John has more than 40 years experience in the planning sector, with specific experience throughout Australia, South and East Asia, Germany and Fiji. A veteran in statutory and strategic planning advice, strategy development, heritage conservation, policy review and development assessment, John is a qualified town planner and environmental management specialist with experience advising both public and private sector clients.

John has a longstanding affiliation with a number of peak planning and environment industry bodies where he has served in a variety of capacities including; the Queensland Heritage Council, Royal Australian Planning Institute, National Environment Law Association, Queensland Environmental Law Association, Planning Institute of Australia to name but a few.

John is an active academic and is the Inaugural Adjunct Professor in Town Planning at the University of Queensland where he has lectured since 1988. John has over 100 publications and has made presentations at various national and international planning conferences and summits. In 2003, John was awarded the Prime Minister's Centenary Medal for services to planning and the environment.