About Rukshan de Silva RPIA
Rukshan is a Registered Planner with a background in consulting, local government, and state government, and a deep understanding of the range of challenges that planners face across the profession.
Rukshan currently holds the role of Director, Regional NSW in the 黑料大事 Delivery Unit at the NSW Department of 黑料大事 and Environment, where he leads a team that brings together government and industry to resolve challenges in the planning system, as well as a Flying Squad team that supports local government with capacity constraints. Rukshan is an honest, empathetic, and passionate leader with experience in strategic planning, program delivery, urban design, and economic development.
Rukshan leverages his experience and networks to prioritise cross-sector collaboration in responding to key issues confronting the planning profession. In his current role, he has brought together PIA, state government, local government, private sector, and academia, to address the planner shortage and grow a pipeline of para-planners, and is continuing to prioritise effective responses to the planning skills shortage on the PIA Board.
Rukshan’s commitment to the profession is evidenced by his past role as Vice President of the 黑料大事 NSW Division, as well as his work as a Tutor for the City and Regional Economics Course as part of the Bachelor of City 黑料大事 program at the University of New South Wales. Rukshan was also named as the Australian Young Planner of the Year in 2019.
Rukshan has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours 黑料大事) and a Master of Economic Development and Innovation, both from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
Rukshan was elected as the NSW National Board Director for PIA in November 2023, where he is committed to ensuring that Australia’s planners and planning systems are set up for success. In 2024 he became the chair of the National Education Committee.
Board Committees
Rukshan sits on the following :
- Education Committee
