Kate Buckley, Barrister-at-Law

Kate was called to the Bar in July 2017 and practices primarily in planning and environment law.
In 2025, Kate served as co-chair of the Regional Intensive Sub-Committee alongside Kristy
Gilvear. During that time, the Sub-Committee introduced a new initiative—the “Regional
Roadshow”—which delivered in-person CPD seminars with a regional focus. It is hoped that this
program will be refined and expanded in 2026, alongside the delivery of the Regional Conference.

Kate was elected to the Management Committee in 2020. 

• President - Present
• Vice President, Management Committee - 2024 - 2026
• Co-Chair, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee - Present
• Co-Chair, Seminar Sub-Committee 2020 - 2024
• Co-Chair, Mentor Program 2021
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee 2019 - 2020

Robyn Lamb, Special Counsel,  Mills Oakley

Robyn is a Special Counsel in the Mills Oakley Planning and Environment team.  Her experience includes development applications, development approvals, enforcement, compensation claims, major projects, infrastructure and representation in the Planning and Environment Court and Court of Appeal.  

Robyn holds qualifications in Laws and Education from the Queensland University of Technology.

Robyn was elected to the Management Committee in 2020.

• Vice President, Management Committee - Present
• Co-Chair, Seminar Sub-Committee  2020 - Present
• Member, Special Projects Sub-Committee 2021 - Present
• Member, Legislative Review Committee    2015 - 2019, 2021 - 2022
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee  2009 - 2020

Kieran Ryan, Director, Reel Planning

Kieran is currently a Director of Reel Planning and has been a consultant town planner for over 18 years. Based in Brisbane, Kieran works across all sectors of Reel Planning’s business including local government (including statutory and strategic projects), private Development Applications and Expert Witness Services.

Kieran has attended almost all the annual conferences over the past 18 years in addition to various other QELA run events.

Kieran was elected to the Management Committee in 2020.

• Vice President - Present
• Treasurer - 2025 - 2026
• Co-Chair, Expert Witness Workshop Sub-Committee 2021 - Present
• Member, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee 2023 - 2024
• Co-Chair, Special Projects Sub-Committee 2021 - 2022
• Co-Chair, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee 2021
• Member, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee - 2019

Rachel Jones, Partner, McCullough Robertson 

Rachel is a specialist planning and development lawyer focusing on planning and environment litigation, advisory work and compliance.

Rachel acts for private and commercial clients, including property developers, submitters and local and state government departments in all facets of planning and environment law.

Rachel has significant experience in undertaking due diligence on prospective land purchases, existing use rights, regulatory compliance and considering proposals prior to lodgement.

She has a strong focus on planning and environment litigation including appeals and enforcement proceedings in the Planning and Environment Court.

Rachel regularly provides advice in relation to local planning schemes, environmental and town planning compliance matters, infrastructure charges and infrastructure agreements. Her expertise includes advising clients on the requirements of the Planning Act 2016 (Qld) and all its related legislation and predecessors.

Rachel was elected to the QELA Management Committee in 2017 and again in 2021.

• QELA Association Secretary - Present
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee - Present
• Co-Chair, Special Projects Sub-Committee - Present
• Co-Chair, Expert Witness Workshop Sub-Committee 2023 - 2024
• Chair, Legislative Review Sub-Committee 2021 - 2023
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee 2022
• Member, Expert Witness Workshop Sub-Committee 2021 – 2022
• Management Committee Member 2021 - Present
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee 2019
• Chair, Seminar Sub-Committee 2018
• Management Committee Member 2017 – 2018
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee 2015 – 2018
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee 2014 – 2015

In addition to the above, Rachel has also been a member of the Seminar Sub-Committee and Conference Sub-Committees over numerous years.

Romin Nejad, Principal Environmental Engineer, Onterris

Romin is a Principal Environmental Engineer at Onterris with 20 years’ experience working as an environmental consultant and manager. Romin consults to a variety of industries including local governments, developers, resource entities, government owned corporations, industry and contractors.

Romin’s primary focus areas span both planning and compliance including strategic advice, risk assessments, statutory approval applications, approval conditioning, management plans, environmental auditing and environmental management systems.

Romin has degrees in engineering, environmental management and business administration.

