Excellence in Design for Super/Major Regional Centres
Greater Sydney Planning Awards
Commendation, Development Supported by Infrastructure Award
IPWEA Engineering Excellence Awards
Winner, Design and/or Construction of a Local Government/ Public Works Project
AILA WE-EF Landscape Architecture After Dark National Competition
Winner, People's Choice Regional Winner
Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Award
Regional Achievement Award
Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Award
Award of Excellence - Parks and Open Space
Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Awards: UQ St Lucia Campus master Plan - Landscape Architecture Award - Urban Design (2018)
Minister's Award for Urban Design: UQ St Lucia Master Plan, Award for Excellence in Design (2018)
Minister's Award for Urban Design: Rockhampton Riverside Precinct, Award for Excellence in Design (2018)
Minister's Town Planning Prize: Lauren Mudd - Winner, Minister's Town Planning Prize (2018)
Australia Institute Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Awards: Rockhampton Riverside Precinct, Regional Achievement Award (2018)
Australia Institute Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Awards: Rockhampton Riverside Precinct, Award of Excellence - Parks and Open Space (2018)
Australia Institute Landscape Architecture (AILA) QLD State Awards: UQ St Lucia Campus Master Plan, Landscape Architecture Award - Urban Design (2018)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) WA State Awards for Planning Excellence: Montario Quarter Improvement Plan and Scheme - Improving Planning Processes and Practices Award (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) QLD State Awards for Planning Excellence: Draft St Lucia Campus Master Plan - Best Planning Ideas - Large Project Award (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: Kate Ryan - Commendation, Outstanding Student Project Award (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Multi-Function Smart Pole Precinct - Commendation, Best Planning Ideas - Small Project Award (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: Telopea Urban Renewal Master Planning Project - Commendation, Best Planning Ideas - Large Project Award (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: The Connection: Rhodes Community - From Plan to Place Award (2017)
Australian Urban Design Awards: Orange Regional Museum - Delivered Outcome – Small Scale Award (2017)
AES Awards for Excellence in Evaluation: Alison Wallace, Linda Kurti, Nicki Hutley, Caroline Tomiczek and Alex Batchen - Evaluation Study or Project Award (2017)
Australian Institute Landscape Architecture (AILA) NSW State Awards: Macquarie Street Mall - IALD Lighting Landscape Award (2017)
Australian Institute Landscape Architecture (AILA) WA State Awards: Koombana North - Award for Excellence for Civic Landscapes and WA Medal (2017)
QLD Architecture Awards: New World City Design Guide: Buildings that Breathe - Winner Sustainable Architecture Category, Commendation Urban Design Category (2017)
NSW Architecture Awards: Orange Regional Museum - Sulman Medal for Public Architecture and the NSW Premier's Prize (2017)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence: Richard Barry - Outstanding Student Project Award (2017)
Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Brisbane Regional Awards: New World City Design Guide Buildings That Breathe - Commendation (2017)
Greater Sydney Planning Awards: Master Planning Project Team of the Year - Telopea (2017)
Property Council of Australia (PCA) WA Future Leaders Awards: Tim Dawkins - Stan Perron Award (2016)
Urban Land Institute (ULI) QLD Urban Innovation Ideas Competition: Nicholas Stevenson, 'The City Stitch' - Overall Winner & People's Prize (2016)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: Quay Quarter - Best Planning Idea - Large Project Award (2016)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: Penrith Late Night Economy - Commendation, Public Engagement and Community Planning Award (2016)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW State Awards for Planning Excellence: Richard Barry - Outstanding Student Project Award (2016)
Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA Awards for Excellence: Karen Wright - Finalist, UDIA/Frasers Property Women in Leadership Award (2016)
Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA & National Awards for Excellence: White Gum Valley - Judges Award (2016)
Australian Urban Design Awards: White Gum Valley - Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts - Small Scale (2016)
Australian Urban Design Awards: Cockburn Coast (Shoreline) - Shortlisted for Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts (2016)
Property Council of Australia (PCA) Honorary Life Member: Peter Hyland (2016)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence: Gladstone East Shores – Great Place Award (2016)
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence: White Gum Valley – Best Planning Ideas, Small or Local Project (2016)
PIA WA State Awards 2016: Karen Wright – Planner of the Year
Property Council of Australia (PCA) WA Future Directions Young Achiever Awards: Sean Morrison – Light House Award (2012)
2015 Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) WA Awards of Excellence: South Perth Foreshore Strategy and Management Plan
2015 QLD Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards: Brisbane City Master Plan
2015 QLD Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards: Brisbane City Council River Edge’s Strategy
2015 QLD Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards: Gladstone East Shores Master plan
Annual Impact Measurement Awards 2015: Evaluation of Ability Links NSW – National Winner, Best Impact Measurement by a Government, Corporate or Philanthropic Organisation
VIC Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards 2011: Living Links Master Plan Corridor Identification and Analysis – Planning Award
Australasian Evaluation Society Awards (2011): Evaluation of the Victorian Bushfire Recovery Service – Best Evaluation Study Award
Inclusion
The diversity of our people is the key to our creativity – and to our clients’ success.
Urbis is a community in which people of diverse backgrounds are free to be themselves and share views shaped by their identity and values. Ours is an inclusive culture, and we’re proud to be recognised among professional services firms as a champion of workplace diversity.
