About Avandra
Avandra Founding Directors Mary Haverland and Nicole Vukic
Introducing Avandra
Avandra is a transport planning consultancy dedicated to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions.
Avandra is committed to addressing the complex dynamics of transport planning, ensuring that projects are not only efficient and cost-effective but also enhance community connectivity and environmental sustainability. Through a collaborative approach, our firm fosters partnerships that harness technological advancements and best practices, ultimately contributing to smarter and more resilient transport systems across Australia.
With a team of experienced professionals, Avandra combines cutting-edge research with practical expertise to provide clients in both the public and private sectors with insights that drive effective decision-making.
“Change is the one constant that we can rely on in our work, and it’s our pleasure to help our clients look towards, plan for and embrace the future.”
Read more about what we value
Our People
Mary Haverland
Founding Director
Mary is a seasoned consulting executive with over 25 years of experience in transport planning and advisory services across Australia, the UK, and internationally. With qualifications in town planning and civil engineering, she combines technical expertise with strategic insight to lead complex, future-focused projects across both public and private sectors.
A respected industry voice, Mary speaks regularly at conferences and industry events on future mobility, infrastructure investment, and place-based planning. She is skilled in navigating stakeholder priorities and clearly communicating trade-offs and outcomes. Passionate about mentoring emerging engineers and planners, she shares her knowledge to support the next generation of industry leaders.
Mary lives and works from a passive, sustainable home she built in a thriving rural Tasmanian community, reflecting her commitment to thoughtful design. Her personal interests include local travel with her family, politics, current affairs, theatre and enjoying time in great pubs.
Nicole Vukic
Founding Director
Nicole is a Transport Planner and Traffic Engineer with over 24 years of experience. As a leader in transport planning and advisory, she has successfully guided businesses and teams, driving growth and transformation under her leadership.
Her expertise spans the entire project life cycle, from strategic planning to design, verification, and operational implementation of transport infrastructure. Passionate about city-shaping projects, Nicole is dedicated to creating vibrant, sustainable places while enhancing mobility and connectivity.
Having been inspired by exceptional mentors and sponsors throughout her career, Nicole is deeply committed to talent development and industry growth. She takes pride in cultivating high-performing teams, sharing her insights, and mentoring professionals to set meaningful goals and accelerate their careers.
Nicole lives in Sydney’s Inner West in one of the first models of a ‘Garden Suburb’, surrounded by greenery with great transport access to employment opportunities. At home, she loves cooking for people and sharing a nice drink. Otherwise, she is often out enjoying live music or in a cosy old pub.
Our Values
Connectivity
An ability to connect with ideas, but equally as important, to everyone around us. We see our work as a conduit to building a bright future, one which we are excited to help be a part of.
Being thoughtful
All good work begins with observation. We take the time to deeply understand the challenge at hand, using curiosity and a ‘no question too silly’ approach, enabling us to answer the right questions with great answers.
People-first
From how we build the team around us, to the communities we are planning for, diversity only makes us stronger. By accounting for the experiences of every person, we build places and spaces where humans can thrive.
Adaptability
No matter what you throw at us, we’re ready. Change is the one constant on which we can rely on in our work, and it is our pleasure to help our clients look towards, plan for and embrace the future.
Empowerment
A plan without the tools for traction remain exactly that: plans. The work we deliver is never the end-product, and we go beyond the brief to embed the solutions we have discovered.
Who is Avandra?
Avandra is known as a Goddess of Freedom, Travel, and Adventure.
Also known as “she who creates the path” or the "change bringer", Avandra champions freedom, travel, trade, and adventure across the lands. She guides her followers by trust and encourages them to venture into the unknown.
Why do we need Avandra in our world?
With a market in transition, Avandra has the ability and experience to effectively deliver advisory and planning services, leveraging processes, systems and networks to support delivery. With transport needs rapidly evolving in our world, now is the time when clients and communities need Avandra.