For Sylvia Tong, urban design is ultimately about translating across different built environment sectors to create better spatial experiences for more people . Now a Senior Urban Designer at the Department of Transport and Planning, she works across land use and transport policy and planning, to help shape how Victorians experience public places and streets every day.

With qualifications in urban planning, landscape, and public affairs from Taiwan, and work experience in private consultancy, Jenny was keen to expand her career by understanding how urban planning and design work in a different country.

Master of Urban Planning and Design student Retno Palupi’s decision to study at Monash University was driven by a desire to combine urban planning with design, all within a hands-on studio learning environment.

For Emily, urban design is about more than drawings—it’s about creating communities where people feel at home.

Every day, Evi Janse de Jonge works to make Melbourne’s streets safer, greener and more accessible—especially for people walking or riding bikes.

For Giselle Osborne, Senior Advisor to the Victorian Minister for Planning, a career in urban planning wasn’t a straight path—it was a journey that fused her passions for policy, people, and place.