Richard Stevenson

Senior Associate - Urban Planning

Richard is an urban planner with a career that builds upon two decades of experience in the public and private sectors. With a knowledge base spanning all aspects of strategic and statutory planning, Richard uses conceptual thinking to achieve logical and pragmatic planning outcomes. With career positions held at a senior level both in Australia and the United Kingdom, Richard brings a dynamic approach to any planning project.

Detailed experience has been gained across a variety of urban, heritage and environmental issues, including planning and policy development as part of structure plan / development plan / master plan / landuse framework plan and policy focused projects both within Australia and internationally.

Richard’s experience also extends to large scale residential proposals and mixed use / retail / commercial / industrial/ educational schemes in both metropolitan areas and sensitive rural / urban fringe locations. Additionally appearing at VCAT and Planning Panels in an advocacy capacity demonstrates Richard’s sound understanding of the Victorian planning system and its legislative framework.

Castiel Hamilton

Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture

Castiel is a landscape architect with seven years’ professional experience in local and international practice. Castiel’s design philosophy centres around design that respects and reveals the natural context and history of a site through a process of attentive observation, creative interpretation and innovative construction. She has comprehensive experience and a keen interest for projects located in sensitive ecological environments requiring particular attention given to the natural dynamics and biodiversity of the site and the site’s role and function within its context.

Castiel’s background studies in landscape architecture, horticulture, art, urban and environmental planning bring a broad knowledge base that contributes greatly to the Hansen Partnership’s collective creativity and ability to respond to diverse client needs and expectations. In particular, her extension into planning broadens her understanding of the relationships between the practice of landscape architecture and urban planning and how the two can coexist with the natural and built environment.

Castiel provides creative and technical design in the delivery of complex urban, residential and environmental development projects. Her extensive history of success executing and managing landscape architecture and urban design projects is borne from her strong artistic, interpersonal and communication skills. These strengths assist our team when engaging with stakeholders, conducting community engagement workshops and presenting creative and sustainable design solutions to meet client needs and expectations.

Cameron Gentle

Senior Associate - Urban Planning

Cameron has extensive experience in both the local government and the private sectors, having worked within the Victorian planning system since 1996.

His experience extends across a range of urban and regional statutory and strategic planning matters including medium and higher density residential development, large scale commercial and industrial development, subdivisions, development plan approvals, planning scheme amendments and VCAT.

Prior to joining Hansen, Cameron’s work in local government provided insight into coastal planning issues, firsthand experience in applying the metropolitan green wedge policy framework, experience in applications concerning extractive industries, growth area planning and issues pertaining to regional Victoria.

Within the private sector, Cameron’s experience has also been varied having managed and contributed to projects for both public and private sector clients. Notable projects include apartment and office towers in Docklands, development approval for a school in Tasmania, a greenfield subdivision on Melbourne’s fringe and a series of strategic plans for metropolitan rail corridors.

Cameron combines his broad experience and detailed understanding of the planning system with an open minded and practical approach to achieving timely and positive outcomes on all projects.

Leanne Dowey

Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture

Leanne Dowey is a Registered Landscape Architect with over 25 years’ experience working with private and public sector clients. Leanne has been involved in all aspects of landscape architecture, including the design, documentation, contract administration and expert representation of numerous landscape projects varying in size, scope and complexity.

Leanne’s design skills, social awareness and adaptability allow her to sensitively respond to the needs of clients. She also has broad experience in the design of private residential and multi-unit developments. Her depth of experience has allowed her to develop strong skills in concept design, planting design and documentation. Her designs are tailored to individual projects, with a strong emphasis on delivering the client’s brief and site-responsive designs, whilst also acknowledging the role the broader landscape plays in shaping neighbourhood character. She promotes ecologically sustainable development.

With extensive experience in preparing landscape plans for town planning applications and for town planning endorsement, Leanne regularly appears at VCAT as an expert witness, including peer reviews. Her projects at VCAT have included multi-unit developments, private residential, as well as educational and commercial projects. Leanne operates within a multidisciplinary team of landscape architects, urban designers, strategic and town planners.

Alastair Campbell

Senior Associate - Urban Design

Alastair is an urban designer with more than 16 years’ experience working on a variety of projects for both public and private clients, contributing to a wide range of design schemes and developments in south-eastern Australia.

Through his experience in providing urban design advice, Alastair has developed a high level of competence and service delivery in urban design analysis and concept development. He is well recognised in the planning and urban design industry for preparing and implementing site-specific urban design guidelines through to large scale strategic urban design projects.

Alastair’s varied skills include project management, structure planning, master planning, sub-division design, neighbourhood character studies, town centre design, preparation of VCAT and panel expert evidence and community/stakeholder engagement and consultation.