About

“Helping to create better cities.”

JOC Consulting is a creative urban planning practice that specialises in community, place and technology. Our diverse work output is inspired by best practice and global trends, including those not directly connected to the built environment.

JOC Consulting believes that on our way to creating a better city, we need to live, contribute and facilitate the discussion around building a better tomorrow, at every opportunity.

Our work at JOC Consulting is entrenched in collaboration and connects different cultures to achieve innovative policy and positive behaviour change.

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John O’Callaghan, Director

John is an urban planner specialising in social activation, community engagement and new media. He is passionate about positive behaviour change and making our cities more liveable through creativity and innovation.

John is also the founder of Trending City, a collaborative blogging platform capturing great ideas from across the globe, and co-founder of Idea Bombing Sydney, a creative meetup focused on turning ideas into action. He was recently appointed Chair of Brand X,  a not for profit arts organisation based in Sydney, and is a lecturer at the University of New South Wales teaching contemporary issues in urbanism.

John is also a regular contributor to the Planning Institute of Australia’s New Planner magazine with a column focusing on technology, new media and urban planning. John has worked on projects in and outside of Sydney and has recently completed a Community Development Program for UrbanGrowth NSW at Penrith and a Social Activations Program for City of Sydney at Green Square.

In 2014, John was awarded the Urban Provocateur 2014 award by DARCH (the NSW Emerging Architects and Graduates Network) and recognised as an AMP Tomorrow Maker by the AMP Tomorrow Fund. In 2015, he joined Claire McCaughan and Lucy Humphrey as co-directors of the Sydney Architecture Festival 2015. In the same year, John was also a Finalist in the NSW Creative Talent Awards and named 1 of 10 instagrammers to follow in Sydney by TimeOut.

Want to know more?
Email John > john@jocconsulting.com.au < or phone +61 400 471 469

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Connie Steers, Creative Urban Planner

Connie is currently studying a Masters in Sustainable Built Environment at The University of New South Wales. With a creative background in design and project management, Connie believes innovative communication methods are key in engaging communities with their environment. She is interested in urban sustainability, environmentally-minded design and combining public art with place.

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Luschia Porter, Designer

Luschia is an emerging Australian Designer with a background in object and graphic design and a Bachelor of Design at The College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales. Her interest and disappointment in the disposable nature of common objects has shaped her practice. She is currently pursuing her interests in policy and planning and how they relate to design making and thinking.

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Isabel Virgona, Assistant

Isabel joined JOC Consulting in 2016. She is passionate about empowering communities to help inform the design of public spaces. Isabel has led small scale placemaking and activation projects, working directly with clients and stakeholders to test and deliver strategies. With experience in engagement, Isabel has designed and facilitated small group workshops and moves feedback into real world recommendations. With rural heritage, Isabel is concerned for planning in regional contexts and is passionate about the retention of strong and active rural communities. She sees JOC as an enabler of creative and agile approaches that anchor people at the centre of cities and towns.

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