Katie is a Principal Planner (Major Sites) at East Suffolk Council and has over six years of experience working in planning and urban design.

Katie graduated from LSBU with a Distinction in Urban Design and Planning in 2022 and is a chartered member of the RTPI.  She has a wide range of experience working within planning, from householder developments up to large major projects, including garden neighbourhoods. Katie has also worked with several local authorities to produce authority-wide Design Codes, amongst other urban design projects. Katie is also a member of the East of England Regional Activities Committee and Vice-Chair of the National Young Planner Committee

Jade is a Graduate Planner in the Savills Cambridge Office, having joined in October 2022 after graduating from Durham University with a BA (Hons) Human Geography undergraduate degree. In September 2023, Jade commenced a master’s programme in planning through the RTPI Master's Apprenticeship scheme at Savills, ultimately working towards chartered membership status. Jade is due to complete her master’s programme in November 2025, before seeking to become chartered in 2026.

Outside of work, Jade is an avid sportsperson, and both plays and watches football, actively supporting the growth of the women’s game.

Jess is a Planner at Barratt David Wilson Homes (BDW Anglia) and a Chartered Member of the RTPI with over six years of planning experience. Since graduating from UEA with a first-class BSc (Hons) Geography degree in 2018, Jess has gained much experience working on large-scale residential schemes, having previously worked at Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey. Jess has also completed a 3-year distance Learning MSc in Urban and Rural Planning with a Distinction from the University of West England (Bristol).

Having lived in Norwich since 2015, Jess loves exploring everything the City and the wider area of Norfolk has to offer. Jess thoroughly enjoys expanding her professional network and meeting new people.

Katie is a  Chartered Town Planner who works for a small planning consultancy based in Norfolk called Collective Community Planning Ltd. Her primary role is liaising with qualifying bodies who are developing a neighbourhood plan and helping communities shape their ideas through the development of a neighbourhood plan at the early stages. She previously worked for the planning policy team at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, where she assisted with the Local Plan Review and multiple parish councils that were developing neighbourhood plans.

She gained in 2018 her BSc in Anthropology and Geography from Oxford Brookes University and, in late 2021, gained an MA distinction in Chartered Town Planning via the RTPI apprenticeship route at London South Bank University. She became a chartered member of the RTPI in late 2023. Outside of work hours, Katie is a reserve volunteer with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust at Holmes Dune Nature Reserve at particularly enjoys exploring new areas and walking along her local beach with her cocker spaniels Purdy and Pongo.

Emily Grapes is a planning consultant with Carter Jonas, based in their Cambridge Office.  She joined the company as a Graduate Planner in 2020 after studying her undergrad at the University of Sheffield, and finished her MSc at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL in 2022. She is now working towards her chartered membership status whilst working on a variety of commercial and residential planning schemes across the East of England. Emily grew up in East Anglia, and outside of work enjoys regularly training and competing in triathlons and weekly cinema trips!

Genny is a Senior Planning Policy Officer at Castle Point Borough Council and a chartered member of the RTPI with over seven years of experience working in planning. Genny has previously worked for a national housebuilder as a Land Planner and local authority as a Planning and Enforcement Officer within the development management team.

Her academic background includes a Geography 2.1 BSc Hons from the University of Chester and a Town Planning Merit MSc from Anglia Ruskin University (an RTPI accredited course).

She is an active member of the East of England RTPI young planners committee and enjoys expanding her network and meeting like-minded professionals. She is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being and a trained mental health first aider. She enjoys learning new things and giving something back to the planning profession.

Andy Rutter is the Development Manager at Suffolk County Council. Andy started in local government planning in 2016, being part of the first cohort to undertake the RTPI Planning Technician Apprenticeship. Andy then gained a degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from London Southbank University. He has experience in developing Suffolk’s first joint Minerals & Waste Local Plan, determining major and EIA planning applications and leading on several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Outside of work, Andy enjoys cooking, travelling and following Ipswich Town FC

Yolanda is a Special Project Planner at Ipswich Borough Council, joining in March 2024. She has a Geography and Urban and Regional Town Planning BSc from the University of Birmingham and is undertaking further studies in the form of a Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship at Anglia Ruskin University. This will enable Yolanda to draw upon her experience at IBC in order to gain a Masters Degree, in working towards becoming a chartered town planner. Yolanda has gained planning experience, previously working at a private planning consultancy and her work with the University of Birmingham Planning Society Committee. At IBC, Yolanda works within the Special Projects Team on Ipswich Garden Suburb, and within the Development Management Team. 

Yolanda moved to the East of England in August 2022 and enjoys exploring all that the East of England has to offer. In her free time, Yolanda enjoys running and netball and generally being outside.

Sophia is a Chartered Senior Planner based in Bidwells’ Cambridge office, having joined the team in September 2022. She became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in December 2024 and works across a variety of commercial and residential planning projects throughout Cambridge.

She holds a BSc in Geography from the University of East Anglia (2021) and an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham (2022). Having grown up between Cambridge and the United States, Sophia brings a broad, international perspective to her work.

Sophia is particularly passionate about inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in planning. She actively champions work experience opportunities and is committed to making the profession more accessible and inclusive for all. Outside of the office, she is a keen traveller.

Harriet is an Associate at Woods Hardwick Planning, based in Bedford. She began her planning career in 2018 and became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in 2020. Harriet holds a BSc (Hons) in Geography from Canterbury Christ Church University and an MSc in Town Planning from Anglia Ruskin University.

Harriet considers early-stage development to be a key and important part of career progression and looks to support people where she can. She has acted as an APC mentor for colleagues across both the L-APC and DA-APC routes and is keen to continue supporting candidates through the APC process.

Originally from Suffolk, Harriet began her career in Cambridge before relocating to Bedford in 2025. Outside of her professional role, Harriet enjoys hiking, running and a good book!

Kemi Ayodele is a MSc Sustainable Planning student with an academic background in architecture and urbanism, having previously studied architecture in Cyprus. Growing up in Lagos and living across different cities has given her a strong interest in the ways culture, infrastructure, inequality, and everyday life shape urban experience. Her interests centre around equitable cities, urban regeneration, and people-focused planning. Alongside her studies, she runs ReScalene, a creative platform exploring architecture, public space, and urban life through visual storytelling and design commentary.