Our Team

We are a boutique, climate change focused consultancy who make complex projects simpler. We do this through clear communication, insights, deep industry partnerships, and bespoke, practical solutions. And by being hands on, proactive and curious.

We immerse ourselves in our clients' projects and problems. We are specialists, who deliver faster results, through Director level engagement from inception to completion. We pair cogent communication with great listening. We are nimble and responsive. Our highly respected, industry leading staff bring decades of experience to solve the most pressing problems.

We believe change is exciting. New technologies, innovative projects, new economies. Because of this, we focus on emerging sectors in the renewables, clean tech, circular economy, infrastructure, and property space. We partner with the future.

We like to work, like the projects we serve, lean and clean. We marry the vision and big picture with the tangible and grounded. We are collaborative and convivial, building strong relationships with client and partners. Our extensive networks allow us to build best-in-class, multi-disciplinary teams.

We are a purpose driven company. Our mission is to make a difference by helping our clients achieve their goals, and giving back. To the community, climate, and environment.

Clear thinking. Straight talking. Big Impact. We are Cogency.

Adam Terrill

He/Him/His
Founder & Director Cogency
B.Urb Plan & Dev (Melb). M. Science (Monash) MPIA
Adam has over 23 years of consulting and industry experience across major planning and development projects in the renewables, cleantech and property sectors. He has deep skills in strategic and statutory planning, environmental impact assessment, development approvals, and community engagement.

He is currently a Sessional Panel Member at Planning Panels Victoria, and a fellow and former Vice President of VPELA.

Adam advises a wide range of major private and public clients, offering services in site selection, due diligence, project management, impact assessment, consultation and appeals. He has led major applications for wind, solar and battery farms across Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania, and is passionate about climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Rebecca Wardle

She/Her/Hers
Founder & Director Cogency
B.Urban Planning & Dev (Melb), M.Environment (Melb)
Rebecca is a leading planning and engagement specialist in the renewable energy and green property development sectors. She has 15 years of experience in statutory and strategic planning, community engagement, and environmental assessment for major development projects based in Australia and internationally. Prior to establishing Cogency, Rebecca spent seven years in the Middle East and Europe pursuing an international career in environmental policy and planning with high-profile organisations, namely the United Nations and the European Investment Bank.

Rebecca is a strong advocate for the renewable energy transition and meaningful community engagement. Using authentic dialogue, she builds a positive rapport with local landowners and fosters collaborative efforts between a wide range of stakeholders during the planning process.

Beyond Cogency, Rebecca founded the successful Women in Renewables Victoria Networking Lunches, demonstrating her passion for connecting and empowering women in the renewable energy sector.

Billy Greenham

He/Him/His
Associate Director | Planning
B. Environments (Melb), M. Urban Planning (Melb) MPIA
Billy has more than ten years of diverse planning experience across statutory and strategic planning, within both public and prominent private organisations. He is highly skilled in strategy and project positioning, narrative and communication, project management, strategic planning, rezonings and renewable energy approvals. Billy’s high quality communication and collaboration skills support his passion for leading positive planning outcomes, focusing on solutions to complex planning problems.

Some of Billy’s key experiences include planning lead roles for renewable energy generation and storage facilities (solar, wind, waste-to-energy, green hydrogen, and battery storage) across Australia, the Portland Industrial Land Strategy, and guiding large-scale urban renewal and mixed-use developments through complex approval pathways.

Camilla Hamilton

She/Her/Hers
Associate Director | Head of Engagement
B. Arts (Media & Communication) (Hons) (Melb), M. Global Media Communication (Melb)
Camilla is an IAP2-accredited engagement professional with over a decade of experience supporting projects that require strategic communication, stakeholder and community engagement, and change management. She has built a reputation providing sound advice to clients and developing rapport with people to ensure they feel understood and respected during project lifecycles.

Camilla has experience delivering communication and engagement solutions across a diverse portfolio of sectors including renewable energy, government, property, healthcare and sustainability. With a particular interest in complex and contested projects, Camilla is respected for her emotional intelligence and ability to maintain trust, build social licence and protect organisational reputation.

Gabi Coddington

She/Her/Hers
Associate Planner
B. Urban Development (Urban and Regional Planning) (Hons) (QUT) 
Gabi is a planner with seven years of experience working as a statutory and strategic planning consultant in Queensland and Victoria. Gabi worked for a number of years at a major infrastructure consultancy contributing to projects in transport, renewable energy and utility sectors at various phases of development. Gabi has also managed and led a number of due diligence, planning permit application, planning scheme amendment and land use impact assessments to support environmental impact assessments for solar, wind, hydrogen and battery storage projects. 

Gabi has a detailed understanding of Victoria’s legislative and policy frameworks and is able to apply this knowledge to a range of projects. She has a strong understanding of broader environmental and heritage legislation, including supporting the preparation of Significant Impact Assessments, Cultural Heritage Management Plans and Heritage Impact Assessments. Gabi is an enthusiastic planner who provides sound advice and progressive outcomes on all her project work. 

