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.

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.

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 has also recently been appointed Junior Vice Chair of the RTPI North East and is looking forward to directly shaping the RTPI’s regional activity over the coming years. 

Jen is Projects Director at Argon, a North East based developer specialising in the development of premises across a range of public and private sectors.  Jen is involved in the whole life cycle of development projects, from site finding, inception and feasibility, through planning, funding, legals, and construction, to completion.  Whilst Jen’s role now encompasses a wider remit, planning remains an intrinsic part of her responsibilities.  

Jen is well-connected within the North East property market and has over 18 years of experience in planning across the private and public sectors, having held various roles in local authority and consultancies, and working her way up from Graduate to Director. Jen has a BA Hons and Diploma in Town Planning from Newcastle University, became a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2012, and is a past Chair of the RTPI North East region (2023).

Justin joined Banks Group 30 years ago having previously worked in opencast coal planning. At Banks he has covered a range of projects, mainly housing but also including wind farms, waste landfill and clay extraction. He leads a team of seven planners at the company. Now that Banks has formed a house building arm, Justin is heavily involved in preparing detailed schemes for delivery of new homes, and very much looking forward to seeing long-standing projects become reality. Justin has regularly participated in local plan examinations and consultations on national policy. In his spare time Justin plays guitar with two bands.

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.

Lucy is a Planner at Lichfields, having joined in 2023 following the completion of her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Newcastle University. Prior to this, Lucy completed her undergraduate studies at Durham University where she studied Geography, graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in 2022. Lucy has a particular focus and interest in town centre regeneration and the built historic environment. She has experience assisting in the preparation, submission and management of planning applications for a range of minor and major developments and has experience across a variety of sectors including retail, leisure, commercial, residential, healthcare and infrastructure. Lucy is currently Vice Chair of the RTPI North East Young Planners’ Committee.’