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HH Insider – Ashlea Salter

14/09/2021 - Celebration -

We caught up with our fashionista and down-to-earth Senior Urban Planner, Ashlea Salter. A solutions focussed legend who loves nothing more than problem solving a great mystery. Ash has championed so much since starting at HH, and her laser focus and energy across the team can’t be denied.

Can you give us a little career background? What was your first ever job?

My first ever job was as a factory line worker at Teys Australia meat works.  Naturally at your first job you’re a shy and awkward teenager, and your co-workers will give you a degree of tolerance for this. However I’ll never live down my first work Christmas Party.  I was asked to “bring a plate!”… so I brought an empty plate. Young, naive and so innocent… those were the days!

How did you start your career as a Town Planner?

While I was completing my last year at Uni, I worked as a student planner at a small consulting firm in Brisbane; Urban Strategies.  I stayed there for another five years after and credit them for the planner I am today.  The Directors there were passionate and patient with a very green but eager young planner.  They really taught me how to think outside the box, navigate legislation for better community outcomes and get to the heart of what the policy is trying to achieve.

What was it that first drew you to private consultancy and has since kept you so focused?

I really enjoy project management and delivering on commercial outcomes for our clients.  I work best in dynamic, fast-paced environments, and private consultancy certainly delivers on this. In my time at HH I have been challenged by the diversity of projects and pace. In every new project I see the opportunity to build solutions and managing multiple stakeholders means no two days are the same.

Favourite project?

I really enjoy managing the high-end house applications.  They’re surprisingly complicated and I enjoy stepping homeowners through the process of the application. Personal applications bring passion, rich stories, and you get to learn a lot about people’s personal motivators.  Making a high-touch, seamless experience for my clients is something I am really passionate about. What makes an application really fun is when the property has a number of heritage or environmental constraints to balance as part of the design.  The more complex, the better.

What has been one of your best achievements over the last year?

Starting and managing the HH Unlock Series.  I’m always wanting to share knowledge with others and learn best by bouncing around ideas amongst my peers.  I championed what I thought would be a great idea and the leadership team immediately gave me the green light to launch! In January this year, I launched fortnightly presentations where every Consultant at HH has the opportunity to present on a technical topic to the entire firm. Whether you are a planner, landscape architect or urban designer ears are all open for a healthy Q&A.  We’re now moving onto our eighth presentation, and everyone has really embraced the forum to cross-pollinate ideas.

You’re a fun, organised and team focussed person. How about giving us your greatest life achievement to date.

When I think of my achievements, I remember the times when I have done things that scare the bejeezers out of me!

Life is interesting at the best of times, and my personal journey with self-awareness that is forever ongoing is something that I am really proud of. I believe to be the best you need to know yourself and continue to grow personally.

One that comes to mind is lasting through a 10 day meditation retreat.  We weren’t allowed to talk or interact with anyone and had to meditate for 10 hours a day. It is a really eye opening and confronting experience as humans are hard wired for connection!

I was also a high school teacher at a disadvantaged school, and this taught me a lot about diversity and the social impact our society has on future generations.

Something I encourage everyone to do when boarders open up is backpack! Setting on foot by yourself overseas taught me more about myself and others, the memories are priceless, both good and bad!

Favourite Album….ever…?

Harvest: Neil Young, in particular the song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’.  My Dad used to play this album on repeat and my family would sit on the back patio listening and watching the storms roll in.

Favourite building in Melbourne?

Jackson Clements Burrows Architects award-winning ‘Hue’ Apartments.  This was my first apartment when relocating from Brisbane to Melbourne. In the heart of Richmond, the building has light-filled proportions with the perfect balance between open and leafy privacy. The contemporary design would NEVER get approved in Brisbane (where I started my planning career) and it felt great living in such a bold and considered designer building.

Dogs or cats?

Dogs… I have just moved house specifically to become a Golden Retriever owner. My partner and I have become parents to Frank (the tank), and no matter how much he chews, I will unconditionally love our new companion.

Dream holiday destination post-COVID?

Positano – Amalfi Coast or the Amazon.  Bring back the days when you had to buy a sim for your phone and needed to go into internet cafés to coordinate where you were meeting up with a newfound nomad.

Last stamp in your passport?

Delhi.  I was returning home from a year over in Canada working for a whale watching company (killer whales are my favourite animal), and I randomly got invited to a wedding in India on the way home. Did I attend? I look forward to advising when you next pop into HH!

What superpower would you choose if you could?

Reading people’s minds.  Only for good, not evil.  If I wasn’t a Planner, I’d want to be a psychologist.

Favourite open space in Melbourne?

I love walking in and around the Royal Botanic Gardens.  It sounds nerdy but really interesting walking through the different zones and seeing how the vegetation changes for each part of the world across all the seasons.

Last one for the fans… Beach or Snow?

Beach (but I’m not happy about being asked to choose).