Robert Asquith

He/Him/His
Senior Planner
Bachelor of Environments (Melb)
Robert has studied various aspects of urban planning and urban design, complemented by studies of public policy, environmental management, and civil engineering. He has 5 years of planning experience across a wide range of industries in multiple Australian jurisdictions including local government and private sectors.

While working in a regional local government, Robert developed a passion for regional planning issues including balancing environmental protection with positive development outcomes. He has keen eye on planning law and statutory processes, and a deft hand for mapmaking.

Away from the office, Robert umpires local football in the Western Football Netball League and advocates for safer streets and bicycle infrastructure.

Dinan McMahon

He/Him/His
Planner
B. Science (Melb), M. Urban Planning (Melb)
Dinan is a planner at Cogency with a major focus on the GIS side of planning, producing high quality maps for a range of urban and regional projects. Dinan has significant renewable energy and community engagement experience on a variety of battery, solar, wind, transmission, and energy projects across Australia.

Dinan is passionate about the role planners have in transitioning our economy to carbon neutrality and in community engagement. In addition to his work at Cogency, Dinan plays an active role in the industry being a member of the VPELA YPG Committee and as well as tutoring at the University of Melbourne in the Master of Urban Planning.

Aliza Pfitzner

She/Her/Hers
Graduate Planner
B. Arts (Melb), M. Urban Planning (Melb)
Aliza is a graduate of the Masters of Urban Planning program at the University of Melbourne and is invested in leaving a positive impact on her community and contributing to the creation of more resilient, liveable and sustainable cities. Aliza possesses a particular passion for environmental and social planning and has been able to translate this passion through working in the renewable energy space.   

Through her role as a graduate planner, she has been immersed in a diverse range of renewable energy and sustainable property projects across Australia particularly in Victoria and Tasmania. Aliza has proven experience in research, QGIS, report writing, and community engagement practices. She strives to continually develop these skills to contribute positively to the transition to net zero and understand how planning can better achieve more equitable outcomes for all.

Dharani McDonald

They/Them/Theirs
Graduate Engagement Consultant
B. Science (Melb)
Dharani is an emerging IAP2 engagement practitioner with a passion for building connections, and empowering vulnerable and host communities. Their natural ability to establish trust with people allows them to develop and implement meaningful and effective communication and engagement plans involving a range of stakeholders. As we continue to make strides to net zero, they hope to use their expertise to respond to the climate crisis and help communities achieve better socio-economic outcomes that reflect their needs within the renewable energy transition. 

Most recently, Dharani has been developing and coordinating consultation for our circular economy and renewable energy projects with a focus on risk mitigation and meeting evolving planning requirements across multiple states. Their strong report writing, research and community liaison skills makes them a valuable addition to our team to facilitate an equitable and just transition to net zero. 

Sam Gordon

She/Her/Hers
Graduate Planner
M. Urban Planning (Melb) B. Arts (QLD)
Sam is a recent Master of Urban Planning graduate with experience supporting and leading transport planning, renewable energy and circular economy projects.  His interests include facilitating a sustainable and just energy transition, improving urban biodiversity and advocating for more urban active and public transport options. He has experience with research, report writing, and various transport, mobility, and renewable energy projects.

He is passionate about the planning system’s responsibilities to provide more affordable and inclusive housing options for growing urban populations, as well as, learning how the planning system can promote ecologically sensitive urban design while increasing capacity for communities to shape planning decisions.

Otto
Sargent

He/Him/His
Planning Assistant
B. Commerce (Melb), M. Urban Planning (Melb)
Otto is a Master of Urban Planning student at the University of Melbourne with a passion for engagement, transport, and progressive outcomes for communities. He is eager to cement positive impacts for society from planning, through resilience-building through projects such as renewable energy and affordable housing.

Previously a textbook author and volunteer manager, Otto is committed to equitable communication, education, and engagement with diverse audiences. Bringing undergraduate studies in Economics, he loves taking a big picture approach in reaching sustainable solutions.

Kim
Dovan

She/Her/Hers
Planning Assistant
B. Architecture (Monash), M. Urban Planning & Environments (RMIT)
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Kim is in the final year of the Master of Urban Planning and Environment at RMIT and is passionate about sustainable development that makes a positive impact on communities and balances environmental, economic, and social considerations. Her interests include exploring how community engagement can improve equitable planning outcomes.

With studies in architecture and a background in marketing she has strong mapping and data skills and is proficient in communicating complex information to range of different audiences. She is dedicated to building her GIS skills to produce insightful maps to contribute to planning projects.
Cogency is committed to ensuring that all our employees are treated with dignity, kindness and respect regardless of their cultural background, gender identity, ability, religion, ethnicity, intersex status or sexual orientation. 

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Memberships & Affiliations
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