Announcing our July 2024 #cityshaper Promotions

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As a Director, I’m most looking forward to nurturing the type of workplace and team culture that to me makes Urbis stand out over anywhere else.

Sophie Lam View Profile

It’s exciting to see that this round of promotions highlights the journey of several of our brightest minds who started their careers at Urbis either as students or junior consultants and are now moving into senior roles. We congratulate Tom Anset, Ryan Wallis, Eliza Scobie, and Meredith Knox, who are among those who started their Urbis journey in our student internship program and are now stepping into the role of Associate Director in their respective fields. We are also immensely proud to see Sophie Lam become a Director in the Brisbane Planning team after joining as a consultant years ago.

Reflecting on her time with Urbis, Sophie said: “I joined Urbis as a consultant in the search for something ‘more’ as a step up from the small firm I started at straight out of uni. The biggest thing I loved about Urbis, and still do, is the range of people and disciplines you get exposed to – the different business units, the amazing team and the calibre of the brains in here. I’ve been fortunate to have managers who didn’t just manage, but mentored, guided, and supported me every step of the way. They saw potential in me and empowered me to create a meaningful career at Urbis. Now, as a Director, I’m most looking forward to nurturing the type of workplace and team culture that to me makes Urbis stand out over anywhere else.”

Alongside Sophie, we would like to introduce our National Director promotions, including, Fiona Feeney, Planning, Melbourne; Vicky Grillakis, Planning, Melbourne; Manesha Ravji, Transport Advisory, Melourne; Simon Wilkes, Planning, Sydney; Melissa Griffin, Planning, Gold Coast; and Andrew Kyriacou, Design, Brisbane. Their journey to this significant milestone in their careers is a testament to their dedication and their ongoing contribution to shaping cities and communities for a better and more sustainable future. 

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We are really lucky that our inclusion and flexible working policies go beyond lip service to empower all employees to feel like they can achieve great things at Urbis.

Fiona Feeney View Profile

New Director Fiona Feeney, was glad to see the inclusive nature of the promotions: “At Urbis, I feel supported to prioritise my family while also pursuing my career ambitions. We are really lucky that our inclusion and flexible working policies go beyond lip service to empower all employees to feel like they can achieve great things at Urbis. Working part-time means that, on the days that I am in the office, I can bring my whole self to work and focus on what needs to be done. I’m excited for new challenges and look forward to joining such an impressive Director cohort.”

Our celebration also serves as a reminder that career progression at Urbis and Cistri is attainable by all and not hindered by flexible working arrangements. Seven part-time employees and one of our employees currently on parental leave have been recognised for their outstanding efforts and professional growth. As a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, it is rewarding to see our commitment to not only gender equity, but to inclusion more broadly reflected in our promotions. Half of our newly promoted city shapers are women, with 15 of these at the Associate Director or Director level.  

During this time of celebration, we also take the opportunity to congratulate our student conversions! Witnessing the evolution of our student interns into fully-fledged employees is a credit to their hard work and dedication throughout the student internship program.

In the end, this celebration is not just about promotions. It’s about the future that we are working towards together. So, here’s to our #cityshapers and their achievements – we can’t wait to see what they do next! A big congratulations to everyone.