Alastair joined the Defra Marine Planning and Licensing team in October 2019 as a Senior Policy Adviser. He advocates for ambitious marine planning and licensing policy and inputs into cross-government commissions on planning reforms, working with ministers and a variety of stakeholders. He previously worked at Natural England (NE) in the marine planning team where he was responsible for responding as a statutory consultee to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects alongside development management, development plan and marine licencing casework along the coast. He also worked for the NE terrestrial planning team and for the planning team at the Environment Agency.

Alastair is a Chartered Member of the RTPI and is currently regional Chair of the RTPI North East. Alastair previously served as Vice Chair of the Young Planners' Steering Group and on the Regional Activities and Policy Committee. He was North East Young Planner of the Year 2022.

Matthew is Head of Planning at Hamilton Willis Land & Development, an independent development land consultancy specialising in strategic development land.  He is a Chartered Town Planner having obtained his Master’s Degree in Spatial Planning and Development from Cardiff University in 2018.  Matthew predominately focuses on the residential sector with experience across the full breadth of project scales including the promotion of new settlements.  However, Matthew’s experience extends to commercial, renewable energy and environmental based projects as well.  Matthew has a keen interest in Planning Policy and CPD and is contributing to the RTPI’s role in both as part of his role on the RTPI NE Regional Activities Policy Committee. Matthew is senior Vice Chair of the RTPI North East and is looking forward to directly shaping the RTPI’s regional activity over the coming years. 

Dominic joined Lichfields in 2016 and is an Associate Director in their Newcastle office. His experience includes development appraisals, the preparation and submission of planning applications, provision of strategic advice on major development sites, preparing planning appeals, drafting development representations and effectively engaging with local communities and key stakeholders. Dominic's experience has also included small to large scale mixed-use applications, bespoke heritage and design orientated projects, 5-year housing land supply analysis and SHLAA / HELAA reviews. Dominic is immediate past Cahir of the RTPI North East.

Timothy David Crawshaw MIED MCIAT MRTPI FRSA is a highly experienced built environment professional and advocate for planning as a key part of the solution to the challenges of our time. With over 20 years’ experience in a UK and international contexts Timothy is an expert in nature-based solutions, healthy placemaking, culture and economic development. An adjunct professor of planning and urban design at Newcastle University he is an acclaimed and inspiring public speaker and facilitator with a passion for great places and community involvement. Timothy is currently the Place Programme Director for West Sussex County Council and a former President of the RTPI.

Katherine Verlander is a senior officer at Newcastle City Council with over 30 years’ experience in Planning and Policy. She has worked previously in local authorities in the north east, Essex and London. Her public sector experience is focussed on local plans and social policy, including: regeneration; growth and viability; partnership working; core cities; community cohesion and engagement projects.  At the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Katherine was the team leader responsible for progressing the local plan that included Barking Riverside–transforming the area into a new London district for over 10,000 new homes. Katherine is currently responsible for housing policy for both Newcastle and joint local plan partner Gateshead Council and contributes to regional planning by leading an interim NE housing group of local authorities. Her other interests include driving forward with digital planning efficiencies, mentoring planning students and guest lecturing at Newcastle University.

Darren is a chartered town planner with over 35 years experience in the planning and development sector gained from both the public and private sector.  He is currently Head of Onshore Wind Development at EDF power solutions responsible for the planning and development of a portfolio of renewable projects throughout the UK.  He has been in the renewables industry for almost 25 years and has held a number of similar roles throughout the energy industry.

Darren is based in the North East and has worked for North East Local Authority’s primarily in development control at the start of his career following graduation from Bristol Polytechnic in the late 1980’s.  He has significant experience in dealing with complex energy infrastructure proposals and the necessary consultation, negotiation and promoting of such schemes.

Ifeanyi is a Principal Consultant at WSP. He is a Chartered Member of the RTPI and also a Full Member of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Practitioners and a Chartered Environmentalist. He has over two decades of experience across town planning, education, marine licensing, environmental assessment and project management. With previous employment history spanning the Environment Agency (EA), Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) prior to joining WSP in 2024, Ifeanyi has overseen many environmental assessments, including those relating to Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD), for several high-profile infrastructure projects including Sizewell C Nuclear New Build (NNB), Hinkley Point C NNB, Boston Alternative Energy Facility, Westernmost Rough and Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farms. He also has extensive knowledge and experience of marine licensing and regulation.

Andrew is a chartered Town Planner and member of the Transport Planning Society and is a Senior Transport Planner at NE Combined Authority. He works in Transport and Infrastructure planning responsible for the development and delivery of the North East’s transport pipeline and transport plan. Andrew prepares major funding bids develops regional policy and strategy and project manages the delivery of capital and revenue funding in the region. Andrew works closely with local authority, national and subnational partners in linking transport planning wider spatial planning outcomes.

Prior to joining the Transport North East, Andrew spend six years at Transport for London working in development management across South London. He also gained experience in TfL’s Commercial Development team. Whilst in London Andrew was Chair of the RTPI region in 2016 and was Honorary Secretary prior to that. He is now a volunteer on the RMB NE, the regional Rep on the General Assembly, and a Planning Aid England volunteer, part of a team providing advice through PAE’s advice line service.