Vaere Social is a social planning consultancy based in Canberra, delivering social impact assessment, social infrastructure planning, and community and social policy advisory across Australia.
I’m Liesl Codrington, a strategic social and environmental planner with over 20+ years experience working in senior roles and advising government and industry on the future of cities, communities and place.
I translate complexity, connect ideas and bring people together to work through challenging issues in ways that are steady, clear and collaborative. I read patterns quickly, navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy and help resolve problems before they grow. My work is practical, people-centred and focused on shaping places and systems that hold together over time.
Services
Vaere Social works across social planning, impact assessment, and strategic advisory, supporting projects that involve complex social, environmental, and community considerations. I work with government and industry to provide clear, evidence-based insight that informs planning, infrastructure, and policy decisions.
Each project is different, but the focus is consistent: understanding social context, identifying emerging patterns, and translating complexity into practical, place-based outcomes that support how communities evolve over time.
-
Assessment of social impacts for infrastructure, development, and policy, including risk, mitigation, and statutory reporting.
-
Planning for community infrastructure to support growth, service needs, and changing population dynamics.
-
Advisory on affordable housing and social policy, integrating equity and access into planning and development.
-
Research and analysis to inform planning decisions, including demographics, community profiling, and policy insight.
-
Integration of climate adaptation and social outcomes into planning, infrastructure, and policy decisions.
-
Research and advisory supporting inclusive environments and diverse community needs, including neurodiversity.
Download our Capability Statement here
About Vaere Social
Vaere Social is the practice of Liesl Codrington. The name comes from the Norwegian word være, meaning “to be”, reflecting an approach that is grounded, thoughtful, and people-centred.
I work with government and industry on complex social and environmental challenges, bringing clarity, insight, and a strong understanding of community, planning, and policy systems.
My work is practical, human, and future-focussed, supporting decisions that shape how communities and places evolve over time.
Planning for neurodiversity
How cities feel matters. Our environments can either support or overwhelm the mind — yet most planning frameworks still overlook sensory and cognitive diversity.
This new insight paper, Planning for Neurodiversity, shares findings from research conducted by Vaere Social exploring how neurodivergent adults and families experience public places, infrastructure, and policy systems — and what planners can do differently.
Let’s collaborate
If you’re looking for a social planning consultant to support your next project, I’d be glad to work with you. Vaere Social partners with government and industry on social impact assessment, infrastructure planning, and strategic advisory across Australia.
Use the form below to get in touch.