About
Proudly established in 1981
40+ years of experience
Focused on strong client relationships
Since 1981, DFP Planning has provided urban and regional planning services to government, not-for-profit organisations and private sector clients. Our ongoing success relies on our professional team with qualifications and skills in town planning, urban design, heritage, environmental assessment and project management and the support of our trusted administration staff.
Our reputation is built on a respected and independent approach, tailored to meet the scale and complexity of the projects we work on in collaboration with our valued clients. We strive to combine our solid grounding in planning theory with our extensive practical experience and innovative solutions to meet the challenges of our changing world and to create better places for people to live, work and play.
DFP works with clients and stakeholders across the whole of New South Wales from our base in the Sydney Metropolitan Area.
Our team members bring a broad array of life experience and professional experience to their work and the key people undertaking our projects work closely with our clients, other specialist consultants and government agencies to achieve optimal outcomes.
Several DFP team members are qualified under the Registered Environment Assessment Practitioner (REAP) scheme to provide the required certified services for State Significant Development and State Significant Infrastructure in New South Wales.
We look forward to working with you to realise your goals and to help shape our collective future.
Get to know our team
We are an energetic and friendly team with over 40 years experience in solving complex planning issues.
We have an enviable reputation in providing best practice and cost effective advice to our clients on a diverse range of projects. Each Planner is responsible for client relationships to ensure the highest quality of service, advice and the best possible results for your project.
We look forward to working together.
Kendal Mackay
Managing Director
Kendal has nearly 30 years’ experience as a Town Planner and Transport Planner and took over from Rob Player as Managing Director of DFP in 2023. Together with Rob and Henry Burnett, Kendal is responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic direction of the business.
Kendal holds a Bachelor of Town Planning (with Honours) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Transport Planning from Monash University and is an accredited Registered Planner through the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).
Kendal has extensive expertise in all areas of statutory and strategic planning and particular skills in the areas of development contributions (Section 7.11, Section 7.12 and Planning Agreements), educational establishments, seniors housing, as well as complex residential, mixed use and large scale commercial/industrial developments.
Kendal regularly appears as an expert witness in the NSW Land and Environment Court appearing for applicants and consent authorities and has experience in land acquisition compensation matters.
Rob Player
Director
Rob has over 40 years’ experience as a planner at State and Local Government and as a Consultant Planner.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts (Earth Sciences) and a Masters Degree in Town and Country Planning from Sydney University. He is a corporate member of the Planning Institute of Australia and is also a member of the Environmental Planning Law Association, NSW.
Rob was the Managing Director of DFP for 27 years before handing over the reins in July 2023 to Kendal Mackay. Rob remains a Director of DFP and manages multi-disciplinary consultant teams and provides specialist town planning advice for projects. Rob is also frequently engaged as an expert planning witness in the NSW Land and Environment Court and other Courts.
Together with fellow Directors Kendal and Henry Burnett, Rob is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company and strategic direction of the business.
Henry Burnett
Director
Henry Burnett has over 13 years’ experience working as a town planner in local government and private consultancy and took over from David Kettle as Director in January 2024.
Together with fellow Directors Kendal Mackay and Rob Player, Henry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company and strategic direction of the business.
Henry has extensive experience working within the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 across a diverse range of complex applications.
Henry is skilled in stakeholder engagement, project management, expert evidence in the NSW Land and Environment Court and the provision of specialised and comprehensive statutory planning services.
Henry holds a Bachelor of Planning, Macquarie University; Graduate Diploma Building Surveying, University of Western Sydney and is an accredited Registered Planner through the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).
David Kettle
Partner
David Kettle has over 30 years’ experience as a town planner. David commenced his career in local government before joining DFP at the beginning of 2004 and becoming a Director of the company in mid-2012. David passed the Director baton to Henry Burnett in 2024 and remains a Partner at DFP.
David has experience in all facets of strategic and statutory planning including the management of projects for major development proposals. David’s experience covers a wide range of development types in Sydney and regional areas of NSW including seniors housing, greenfield residential subdivisions, education, health, commercial, retail and mixed use developments.
David’s involvement in a wide range of projects and working at all levels of government and the development industry has provided him with an in depth understanding of the NSW planning system to assist both the Private and Government Sectors.
