Emily Grindrod Shaping Communities Through Urban Planning
Back in high school, Emily Grindrod (née Sivich), Class of 2007, spent hours immersed in the computer games SimCity and The Sims, rearranging streets, building homes, and imagining entire communities. What seemed like a hobby at the time turned out to be the start of a career she had not yet discovered – urban planning.
Today, Emily is Head of Planning at DevelopmentWA, leading a team that helps shape some of Perth’s most iconic urban spaces. But like many people, she did not find her passion straight away.
Finding Her Path
“Straight after graduating, I initially pursued a marketing degree, but it wasn’t for me,” Emily says. “While the creative side was appealing, aspects of it felt disingenuous which wasn’t aligned with my personal values. Integrity is something I feel strongly about. So, I went looking for a career that offered greater meaning.”
It took a couple of years, a few course changes, and a good dose of reflection, but eventually, she found the right fit in urban and regional planning.
“I was really curious about how and why things happened in the environment around us. I wanted to positively influence the urban environment and give back to the community in a tangible way.”
Becoming a Planner
Emily completed a four-year Urban and Regional Planning Honours Degree at Curtin University. In her final year, she started working as a cadet planner with the former Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (now DevelopmentWA).
She now leads a team of 15 planners working across five key redevelopment areas, Central Perth, Subiaco, Armadale, METRONET East (including Bayswater, High Wycombe and Midland), and Bentley.
“No day is the same. Some days I’m in workshops with architects, urban designers and engineers creating master plans. Other days, I’m presenting development proposals – like new apartment buildings – to our committee for a decision. Sometimes I’m out on-site auditing projects to make sure they meet planning approval conditions. There’s a lot of variety, which I love.”
For smaller-scale proposals like grouped housing or industrial warehouses, Emily has the authority to approve or refuse them herself.
“My team does the initial assessment and recommends whether it should be approved. I review it, weigh it against planning requirements, and decide if it’s a good outcome for the community.”
Challenges & Rewards
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing a real impact from her work.
“I’ve been directly involved in some of Perth’s most significant city-shaping projects, including Elizabeth Quay and the Scarborough Foreshore redevelopment. While planners don’t design buildings, we get to influence the scale and types of development through the planning framework, like master plans or design guidelines.”
But it is not without its challenges.
“A big part of the job is navigating competing interests and enabling good development outcomes. We often work through stakeholder or community resistance, especially if a proposal is different from what the master plan originally envisioned. It’s about negotiating changes to find a balance between what is best for the community, the developer, and the broader public.”
“We are currently in a housing crisis, so broader social issues are a key part of the conversation too.”
Memories of Santa Maria
For Emily, the strongest memories of school life are the friendships she made.
“I still regularly catch up with the girls I met in high school. Year 9 camp helped forge those friendships, and we used to spend lunch breaks in the library or science labs. Mr Ryan (Rest in Peace) would play music videos on the TV in his physics classroom during lunch on rainy days, it was a fun atmosphere.”
And as it turns out, a certain class helped spark her future career.
“Geography class with Mr Powell was a highlight. It really set a good foundation for planning. I still remember our field trip to Penguin Island.”
Life Outside of Work
When she is not in planning meetings or visiting redevelopment sites, Emily enjoys the outdoors.
“I love spending time in nature, especially bushwalking in the Perth Hills. I also love travelling around Australia and overseas. I often find inspiration in the architecture and design of other cities; this broader perspective helps me become a better planner.”
A Fun Fact You Might Not Know
“Although I graduated from university with First Class Honours, I didn’t excel academically in high school. I didn’t do well in exams and pursued an alternative pathway into university.
“I believe choosing a degree aligned with my strengths, interests, and values – and more assignment-based than exam-based – was the secret to my success. I’m a strong believer that exam results aren’t the be-all and end-all, and they’re not necessarily a precursor to career success.”
Emily’s story reminds us that success does not always follow a straight line, and that is more than okay. Through self-reflection, curiosity and a deep sense of purpose, she carved out a career that reflects her strengths, values and desire to contribute to the community.
- AlumniSpotlight, AlumniSuccessStories, CareerPathways, DevelopmentWA, EmilyGrindrod, Featured, PerthUrbanPlanning, SantaMariaCollegeAlumni, WomeninLeadership
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Join the OGA Committee – Expressions of Interest Now Open
Expressions of interest are now open for alumni who would like to join the Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association Committee. The committee helps strengthen lifelong connections between past students through events and initiatives that build belonging, celebrate alumni achievements, and support the ongoing spirit of the Santa Maria community. Alumni from a range of backgrounds and graduation years are encouraged to apply.
Save the Date – Joint Aquinas College & Santa Maria College Event
The joint Aquinas and Santa Maria alumni event will be held on Friday 18 September 2026. It is being organised by the Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association Committee in partnership with Aquinas College and will bring together alumni from both Colleges for an evening of reconnecting, conversation, drinks, and light refreshments.
Sisterhood Alumni Networking Series with Dr Carmen Lawrence
We are launching our 2026 Sisterhood Alumni Networking Series with an evening featuring distinguished past student Dr Carmen Lawrence. The event includes a special Q&A session exploring her career in psychology, politics, education, and social change. It will be held at Santa Maria College on Wednesday 10 June from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm.
Weekly Wrap Up – Term 2, Week 8
