I am Director of the UWA Public Policy Institute having been appointed to the role full-time in July 2024 - I was interim Director from July 2023 and also held the position of Interim Director of the UWA Institute of Advanced Studies from Sept 2023 - July 2024.

Previous positions at UWA include: Programme Co-ordinator, Masters of Public Policy (Admin/Governance Stream) and inaugural Programme Co-ordinator of the UG and PG Urban and Regional Planning degrees (2007-2020).

I am an urban planner/geographer by training with research interests/expertise in the nexus between people, place/space, policy and politics in the following areas:

(i) strategic metropolitan planning and planning reform;

(ii) urban policy and politics;

(iii) urban regeneration/renewal;

(iv) social and cultural aspects of Australian and global suburbanisms;

(v) multiculturalism and diversity;

(vi) COVID (sub)urbanisms

(vii) qualitative methods in urban/housing policy; and

(viii) geographies and regulation of sex, sexuality and the sex industry.

I am from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where I completed a BSc (Hons) in Regional Analysis and Development at the University of Ulster (Coleraine) and a PG Diploma in Town and Country Planning at Queen's University of Belfast. I received my PhD - Urban Regeneration, Community Power and the (In)Significance of 'Race' -  from London South Bank University.

Prior to moving to Australia I was a researcher at Lemos and Crane, a London-based social research consultancy, and worked on several projects: (i) an equality and diversity action plan for a large housing association; (ii) survey research on racist anti-social behaviour amongst children and young people; and (iii) an on-line directory of action against racial harassment.

Since moving to Australia I have worked at Edith Cowan University, the University of South Australia and the University of Western Australia.

In terms of academic/external service roles, I am/have been:

(i) Editor-in-Chief of Urban Policy and Research (2015-2023);

(ii) Co-Convenor of the Australasian Cities Research Network (2017-2021);

(iii) Board Member, Sexual Health Quarters (2016-2020);

(iv) Member, International Editorial Board, Policy & Politics (2014-2019);

(v) Co-Chair, State of Australian Cities Conference (2009, and, 2019);

(vi) Chair, World Planning Schools Congress (2011); and

(vii) Chair, 2024 Australian Political Studies Association Conference, Perth, WA.

(viii) Local Organising Committee, 2023 Australian Political Studies Association Conference, Sydney, NSW

I was Editor-in-Chief of Urban Policy and Research (2015-2023) having previously held the post of Practice Review Editor (2009-2014) and Editorial Board Member (2007-2009).

I was a member of the International Academic Board for the international journal Policy and Politics from (2014-2019).

I have acted as an academic referee for the following international journals:

• Urban Policy and Research;
• Policy and Politics;
• Planning Practice & Research;
• Land Use Policy;
• Applied Geography;
• Australian Planner;
• GEOFORUM
• Planning Theory;
• Urban Studies;
• Housing Studies;
• Geographical Research;
• International Journal of Urban & Regional Research;
• Qualitative Research;
• Space and Polity;
• Environment and Planning A;
• Environment and Planning C;
• Journal of Education in Built Environment;
• Qualitative Research;
• Social and Cultural Geography
• Town Planning Review
• Porn Studies;
• Sexualities; 

Phelps, N., Maginn, P.J. and Keil, R. (2021) Peripheral Centralities: Past, Lost, Present and Future - Seminar Series, funded by the Urban Studies Foundation (UK).

Maginn, P. and Haslam-McKenzie, F. (2015) Census of Local Government councillors in WA, Department of Communities and Local Government and WA Local Government Association

Gurran, N., Phibbs, P., Maginn, P.J., Goodman, R. and others (2013) Housing Markets, Economic Productivity, and Risk: International Evidence and Policy Implications for Australia, AHURI.

