2026 PLAWA Region Symposium Program and Speakers

Draft Program Released!

MEET YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dyan Currie, Founder & Principal Dyan Currie & Associates City Advisors Globally Connected. 

Urban Planner and Olympic legacy strategist

Dy Currie AM is a global Cities Advisor and Principal of Dyan Currie & Associates, with national and international expertise in urban planning, economic development, and Olympic legacy strategy. She is the former City Planner for Brisbane City Council (Australia’s largest local government), where she led preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Dy is Co-Chair of UN-Habitat’s Stakeholder Advisory Group, a Past President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners (representing more than 40 000 planners), and a former member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Cities of Tomorrow. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2020 for significant service to planning.  Dy enjoys working in Councils of all sizes and helping Cities achieve their potential.

MEET YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Phil Gale, Facilities Manager Savills and former WA and National Board President for Parks and Leisure Australia

With over four decades of experience across horticulture, parks management, landscape architecture, and facilities management, Phil Gale brings a uniquely broad and practical perspective to the built and natural environment. Beginning his career with a Bachelor of Horticultural Science from Massey University, NZ, Phil  moved to Australia and has held senior leadership roles in local government, education, and the private sector, including Manager of Parks, Manager of Infrastructure, and Facilities Manager.

A committed industry contributor, Phil served as WA  and National President  PLA’s predecessor RAIPER and became the inaugural National President of Parks and Leisure Australia in 1998. He completed post graduate training in Business and Facility Management  at Curtin University, becoming the chair of the WA branch of the Facilities Management Association.  He currently works as a Facilities Manager with Savills, retaining a strong passion for planting, trees, and practical horticulture, bringing a grounded “root and dirt” mindset to strategic leadership and asset management discussions.

Thanks to our partners and sponsors for their support