Lovell Chen director and principal Kate Gray brings 30 years of experience in cultural heritage practice to her work in heritage assessment, the provision of strategic advice, and the management of heritage sites and places.

Kate’s expertise includes the assessment of heritage places of significance at local, state and national levels — including individual buildings and structures, landscapes, industrial complexes and groups of places linked by ownership or use. She is highly experienced in the management of heritage buildings and places, in the assessment of development and adaptation proposals, and in the consideration of options to mitigate possible impacts or risks. She provides high-level strategic heritage advice as well as addressing issues of detailed design.

Kate provides specialist advice for major infrastructure projects, working with technical and engineering advisers and collaborating with planning and environmental assessment specialists. She led the Lovell Chen team for historical heritage for the Metro Tunnel project Environment Effects Statement process and was also EES specialist lead for the West Gate Tunnel and North East Link projects. She has also managed major strategic heritage projects for clients with diverse assets, such as the University of Melbourne, Port of Melbourne Corporation, Airservices Australia and the Australian National University.

Kate has an in-depth understanding of the requirements of statutory frameworks relevant to heritage projects and good working relationships with key regulatory authorities. She is an effective communicator and an experienced expert witness, appearing before planning panels, VCAT and the Heritage Council of Victoria.