Planning Lab specialises in providing statutory and strategic urban planning services for developments in inner city Sydney. Every project is given the close personal attention of the founder and Managing Director, Giovanni Cirillo, who draws on his 30 years of experience as an Urban Planner to provide expert advice and guide projects through the NSW Planning System.

Giovanni graduated from the University of New England in 1990 with a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Hons) and obtained a Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney in 1994. Practising as a town planner since 1991, Giovanni has worked at Gosford Council, South Sydney Council and the City of Sydney Council where he was the Director of Planning from 2006 – 2008. He then worked for the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure as the Executive Director of Urban Renewal and Major Sites before founding Planning Lab.

As the Director of City Planning & Regulatory Services at the City of Sydney, Giovanni was the executive responsible for the assessment of all statutory planning assessments, delegated planning determinations, building regulation and all compliance actions, land use related prosecutions and Land and Environment Court appeals.

Giovanni also holds a position as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney where he lectures on the NSW planning system and the Land and Environment Court.

In 2013 Giovanni founded Planning Lab where he uses his expertise to advise clients from the property industry and public sector.

Giovanni is passionate about cities and inner-city urban regeneration, where he brings his considerable industry standing to bear in order to and deliver exceptional outcomes for his clients