01 Jan Brian Cullinane

Posted at 15:19h in Team by

Founder & Director, EME Advisory

Brian is a highly experienced planning and environmental advisor specialising in policy development, assessment practices, regulatory frameworks, and planning approvals for major infrastructure and renewable energy projects. With more than two decades of experience across government, global engineering consultancies, and specialist advisory roles, he brings a deep understanding of how to navigate complex statutory processes and deliver outcomes that balance regulatory requirements, community expectations, and project feasibility.

Brian provides strategic advice to government agencies, project developers, and infrastructure proponents on approval pathways, environmental impact assessment, land use change, and stakeholder engagement. He has led planning approval workstreams for some of NSW’s most significant projects, including the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Project, where he coordinated planning documents, community engagement, and multi-agency interface management. His work has also included long-term advisory roles for Transport for NSW and contributions to major reforms in the NSW planning system, including the Rapid Assessment Framework, Complying Development Guidelines, and updates to the Codes SEPP.

Across his career, Brian has worked extensively on renewable energy, waste and resource recovery, transport infrastructure, and precinct planning, providing both high-level strategy and detailed statutory advice. He is recognised for his ability to interpret legislation, align project needs with government objectives, and support consistent, transparent decision-making.

Brian founded EME Advisory in 2016 to create a consultancy where he could work more closely with clients on projects that make a meaningful contribution to communities and businesses. His approach is grounded in collaboration, clarity, and practical problem-solving, ensuring clients receive advice that is both technically robust and implementable in real-world project environments.