WHAT’S UP, DAN?

The UPco team is made up of all sorts of characters, and every one of them has a story. This time, we’re taking five with our newest Director, Daniel Howard.

What’s your name, and your role at UPco?

I’m Daniel Howard, Director and lead of the UPco Sydney office – but you can call me Dan! I came on board in October 2025 and have been given the (slightly daunting but exciting) challenge of establishing UPco’s presence in NSW. Being at the helm of a new venture is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. UPco’s business and culture just fits with who I am (even though I have the audacity to be a non-Melburnian).

What do you like most about your job?

I love the problem solving aspect of being a planner – which is lucky, because it’s often said that NSW has the most complex planning system in the country! But it’s the only system I know, so I just get on with it in terms of finding solutions for my clients. In my role with UPco, I am also really enjoying getting out and meeting as many people as possible across the NSW industry. I’m making connections with some great people and having interesting conversations about developments happening across the state.

Speaking of developments, what’s your favourite building in the world?

It has to be Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, designed by Gaudi. It’s an incredible building on quite an imposing scale, but very intricate in design. It has these amazing stained glass windows that draw light in, so it’s colourful inside and out. Barcelona is quite a mid-rise type of city, so the way you capture glimpses of the cathedral as you move around the city is cool – mostly from other Gaudi designed architecture, of course! I also find it incredible that the building has been under construction for more than 140 years.

Apart from Barcelona, where have your adventures taken you?

Most recently, my wife and I went on a road trip through parts of Europe we’d never explored. We started in Milan and meandered through Italy to Belgrade, Serbia – visiting Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania along the way. Experiencing all the different cultures was a ride. And a standout highlight was the soviet era brutalist and modernist architecture in New Belgrade.

Definitely something I’d recommend seeing.

What’s one thing that’s high on your bucket list?

I’m a Formula 1 fan, so I’d really love to see the Silverstone and/or Monaco races one day. I was lucky enough to see the Monza race earlier this year, which was simply amazing. More than 370,000 mostly Ferrari ‘tifosi’ is definitely a sight to see… and to hear!

What’s one surprising fact about you?

In my spare time, I manage a small volunteer team to rebuild and restore vintage buses at the Sydney Bus Museum (including those iconic double decker buses of the 1940s). Like my colleague, Adam Haines, I was a kid who enjoyed transport in many forms – I love vintage cars but could never afford to own or store them. Volunteering at the Bus Museum is the next best thing; I get to do metal work, painting and a vast range of other things collectively known as ‘tinkering’. I also occasionally get behind the wheel of them as well for larger events like Transport Heritage Expo.

Finally, is there a motto you live by?

“Don’t ride the highs too high or the lows too low.” I was told this by some good friends of mine recently and I feel this motto applies more than ever. Absolutely relevant and important advice for anyone who’s taking the plunge into starting something new.