Romin was elected to the QELA Management Committee in 2019

• Treasurer - Present
• Treasurer  2020 - 2025
• Co-Chair, Conference Sub-Committee 2024 - Present
• Co-Chair, Special Projects Sub-Committee 2021 - 2023
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee 2022
• Co-Chair, Membership Sub-Committee 2020 - 2021
• Member, Legislative Review Sub-Committee 2019 - 2020
• Member, Seminar, Sub-Committee 2018
• Member, Membership Sub-Committee 2018

Mitchel Batty KC, Barrister-at-Law

Mitchel is a barrister. He is a member of Byth Chambers. 

Since being called to the bar, Mitchel has practised almost exclusively in the Planning and Environment Court jurisdiction.

Mitchel was elected to the QELA Management Committee in 2018.

• Immediate Past President - Present
• President - 2024 - 2026
• Vice President 2021 - 2024
• Chair, International Conference 2022 - Present
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Conference Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Legislative Review Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Expert Witness Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Special Projects Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee - Present
• Co-Chair, Legislative Review Sub-Committee - 2022
• Secretary - 2020
• Co-Chair, Membership Sub-Committee 2018 - 2021

Jane Bowness, Barrister-at-Law

Jane was called to the bar in 2022 and practices primarily in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court.  Before being called to the bar, Jane was associate to his Honour Judge Williamson KC of the District Court of Queensland and Planning and Environment Court of Queensland, and worked as a solicitor in the Planning and Environment team at McCullough Robertson.

Jane was accepted into the Management Committee 2023

• Co-Chair, Legislative Review Sub-Committee 2024 -  Present
• Co-Chair, Special Projects Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee - 2024

Erin Brooks, Director, Urbis

Erin is a Director in the planning team at Urbis, with experience across a broad range of planning, development and policy matters. She is passionate about guiding clients through the complexities of the planning system and developing practical, effective approval strategies for complex developments.
Erin's work spans across development applications and approvals, planning strategy, due diligence and policy advice, with a particular focus on complex, multidisciplinary projects.
Erin is also actively involved in Planning and Environment Court and Land Court proceedings, where she is regularly engaged as an independent expert witness for both public and private sector clients.
Beyond her project work, Erin is passionate about supporting the growth of the planning profession through mentoring, knowledge sharing and professional development. She has a strong interest in strengthening connections between the planning and law professions, which is reflected in her ongoing involvement with QELA, including her current position in the Expert Witness Subcommittee.

Erin was elected to the Management Committee in 2026.

Kristy Gilvear, Managing Director, Gilvear Planning

Kristy has worked in the planning and development sector for over 20 years, initially in a legal setting and later as a Planner. Since establishing Gilvear Planning in 2009, Kristy has been engaged by local authorities, private sector and publicly listed landowners to provide strategic, development assessment and general advisory services.

Kristy has been involved in projects across a variety of sectors including industrial, retail, residential and rural. In addition, she has provided advice on a range of non-traditional development projects, including land exchanges, acquisitions, public consultation exercises, relocation of community facilities, submissions regarding changes to planning schemes and policy, and access to and use of water resources. Kristy has a particular focus on providing planning and approvals management advice, including ongoing operational compliance advice, to quarry and large agri-business operators. Kristy has assisted in Planning and Environment Court Appeals, as well as providing strategic and approvals advice for large scale developments (residential, commercial, industrial and rural) including liaison with legal representatives and other professional consultants.

In her role as Managing Director, Kristy provides strategic direction and oversees business development and corporate management activities for the business across the country, whilst continuing to provide assistance to clients large and small.

Kristy was elected into the Management Committee in 2022

• Chair, Regional Intensive Sub-Committee 2023 - Present
• Member, Seminar Sub-Committee - Present
• Member, Legislative Review Sub-Committee - 2024

Madeline Rodgers, Barrister-at-Law

Madeline commenced as a barrister at Byth Chambers in 2022. Prior to that, she worked as a solicitor at a regional local government and as a solicitor at the Australian Government Solicitor. Madeline was previously an Associate to a Judge of the District Court of Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland.

Madeline was elected to the Management Committee in 2026.

Luke Walker, Barrister-at-Law

Luke was called to the bar in 2021 and practises primarily in proceedings related to the use and development of land including planning appeals and originating applications, enforcement proceedings, resumption and valuation disputes.
He has been named as a leading Planning and Environment junior counsel by Doyle's Guide to the Legal Profession and was recently named in Australia's Best Lawyers for Land Use and Zoning Law.

Luke was elected to the Management Committee in 2026.