The advisory group consists of one member from each RTPI Region and Nation, and the young planner on the RTPI's Executive Board.  

Diana Thompson MRTPI, Northern Ireland
Associate, Michael Burroughs Associates 

Diana is the last surviving member of the Young Planners’ Panel, which she joined in August 2004. She has helped to guide the transition of the Panel into a Network in April 2005 and became Chair of the group in January 2006. She also sits on the Irish Branch (Northern Section) Executive Committee and takes a keen interest in the organisation of CPD events, particularly those involving Young Planners. Diana graduated from Queens University in 2003, and joined Michael Burroughs Associates’ Belfast Office as a planning consultant. She has since worked for many of the major developers in Northern Ireland.

James Holbrook MRTPI, South West
Planner, Arup

James is a Chartered Town Planner with over 4 years experience in the public and private sector. In his current role he carries out work throughout the South West region. He has experience of advising on planning consent procedures and has managed the submission of planning application material for a diverse range of development projects (including residential, commercial and mixed use schemes). Prior to joining Arup in 2005, James worked for Caradon District Council in South East Cornwall, as a Development Control Planning Officer and as a Planning Consultant for Nash Partnership, an architectural practice in Bath. In 2006, James became the Young Planners' Representative for the South West Region and in that time has organised a number of social and CPD events in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro. In 2008, he also became a member of the RTPI South West Regional Activities Committee.

Bhupinder S Dev MRTPI, Yorkshire
Senior Planning Officer, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

Bhupinder is an MRTPI Chartered Senior Planning Officer at the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, responsible for delivering the Bradford City Centre Area Action Plan as part of the LDF. Bhupinder graduated from the University of Manchester in 2000 with a Master of Town & Country Planning Degree with Honours. In 2001, Bhupinder graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a Post Graduate MA in Urban Design. He has experience of working in town planning and urban design practice in the public and private sectors, having previously worked for White Young Green PLC and Gillespies LLP. Bhupinder is the RTPI Yorkshire Young Planners Co-ordinator and founding member of YORnet – the network for young built environment professionals in Yorkshire. 

Jo Hooper MRTPI, West Midlands
Senior Planner, Drivers Jonas

Joanne studied for a BA(Hons) in Geography at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth followed by an MSc in Spatial Planning at Oxford Brookes University. Joanne has gained a variety of planning experience working for public and private sector clients, including planning appraisals, planning applications for a variety of land uses, providing planning advice on major projects, making representations to development plans, and employment land reviews. She has been involved in YPwestmids activities since 2005 and was also the Editor of the Young Planners' Page in Planning magazine from January 2007 to October 2008.

Nick Pleasant, North East
Planner, Government Office for the North East

Nick graduated from Newcastle University with a BA (Hons) in Town Planning in the summer of 2009 and has recently started his year out placement at the Government Office for the North East in their Planning Team. His Involvement in the Young Planners' Network came through the Newcastle University Planning Society, of which he was the Vice-President. One of Nick’s main aims whilst on the Young Planners National Advisory group is to promote planning as a career to other students and boost the image of planning using the RTPI. Also through the Young Planners' Network Nick is involved with the 2009 YP Conference to be held in Newcastle.

Simon Bonsall MRTPI, Scotland
Senior Planner, Scottish Government

Simon graduated from Heriot-Watt University in 2004 with a Masters in Town Planning. As part of his degree he spent a year working as a Development Control officer with Milton Keynes Council. Post graduation he worked as a Development Control officer for Warrington Borough Council before returning to Edinburgh in 2005 to take up a post with the Scottish Government. Latterly his role has been focused principally on national policy development and advice. Since his student days Simon has volunteered for Planning Aid and Planning Aid for Scotland, he is a firm believer in the benefits that increased community understanding of the planning process can bring. Simon was co-opted onto the Scottish Young Planners Network in 2008.

Victoria Bankes-Price, East Midlands
Senior Planning Officer, Lincolnshire County Council

Victoria is currently a licentiate member working as a Senior Planner at Lincolnshire County Council. She previously worked at a regional level and within the private sector.

Ed Gerry, South East
Planning Policy Officer, New Forest District Council

Ed currently works in the Planning Policy team at New Forest District Council. He graduated from Exeter University in 2005 with a degree in Geography. Following on from his undergraduate degree Ed took the well trodden path for many geography students by undertaking a Masters in an RTPI accredited planning course (Spatial Planning) at Oxford Brookes. Ed graduated from Oxford Brookes in 2006 following which he joined New Forest District Council. Ed joined the SCYPN Steering group in 2007 and has been instrumental in the organisation of a number of events across the region including the 2008 Young Planners’ National Conference held in Brighton. He is also sits on the South East Region Activities Committee.

