Presidential team

Sue Manns FRTPI

President

Having studied Town and Country Planning as a Postgraduate at Manchester University, Sue started her career at Birmingham City Council. She then moved to academia as a senior lecturer in planning law and practice at the University of Central England, before returning to the public sector as Head of Planning and Transport at Advantage West Midlands. In 2005 Sue joined Arup where she led their Midlands Planning, Policy and Economics Business, followed in 2009 by a move to become National Planner for the RTPI Planning Aid England. In 2011 Sue moved to the Pegasus Group as a Regional Director and since 2018 has run her own practice which specialises in strategic advice on community engagement and consultation in relation to development projects. She is a visiting lecturer at Birmingham University, a Fellow of the RSA and RGS and is RTPI President.

Wei Yang FRTPI

Vice President

Wei Yang FRTPI FAcSS MCIHT has been elected as the Institute's Vice President for 2020. Following her year as Vice President, when she will work closely with President for 2020 Sue Manns, Wei will lead the Institute as President in 2021. Wei has been Chair of Wei Yang & Partners, an award-winning master planning firm in London, since May 2011. She also has extensive experience of volunteering for the RTPI – currently Vice Chair of the International Committee, she has also acted as a judge of the George Pepler International Award and the International Award for Planning Excellence. Between 2015 and 2016, she was a member of the General Assembly.

Ian Tant MRTPI

Immediate Past President

Ian Tant is a freelance consultant, offering strategic advice to land promotion and development companies and to Local Enterprise Partnerships. First qualified in Environmental Sciences, Ian trained in Town and Country Planning at the University of Manchester, starting work in local government with district councils in Hertfordshire and Berkshire. He worked for Barton Willmore, one of the UK's leading planning consultancies, from 1986 – 2016 where he was an Equity Partner 1990 - 2016 and Senior Partner 2004 – 2015. He was elected to the RTPI General Assembly for 2014-15 and to the Board from 2016.