Dr Peter Geraghty was
today (16 January) inaugurated as President of the Royal Town
Planning Institute for 2013-2014.
The inauguration took place at Dartmouth House, in
Mayfair.
Thanks to Colin Haylock
In his inauguaration speech Dr Peter Geraghty
was quick to praise the outgoing President: "Colin has done a
tremendous job during his year. He has represented the profession
to great effect and has established strong working relationships
with key players including the former planning minister Greg Clark.
He has endeared himself to all he has met with his warmth and
enthusiasm. I would like to thank Colin most sincerely for all his
hard work and efforts during the past year. He has been a fantastic
ambassador for the Institute."
Following on from Colin Haylock's successful presidential year,
Dr Geraghty intends to draw on the legacy of some of the giants of
the profession who inspired him to become a planner-Thomas Adams,
Patrick Geddes, Raymond Unwin and Patrick Abercombie-and be 'proud
of planning and proud of planners'.
Proud of planning and proud of planners
Dr Geraghty said: "Adams, Geddes, Unwin and
Abercrombie made a huge difference to the lives of people. They
created places for people to live, places of beauty and
inspiration. Whether in the private, public, or voluntary sector
our working lives today are also spent trying to improve or enhance
peoples' lives. We should express our pride in this work and
showcase the achievements of those who undertake it. We must be
proud of what our predecessors have achieved and what we achieve on
a day to day basis. That is why I intend to make it my mission this
year on the eve of our centenary to showcase and highlight our
achievements as chartered planners. I am proud of the profession
and proud of planners."
Presidential year
Specifically, Dr Geraghty intends to use August
to promote some of the best that planning has to offer, use the
Presidential visits to highlight the best planning and planners
have to offer, to continue to build on the Institute's planning
myths campaign, to showcase the best of British planning has to
offer at the American Planning Association's Conference in Chicago,
and to reinforce the value of employing chartered members to the
public and private sectors.
Experienced
Peter has over twenty-five years' experience working in the
fields of planning and development in the public, private and
voluntary sectors. One of the very few Presidents to be employed in
the public sector in the modern era, Dr Geraghty currently works at
Southend on Sea District Council. As Chief Planning Officer for
Brentwood Borough Council and Head of Planning and Conservation at
Broadland District Council he has had responsibility for managing
the authority's planning service and advising on large planning
applications including housing, transportation, industrial, retail
and regeneration schemes. He has worked for authorities in London,
Essex and Norfolk.
He is also a former volunteer and Director for Planning Aid for
London, Chair of the Regional Management Board of the Eastern
Region of the RTPI in 2011, and Chair of the Board of the RTPI in
2012.
Peter is a graduate of the University of Liverpool from where he
received a PhD and a Masters degree. As well as being a member of
the Royal Town Planning Institute he is a member of the Chartered
Institute of Building and a Fellow of the Faculty of Building.
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