Griffith University: Award winning students planning to succeed
Griffith University students dominated the 2021 Minister’s Planning Awards, winning two of four student categories, including most prominent Female Student in Planning.
In her final year of a Bachelor of urban and environmental planning, Ruby Stockham said she would make the most of the opportunities provided by the award, which include a one month paid internship at the department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.
Ruby’s honours thesis will focus on how local governments can adopt adaptation policies and pathways to address climate change at more of a local level.
“Everything makes a difference, especially at a local level,” she said.
Of her award, which was announced at the Planning Institute of Australia’s Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence on November 15, she admits while she is one of a growing number of young women studying planning, what she saw of the global climate summit recently was not representative of her generation.
“I definitely think there should be more females involved in the process,” she said.
Image courtesy of Planning Australia
Griffith’s other student award winner, Aidan Johnston
“This is our future and I feel like we were really underrepresented within COP26.”
The annual awards give emerging planners an opportunity to address real planning challenges.
Fellow Griffith planning student Aidan Johnston won the award for best set topic on ‘Advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition’.
His winning essay was about the Quandamooka People and the modern significance of Minjerribah in the Queensland Planning Framework.
Aidan will also complete a government internship like Ruby and hopes it will lead to an exciting future in the industry.
“I hope to have numerous opportunities to deliver liveable and sustainable communities in Queensland and around Australia, whether that be in the private or public sectors or through academia.”
Griffith alumni also enjoyed success at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland 2021 Awards for Excellence.
Founder of the CityGreen Lab Dr Chris Boulton received a commendation in the Planning Research category.
Alumnus and Planning Industry Reference Group Member Madison Ruygrok received a commendation in the Young Planner of the Year category.
Civity consultancy, co-founded by alumnus Liam Morris was part of a team which received the Wendy Chadwick Encouragement Award for their project ENVI Micro Urban Village.