Curated Careers with Terri Homans
Urban Planners. Planning the Cities and Places We Live
Dr Tony Matthews
Urban & Environmental Planner
1 June 2026
Listen on audio
Episode Description
Episode Summary
Urban planning is often misunderstood as paperwork, approvals and council decisions. In this episode, Dr Tony Matthews explains the broader work behind good cities, including housing, transport, public spaces, climate adaptation, stakeholder engagement and long-term planning decisions.
Tony also shares how people enter the profession, what can surprise students and career changers, and why planning may offer a wide range of career pathways across government, consultancy, development and major projects.
In this episode you will learn:
· What urban and environmental planning actually involves
· Why planning is not just approving or rejecting development applications
· How planning careers can differ across public and private sectors
· Why communication, people skills and strategic thinking matter in this profession
· How AI may support some planning tasks without replacing the human side of the work
Who is it for
This episode is for students, career changers, parents, educators and anyone curious about careers connected to cities, climate, housing, infrastructure, public spaces and the built environment.
Real Jobs. Real Insight. No Gloss
Key Takeaways
Urban Planning is more than approvals.
Urban planning is far more strategic than people think. It is not just approving buildings. It is about shaping how cities function, balancing housing, transport, environment, and community needs over time. Much of the work involves translating big-picture visions into practical decisions on the ground.
Why this matters:
If you think this job is admin or compliance, you will underestimate both the impact and the skill required.
Communication is key.
Communication is the core skill that drives success in planning. The ability to explain complex ideas simply, write clearly, and engage with different stakeholders determines how effective you are. Technical knowledge matters, but it is useless if you cannot translate it.
Why this matters:
This is not a “quiet technical job.” Your impact depends on how well people understand and accept your ideas.
This role is in high demand.
Urban planning offers strong job security and future relevance. There is a persistent shortage of planners, high demand across government and private sectors, and limited risk from AI due to the human and strategic nature of the work.
Why this matters:
This is a rare combination of meaningful work and long-term career stability.
Thinking bout this career?
Download the Career Brief sheet (5 min read)