**Owen Hightower, Director**
***BACHELOR OF ARTS, URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, HONOURS., CURTIN UNIVERSITY, WA***
A staunch advocate for the advancement of Australia’s regional communities and First Nations. Owen has committed is professional career to living and working in regional communities, supporting those who have a common goal to enable impactful investment to grow economic prosperity, achieve social and community parity with urban areas whilst protecting or enhancing the environmental values of the region. Whilst his professional career commence in land use planning, the nature of regional work has the portfolio of work and sectors diversify rapidly. Public policy development, government relations, social infrastructure, land tenure and First Nation building now form a core of services provided, complementing the land use and development background. Owen is passionate about the work he undertakes and will voice both opportunities and challenges on the footstep of regional Australia where the situation calls for broader engagement.
Owen has been active in the government and business communities in regional Australia, having held positions of regional Chambers of Commerce and board membership on the Pilbara Development Commission and Regional Development Australia, Pilbara.

**Simon Davis, Senior Advisor**
***BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) ANTHROPOLOGY & GEOGRAPHY; GRAD CERT URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING***
Simon is a native title, cultural heritage and approvals specialist with over 20 years of experience working with and for traditional owners, State Government and proponents. His particular focus has been on fostering responsible regional development through early identification and integration of traditional owner knowledge and views into land use planning and project proposals.
Simon’s various roles have included native title research and heritage surveys with traditional owners in the Gascoyne and Central Queensland regions, preparation of layout plans for remote Aboriginal communities throughout WA, advice to multiple Ministers and State Government agencies, and assisting State negotiations with traditional owners.
Simon has been instrumental in progressing native title, cultural heritage and land tenure aspects of major infrastructure projects in various roles including as Native Title and Heritage Project Manager for the former Department of State Development, Principal Policy (Native Title) at the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage, and Manager Policy and Strategy (Native Title) at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Most recently, prior to joining RFF, Simon was Fortescue Future Industries’ Community Manager (Native Title), where he led engagement with native title holders across WA for green energy proposals.

**Anne-Sophie Deleflie, Senior Advisor**
***BACHELOR OF LAW, MASTER OF ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT***
Anne-Sophie has worked across State Government, the community sector and industry, enabling various social and economic development projects across regional Western Australia. This includes 19 years of legal practice and strategic policy advice, specialising in the interaction of Crown land tenure, native title and heritage protection. Anne-Sophie has extensive experience in the negotiation, drafting and implementation of agreements, including regional settlements and land use agreements.
Anne-Sophie’s interests lie in realising the opportunities for long-term, sustainable and respectful relationships between regional communities, Traditional Owners and proponents to ensure regional benefits are secured and to build proponents’ social licence to operate.
Anne-Sophie’s extensive experience makes her highly adaptable in meeting various client needs, whether working at community, operational or executive level, in multi-disciplinary and inter-cultural contexts.
Prior to joining the RFF team, Anne-Sophie worked as a Native Title Specialist for large-scale renewable energy projects

Tom Willday, Development Manager

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL) MEMBER, AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE OF PROECT MANAGEMENT

Tom Willday, our current Senior Project Manager at RFF, is a valued team member who has proven to be a highly skilled Senior Project/Development Manager. In his most recent role, he was involved in a multi-billion-dollar urban redevelopment project. Recognized consistently by clients for effective stakeholder relations and taking early action to resolve issues, Tom is a committed and diligent professional who provides valuable and honest input to ensure quality is achieved at all times.

His previous experience as a Civil Engineer working with Tier 1 civil contracting companies contributes to his intimate understanding of project delivery requirements. His combined technical and commercial experience, with a keen eye for detail, enable him to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients.

Tom's portfolio includes state-significant infrastructure and urban development projects. He has been involved in a diverse range of projects at RFF, including road and rail transport infrastructure, high-rise luxury apartment development, plus a raft of land development and urban redevelopment projects.

He is also very knowledgeable in workplace health and safety matters, having spent time working on-site for various civil works and construction projects at RFF, as well as from his previous role as the national lead for a Safety, Health, and Environment Management corporate portfolio. Tom's expertise continues to be an invaluable asset to RFF, driving success across numerous initiatives and projects.

Madison Mackenzie, Regional Town Planner

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (ECONOMICS AND GEOGRAPHY) AND MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

Madison is an experienced and passionate planning professional with a strong commitment to social equality, environmental protection, and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and economic development. With over 7 years in consultancy planning, Madison’s recent experience was focused on residential land estate projects in the regional South-West.

Madison's professional attributes comprise expertise in preparing and managing comprehensive planning and urban design documentation. Madison possesses an in depth understanding and practical application of planning and related frameworks and processes, including state and federal environmental, bushfire and heritage frameworks.

Prior to joining the RFF team, Madison worked as a Senior Urban Planner at a planning consultancy in the land development team, undertaking a large number of predominantly residential land estates in both the metropolitan region, as well as the south-west region of WA.

Some of Madison's noteworthy experiences include active involvement in managing residential land estates, overseeing rezoning, structure planning, subdivision, and development projects. Additionally, Madison has been instrumental in collaborating with both government agencies and private developers to address the critical shortage of housing in the regions.

Darren Royle, Project Manager

DIPLOMA OF WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY, DIPLOMA OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, DIPLOMA OF GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS, DIPLOMA OF GOVERNMENT SECURITY, DIPLOMA OF GOVERNMENT (WORKPLACE INSPECTION)

Darren Royle has recently joined the RFF team as a Project Manager, bringing with him a wealth of experience in leadership, supervision, and stakeholder engagement, particularly within the government and defence sectors. In his prior role, Darren demonstrated his outstanding project management capabilities by successfully overseeing more than 180 projects, ensuring they were delivered on time, within budget, and met all safety and quality standards. His experience has been gained in environments that require a high level of security and precision, including significant contributions to defence infrastructure projects across Western Australia.

Darren's time with the WA Police Tactical Response Group (TRG) and Covert Surveillance Unit has fine-tuned his skills in operational planning, stakeholder relations, and team leadership, significantly enhancing his proficiency in project management. He managed critical security projects and played a key role in advancing tactical operations capabilities, underlining his commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

With Diplomas in Leadership and Management and Government Security, Darren combines his educational background with his extensive field experience to lead projects with an emphasis on safety, efficiency, and client satisfaction. His dedication to professional development and his adaptability in pushing projects forward make him an invaluable asset to our team.

Shannon O’Loughlin, Regional Town Planner

BACHELOR OF ARTS – URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (HONS)

Shannon is an experienced planner with over 15 years of dedicated service in both local government and private sectors. Shannon is experienced in a full suite of planning processes, including project management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.

Prior to joining RFF, Shannon led significant projects in the City of Perth planning team, including the City's first Local Planning Strategy and the QEIIMC/UWA Specialised Centre Plan, showcasing her ability to manage complex projects and navigate political environments. Her role involved coordinating with State Government agencies and leading community engagement programs, underlining her commitment to integrating community needs with development goals.

Shannon's former position at Urbis Pty Ltd as a Senior Consultant further exemplifies her proficiency in client liaison, negotiation, and leading multidisciplinary teams towards achieving sustainable development outcomes. Her involvement in projects like the Gascoyne Food Bowl and the formation of regional Local Planning Strategies highlights her innovative approach and leadership skills.

Shannon's knowledge and background is well-rounded, reflecting a blend of technical expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of urban planning principles, making her a valuable addition to our team.