Sophie Stanton is a Planner at P4 Planning Ltd in Manchester having relocated from the North East in September 2023. She graduated her Masters Degree in Urban Planning in 2021 from Newcastle University whereby she was awarded the David Lock Award for her research titled “‘Rainbow Regeneration’ in Newcastle Upon Tyne’s LGBTQ* Scene: Working Towards Sustainable Inclusivity and Representation”. This research was then published in Cities Forum’s Urban Action Avenue. 

Sophie has experience working across various sectors of Planning (housing, heritage, commercial/retail, renewable energy, transport, tourism, sport and more) working alongside private clients, organisations, charities, community groups and Local Planning Authorities. In terms of her passions, Sophie continues to strive to promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Planning to deliver schemes for increased social and societal benefits. 

Sophie was awarded RTPI North East Young Planner of the Year 2023, elected as a Chartered Member of the RTPI in November 2023 and awarded as one of The Planner’s Women of Influence 2025. Using her platform, Sophie is keen to support others in their development as Planners as well as highlighting the importance of planning for diverse and complex urban places we occupy, working alongside charities such as LGBT Foundation and Manchester Pride to deliver diverse projects. Sophie volunteers within the Regional Activities Committee (RAC) and is the Chair of both the North West Young Planners and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) task groups.

Hannah Mitchell is a Senior Planning Policy Officer at Stockport Council, where she has worked since 2021. She leads on policy development for infrastructure and design. Hannah contributes to a wide range of planning initiatives, including significant input into the emerging Stockport Local Plan. 

Hannah graduated from the University of Manchester in 2017 with an Integrated Master’s degree in Geography and Town Planning. She began her career in private consultancy, specialising in development management and commercially focused projects. Hannah became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in November 2019. 

Hannah is passionate about sharing knowledge and strengthening the planning profession, particularly within local planning authorities. In 2025, she was appointed by MHCLG and the Planning Advisory Service as the Place Advocate for the North West. In this role, she chairs the North West Design and Placemaking Network, bringing together local authority planners to collaborate, learn, and champion high-quality place-making across the region. 

In 2025, Hannah was named as the RTPI North West Young Planner of Year and was subsequently commended at the National Planning Awards.

Oliver is a Chartered Town Planner at Pegasus Group. He joined Pegasus in June 2025, after two and a half years at LUC. Before which he graduated from University of Sheffield after completing his MSc in Urban and Regional Planning in 2022. Oliver advises on a range of large planning applications from pre to post submission in and around the Liverpool City Region across the residential, education, health and leisure sectors. Oliver is also part of the CPD Task Group helping provide training opportunities for Young planners to stay informed of current planning challenges. Oliver became a Chartered member of the RTPI in February 2025. He has a strong passion in how to better the built environment through sustainable design to contribute to the mental, physical, and social well-being of its users.

Aarushi Jangid is a Planning Officer at Oldham Council, working across Development Management, Enforcement, and Strategic Planning, gaining broad experience at an early stage in her career. This role has strengthened her ability to balance empathy with evidence-based judgment, while regular engagement with applicants, agents, elected members, and community groups has shaped her people-centred approach, grounded in clarity, fairness, and understanding of local needs.

She holds an MSc in Planning from the University of Manchester, where she developed her passion for inclusive growth and explored how planning policy shapes communities and development at different scales. Her academic and professional experience spans transport projects, regional development frameworks, heritage research, and extensive public consultation, giving her a rounded perspective on the impact of planning decisions.

Driven by a commitment to creating equitable and resilient environments, Aarushi also volunteers with RTPI North West Young Planners, supporting the quarterly newsletter and helping emerging planners navigate the profession.

George is a Planner at Enabl, where he has prepared and managed planning applications for schemes of various scales, led projects and provided strategic advice for Local Authority clients and undertaken site finding for affordable housing developers. Graduating from the University of Manchester with an MSc in Urban Design & International Planning in 2022, George has a strong interest in the relationship between people and place and how visualisation software and urban design skills can enhance planning narratives. Previously, he has gained experience as a Research Assistant with a focus on improving population health through design and place-based solutions.

Jack is an Assistant Planner at PWA Planning in Preston. He completed an MSc in Planning at the University of Manchester in 2025, having previously studied Real Estate at Liverpool John Moores University.

He works on a range of residential and commercial development projects across the UK, including planning applications, appeals, and pre-application submissions.

He has a strong interest in heritage and regeneration, particularly in how development can be delivered sensitively within historic environments.

Jess is a fourth year Town and Regional Planning (MPlan) student at the University of Liverpool, inspired by placemaking, and creating sustainable, inclusive urban areas. With a wide background of geography, and a keen interest in travel and culture, Jess loves to learn from and integrate ideas from around the world in her current studies.

As the current president of the University of Liverpool Planning Society, Jess works hard to ensure that students and colleagues are engaged in wider planning, involving networking events, career guidance and social events, particularly promoting planning in the public sector. Jess believes that through this work, young planners moving through their education can have a real positive impact on communities, and find their niche in the planning world! Through being a member of the young planners committee, she hopes that these all important connections can be made and solidified.

Matt is a Planner in the Regional Planning and Development Team at Deloitte LLP. He joined the team in September 2022, after finishing his Urban Planning MPlan at the University of Sheffield. He advises on a wide range of planning applications in and around the North West, including a number of large scale EIA developments across residential, sports, commercial, and entertainment sectors. He has also worked on the production of Strategic Regeneration Frameworks and Neighbourhood Development Frameworks.

Matt became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in February 2025, since then he has been supporting his colleagues who are pursuing their Licentiate APC and working towards their chartered membership. He is particularly passionate about leveraging strategic planning to deliver positive and lasting change in society.

Natalie is Senior Planning and Enabling Manager at Homes England working to unlock land for housing development across a range of projects including urban regeneration and large-scale urban extensions. Having focussed on Urban Design in her studies, Natalie is committed to securing high quality placemaking through planning and design.

Nayal Khawaja is a Planner based in Manchester. He graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2022 where he was nominated for the RTPI Trust Bursary Award. In 2023, he joined the strategic land promotion arm of Barratt Redrow where he worked on the promotion of large-scale residential development sites. More recently, Nayal joined a multi-disciplinary consultancy, Stantec, where he has diversified his project range and been involved in commercial, public sector, and infrastructure projects. Currently, he is working towards his APC and looks to become an accredited member of the RTPI by early 2026. With a background in housing development, he is passionate about creating sustainable, well-designed communities that enhance quality of life and deliver long-term value for both people and nature.

Rhiannan Farrell is a Planning and Infrastructure Associate (Solicitor) at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, with experience across both public and private sectors. She trained in-house at a shared local authority legal practice advising London Boroughs before moving into private practice. Her expertise spans planning, infrastructure, and highways law, including DCOs, CPOs, strategic planning, statutory agreements, enforcement, judicial review, and property development (including planning due diligence and property support). Rhiannan is passionate about inclusion and sector engagement, serving on the RTPI Regional Activities Committee and as Secretary of the BAME Planners Network Steering Group, where she mentors peers and helps organise industry events.

Ryan is Principal Planning Officer in Development Management at Rochdale Borough Council and has worked there since 2019. He graduated from his Masters in Town Planning and Real Estate at the University of Manchester in 2020 and is working towards becoming a chartered member of the RTPI. Ryan is passionate about securing high-quality design in new development and the role which placemaking has in the economic development of an area.