Dr Deborah Dearing
A/ Chief Commissioner and City Commissioner - Eastern Harbour City
Dr Deborah Dearing was appointed North District Commissioner in February 2016. She was reappointed to this role and the additional role of Eastern City District Commissioner in September 2018. Following the change to the Commission’s legislation in April 2022, Dr Dearing became the Eastern Harbour City Commissioner. She is currently the Acting Chief Commissioner.
Dr Dearing is recognised for her leadership in the design quality and amenity of cities and communities. She has more than 30 years’ international experience in urban design, strategic land use planning, heritage conservation, affordable housing, and property development in both public and private sectors.
She has held senior executive roles with the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Architectus, Stockland and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, and board positions with the Australian Institute of Architects, Architects Accreditation Council of Australia NSW Heritage Council, City West Housing, Liveable Housing Australia, and Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. She has been a member of the Sydney University’s Henry Halloran Trust, and Victorian Government’s Design Review Panel.
Dr Dearing has received numerous prestigious awards, including Fellowship of the Planning Institute of Australia, Life Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Architects for service to architecture and urban design, and the NAWIC Ryder Hunt Award for leadership in the Construction and Development Industry.
Dr Dearing is currently President of the NSW Architects Registration Board and a Board member of the Port Authority of NSW.
