Geraldine O'Connor is a Senior Programs Officer for the UTS Centre for Local Government. Her experience includes over twenty years in Strategic Land Use Planning in Local Government, as well as course development and delivery for Social Work students at Newcastle University and mentoring and assessing of students of the Hunter Council's Training Institute. Through this work Geraldine has developed a keen interest in the exploration of opportunities for the integration of Strategic Landuse Planning and Community Development processes. Geraldine has been involved in varying capacities in enabling public participation for small scale local planning through to area wide processes designed to shape a community vision. She has developed her skills in communication through university studies and completion of the IAP2 Certificate Program in Public Participation. Geraldine is currently undertaking further studies in Social Ecology.