As RTPI South West Chairperson for 2026 Harry will be focussing on 'Future Ready Planners', aiming to ensure that RTPI members in the South West are fully equipped to deal with the 21st century tools of the trade, and deal with the newly emerging 21st century planning system. As planners have to grapple with a return of strategic planning, widespread use of AI in public consultations, and increasingly data-literate expectations from members and the public, being 'future ready' as a profession is going to be vital. 

In his day-job Harry is LandTech's Chartered Town Planner and Head of Research. Harry works with LandTech's product and data teams to ensure that LandTech's platform, LandInsight, continues to offer our customers unparalleled site finding, site appraisal, and site funding tools. Prior to joining LandTech, Harry was a planner in the private sector; working across development planning, policy, and EIA in Bristol, London, and Sydney, Australia.

Rachel is an experienced Chartered Town Planner having spent over 20 years at Bath & North East Somerset Council before leaving in 2018 to join Mendip District Council where she secured the role of Head of Planning managing a large multi-disciplinary team and oversaw a major review of the development management service.  Rachel now runs her own Planning Consultancy with extensive experience in development management providing services to both private clients and local authorities.  Rachel is also member of the RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence Judging Panel. Apart from planning, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as competing in Agility with her 3 dogs.

I am the Service Manger covering Development Management, Strategic Sites and Enforcement at Somerset Council. I started active involvement in the region in 2016 by approaching Charlotte Daborn at a CPD event and asking ‘so what is it that the committee do?’ and have been part of the group since. I was RTPI SW Chair in 2020 which included a full year of CPD planning, two events, COVID and the evolution of virtual! And re ran as Chair for 2025 championing wellbeing, collaboration and growth which ran through all the CPD events.

I started my career as a Modern Apprentice for the Isle of Wight Council which reinforces my underlining support for the range of apprenticeships available, including in Town and County Planning. Gaining my Masters in Spatial Planning via day release at Oxford Brookes, and becoming RTPI accredited, my family and I moved to the 'mainland', to Somerset in 2015, progressing from a Senior to Service Manager at Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) before experiencing what others have yet to come ‘Local Government Reform’ merging into Somerset Council. I gained a CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership in 2018 and level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership qualification in 2023 and became a Chartered Manager.

Through my involvement with the RTPI SW Regional Activities Committee and Regional Management Board I have worked on the South West RTPI CPD Programme, celebrated the excellence of planning through the awards, got involved in mentoring, encouraging workspaces to give a real life experience to those thinking about dipping their toe into the profession and seen many different areas of the profession and their innovation to current challenges. Next year I will be continuing to support CPD, work placements and how we can share and promote best practice. In my spare time I also manage to enjoy exploring with family, my dog Topper and being put in my place by my cat Carbonel.

John Marshall is a Chartered Town Planner with over 40 years of experience working in both public and private sectors .Public sector mostly with the then District Councils ,both policy/economic and development management ,up to chief officer level. Currently self-employed and mostly engaged by the Kingsley Group of companies in Cornwall on a range of projects.

John has a significant and wide range of experience including major urban expansion, commercial and retail development, holiday parks, mixed use schemes but also single bespoke residential.

Many years ago I was more active in the SW Institute affairs but after a dormant period I attended RTPI event on Falmouth Port and re enthused. Hope to bring a can do approach to planning and through the SW RMB may be able to influence Council and Government Agendas on getting things done ,promoting positive planning.

Outside of work an active member of the Better fitness group and living in Truro City in walking distance of good range of cultural ( Award winning Hall for Cornwall) and social venues and never too far away from fantastic coastline.

Tim has spent the majority of his career working as a Planner for various local authorities in Somerset and was Head of Service covering the area of both Taunton Deane and West Somerset, where he oversaw the delivery of major housing growth leading to Taunton's designation as a Garden Town. 

In April 2019 Tim left the Councils to set up his own Planning Consultancy. He now works regularly alongside the Planning Advisory Service providing service reviews and training for local planning authorities across the country, with a particular emphasis on improving development management performance and Planning Committee decision-making. Tim also undertakes private sector work advising architects and SME developers on how best to navigate the complexities of local authority planning processes.

Tim is a regular volunteer member of the Design Review Panel and has recently chaired a number of their on-line review sessions. Tim has been a member of the RAC for just over five years and appreciates this opportunity to engage with other planners from across the region promoting the positive role of planning.

I joined LDA Design as a chartered town planner in 2024. After living and working in Canada and Australia for eight years, I returned to Devon with stints in both local authority and private practice. I have experience across a diverse range of sectors including housing-led, mixed-use regeneration, commercial, leisure and sports stadium redevelopment, defence; aviation, and infrastructure. More recently, my focus has been renewable energy infrastructure and coastal defence.

Adopting a holistic approach to development, I am always keen to identify design opportunities to help navigate consenting risks and challenges from the outset. I believe communication is key, and champion the importance of early, meaningful stakeholder engagement. I’ve also been appointed to the RTPI’s Southwest Regional Activities Committee (2025-26) and am looking forward supporting their programme of CPDs and events.

Away from work, I can be found outdoors exploring new places and sunny beer gardens with my wife and young daughter. I enjoy skiing, playing tennis and golf, and travelling around the country and abroad to watch sport.