Innovation Case Study: Amanda Kern, Nillumbik Shire Council
Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges Shire Councils
Amanda Kern, Manager Strategic Planning, Transport and Environment
Pioneering Innovation, Enabling Solutions
Amanda Kern is a nationally-recognised planning leader whose career spans 25 years in Victorian local government. Known for her values-based leadership and pioneering innovation, Amanda led the creation of MyLot; an award-winning AI-powered planning tool that has transformed public access to planning information. This award recognises Amanda’s contributions as a leader across many years and a variety of roles. Amanda is currently Manager Strategic Planning, Transport and Environment at Nillumbik Shire Council.
2025 MAVlab Innovation Awards Winner:
Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Leader, supported by Swinburne University of Technology
Leadership and excellence:
Amanda Kern has demonstrated strong leadership across several councils, including Manningham, Banyule, Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges. Her career reflects a commitment to strategic improvement, collaboration and innovation in the local government sector.
As Manager of Planning and Building at Yarra Ranges Council, Amanda led the development of MyLot, a generative AI–powered planning enquiry tool and the first of its kind in the sector. MyLot introduces a new way for councils to engage with communities by using emerging technology to help simplify planning information. Amanda played a key role in navigating technical, regulatory and organisational challenges and in securing funding partnerships to support the project. She has been a consistent advocate for using technology to improve transparency, accessibility and community understanding in Statutory Planning.
Amanda has also acted in senior roles, including Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures and Manager of Economic Development, contributing to initiatives that strengthen data-informed decision-making, process improvement and cross-council collaboration. She is known for a collaborative leadership style that supports teams to adapt to change and explore new ways of working.
Her work at Yarra Ranges Council includes mentoring and supporting the development of women in planning, many of whom have progressed into leadership roles across the sector. Through her involvement in the Yarra Ranges Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, she has contributed to leadership development beyond the planning field as well.
She encourages knowledge-sharing, inclusive leadership and collective problem-solving, contributing to a more connected and adaptable local government sector.
Impact and legacy:
Amanda’s work has had an impact both locally and more broadly across the sector. The MyLot tool, launched in 2024, introduced a new way for communities to engage with planning information by making complex land use regulations easier for non-planners to understand. By improving the accessibility of planning information, MyLot has helped support greater transparency and community confidence in the planning process. The tool has since been adopted by other councils in Victoria and received the GovTech Project, Product or Service award at the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence.
Amanda played a central role in the ideation, development and delivery of MyLot. Her leadership on the project has demonstrated how Statutory Planning services can incorporate innovation and customer-focused design while still operating within legislative requirements. This work has encouraged conversations within the sector about the role of digital tools and new approaches in planning service delivery.
In addition to her project work, Amanda has contributed to the development of emerging professionals through mentoring, with several mentees now working in leadership roles. Feedback from colleagues, councillors and community members highlights her commitment to integrity, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Amanda’s initiatives have supported improvements in planning transparency, helped reduce enquiry response times and strengthened community understanding of council processes, contributing to more responsive and accessible planning services.
Collaboration:
Amanda has played a significant role in strengthening collaboration within the planning sector. Her leadership of the MyLot project brought together cross-functional teams, external technology partners and community stakeholders. She supported an open and cooperative approach to project design, helping to reduce silos and encourage shared problem-solving across different parts of the organisation.
Amanda has also contributed to inter-council collaboration by sharing insights, frameworks and technical guidance with other Victorian councils implementing MyLot. This work has supported broader sector capability and helped foster consistent approaches to digital planning tools.
Her professional experience spans bushfire controls, native vegetation management, waterway and rural land use planning, heritage planning, ResCode assessments, and urban and residential planning. This breadth of experience, combined with her relationships across councils, has contributed to strong inter-council networks that work together on shared challenges and advocacy efforts.
Amanda’s strengths include leadership, mentoring, complex planning assessment, environmental and landscape planning, place-making, process improvement and customer service. She has participated in the MAV Planning Reform Working Group, MAVlab Innovation Associates Network (MIA Network), LG Pro Management Challenge, and the Eastern Region Planning Professionals network. She has also presented at Planning Institute of Australia events, served as a panel member, and received a commendation in the 2025 PIA Victoria Women in Planning Leadership Award.
Through the Yarra Ranges Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, Amanda has supported professionals from various fields, contributing to cross-department learning and leadership development. Her approach to stakeholder engagement — focused on building long-term, productive relationships — has supported more coordinated planning outcomes and stronger connections with communities.
Amanda’s collaborative approach underpins much of her work. She encourages knowledge-sharing, inclusive leadership and collective problem-solving, contributing to a more connected and adaptable local government sector.