“We encourage diversity not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because diversity is the key to creativity, innovation and quality of thought.
An inclusive workplace is one where differences – of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, lifestyle and religious belief – are valued, respected and supported. We encourage diversity not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because diversity is the key to creativity, innovation and quality of thought.
Our Diversity Board, which reports to the Urbis Board, drives our progress in diversity. This includes overseeing programs such as SOAR, which promotes the advancement of senior women in the firm.
WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
Urbis is an employer of choice for gender equality (EOCGE), recognised through the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
The WGEA citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces. This citation is the gold standard certification for employers who are committed to making positive, measurable improvements towards gender equality.
Criteria for recognition covers leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps, flexible working and other initiatives to support family responsibilities, employee consultation, preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination, and targets for improving gender equality outcomes. These criteria are regularly strengthened to reflect best practice.
Reconciliation
“Urbis’ vision for reconciliation is to be actively involved in embedding First Nations cultures and worldviews into the solutions we create for places and communities.
A critical part of our commitment to diversity is our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which has been developed in partnership with social change agency Cox Inall Ridgeway. Our Urbis Innovate RAP received official endorsement from Reconciliation Australia in 2023.
At Urbis, we see reconciliation as vital to Australia’s national wellbeing, and acknowledge the care First Nations peoples took of the land for millennia.
Our work has enabled us to hear from and partner with First Nations communities on important issues, such as land use planning, health, education and economic development. We will continue to explore ways to connect with First Nations people, community leaders, businesses and organisations as partners and stakeholders who share our vision to generate positive outcomes.
Our Urbis Innovate RAP is core to this commitment to actively support and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.
You can read more about our commitment to inclusion here.
Community Initiatives
Helping others is at the heart of what we do.
We strive to create places that improve the lives of the people who use them. But we know we can always do more to support those who aren’t directly touched by our day-to-day work, which is why we participate in various charities and sponsorship programs.
Each May, Urbis raises money for Cancer Council by participating in Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. Staff members throughout our Australian offices bake up a storm or volunteer to help host an event, then gather together to raise money for this worthy cause.
Urbis also supports the Property Industry Foundation, which brings together Australia’s property and construction industry to support community programs that help young people at risk. We sponsor the foundation at the national level, and our people attend many events, including charity sailing challenges in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Give Back Framework
Our Give Back framework articulates our community giving commitment, directing our collective efforts to make positive impact on communities and placed in need of our support.
Give Back provides details of why, how and where we will direct our community giving efforts, ensuring we create a legacy benefitting recipients, our people and our brand.
Leadership and Governance
The leaders of our firm share responsibility for the welfare of our people and the quality of our work.
They are accountable for how well we serve our clients, the community and the environment; for guiding our strategic direction; and for making sure our work embodies our values and fulfils our mission. They make sure we meet our ethical and legal obligations.
Our Board is made up of our Managing Partner, two independent directors, four Executive Directors, and our CEO who is an officer of the Board.
To help the Executive Leadership Committee and Board govern Urbis, we delegate oversight of key policy areas and operations to the following groups:
Drawing on the insights of our people across the firm, the leadership team as a whole ensures Urbis delivers what it promises to its clients; encourages the sharing of knowledge between our many areas of expertise; promotes creativity and fresh thinking; and makes sure we have the right people and enough capacity to meet the changing needs of our clients and the cities and communities we seek, with them, to shape.
Modern Slavery Statement
Urbis is an organisation dedicated to shaping cities and communities for a better future. We work to create places and spaces to improve the lives of the people who use them.
We take our role as an ethical and responsible business seriously, and our commitment to combating modern slavery risks is fully supported from the highest level of our organisation. For more specific information, see our full Modern Slavery statement here.
“We will continue to uphold the right of every human being to be valued, respected and supported.
We view all our actions to eradicate modern slavery as consistent and complementary to the Urbis Code of Conduct, extending the role we all must play in improving the world we live in. We commit to regularly assessing and identifying any risk that modern slavery has played a part in our supply chain.
Carbon Neutral Certified
Shaping cities and communities for a better future includes the environment in which we live. It’s up to all of us to act now to protect and enhance our future.
As of February 2023, we have been awarded carbon neutral certification by Climate Active, the most rigorous and credible carbon neutral certification available in Australia. This certification means we have reduced Urbis’ carbon footprint to carbon neutral from business operations by taking action to reduce or remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as Urbis puts into it, working towards zero.
The certification process began by measuring Urbis’ greenhouse gas emissions to understand our baseline and define opportunities for reduction. We made a number of changes to how we operate.
Furthering our commitment
As well as achieving our Climate Active certification and investing in meaningful offset projects, we have also committed to a 25% net reduction in emissions by 2029. We have a plan in place to achieve this target and an emissions reduction strategy to help us get there.
Corporate Social Responsibility at Urbis
At Urbis we are committed to making a lasting and positive impact on society, local economies and the environment. Much of our work is focused on creating places and spaces to improve the lives of the people who use them.
We take seriously our responsibility to shift the way we approach urbanisation, placemaking and the creation of strong social outcomes to shape cities and communities for a better future.
We are committed to advancing policies and systems throughout our business to ensure we monitor all aspects of our corporate social responsibility. In particular, ethical behaviour, the health and wellbeing of our employees and the care of the environment and community.
Learn more about Corporate Social Responsibility at Urbis.