Meet our judges

Mark has lived in the North East all of his life and is enormously passionate about its people, places and culture. He has worked in planning since 2001 and is currently Director of the BH Planning & Design consultancy arm of Bradley Hall which provides expert planning support for house builders, commercial developers, land and property owners, investors and Local Authorities across the North East and nationally. He joined the company in April 2018 following 15 years in local government during which time he built up extensive knowledge and experience of the planning system, specialising in major residential, commercial, industrial and strategic infrastructure projects. Prior to joining BH Planning & Design in April 2018, Mark held the role of Head of Planning at Northumberland County Council for three years where he managed a team of more than 120 planning and related professionals with overall responsibility for strategic policy formulation, development management, conservation functions, highways/transport and affordable housing delivery.

Mark is the RTPI North East Regional Chair.

Caitlin Newby BSC(Hons) MSC is a Planning Advisor working for the Environment Agency.  She has worked in the profession in both private and public sector roles and is a chartered member of the RTPI. She has a specific interest in the effective planning for green and blue infrastructure as well as encouraging nature-based solutions to climate change, flood risk and water quality.  

Jan has significant experience of examining (former Examining Inspector PINS) and advising on a wide range of nationally significant and major development and infrastructure projects across the full range of sectors including new settlements and urban extensions, energy, water, transport, business and commercial, ports and airports dealing with a wide range of issues from development consent orders, EIA, design and Habitats Regulations Assessment. Jan has been recognised as one of ‘the most influential women in UK planning’. She is a member and on the Council of the National Infrastructure Planning Association.

Jan is a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute (FRTPI) and currently sits as Vice Chair of the RTPI English Policy Panel.  She is also on the Partnership Accreditation Boards for both the University of West of England and Glasgow University and continues to be engaged with Planning Aid.

Andrew has an Honours Degree and Diploma in Town Planning from Newcastle University.  He was elected to membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 1996.

Andrew has worked at Ward Hadaway since April 1999. In November 2020 I was promoted to Director (Chartered Town Planner).

Andrew specialise in planning matters and undertake a range of development management and planning policy work for clients including commercial developers, housebuilders, estates, the public sector and for private individuals.  I also provide support work to colleagues in the Practice.

He has appeared as an expert witness on many occasions including at planning and enforcement hearings and inquires, in development plan inquires / examinations in public and in the magistrates court.

Justine joined Lichfields in 1994 and has worked for a wide variety of clients throughout the United Kingdom. Her particular interests include large scale industry and logistics, hotels, caravan parks and leisure developments. Justine’s experience covers development appraisals, the preparation and submission of planning applications, negotiations with local authorities on detailed development control matters and the coordination of Environmental Impact Assessments. She is experienced in instructing Counsel and also acts as an Expert Witness at Planning and CPO Inquiries.

Ifeanyi joined the Planning Inspectorate in 2019 as an Appeals Planning Officer and is currently on secondment to the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities as a Senior Planning Technical Officer. Prior to this, he worked with the Marine Management Organisation and Defra. His experience includes Marine Planning and Marine Licensing, Environmental Project Management, Planning Appeals, Habitats Regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment.  Prior to his time in UK he also worked in Nigeria and experience includes Urban Design, Development Control and Higher Education (teaching Town Planning Courses).