David holds a Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University and Master of Town and Country Planning Degree from the University of Sydney. David is also a Registered Member of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Registered Environmental Assessment Planner (REAP).
Warwick Gosling
Partner
Brian McDonald
Principal Urban Designer
Brian joined DFP in February 2016 and has 41 years of experience in private practice and 16 years experience in the public sector. Brian has held numerous senior leadership positions including Managing Director of Brian McDonald and Associates, Director Caldis Cook Group and Director, HBO + EMTB Heritage Pty Ltd.
Brian’s qualifications and experience cover architectural practice, urban planning and heritage conservation. He has a strong interest in heritage conservation and urban design and as an architect of over 50 years experience, has an in-depth understanding of contemporary architectural practice, place making, development feasibility and land use planning.
Brian has undertaken numerous planning and heritage studies and provides advisory, mediation and expert witness services. He has served on a variety of government panels including the Independent Assessment Panel for Manly Council, Cumberland Local Planning Panel, St George Design Review Panel and Lake Macquarie Design Review Panel. He currently serves on Mosman Local Planning and represents Inner West Council and Mosman Council on Regional Planning Panels. Brian has also previously represented the NSW Government Architect on the NSW Heritage Council.
Brian holds degrees in architecture and Master of Science in urban planning, is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia. He was a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and registered architect before retiring from architectural practice.
Natasha Bartley
Principal Planner
Natasha has over 22 years’ experience in urban design/ master planning and town planning and can offer a unique blend of design skills and statutory planning expertise. Natasha has worked on a diverse range of planning projects, including the preparation of State Significant Development Applications (SSDA)(Schools) development applications (DA) for larger scale residential developments (including TAFE Connected Learning Centres, Seniors Living, residential flat buildings, mixed use developments and subdivisions), commercial and industrial developments (retail, medical and warehouses), Complying Development Certificate and Exempt Development Planning Reports and Planning Proposals (PP) to amend Local Environmental Plans (zones, lot sizes).
Natasha has significant experience in working alongside Developers and Councils to develop master plans/ concept plans/ subdivision designs for small and large scale residential/ commercial/ Industrial estates and approval processes.
Natasha holds a Master of Planning and is a Registered Planner and Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (REAP) with Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). She has also completed the ‘Safer by Design’ course run by NSW Police and prepared numerous CPTED reports for various projects.
Cristie Evenhuis
Principal Planner
Cristie Evenhuis has 34 years’ experience working as a town planner in local government and private consultancy.
Cristie has extensive experience in many facets of planning including the assessment of an extensive and diverse range of development applications and the preparation and presentation of evidence in the NSW Land and Environment Court. Cristie is skilled in preparation of Statement of Environmental Effects for complex development proposals, preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, preparation of Planning Proposals, due diligence investigations and feasibility studies for a variety of commercial development proposals, employment lands studies and major commercial centre studies.
Cristie holds a Bachelor or Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Bachelor of Arts (Majors Economics and Sociology), University of South Africa; and Diploma of Leadership and Manager, Institute of Strategic Management.
Thomas West
Senior Project Planner
Tom joined DFP in November 2020 after completing a Master of Planning at Macquarie University. He has a good understanding of State and Council planning controls and their application in an array of developments, as well as the preparation of a range of planning reports.
Tom has had experience working on a range of projects throughout Sydney and more broadly NSW. He is responsible for the preparation of planning reports, including Statement of Environmental Effects, Clause 4.6 Written Request Variations, Exempt and Complying Development Advice, Review of Environmental Factors and the provision of Preliminary Town Planning Advice Letters.
Tyler Pickles
Project Planner
Tyler joined DFP in January 2023 after working at The Hills Shire Council as a development assessment officer. He has a good understanding of State and Council planning controls and development applications.
Tyler has had experience assessing developing applications. He is responsible for the preparation of planning reports, including Statement of Environmental Effects, Clause 4.6 Written Request Variations, Exempt and Complying Development Advice, Review of Environmental Factors and the provision of Town Planning Advice Letters.
Since joining DFP Planning, Tyler has worked on a range of projects, including educational establishments, residential developments, and commercial developments.
Bachelor of Construction Management, University of South Australia
Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Queensland
Careers
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