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, I studied and worked at Bond University, earning all 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 in which final‑year Urban and Regional Planning students work on capstone projects that address 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 am happy to tailor a project brief that meets your organisational needs and leverages our students' knowledge and skills.
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 in teaching or research, or to connect about my work.
Urban and regional planning academic based in Sydney, researching airports, governance and university teaching and learning
Cross-Border Planning for Promoting Economic Development: A Case Study of Gold Coast Airport, Australia
February 2025
Towards More Sustainable Planning Decisions Around Airports: Investigating Global Airport Classifications and Proposing a Four-Tiered System for Australia
June 2025
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Property and Real Asset Valuation: Policies, Practices and Emerging Trends
February 2026
Airport Runway Inspections: Transitioning from Conventional Methods to Drone-Based Solutions
February 2026
Academic Service
Service
Beyond teaching and research, Dr Khanjanasthiti contributes to the University, the planning profession and the broader academic community through a range of service and leadership roles
University of New England
Dr Khanjanasthiti has contributed extensively to UNE through a range of academic service and leadership roles. He currently serves as Assistant Course Coordinator for Urban and Regional Planning, supporting curriculum development and student engagement across the program. From 2022 to 2025, he represented the discipline on the HASS Research Committee, participating in discussions that shaped research strategy and governance within the faculty. Between 2022 and 2023, he also served on the HASS Advocacy and Assessment Committee, where he assessed Higher Degree Research scholarship applications and contributed to deliberations determining applicant rankings. These roles reflect his commitment to strengthening academic quality and supporting UNE’s research community.
Industry Engagement
Dr Khanjanasthiti maintains strong and active engagement with the planning profession, particularly through his extensive involvement with the NSW Division of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA NSW). He serves on the Editorial Committee for New Planner, the division’s quarterly journal, and has taken on the role of Lead Editor for the December 2022 and June 2026 editions. His professional service also includes membership on the Education Committee, the 2026 State Conference Working Group and the Transport Network. In addition, he volunteers with the ‘Become a Planner’ campaign, supporting initiatives that encourage future entrants into the planning profession.
Professional Bodies
Dr Khanjanasthiti is a Full Member of both the Planning Institute of Australia (Jan 2022-Present) and the Institute of Australian Geographers (Nov 2023-Present). His membership in these peak bodies reflects his commitment to professional standards, disciplinary leadership and ongoing engagement with national conversations in planning and geography.
Supervision
Dr Khanjanasthiti has supervised four master’s dissertation students to completion, supporting research across a diverse range of contemporary planning issues. These projects have examined the implications of delayed public open space delivery on community cohesion in Sydney’s North West Growth Area; disparities between public and private transport travel times across metropolitan LGAs; the influence of local planning controls on ecologically sustainable development outcomes in Brisbane; and community perspectives on medium‑density housing in Newcastle. His supervision demonstrates a strong commitment to mentoring emerging researchers and fostering applied, policy‑relevant scholarship.
Peer Review
Dr Khanjanasthiti contributes to scholarly communities through regular peer review for a range of internationally reputable journals. He has provided ad‑hoc reviews for:
Awarded for achieving strong student satisfaction for the units Dr Khanjanasthiti coordinates at the University of New England
Grant
Strategic Funds ($5,000)
Enabled Dr Khanjanasthiti to lead a team in research fieldwork and outreach in Hanoi and Hue, Vietnam
Grant
Early Career Travel Grant ($7,000)
Enabled Dr Khanjanasthiti to present his research findings on Gold Coast Airport's privatisation outcomes at the 2024 International Geographical Congress (Dublin)
Grant
Internal Funding Scheme ($9,997)
Enabled Dr Khanjanasthiti to lead international research exploring the aerotropolis projects in Australia and Thailand
Grant
Early Career Researcher Funding ($3,000)
Enabled industry partnership for research on smart cities in Australia
Award
ResearchMaster Student Sponsorship Award
Selected as the winner amongst 138 HDR candidates to attend the 11th Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference in Adelaide, Australia
Award
Minister's Town Planning Prize (Runner-up)
Awarded by the Queensland Government for making significant contributions to town planning practice through his master’s thesis
Award
Bond University, Best Third Year Performance, Bachelor of Urban Planning and Design
Awarded for achieving the highest GPA among third-year students enrolled in the program
Award
Five (5) Vice Chancellor’s High Achiever Awards
Awarded for achieving an overall semester GPA of at least 85%, for a total of five semesters between 2009 and 2011
Award
Eight (8) Dean’s Awards for Academic Excellence
Awarded for achieving an overall semester GPA of at least 82%, for a total of eight semesters between 2009 and 2011
Award
Nine (9) First in Class Awards
Awarded for achieving the highest grade within a subject, for a total of nine subjects
Award
Mirvac School of Sustainable Development Capstone Project Award
Awarded for achieving the highest grade for the Capstone Project subject
Award
HASSELL Prize for Best Graduating Undergraduate Student in Urban Design and Planning
Awarded for achieving the highest GPA among all graduating students in the bachelor's program
A trip back to Prem International School in April 2026, after graduating in 2008, was truly special, allowing me to share my journey and lessons with Grade 10 students
