Regional Management Board

Emilly is a chartered senior town planner at Arup, based in Manchester, specialising in strategic sustainable policy with expertise in policy development, masterplanning and stakeholder engagement. She has worked across England on local, regional and national scales to support the delivery of positive transformational change within communities. Emilly is passionate about improving the accessibility and inclusivity of the planning profession to share the value of planning with everyone. In addition to being the North West Chair, Emilly has been a part of the Education, Careers and Mentoring Task Group, where she works to help promote careers in town planning, since 2019.

Matt is a Divisional Planning Manager at Richborough Estates promoting residential sites across the North, West Midlands and South West of England and commercial sites across the UK.  With 16 years’ experience, he has a unique insight into the profession, having worked in the public sector (West Lancashire and St Helens) as well as for developers and planning consultancies. He graduated with a Distinction in the Master of Civic Design at the University of Liverpool in 2007 and became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in 2011.  Matt joined the Regional Activities Committee in 2021 and Chairs the Awards Task Group. He is also Vice Chair of the Regional Management Board.

Ben has spent most of his career working for Camden and Cheshire East Councils, writing planning policy and monitoring housing supply. He currently divides his time as a Principal Planner (Policy) for South Ribble council, independent consultancy and tutoring. He’s a supporter of ‘Garden Cities’ (having relocated to the Northwest from Welwyn Garden City) and new technologies which could ultimately lead to better informed decisions.

Joanne is the Local Plans Manager (North) for the Home Builders Federation and represents the members of the HBF in seeking to influence the production of planning policy in the North of England. Joanne is an experienced policy planner with more than 20 years in the profession. After starting her career in the private sector Joanne has mainly working within local government, contributing to planning policy for Stafford, Halton and Cheshire East. Joanne is strong supporter of the planning profession and is currently the Honorary Sectary of the RTPI NW region and a RTPI General Assembly member, and has previously served as RTPI NW Chair and as a Trustee of the RTPI. Joanne is a member of the CPD Task Group and is keen to help to support our local members through professional development and other RTPI services and events.

Kieran is a Senior Planner at Kingswood Homes and has previously worked as a planning consultant at Hive Land & Planning and Barton Willmore. In his role at Kingswood Homes he plays a key part in bringing forward high quality residential development across the north west and securing new strategic land opportunities. In 2023, Kieran sits on the RMB and is the Immediate Past Chair of the North West RTPI region. He is also part of the Education, Careers and Mentoring Task Group, and also has assembled the LPA Engage task group which seeks to provide support of planners working in the public sector. He is passionate about 1) promoting planning as a career to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion across the industry; and 2) supporting planners working at LPAs across the north west region.

Ian is a Planning Director at for Barton Willmore now Stantec with 16 years-experience advising public and private clients across residential, commercial, retail, leisure and conservation based projects advising on development management, plan-making and EIA processes. Ian sits on the RMB as EDI Champion for 2022 & 23. He is passionate about adding social value and ensuring that planning is used as an effective tool to engage across all sectors of the industry and its stakeholders; including the community. Ian is a member of the Education and Careers Regional Activities Committee and has focused on promoting planning as a career in local schools as well as mentoring a number of Licentiates through the APC process.