James Whitten

Dr James Whitten is a Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design at Monash University, where his research and teaching investigate the intersections of infrastructure planning, urban design and regional governance. An urban designer and architect by training, James recently completed a PhD in transport planning and regional policy that explored the influence of high-speed rail planning on urban governance in regional Australia.

As an interdisciplinary practitioner, James integrates academic inquiry and community-based work to examine dominant approaches to infrastructure governance and develop place-based alternatives. This work draws on research collaborations and practice-based experiences that span geographies and scales—from documenting religious megafestivals in India to urban master planning in metropolitan Melbourne; from regional resilience strategies in the United States to community-led transport plans in regional Victoria.

James has received academic and professional recognition for his work on urban governance, transport and cities including the Award for Academic Excellence in Urban Design and the Urban Planning and Design Thesis Prize in Urban Design from Harvard University, a Commendation for Transport Planning from the Planning Institute of Australia, 1st Prize in the Hobart Waterfront International Design Competition from the Tasmanian Government, and the Geographical Research Highly Esteemed Paper Prize and Peter Harrison Memorial Prize (open category) for his work on ethics and transport planning with colleagues.

James’ current work is driven by the potential for community-based, transdisciplinary research to surface innovative policy and design solutions that meet our most pressing planning needs. His research into high-speed rail planning, public and active transport planning in non-metropolitan regions, and large-scale water infrastructure planning in Victoria highlights the value of combining multiscale spatial and institutional analyses with the situated knowledge and experience of local communities.