Members & Public Relations Group

Joe Ridgeon
Member and Public Relations Chair

Joe Ridgeon
Member and Public Relations Chair

Ian Cansfield
Director of Planning and EIA at Cundall

Ian Cansfield
Director of Planning and EIA at Cundall
I currently work for Cundall as Director of Planning, leading their Planning team around the world. I have been involved with the RTPI in the North East for approximately 20 years, initially just as a "back-bench" committee member and spent three years as Honorary Secretary. I then had a very enjoyable ascendancy to the Position of RTPI North East Chairman in 2006, allowing me the opportunity to see the vast range of good work that is going on in the profession. In the intervening period, I have been involved with judging of regional awards and also served on the Member and Public relations Sub-committee and Regional Policy Sub-committee.

Jen Patterson
Associate Director - DPP UK Limited (RTPI NE Regional Chair)

Jen Patterson
Associate Director - DPP UK Limited (RTPI NE Regional Chair)
Jen is an Associate Director at DPP. Jen has held positions in the public and private sectors, starting her career at Guildford Borough Council and private consultancies in the South East, prior to moving to the North East in 2009 and holding positions at various consultancies in the region. Jen has a BA Hons and Diploma in Town Planning from Newcastle University and became a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2012.
Jen is a commercially astute and skilled planner, with extensive experience of providing strategic planning advice and pragmatic solutions across a broad spectrum of development sectors including education, residential, commercial, mixed-use, rural and energy. Based in the North East with an intricate knowledge of the regional property industry, Jen also works across the UK, including recent major projects in Essex, Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and Cardiff.
Jen is well-connected within the north east property market and regularly advises on consultant/sub-consultant appointments and collaborations, ensuring skilled, knowledgeable project teams capable of delivering complex development proposals. Jen is Chair of the RTPI North East Region.

Martyn Earle

Martyn Earle

Tim Crawshaw
RTPI Past President and RTPI NE Junior Chair

Tim Crawshaw
RTPI Past President and RTPI NE Junior Chair
Timothy Crawshaw MA MRTPI FRSA is the President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, working as an International Planning and Development Consultant in the areas of urban design, planning, green infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainable transport. With experience in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, alongside an expanding UK practice, he has a specific interest in the role of the nature based approaches to addressing the climate emergency, alongside improving health and wellbeing outcomes and tackling inequality.
Timothy is an experienced lecturer, trainer and facilitator with a passion for community development, and he continues to champion the role of planning as a key part of the solution to the challenges of our times. Timothy is currently the Chair of the Tees Valley Nature Partnership and Chair of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

Caitlin Newby

Caitlin Newby
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.

Joe Nugent
Immediate Past Chair

Joe Nugent
Immediate Past Chair
Joe is a Chartered Town Planner and works as a Planning Executive at Brownshore Management leading projects including minerals, commercial and residential. He has worked in planning since 2001 and progressed into the private sector following 17 years in local government during which he developed extensive experience of the planning system specialising in minerals, waste, renewable energy, commercial, industrial projects. Prior to the private sector Joe held the role of Specialist Planning Services Manager at Northumberland County Council. He managed a county-wide responsibility for minerals, waste, renewables and policy formulation. Joe has been involved with the RTPI in the North East for approximately 3 years, as a committee member and within the NE CPD sub-committee. He has attended Nations and Regions Forum Panel meetings and provided representation on key topics. Joe has chaired CPD seminars and has presented at CPD events. Joe is the regional Chair of the RTPI North East.

David Stovell
Region Representative on General Assembly

David Stovell
Region Representative on General Assembly

Tim Speed