Flatau, P. Fozdar, F. and Maginn, P.J. (2011) Refugees, Housing and Social Inclusion in Australia, AHURI, $193,520

Maginn, P.J. and Clifton, J. (2008) Dalkeith Subdivision Survey, City of Nedlands., $22,000

Faulkner, D. (UniSA) and Maginn, P. J. (2007) ‘Scoping the Opportunities for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) to Contribute to the Supply of Affordable Housing’, Government of South Australia, Dept. for Families and Communities, $32,757).

Habibis, D., Atkinson, R., Dunbar, T., Goss, D., Easthope, H. and Maginn, P.J. (2007) A Sustaining Tenancies Approach to Managing Demanding Behaviour in Public Housing: A Good Practice Guide, AHURI, $112,000.

Lecturer, Urban and Regional Planning, University of South Australia (2005-2007).

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University (2003-2005)

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, London South Bank University (2002)


Conference Organisation/Chair

Maginn, P.J. and Macallum, D. (2019) State of Australian Cities Conference (Co-Chair) - "Australian Cities/Regions in an Era of Disruption and Innovation" - UWA, Perth, WA, 3-5 December.

Maginn, P. J. (2011) World Planning Schools Congress (Congress Chair) – Planning’s Future – Futures Planning: Planning in an Era of (Un)Certainty and Transformation – Perth, 4-7 July – this is a 5 yearly international academic urban planning conference.

Maginn, P. J. and Jones, R. (2009) (Lead Conference Co-convenor), 4th State of Australian Cities Conference: City Growth, Sustainability, Vitality and Vulnerability, Perth, UWA, 24-27 November – this is a national biennial A-rated peer reviewed conference.

Maginn, P.J. (2005) Australian and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools Annual Conference, 25-27 September, 2005, University of South Australia.

Peripheral Centralities: Lost, Past, Present and Future - Seminar Series

Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare? - Maginn, P. J and Anacker, K. (Eds)

Endangered Urbanism - Is Urbanism Over?

(Sub)Urban Vibrations: Sex, (P)Leisure/Pleasure and Adult Retailing

I currently teach and co-ordinate 4 units within the Masters of Public Policy programme:

1. Public Administration (POLS5503)

2. Politics of Public Policy (POLS5501)

3. Public Sector Leadership (POLS5504)

4. Parliamentary Research Project (PARL3399/PARL5599)

During my time as Programme Co-ordiantor of the Masters of Urban and Regional Plannning programme (2007-2020) I taught/co-ordinated a range of units including:

Undergraduate

1. EART1109: Foundations of Urban and Regional Planning (2008-2011);
2. GEOG1103: Geographies of a Global City (2012, 2017);
3. GEOG1103: Urbanisation and Sustainability (2021);
4. GEOG2202: Reading Landscapes: People and Processes Fieldtrip (2016);
5. GEOG2204: International Fieldtrip: Barcelona (2015);
6. EART3332: Social Geography and Planning (2008) and (2009);
7. GEOG3302: Geography/Planning/Environment Fieldtrip (2012-2014; 2017-20); and
8. GEOG3331: Geographical and Planning Methods (2012-2013).

Postgraduate

1. GEOG5004: Place-based Participatory Development (2022);
2. GEOG5002: Development Practice (2022);
3. GEOG4003: Foundation of Urban and Regional Planning (2020; 2021);
4. GEOG4011: Honours Research Project (2010-2015);
5. GEOG5011-14: Masters Research Project (2007-2022);
6. PLNG4401: Planning Theory and Practice (2007-2022);
7. PLNG4402: Planning Law (2007-2020) – unit co-ordination only;
8. PLNG4410: Professional Planning Practicum (2007-2012); and
9. PLNG5403: Planning and Governance (2007-2017; 2021-2022).

My primary research expertise/interests include:

1. Strategic planning and planning reform in Australia;
2. Australian and global suburbanism;
3. COVID-19 and cities;
4. Urban regeneration/renewal;
5. Local government politics and representation;
6. Geographies of multiculturalism
7. Geographies and regulation of the sex industry;
8. Qualitative methods in urban/housing policy.