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Speaking

James Bruscella

Town Planner. AI Founder. Keynote & Conference Speaker.

Speaking on artificial intelligence, the future of planning, digital transformation and innovation in local government.

James Bruscella is the founder of PlanSuite and a practising town planner with more than 20 years' experience across local government, planning compliance, private consulting and development.

Before founding PlanSuite, James helped lead the digital transformation of Brimbank City Council's statutory planning department, work that was subsequently recognised with an LGPro Award for Innovation.

After spending much of his career working inside statutory planning, James is now building technology designed specifically to address many of the problems he experienced first-hand.

His presentations combine practical planning experience, award-recognised digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the lessons being learned from implementing AI within real planning environments.

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James Bruscella, founder of PlanSuite and industry speaker on AI in planning
James Bruscella, Founder of PlanSuite

20+ years

Statutory planning, compliance, consulting and development

LGPro Award

For Innovation, recognising the Brimbank statutory planning transformation

4 industry bodies

Presented to LGPro, MAV, PEOA and ALGIM

Signature Keynote

AI Won't Replace Town Planners — But It Will Change What a Planner Does

Artificial intelligence is entering planning quickly, but the most important question isn't whether AI can write a report.

It is what happens to the role of the planner when hours of research, administration and repetitive assessment can suddenly be completed in minutes.

Drawing on more than 20 years inside statutory planning, his experience helping lead an award-winning digital transformation within local government, and his experience building PlanSuite, James explores where AI can genuinely improve planning, where professional judgement remains irreplaceable, and what the planning profession could look like over the next five years.

The presentation considers the opportunities and limitations of AI, including efficiency, professional judgement, risk, customer expectations, implementation, privacy and organisational change.

Other Speaking Topics

From Town Planner to AI Founder

What happens when someone who has spent almost two decades working inside a profession decides to build the technology they wished already existed?

James shares the story behind PlanSuite, the problems he repeatedly saw within statutory planning, the decision to start building technology specifically for planners, and the lessons learned moving from local government practitioner to technology founder.

The presentation is about more than PlanSuite. It explores what can happen when practitioners become directly involved in designing the technology that will shape their own profession.

From Paper to Digital to AI: Transforming Local Government Planning

James has experienced several major changes in local government planning from inside the profession.

Before founding PlanSuite, he helped drive the digital transformation of Brimbank City Council's statutory planning department. That work was recognised with an LGPro Award for Innovation, and James subsequently presented on the transformation and innovation to local government audiences including LGPro and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

Today, planning is entering another transformation as artificial intelligence begins changing how information is researched, assessed and communicated.

This presentation looks at the progression from paper-based processes, to digital planning systems, to AI-assisted planning, and the organisational, cultural and practical lessons that can be taken from each stage of that transformation.

Stage one

Paper

Traditional planning processes

Stage two

Digital

Award-recognised transformation of a statutory planning service

Stage three

AI

AI-assisted planning, happening now

Industry Leadership, Innovation & Speaking

James has presented to planning, local government and technology audiences on innovation, digital transformation and the practical application of artificial intelligence within planning.

His industry speaking is supported by practical experience implementing change from within local government.

Award & Industry Recognition

LGPro Award for Innovation

James helped lead the digital transformation of Brimbank City Council's statutory planning department.

The work was recognised with an LGPro Award for Innovation, acknowledging the transformation and innovation undertaken within the planning service.

Presentations

ALGIM

AI, Web & Digital Community of Practice

Presentation on PlanSuite, artificial intelligence and the emerging role of AI within statutory planning.

Planning Enforcement Officers Association (PEOA)

Victorian planning enforcement professionals

Industry presentation to Victorian planning enforcement professionals on PlanSuite, AI and planning enforcement.

LGPro

Local government innovation

Presentation on local government innovation and the digital transformation of statutory planning, including the work undertaken within Brimbank City Council.

Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)

Innovation in local government planning

Presentation relating to innovation and the work James helped lead in transforming Brimbank City Council's statutory planning department from traditional processes toward digital planning.

Why James' Perspective Is Different

Built from Inside the Profession

James is not approaching planning as an external technology commentator.

He has spent more than 20 years working across statutory planning, enforcement, local government and private practice, including more than six years coordinating statutory planning within local government.

During that time, he helped lead the digital transformation of Brimbank City Council's statutory planning department, with the work receiving an LGPro Award for Innovation.

That experience means his perspective on artificial intelligence starts with how planning actually works, including professional judgement, legislative requirements, customer expectations, organisational pressures and the realities faced by planners every day.

PlanSuite grew from that experience.

James' presentations focus on what technology can realistically change, what it cannot replace, and how planners and local government organisations can use AI while keeping professionals responsible for judgement and decision-making.

Available For

Primarily Australia and New Zealand at this stage, although international opportunities can also be considered.

Looking for a speaker on AI, planning or local government innovation?

James brings together more than 20 years of planning experience, award-recognised local government digital transformation and the practical experience of building AI technology specifically for the planning profession.

He is available to speak at conferences, industry events, professional development programs and local government forums on the changing role of artificial intelligence within planning and government.

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