Ashley Lynch MRTPI, Cymru
Associate Director, EDAW

Ashley is an Associate Director in EDAW’s newly established Cardiff Office. A chartered town planner, with a background in planning policy and major projects in the public sector, Ashley has continued his involvement in major regeneration schemes since joining EDAW in 2005. Ashley currently project manages regeneration frameworks, neighbourhood plans and green space reviews in North Solihull and North Manchester. He regularly leads multi-disciplinary teams in the production of a development frameworks and planning documents, often leading community engagement events. Ashley has spoken at both the RTPI and Prince’s Foundation on the production and implementation of Design Codes. Ashley will act as the national representative for Young Planners Cymru for 2009.

Robyn Blackburn, London
Planner, Planning Potential

Robyn graduated from Leeds University in 2006 with a BA (hons) in Geography. Following this she went on to study an MA in Planning Policy and Practice at London South Bank University (an RTPI accredited planning course). Whilst studying at South Bank University, Robyn worked at Planning Aid for London and has continued her active involvement with PAL as a volunteer and was a Trustee between 2008-2009. On completion of her Masters, Robyn joined the team at Planning Potential in their London offices where she currently works. Robyn has gained a vast range of experience working in retail, commercial and leisure sectors. Robyn has been involved with the RTPI London Branch since 2008 and sits on the London Regional Activities Committee. Robyn has been actively involved with the London Young Planners Steering Group over the past year and is involved in organising and co-ordinating events.

Greg Dickson, North West
Assistant Planner, Turley Associates

Greg graduated from the MA (RTPI accredited) Town and Regional Planning course at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2008. Prior to this, Greg completed a BA (Hons) degree in Human Geography with a Study in North America at Manchester Metropolitan University. Greg started life in the planning profession as a Graduate Planner in Turley Associates Leeds office and now works as an Assistant Planner in the company’s Manchester office. In terms of experience, Greg has been actively involved in broad range of projects including a number of large, high profile regeneration schemes where he has been responsible for liaising with the local community and a wide range of stakeholders. The experience of working in two regions has aided Greg’s understanding of the spatial planning system and provided him with the unique opportunity of being involved with both YORnet and the North West Young Planners. He was invited to become a member of both the North West Young Planners Steering Group and Regional Activities Committee in 2009 and is a Planning Aid volunteer.

Sara Eustace MRTPI, Executive Board
Senior Planner, DTZ

Sara is a Senior Planner in DTZ’s London office, working within the multidisciplinary Development Consulting team who provide advice on all aspects of development. Sara’s focus is predominantly on medium and large scale planning projects in London and the South East, which vary from providing strategic planning and policy advice to Regional Authorities and Government Agencies to advising private sector clients on development control issues including hotels, residential, industrial, regeneration, town centres and retailing. Sara has been actively involved with the RTPI London and London Young Planners since 2008, and sits on the Young Planners steering group for London as well as being Junior Vice Chair for the London Regional Activities Committee. Sara also sits on the London Planning Convention Steering Group committee. Sara’s key aim as Young Planners' Representative on the Executive Board is to champion issues critical to Young Planners and the profession as a whole. In particular, this includes the significant contribution that young planners can make to raising the standards and profile of the profession.

Graham Bloomfield, East of England
Senior Planning Consultant, Bidwells

Graham is a Senior Planning Consultant for Bidwells in their Norwich Office with over 7 years Town Planning Experience. Graham graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BA (Hons) in Geography and began his planning career with Broadland District Council in 2003 as a Planning Officer in Development Control. This role also included the determination of applications for the Broads Authority, who have equivalent National Park status. During his time at Broadland, Graham graduated from London South Bank University with an MA in Town Planning, having specialised in regeneration with a particular interest in waterfront regeneration. Graham joined Bidwells in late 2007 and continues to be involved in a wide range of projects for a variety of clients. This includes project managing high profile proposals for a mixed use city centre site and a research park development, both of which included BREEAM excellent rated buildings. Graham's role at Bidwells also includes acting as Planning Manager for 1st East Urban Regeneration Company, where he provides specialist planning advice as they bring forward their Area Action Plans. Graham is the East of England Young Planners' Representative and is actively involved in events around Norwich.

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Author:

Catherine Middleton

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

08-Feb-10

Categories:

 

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