Ann Skippers becomes President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) this week (Wednesday, 20th) in succession to Martin Willey. She will be President for 12 months.

• Read Ann's inauguration speech, on 20 January 2010, here.

Ann, who runs a planning consultancy with her husband, lives in Chelmsford, Essex, and is currently Senior Vice President. She has more than 20 years' experience in planning and planning education, and specialises in planning appeal work, troubleshooting, training and also works as a non-salaried Planning Inspector.

Ann Skippers said: "I’m delighted to become RTPI President, particularly in an election year, when it will be even more crucial to champion the value of planning and planners, on behalf of the profession. Over the course of the next 12 months, I want to raise the image and profile of planning and to help to support RTPI members. Promoting planning as a career to young people is also something I am very passionate about."

Ann’s priorities for her presidency will be:

• Raising the image and profile of planning;
• Making the benefits of planning more visible by raising the profile of what planners do;
• Working more closely with the other built environment professions;
• Working with schools and colleges to promote planning as a career; and
• Encouraging RTPI members to be more active within the Institute.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Tino Hernandez, Head of Marketing and Communications, RTPI;
email tino.hernandez@rtpi.org.uk or call 07830 879 274.

Notes to Editors

1. The Royal Town Planning Institute is the largest professional institute for planners in Europe, with over 22,000 members. As well as promoting spatial planning, RTPI develops and shapes policy affecting the built environment, works to raise professional standards and supports members through continuous education, training and development.

2. Ann Skippers BSc (Hons), Dip Mgmt (Open), PGC (TLHE) (Open), MRTPI, FHEA, FRSA, was born in Glasgow and has spent most of her professional life based in Essex. Her first appointment was as a development control case officer at Chelmsford Borough Council. In 2000, Ann was offered a secondment opportunity to be a lecturer in planning at Anglia Ruskin University. Ann continues to lecture regularly and is an associate lecturer for the Open University.

3. In 2003, Ann left Chelmsford Borough Council, after 14 years in local government, to work for Anglia Ruskin University. Later in 2003, Ann established Charisma Spatial Planning with her husband. The practice has a varied client base and specialises in troubleshooting and negotiating, planning appeal work, policy work, as well as interim management for local authorities.

4. Ann has been involved with the RTPI throughout her professional life. Ann was a student representative on the Regional Activities Committee, developing a particular interest in environmental education, and went onto to be Branch Chair in 2000.
Since then, Ann has been involved at national level as a General Assembly member and Trustee. During this time, she took a keen interest in raising the profile of younger professionals and chaired the Research and Knowledge Committee and the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.
In 2007, Ann was elected as Junior Vice President of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
In 2009, she became Senior Vice President and chaired the RTPI Executive Board.

For further general information, visit the RTPI website at www.rtpi.org.uk.

41 Botolph Lane, London, EC3R 8DL.

The RTPI is a charity registered in England 262865 and Scotland SC 037841.

Author:

Nancy Hammonds

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

20-Jan-10

Categories:

 

Sections:

News & Media

This article has been read 1548 times.