In our ‘day in the life’ blog series, we aim to showcase the work of our talented team and help you get to know the faces behind our projects a little better. This month, we sat down with Samantha Krossman, a Town Planner in our Hunter office, to chat a bit more about the dynamics of her role and her best advice for anyone considering a career in the field.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what interested you in pursuing Town Planning.
I fell into Town Planning mostly by accident. I was looking at a career in Social and Community Development, but partway through my first year of uni I realised I didn’t like the major I was in and switched to the Urban and Regional Development major instead. After that I wasn’t sure what I would do for a career, but in my second year of uni a cadet Town Planner job came up at a local Council and I decided to give it a shot. I ended up really liking it and have been in town planning since then.
What does a typical workday look like for you, and what brings you the most enjoyment in your role?
Most workdays have a fairly similar structure – I’m usually in the office, though I occasionally work from home. I usually start the day by creating a to-do list, then I get into the various projects I’m working on. No two projects are ever the same, so there’s always some variety. Some days I’m working on a Review of Environmental Factors for a school development, and other days I’m preparing a Statement of Environmental Effects for a residential development on behalf of a private landowner.
What’s it like being part of Barker Ryan Stewart’s Planning team? Are there any standout projects you’re currently working on?
Being part of the BRS planning team has been a great experience! Everyone has been so helpful and willing to assist with any problems I might have.
It’s hard to think of one specific standout project, but currently I’m enjoying writing a range of different planning reports I haven’t previously had much experience with. In particular, I really enjoyed doing the Social Impact Assessment and CPTED report for new ALDI premises and some REFs for council park developments.
What’s been the most memorable aspect of working at Barker Ryan Stewart so far?
So many things stand out, but one of the highlights has been travelling to the BRS Central Coast office to work for a day, and getting to meet some of the other BRS staff and other people in the planning team.
Looking back at your career, is there anything that has surprised you about working in Town Planning?
The one thing that has surprised me the most is the range of knowledge planners need to have. There are so many things to know, like all the different planning processes, the different approvals and external agency referrals needed, and all the different requirements and considerations for issues like flooding, bushfire, heritage and more. Planning encompasses so much, and it means there is always so much variety and change happening!
Finally, what advice do you have for anyone considering a career in Town Planning?
Give it a go! There’s a lot of variety in the types of development you can be involved with, and different planning specialties, so give it a try and find what interests you.
