Penelope Allan

Penelope Allan is Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), working within the Faculty of Design and Society. With a distinguished career spanning decades, she has made significant contributions to urban and regional resilience and water-sensitive urban design. Her landmark early work includes designing the Master Plan for Victoria Park in Zetland in 1999, recognized as Australia's first water-sensitive urban development.

Professor Allan's research focuses on developing innovative approaches to climate change adaptation, particularly for coastal communities. Her current projects explore the potential for the Chain of Ponds landscape system to mitigate heat and flooding on the Cumberland Plain, address challenges for NSW coastal ICOLLS (intermittently closed and open lakes or lagoons) facing urbanization and climate change impacts, and develop catchment-wide collaborative governance approaches to water health in the Richmond River catchment.

Her work integrates diverse knowledge systems, particularly emphasizing the value of Indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation. She has pioneered approaches that combine design research methods with community engagement to develop more resilient landscapes. Her research demonstrates how landscape architecture can serve as a critical mediator between ecological systems, cultural practices, and urban development in the face of climate uncertainty.

Professor Allan's extensive publication record reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly complex climate adaptation challenges. Her recent work shows a shift from site-specific design solutions to broader systemic approaches addressing regional resilience, community agency in disaster recovery, and cross-cultural knowledge integration. There's a notable emphasis on visual communication and storytelling as tools for climate adaptation, exemplified by her award-winning films shown at the 2021 Venice Biennale.

Scientific Awards

• AILA National Award of Excellence for 'Living with Fire' and 'The Value of Water' (2021)
• Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (NSW) Award for Master Planning: Victoria Park, Sydney
• Storm water Industry Association National Award for Excellence in Water Sensitive Urban Design
• Charlie Challenger Supreme Award for Planning and Research (2018)
• 2019 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Land Management
• NZILA Te Karanga o te Tui Award (2015)
• National Trust Heritage Awards for Adaptive Re-Use and Sustainability (Coal Loader, Sydney)
• IFLA Award of Excellence (Victoria Park, Sydney)

Professor Allan has secured significant research funding, including the Richmond Catchment Project Mapping (2025) and Power Plants Phytoremediation Gardens (2018-2019). She served as AILA NSW State Chapter President from 2004-2021, demonstrating sustained leadership in her field. Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive co-authorship patterns, working across disciplinary boundaries with ecologists, Indigenous knowledge holders, urban planners, and community groups.

Through her work with the NSW Government Architects office and ongoing research projects, Professor Allan has established herself as a leading voice in translating climate science into practical landscape interventions that enhance community resilience while respecting cultural values and ecological processes.