Our team

Victoria Hills MRTPI, FICE

Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute

Victoria joined the RTPI in April 2018 and has 20 years’ experience and expertise in planning, transport and organisational leadership and development. She is passionate about planning great ‘liveable’ places, with an unrivalled insight into London’s governance; having worked for all three Mayors of London. She was formerly Chief Executive of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, which saw her drive forward the early stages of the transformation of the Old Oak and Park Royal opportunity area. She also established the UK’s second Mayoral Development Corporation that sought to maximise the benefits of a super-hub station at Old Oak Common to drive regeneration. Previously she was Head of Transport for the Greater London Authority, and before that held a variety of roles in transport consultancy and local government. Victoria also previously chaired the Transport Planning Society and the RTPI's Transport Planning Network, and in 2017 was appointed Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Outside of professional life, Victoria has two children, enjoys running, HIIT classes, holidays, eating out, horse-riding and is a qualified Assistant Girl Guider.

Richard Patrick

Director of Commercial and Corporate Services

Following a number of marketing and business development roles, both in the UK and Europe, Richard has nearly twenty years’ experience of commercial and corporate services leadership roles with leading membership and third sector organisations. At the RTPI he is responsible for the Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, Governance, Marketing, External Affairs and Communications functions. He also leads the institutes’ commercial development activity including the national events programme and membership growth activity. Outside of work Richard holds a Burnley FC season ticket, keeps hens and is a listening volunteer with the Samaritans.

Jacqueline Rees

Finance Director

Jacqueline is a qualified accountant and has extensive experience within the Housing, Care and Support and Charity sectors. In her role as Finance Director she is responsible for: providing financial advice to the Board of Trustees and the Senior Executive Team; ensuring that RTPI is compliant with our financial and statutory responsibilities; and leading the Finance and Subscription Team to ensure that members and colleagues receive a first class service with a clear focus on continuous improvement, problem solving and development. Her role also includes responsibility for RTPI’s insurance cover and risk register.

Craig McLaren FRTPI

Director, Scotland and Ireland

Craig is Director of Scotland and Ireland and also leads on Conduct and Discipline for the Institute. Prior to this he set up and managed the Scottish Centre for Regeneration in Scottish Government and its agency Communities Scotland, as its Director. He has also been Chief Executive of the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF); Scottish Planning Policy Officer with the RTPI; and a planner and economic development officer for the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames. He is a member of the RTPI and the Institute of Economic Development and is an Academician of the Institute of Urbanism as well as being a Trustee of Resilient Scotland Ltd and Scotland’s Towns Partnership.

Roisin Willmott OBE FRTPI

Director, Wales and Northern Ireland

Roisin is a Fellow of the RTPI and has worked in planning and regeneration for nearly 30 years, working in local government, consultancy and education. She is the RTPI’s Director for Wales and Northern Ireland focusing on delivering member services and leading on planning policy and practice activities in the two jurisdictions and is a member of the RTPI’s Senior Executive Team. In 2017, Roisin was awarded an OBE for services to planning in Wales. Roisin completed a PhD at Cardiff University, analysing governance systems to implement European Regional Policy in Wales. Outside work, Roisin enjoys exploring places close to home and further afield, often on foot.

Richard Blyth

Head of Policy

Richard Blyth has been Head of Policy Practice and Research at the RTPI since September 2011. Since then he has established the RTPI’s new policy paper series starting with Housing in 2013 and also the special RTPI Centenary Planning Horizons research programme with 5 projects being published in 2014. He is in charge of the RTPI’s work on Brexit and the RTPI’s England policy. Prior to this he was an Associate Director at Capita Symonds where he worked on commissions for local authorities on infrastructure planning to support core strategies, and for a number of private clients on regeneration schemes. He spent over four years in the Civil Service, including being responsible for Local Plans in England. Richard led a small team within the Joint Strategic Planning Unit which produced the last Berkshire Structure Plan and has also worked for district councils on local plans. He spent two years in the Gambia West Africa as a physical planning officer working on physical development plans and market regeneration.

Lesley Mitchell

Head of Human Resources and Office Services

Lesley is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and has over 20 years’ experience working in HR roles in the NHS, leisure management and membership. Based in the Edinburgh office, Lesley is responsible for human resources and office services across the RTPI and aims to ensure that all colleagues are inspired and supported to achieve their full potential. Lesley also volunteers as a Trustee for a small counselling and psychotherapy centre in Edinburgh.

Andrew Close

Head of Careers, Education and Professional Development

Andrew is a Chartered Town Planner and urban designer and has worked in consultancy, local and national government planning roles since 2000. As Head of Careers, Education & Professional Development at the RTPI he is responsible for Institute-wide education policy and accreditation procedures, student advice and support including the new RTPI Bursary project, member’s lifelong learning and CPD monitoring and standards, and the RTPI Future Planners volunteer initiative to promote planning as a career choice to young people.

Sarah Woodford

Head of English Regions

Sarah is a membership organisation professional with over 20 years’ experience working across planning, economic development, marketing, destination management and events. As Head of English Regions she is responsible for the management of the RTPI's nine English Regions, supporting a dedicated team of coordinators and volunteers to deliver member benefits through our events, networking, professional development opportunities and institute-wide initiatives. Sarah is also responsible for the RTPI’s Young Planners network.

Martine Koch

Head of Membership

Rebecca Hildreth

Head of Communications and Marketing

Rebecca has worked in senior communications, public affairs and marketing roles across the private and public sector since the 1990s, including running her own public relations agency in the mid-2000s. As Head of Communications and Marketing at the RTPI, Rebecca is responsible for corporate communications, parliamentary affairs including campaigns, brand, marketing and the RTPI’s national events programme.

Anil Ramdhan

Head of IT

Chris Pagdin

Planning Aid England Manager

Chris joined the RTPI as Planning Aid England Manager in 2017 after over 30 years as a planner and senior manager spanning local and central government and consultancy. Prior to joining the RTPI he was Service Director: Planning and Transportation at Luton and before that Head of Planning and Development at Watford. Chris also spent 10 years in central government drafting national planning policy (for instance on PPG13 Planning and Transport and the circular on affordable housing) and good practice guidance including on vital and viable town centres; using density in planning and the use of travel plans in planning. Email: chris.pagdin.planningaid@rtpi.org.uk