Connecting technical vision to community value
Where People, Place, and Purpose Intersect
I act as the “translator” between technical specialists—like engineers and architects—and the complex expectations of community members and government decision-makers. I ensure that every project is not just a technical success, but a community win.
Operational Reality.
Practical, council-ready plans aligned with budget and policy.
Investment Readiness.
Investor-ready business cases designed for grant success.
Why Work With Me?
20+ Years of Government Expertise
Strategic Oversight Rooted in Operational Reality
I bring a unique “insider’s edge” to community planning. Having led complex infrastructure projects within Council environments, I ensure every strategy is not just a vision, but a defensible and fundable reality for regional communities.
A Legacy of Implementation
25 Years Bridging Vision & Reality
Managing Director, Helen Carroll, brings over two decades of experience and successful project implementation.
2025 – Present | Managing Director
THEO Planning Pty Ltd
- The Focus: Founding a specialized consultancy to bridge the gap between technical design and community impact.
- The Impact: Leading strategic infrastructure planning with a focus on climate resilience, spatial equity, and co-design processes for underrepresented communities.
- The Edge: Integrating 25 years of operational knowledge into high-level strategy to ensure projects are defensible and “funding-ready” from day one.
2017 – 2025 | Senior Planning Consultant
ROSS Planning Pty Ltd
- National Reach: Successfully delivered 40+ planning projects spanning every Australian State and Territory—from metropolitan hubs to remote regional communities.
- Public Trust: Led over 60 stakeholder and community engagement sessions, translating local priorities into actionable, well-supported planning outcomes.
- Consistency: Maintained a 100% record of delivering high-quality master plans and feasibility studies within strict timeframes and budgets, leading to high client retention and repeat engagements.
2009 – 2017 | Community Facilities Manager
Narrabri Shire Council, NSW
- Large-Scale Delivery: Directed an annual operating budget of $3M+ and managed a multidisciplinary team of 30 FTE staff.
- Signature Infrastructure: Spearheaded the Narrabri CBD Masterplan, securing significant State and Federal funding to move the project from vision to implementation.
- Strategic Growth: Authored the long-term Airport Masterplan to align with resource sector growth and the Aquatic Centre redevelopment, managing multi-million dollar VPA and grant funding.
- Crisis Leadership: Played a critical operational role in local disaster response (floods and bushfires), coordinating essential infrastructure and aerial suppression logistics.
1999 – 2009 | Leadership & Advisory Foundations
Fraser Coast Regional Council | Hervey Bay City Council | Queensland State Government
- Scaling Operations: Managed a workforce of 115 FTE and capital works programs valued up to $8M annually at Fraser Coast.
- Policy Architect: Coordinated critical contributions to Planning Schemes, infrastructure charges, and sustainable urban growth strategies.
- State-Level Insight: Served as an Advisor for the Queensland Government, providing expert guidance on governance and funding for community infrastructure projects across the state.
