The Chair’s 20 with Emma Cole

We are delighted to host Committee for Perth’s The Chair’s 20 event on Thursday, 19 March 2026, where we will host Emma Cole, Chairperson at the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), as our guest speaker.

As the State’s key statutory planning body, the WAPC plays a pivotal role in shaping how the Perth region grows, informing land use, development decisions and long-term planning priorities. Emma, appointed as Chair in January 2025 and the first woman to hold this position, will share an update on the WAPC’s current activities, ambitions and focus areas, offering valuable insights into the future of planning across Perth.

With Perth’s population forecast to reach 3.5 million by 2050, this discussion comes at a critical time. Emma will explore the opportunities and challenges for our region, including housing supply, infrastructure planning, and how we can deliver ‘density with identity’.

Held in the exquisite dining hall at heritage-listed Lamont’s Bishops House, The Chair’s 20 is a forum where an exclusive group of leaders from Committee for Perth’s Gold and Silver member organisations come together to discuss issues that are critical to Perth’s future.

Our Speaker

Emma joined the Western Australian Planning Commission in February 2020 and was appointed Chairperson from January 2025. Emma brings a diverse range of state and local government experience in urban and regional planning, board, and governance expertise with 10 years local government, including as a former Mayor of the City of Vincent.

Emma was also Chair of the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), the peak emergency management body in Western Australia, concluding her term in June 2025. As a member of the Keystart Homeloans board from November 2022 to June 2025, Emma supported affordable housing outcomes in Western Australia and helped oversee Keystart’s transition to a Government Trading Enterprise.

Emma is a full member of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia WA and holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.