Young Planner of the Year Award 2011 - VOTING NOW OPEN

  After a very high standard of submissions from all the candidates, the judges have agreed a shortlist for Young Planner of the Year 2011. Voting by members on that shortlist will produce the finalists, who will give a presentation to the judges in early January 2012. This year's judges are:

• Steve Quartermain, Chief Planner, DCLG
• Adrian Penfold, Head of Planning and Environment, British Land
• Andrew Taylor, Assistant Director Planning and Building Control, Uttlesford Borough Council and RTPI Trustee
• Bryan Johnston, Consultant Editor, Planning magazine

See shortlisted profiles and cast your vote online. Voting will close at 5pm on Monday 19 December 2011.  (Please note that if more than one member wishes to vote using the same computer, you may need to clear your internet history to access the voting page.)

Each Chartered, Associate, Technical, Legal, Licentiate and student member of the Institute may cast one vote. If you have any queries about voting, please contact Kate Webster on 020 7929 9470 or kate.webster@rtpi.org.uk.

Entry details for Young Planner of the Year 2011

This award is in the gift of the Institute and is intended to seek out and acclaim the brightest younger planners involved in the profession. This could be in planning practice, innovation, enterprise or philosophy.   

Entrants must be under the age of 35 on 31 May 2011. Nominations will be accepted from employers, colleagues, friends or relations or any member of the Institute who believes a young planner's particular contribution should be celebrated.The requirements are:

• a citation of no more than 100 words from the nominator explaining what the young planner has achieved and promises for the future;
• a summary of no more than 400 words detailing the candidate's professional qualifications including universities attended, employment history etc.
• a 100 word statement from the nominee explaining how they would promote planning as a professional activity should they win
• the name of one referee who can vouch for the young planner.

For the full criteria see here.

Entries are now open and should be submitted online. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2011.

Congratulations to Sarah Foster, RTPI Young Planner of the Year 2010.

Sarah Foster, Planning Manager at the Peak District National Park Authority, received the most votes from members to become Young Planner of the Year.

Pictured (left to right), Richard Summers RTPI President, Sarah Foster, and Alice Lester of the Planning Advisory Service.

Sarah has been invited to attend the APA's National Planning Conference in Boston from 9 - 12 April 2011 with all flights and accommodation paid for. 

Additionally, she has been offered a free place at the Planning Summer School where she will be asked to give a talk on her experiences in Boston, a free place at the RTPI Convention in June and an opportunity to speak at the annual RTPI Young Planners' Conference.

• Sarah's nomination
• Awards brochure

Young Planners Think Tank Group

This year, for the first time, all shortlisted candidates will be offered the chance to join the recently formed Young Planners Think Tank Group (YPTTG). This group provides independent advice, innovative ideas and a fresh perspective to key agencies and organisations that influence the function and delivery of the planning system in the UK., ie CLG, The Environment Agency, PINS, Devolved Parliaments, TCPA etc. It will provide an opportunity for key planning organisations to get a different, unique, fresh and thought-provoking perspective on their plans/programmes/proposals. This group meets at least twice a year.

Congratulations to Tom Venables, RTPI Young Planner of the Year 2009

Tom travelled to New Orleans last year to attend the APA National Planning Conference and reported back to Planning Summer School on his time there. Tom also spoke at the RTPI Planning Convention in June 2010.

Tom Venables, Associate Director with AECOM Design and Planning

Congratulations to Tracey Haskins, RTPI Young Planner of the Year 2008.

Tracey travelled to Minneapolis last year to attend the APA National Planning Conference.  See her details below.

Tracey Haskins, Planning Policy Manager, Guildford Borough Council