Thames Valley Young Planners' Network

Following her role as a Committee Member on the East Midlands Young Planners Committee, Mel joined the Thames Valley Committee as Vice Chair in January 2023 and became chair in Summer 2023.

Mel, now a Senior Planning Manager at Davidsons Homes, has over 8 years’ experience in the private sector following her time at Fisher German LLP and Bidwells.

Her current role involves managing planning applications and plan promotion within the strategic land team across the Northants, Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire areas.

She was awarded Young Planner of the Year (East of England) in 2022.

Mel is also an active member of the Women in Planning South Midlands Committee.

Joining the committee in 2021, Izzie is now Vice-Chair.

Izzie is a Transport Planner at Paul Basham Associates, having joined the company in June 2018 after graduating Oxford Brookes University with a BSc degree in Geography. In December 2020, Izzie completed the St John’s Ambulance Mental Health First Aid course, having taken an active interest in Mental Health awareness. 

Izzie is also a dedicated a committee member of the Women in Planning Thames Valley Branch, Izzie has got experience in planning events and CPDs and has highly developed teamworking skills including active listening and problem solving.

Izzie was also awarded the ‘Next Gen of the Year’ award at the OxProp Fest in 2023.

Since 2016, Annabel has undertaken roles within both planning consultancy and housebuilding and in September 2022 joined Brookbanks as Development and Planning Manager, providing planning and project management expertise to major scale residential developments including a New Town.

Annabel is an active member of the development community, as well as her former role as Chair of the RTPI TVYPN, she has undertaken regional positions with the; Association for Consultancy and Engineering Emerging Professionals, Building Magazine Graduate Panel and Women in Planning.

Annabel is passionate about continual learning and looks forward to leading an excellent variety of events through 2023 after wholeheartedly enjoying delivering the Young Planners' Conference last year.

Lydia is a chartered town planner and has been working in consultancy since graduating from the University of Sheffield. Lydia has over six years of experience and currently works as a Senior Planner for Tetra Tech and is based in Milton Keynes. 

Within the committee, Lydia is passionate about encouraging other young planners to make the most of the Institute and this valuable network of people.

Joseph is a Planner at Barton Willmore, now Stantec based in Reading, following his graduation from the University of Reading MSc Spatial Planning and Development (2021) and BA Geography at the University of Southampton (2019).

Joseph is currently working towards his chartership, and having joined the committee in April 2023, is looking forward to getting involved in future events.

Suzi is a Principal Planner at Bidwells, based in the company’s Milton Keynes Office.

Suzi is involved in a range of projects across the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor. She has promoted strategic land, provided planning appraisal advice, and implemented planning strategies. Notable schemes that she has worked on include MK Gateway and Campbell Wharf.

Suzi was the Chair of Women in Planning South Midlands for five years and a social media lead for Women in Planning UK. She was named a Women of Influence 2020 in the Planner and shortlisted for the RTPI South East Young Planner of the Year in 2023.

Emily is a Chartered Planner at Nexus Planning in Birmingham and previously worked for David Lock Associates and Cerda PLanning Ltd.  She graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2020 with a MSc and Bsc in Town Planning.

Emily joined the committee in March 2022.

Joe is a Graduate Planner at Savills. Following his graduation from Cardiff University in 2021, Joe began his planning career at Quod, London in June 2021.

Joe submitted his APC in November 2023 and hopes to become chartered by February 2024. Joe is excited to get involved in organising future events within the region. Joe joined the committee in January 2023.

Holly is a Planner at Boyer starting in 2021, following her graduation from the University of Birmingham MSc Urban and Regional Planning (2021). She joined the Committee in January 2023.

Holly works across the Thames Valley Region and works on a range of different projects including Greenbelt, Previously Developed Land and strategic promotion work.

Holly is keen to connect young planners across the Region and provide a range of events for all to benefit from.

Olivia is a Principal Consultant at Evoke Transport, based in the company’s Reading Office.

Olivia is involved in a range of projects across the Thames Valley, including town centre schemes and rural developments. She has over 5 years’ experience in the transport planning industry and has experience working in all sectors, predominantly residential, commercial and education schemes.

Olivia joined the committee in January 2024 and is looking forward to helping to organise events to connect young planners across the region.

Florence joined Lichfields as a Planner in 2022, having completed her master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield.

Florence has experiences working on a range of projects across the Thames Valley, including residential development, hotel scheme and strategic land promotion work. She is currently working towards her Chartership. She joined the committee in January 2024.