PlanningxChange 77 with Loudon Luka (Malawi/Australia)
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In PlanningxChange Episode 77, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Loudon Luka, a planner with experience in both Australia and Malawi. Loudon went to Australia from his homeland Malawi in the mid 1990's to undertake post graduate study. He gained a Post Graduate in Urban Planning and a Masters in Planning both from Melbourne University. He then commenced work as a local government planner. His final position was as planning advocate for the City of Greater Dandenong before Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Here he would present the Council position before the independent VCAT which reviewed Council decisions on appeal. He returned to Malawi in 2014. In the following years he has worked as a lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Mzuzu University. He was also the President of the Malawi Institute of Physical Planners for a number of years. More recently he has been appointed to the Physical Planning Council of Malawi (a higher order Tribunal much the same as VCAT). In this wide ranging interview, Loudon discusses his transition to Australia, cultural differences and experienced gained in local government. The second part of the interview discusses the history of planning in Malawi from colonial times to the contemporary; and the magnitude of the planning and development issues confronting his country. Loudon is also in a rare position to contrast the planning issues in first and third world nations. He also discusses what Africa can teach the west in terms of getting the best out of limited resources. Loudon opens the window to what many of us can never see or could hope to experience. He brings an optimistic and pragmatic viewpoint to the opportunities before us. At the start of the interview Jess refers to PX76. Due to a re-ordering in episode numbering this is actually PX77. Apologies for any confusion. This podcast was produced by Complete Podcasting Services. This episode released 12 April 2021.