David O'Loughlin

A member of the SA Planning Commission and the board of Renewal SA, the state government’s development agency, David has been a member of the interim National Housing Supply & Affordability Council since its inception this year.

With over 30 years experience in the development sector, David also has nearly 20 years experience in Local Government, popularly elected as Mayor four times before retiring in 2022. Twice elected as President of the Australian Local Government Association, he served on COAG before its demise in 2019, driving the initiation of the first national ministerial forums on planning, housing and local government in many years.

Educated in Architecture, and qualified in Project Management, professionally David is driven to achieve high quality outcomes and has led successful teams to win over 45 awards for leadership in affordable housing, medium and high density living, and urban renewal across the private and public sectors.

This was mirrored in his leadership role at the City of Prospect, winning state and national awards for economic development, master planning, density uplift, urban realm and Main Street precincts.

His appreciation of city-building complexities led to him being the lead advocate for local government throughout the state’s extensive planning reforms. The new system has won national awards and is the first to be fully online, statewide.

David’s passion for planning and community development was recognised in being awarded PIA SA’s Planning Champion Award in their Excellence Awards for 2022.

He serves on a number of bodies including Cottage Homes Inc and as President of the Adelaide Chapter of the Art Deco and Modernism Society of Australia, and on the UniSA Architecture Museum Advisory Board.