September 2019 | Amanda Johns, Specialist Consultant, Planning & Environment
Amanda's work is driven by her passion for the future planning needs of Melbourne, which led to her two term membership of the Property Council of Australia’s Planning and Infill Committee. She also served for nine years (3 terms) as a legal member of the Heritage Council of Victoria.
Think of someone you admire and describe what impresses you about them...
As to a contemporary Victorian, I admire our Lord Mayor Sally Capp. Sally is the first female Lord Mayor of Melbourne. What impresses me about her is her enthusiasm, commitment and energy. She is passionate about Melbourne and creating a great place to live, work and play. She is intelligent and vibrant, yet humble. She has the ability to listen to and relate to the whole spectrum of society. She is an excellent role model for young women. She is not afraid to try something new and puts all her energy into everything she does.
If I wasn’t a lawyer…
If I wasn’t a lawyer I would be a psychiatrist or a psychologist. I could easily have chosen to study in those fields. I find people fascinating in terms of how they think, behave and interact. I love to listen to people and learn from them and to try and understand them. I am always questioning and trying to analyse why someone behaves the way they do and seeking to understand them. I love the cultural differences you experience and learn from when you travel to different countries. I would love to know more about how the brain works and am fascinated by the impact our environment has on us. I guess this has led me to pursue a practice in planning and environment law which deals with considering social impacts and the relationships between people and their built and natural environment and the social and community benefits that can be achieved by good and sustainable planning.
I am extremely grateful for…
I am extremely grateful in the context of my career to my supportive family, who have always been there for me. I am also grateful for my education, and my love of learning and my curiosity. I am so lucky to be living in Melbourne which is such a great city filled with diversity in every aspect, including its people and its opportunities. Finally I am grateful for humour in our lives, and the smiles, connections and warmth it creates.
