Airport City Development and Second-Tier Aviation Markets: Evidence from Australia and Southeast Asia
July 2024
Dr Isara
Khanjanasthiti
Aviation policy, housing governance, and university teaching & learning at the University of New England, Sydney.
About Me
Urban planner with a
global perspective
I am an urban and regional planning academic at the University of New England (UNE), based at the Sydney campus. My doctoral research examined economic development and cross‑border planning around second‑tier airports through a case study of Gold Coast Airport.
Born in Bangkok, Thailand, and now calling Sydney home, prior to joining UNE, I studied and worked at Bond University, earning all of my tertiary qualifications and contributing to a range of cross‑disciplinary teaching and research projects.
My research interests span aviation, cross‑border governance, housing, and university teaching and learning. I am particularly interested in how airports can foster sustainable outcomes in their surrounding communities and how emerging digital technologies can enhance airport operations. I am also committed to creating engaging, enjoyable learning experiences for my students, recognised through multiple Unit Commendation Awards at UNE.
I coordinate Integrated Planning Practice units, where final‑year students work on capstone projects addressing complex, real‑world challenges in collaboration with industry partners. We are always interested in new project opportunities, so please feel free to get in touch if your organisation would like to work with our students.
I welcome research collaborations within urban and regional planning and related disciplines. I am also available to supervise Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy projects, with a particular interest in topics aligned with my research areas.
Feel free to reach out to discuss potential collaboration or to connect about my work.
Born in Bangkok, Thailand, and now calling Sydney home, prior to joining UNE, I studied and worked at Bond University, earning all of my tertiary qualifications and contributing to a range of cross‑disciplinary teaching and research projects.
My research interests span aviation, cross‑border governance, housing, and university teaching and learning. I am particularly interested in how airports can foster sustainable outcomes in their surrounding communities and how emerging digital technologies can enhance airport operations. I am also committed to creating engaging, enjoyable learning experiences for my students, recognised through multiple Unit Commendation Awards at UNE.
I coordinate Integrated Planning Practice units, where final‑year students work on capstone projects addressing complex, real‑world challenges in collaboration with industry partners. We are always interested in new project opportunities, so please feel free to get in touch if your organisation would like to work with our students.
I welcome research collaborations within urban and regional planning and related disciplines. I am also available to supervise Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy projects, with a particular interest in topics aligned with my research areas.
Feel free to reach out to discuss potential collaboration or to connect about my work.
Education
Teaching
Course
PLAN301 — Urban and Regional Planning Studio
A capstone studio unit for third-year planning students. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to develop a planning proposal for a real site, engaging community stakeholders, local councils, and industry mentors. Assessment includes oral presentations, stakeholder consultation reports, and a final planning proposal.
Course
PLAN201 — Introduction to Land Use Planning
A core second-year unit introducing the theory and practice of land use planning in Australia. Topics include the NSW planning system, environmental impact assessment, development control plans, strategic planning frameworks, and community participation.
Course
PLAN401 — Advanced Planning Theory and Policy
A postgraduate unit examining contemporary debates in planning theory, including communicative planning, informality, smart cities, climate adaptation, and decolonising planning practice. Students produce original research essays engaging critically with planning literature.
Research
Research & Publications
Academic Service
Service
University Committees
Member, UNE Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (HASSE) Academic Board (2023–present). Member, UNE School of Humanities Planning and Assessment Committee (2022–present). Participant, UNE Curriculum Review Working Group for the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (2023–2024).
Peer Review
Ad-hoc peer reviewer for Urban Policy and Research, Australian Planner, Journal of Transport Geography, and Housing Studies. Reviewer for the State of Australian Cities Conference (SOAC) annual proceedings (2022–present).
Professional Bodies
Member, Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) — NSW Chapter. Participant, PIA Education Advisory Panel (2023–present), contributing to national curriculum accreditation standards for planning degree programs. Member, Australian and New Zealand Regional Science Association (ANZRSAI).
HDR Supervision
Principal supervisor, one PhD candidate (Urban Governance, UNE, 2023–present). Co-supervisor, one Masters by Research candidate (Housing Policy, UNE, 2024–present). Panel member, two PhD milestone reviews (2022–2023).
Industry Engagement
Advisory contributor, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure — Regional Planning Futures Project (2024). Guest speaker, Planning Institute of Australia NSW Chapter seminar series on cross-border governance (2023). Invited panellist, Australian Airport Association Annual Conference (2022).
Recognition
Grants & Awards
Writing
Latest Thinking
Feb 2, 2026
Rethinking Assessment in Urban Planning Education: Moving Beyond the Final Report
Traditional planning studios culminate in thick reports that few practitioners ever read. I've been experimenting with assessment formats that better reflect how planners actually communicate in practice.
Jan 16, 2026
Housing Affordability in Sydney: Why Urban Planners Must Lead the Conversation
Sydney's housing crisis is as much a planning failure as it is a market failure. Urban planners have both the tools and the professional obligation to drive meaningful reform.
Dec 16, 2025
Cross-Border Planning Around Gold Coast Airport: Lessons for Regional Governance
Airport-driven development rarely respects administrative boundaries — my doctoral research explores how Gold Coast Airport has reshaped regional planning across the Queensland–NSW border.
Contact
Get in Touch
Interested in collaborating on research or have a question? Fill out the form below or email me directly at isarapd@icloud.com.