Biography
James (Jim) Colman is Principal of James Colman Consulting, an urban and environmental planning consultancy based in Sydney.
James is a graduate architect, qualified town planner and urban designer. He has expertise in urban design, environmental management, and strategic land use planning. He is skilled in the preparation of local environmental plans, in statutory planning, and in development assessment work. He has a special interest in the conservation of local heritage and the natural environment.
His early career achievements included assignments in Papua New Guinea, UK, and Ghana. Later, his work has involved him in many jobs in Australia, as well as in off-shore projects in Tanzania, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Philippines. Smaller projects have taken him to Wuhan, China, and to Oregon, USA.
Alongside his consulting work he has maintained a close interest in teaching and research. He has taught at seven east-coast Australian universities, has an extensive and award-winning record of freelance writing for the professional and popular media, and has published three books on urban planning including the award-winning The House That Jack Built – Jack Mundey, Green Bans Hero (2016) – a book about the famous Australian trade union leader and environmental activist.
2012 he was inducted into the Planning Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the profession over four decades of practice, teaching and writing.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Architecture - UNSW (The University of New South Wales)
Master of Science and Society - UNSW (The University of New South Wales)
Grad.Dip. Town Planning; Bartlett School, University College London
Awards
- George Munster Prize for Freelance Journalism- Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (UTS).
- Planning Institute of Australia - Hall of Fame Inductee
- Winner - 2017 Gerd Albers Award for Best Book on Planning (International Society of City and Regional Planners)
- Shortlisted - New South Wales Premier’s History Awards 2017 - NSW Community and Regional History Prize
Memberships
- NSW Heritage Council - inaugural member (Ministerial appointee)
- Australia ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) – inaugural member
- Australian Society of Authors
- Australian Centre for Independent Journalism
- Fellow, Australian Institute of Architects
- Life Fellow, Planning Institute of Australia – Past President NSW Division
Selected Publications
'The House That Jack Built – Jack Mundey, Green Bans Hero.' NewSouth Publishing, 2016. www.housejackbuilt.com
'Planning and People – An Introduction to Urban Planning in Australia.' Angus and Robertson, 1971, 1973.
'The Pulsar Effect: Proceedings of 38th International Planning Congress.' (ISOCARP), Athens 2002 (editor).
'Decentralisation: Could it help our fast-growing cities?' Report of research project sponsored by the Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney, 2019.
Past Roles
- Past National Chair, Australian Institute of Urban Studies
- Past Vice-President, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) 2006-2011
- International Urban Planning Advisory Team - Portland, Oregon, USA
- International Urban Planning Advisory Team - Wuhan, China.
Freelance Journalism
The Sydney Review – Over a 5 year period I contributed some 60 lead pieces on planning, urban design, civic issues - leading to my receiving the George Munster Award by the UTS Centre for Independent Journalism.
Sydney Morning Herald - Numerous commissioned freelance pieces on architecture, environmental topics.
Professional press: Occasional contributions to Architectural Bulletin, Australian Planner, and other periodicals.
