Steering group

Patrick Johnston has been a member of the Young Planners Committee since February 2019, where he also helped with the Young Planner’s conference.  Patrick previously worked for Newcastle City Council before moving to Persimmon PLC in August 2019. Through the pandemic years Patrick completed his APC and has been able to share some of this knowledge in NE APC webinars. He has also been involved in student events. In 2022 Patrick became Vice Chair, before becoming the NE YP Chair in January 2023.  This year Patrick will focus on student engagement in the Young Planners steering group to help secure the long-term sustainability and succession of the committee post-pandemic. 

Emma is a Chartered Planner at Lichfields, having joined in 2019 following the completion of her studies at St Andrews University and the University of Glasgow where she obtained a Master’s degree in City Planning and Real Estate Development. Emma’s primary focus is in the residential sector, but her experience covers a wide variety of projects including leisure, regeneration, and commercial. Emma is currently the Vice Chair of the RTPI North East Young Planner’s Committee and a member of the RTPI NE Regional Activities and Policies Committee.

Emily has been a member of the North East Young Planners Committee since December 2018, and is the former Committee Chair for 2022. Emily joined Lichfields in September 2018 and now works as a Senior Planner in their Newcastle office.  During her time at Lichfields, Emily has been involved in a variety of projects throughout the North East, including commercial, infrastructure, retail and leisure schemes. Emily is also a Chartered member of the RTPI.”

Anuja Sawantbirje is a dedicated individual currently pursuing a Master of Science in Urban Planning at Newcastle University. With her expected graduation date in August 2023, she is committed to expanding her knowledge to acquire a comprehensive understanding of this field. 

Prior to embarking on her postgraduate studies, she successfully completed a degree in Architecture at Mumbai University and became a licensed Architect. With an international background, Anuja brings a wealth of diverse knowledge and perspectives to the table, enhancing the committee's ability to navigate the intricacies of urban planning from a global standpoint. She proactively joined the Young Planners committee, aiming to contribute to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and broaden her knowledge of UK planning practices and regulations.

Oliver is a licentiate member of the RTPI and a Planning and Development Assistant at YoungsRPS. Oliver joined the YoungsRPS Newcastle office in September 2021 following the completion of his MSc in Urban Planning at Newcastle University; prior to this, Oliver was studying Geography at the University of Portsmouth. Time spent studying the complexities of climate change, sustainable development and urban regeneration during his undergraduate degree nurtured an understanding of these topics and established an interest towards their betterment; and hence, Oliver found himself within the realm of planning. As a southerner, Oliver has grown fond of the north - its people have made for a warm welcome.

John has been a member of the North East Young Planners Committee since January 2023, and a member of the Young Planners community since beginning his studies at Newcastle University in 2012. John worked for planning consultancy Lichfields for 5 years until he moved across to a land buyer position at Barratt David Wilson Homes in August 2022. John achieved MRTPI accreditation at the first time of asking in 2019 and has been involved in a variety of projects throughout the North East; predominantly within the residential development and rural tourism sectors

Sean leads user research on urban planning in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This involves overseeing research into the experiences of those who use and manage the planning system in England, and upskilling colleagues to deliver policy focused on user needs. He joined the department in October 2021, having previously worked as a researcher in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University, and as a Planning Policy Officer at Northumberland County Council. A North East native, he now resides in South East Northumberland.

Joe joined DPP as an Assistant Planner in August 2022, and has enjoyed working across a range of sectors including residential, health and education. He recently joined the committee in January 2023. Having completed his integrated planning masters at the University of Sheffield in June 2021, Joe stayed in the city and worked for a small planning consultancy, before moving home back up north last year. Joe is currently working towards MRTPI accreditation and is looking forward to being an active member of the steering group in the region.

Mollie is currently undertaking her year-out placement at Hedley Planning Services, as part of her Master of Planning (MPlan) degree at Newcastle University. She has been a Student Member of the RTPI since 2020, and recently joined the North East Young Planners Committee in June 2023. During her time at HPS so far, Mollie has been gaining experience on a wide range of projects, including wind turbines and residential developments, as well as different types of applications, such as Full, Reserved Matters and Certificates of Lawfulness. Mollie will be returning to university in September 2024 to specialise in Regeneration, and following graduation, she hopes to start working towards her APC and becoming a Chartered Planner.

I currently work as a Graduate Transport Planner for Mott MacDonald, of which I have been working for since 2022. I completed my Masters of Planning degree at Newcastle university in 2022, having completed a year in industry at Capita in the development management team at North Tyneside Council, to gain my Certificate of Planning Practice. I have a wide depth of knowledge within planning applications, after my year in industry and since joining the transport planning industry have been a part of some notable projects across the country, taking a specialised interest in active travel schemes, having worked on some in Leeds and Newcastle.

I have been a student member of the RTPI since 2018 and a Licentiate since 2022, joining the North East Planners Committee in May 2023. I aim to complete and gain my MRTPI accreditation and take a larger role in the north eastern RTPI group.

Lucy is currently an Urban Planning MSc student at Newcastle University. She graduated from Durham University in 2022 with a degree in BA Geography. Lucy has completed work experience in both the public and private planning sector. She has a keen interest in heritage and regeneration, and is looking forward to a career in planning and being able to work on a variety of projects. Lucy hopes to be actively involved with the RTPI as a student member and will start working to achieve RTPI chartered membership upon completion of her Master's degree.