ACT Place Names Advisory Committee

The ACT Place Names Advisory Committee (PNAC) provides advice to establish policies for the naming of divisions (suburbs) and public places on Territory Land in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Members (2024-2027 term)

The committee is appointed by the Minister for Planning to advise on the naming of suburbs, public places, geographical features and contentious naming matters. The current members are:

• Mr Greg Ledwidge (Surveyor-General of the ACT)
• Ms Rebecca Sorensen
• Ms Auriel Bloomfield
• Mr Cornelis Boekel
• Ms Rebekah Davies
• Ms Roslyn Dundas
• Mr James Glenday
• Mr Mainul Haque OAM
• Mr Paul Hutchison
• Ms Paula McGrady
• Dr Anne McGrath
• Ms Violet Sheridan

The committee has been appointed until 30 June 2027.

Secretariat

• Committee Secretariat support is provided by the Place Names Unit within the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.

Committee responsibilities

The Terms of Reference for the PNAC are to:

• establish policies and guidelines for the determination of place names for Territory land in the ACT, including suburbs (divisions), roads, public places and geographic features, and
• provide recommendations to the Minister or his delegate on place names for Territory land in the ACT.

PNAC meets on an as required basis or at least twice a year. A meeting is arranged whenever issues arise that need a consensus of opinion from the Committee. Issues that would require a meeting may include:

• discussion on and formulation of place names policies
• contentious issues
• discussion on new suburb names and/or themes

Advice is sought from Indigenous Elders, nominated experts (historians and cultural experts) from external agencies, organisations and community groups when required.

The Public Place Names (Naming of Public Places) Guidelines 2021 detail the established policies for the naming of new divisions, roads and other public places in the ACT.

Terms of Reference

Contact