Bristol Region Young Planners

Laurie graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters in International Planning and Development in 2018 before joining Atkins in Bristol as a Transport Planner. She then transferred to LDA Design in 2023 where she is a Planning Consultant. Laurie has experience across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development and regeneration. Her key interest is how we can make sustainable places which are welcoming for all. 

She has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2023. 

Robert graduated from the University of Southampton in 2022 with a Geography BA undergrade degree. Following a passion for the built environment, Robert then embarked on the RTPI-accredited Urban Design and Planning master’s course at the University of Sheffield. Whilst pursuing these degrees, Robert completed work experience in both the public and private sector, alongside publishing an original research paper. In September 2023, Robert joined Morgan Elliot Planning in their Tetbury office as Assistant Planner. Robert currently focuses on promoting sites, preparing planning appraisals, submitting planning applications and maintaining community engagement across a number of sectors.

Robert has been a member of the Bristol Young Planners Steering Group since December 2023.

Michael graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Masters in City Planning and Real Estate Development in 2017 before joining Arup in their Glasgow office as a Town Planner. In his time in the Arup Glasgow office, Michael worked on a range of projects across the built and natural environment sector in both Scotland and England. Michael then transferred to the Arup Bristol office in 2020 and worked on a range of planning projects including stakeholder engagement, DCO’s, development management and planning policy. Since April 2022, Michael has worked at Bristol City Council in a Regeneration Project Manager role for the Bedminster Green development. Michael works closely with the Bedminster Green developers, infrastructure project leads and local stakeholders to support the delivery of the development and maximise benefits for the local community. Michael is passionate to help maximise benefits for local communities from development.

Michael was a member of the West of Scotland Young Planners Chapter from summer 2018 until late 2019 before moving to Bristol. Upon arriving in the south west, Michael joined the Bristol Region Young Planners in January 2020 before coming Chair in June 2022.

Ellen is a Chartered Town Planner and has over 6 years of experience as a planning consultant within the private sector. She graduated from the University of the West of England in 2017 with a Architecture and Planning BA(Hons) degree, before joining Persimmon Homes as a Graduate Planner and gaining chartership in 2020. She then transferred to Pegasus Group in 2021 where she now works as a Principal Planner. Ellen has experience in multiple sectors including residential, hotels and primarily focuses on work in the renewable energy sector.

She has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2019.

Lewis graduated from the University of Bristol with a Politics and Sociology degree in 2018. Following this he obtained a Distinction in MSc Urban Planning from the University of the West of England. In 2021 he joined Knight Frank LLP, working with the Bristol based Land, Planning & Development team on a variety of residential, commercial, leisure and mix-used schemes across the UK. Lewis particularly enjoys the challenge of addressing a variety of spatial-planning issues and scales, having gained experience ranging from high-density urban regeneration through to rural development projects.

Lewis has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2024.

Javier is a sociologist and urban planner with seven years of public sector experience in research, policy, and decision-making in his previous roles as president of the Planning Committee in his hometown´s City Council and as a policymaker in the Chilean National Congress. He has delivered neighbourhood planning projects with local stakeholders, researched international policy analysis, and reviewed environmental impact assessments. In Chile, he was crucial to achieving the official protection of Los Batros wetlands and the Laguna Grande ecosystem and introducing local accountability to the nationwide Framework Law of Climate Change.

His studies brought him to England to achieve a Distinction in MSc Urban Planning at the University of the West of England, and he recently joined JBP Bristol as a Development Research Executive. While volunteering at local environmental organisations, he enjoys metal music, dog walks, and tabletop games.

Aamina is a Chartered Town Planner Apprentice at the Planning Inspectorate since September 2022 where she has worked on National Infrastructure projects, training delivery for new Inspectors and appeal casework. She is studying part time for a master’s in urban planning at UWE whilst working towards her RTPI accreditation. Aamina is passionate about upskilling and empowering disadvantaged communities to engage with planning and help shape the places they live in.

Aamina joined the Bristol Region Young Planners Steering Group in February 2023 and is the current treasurer from January 2024.

Jack graduated from UWE Bristol in 2020 with an Urban Planning BSc undergraduate degree. Jack then completed and graduated from UWE Bristol with a PGDip in Planning and Urban Leadership. Following graduating in early 2022, Jack joined Planning Potential’s Bristol as an Assistant Planner where he now works as an Assistant Planner.  In his time at Planning Potential, Jack has worked on a large variety of planning projects and has experience in multiple sectors including residential and leisure, with a primary focus and knowledge of the retail sector.

He has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2024.

Harrison graduated from University of Reading in 2016 with a Geography BSc undergraduate degree. Harrison then went on to study a Spatial Planning and Development Masters at Henley Business School, graduating in 2017. Whilst undertaking his Masters, Harrison joined the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) as a Planning Officer as part of the Development Management team and progressed onto becoming a Senior Planning Officer.  In June 2021, Harrison joined Arup as a Planner in their Bristol office as part of the South West planning team. In his time in Arup, Harrison has worked on a range of planning projects including development management, planning policy, Development Consent Orders (DCO’s) and stakeholder engagement across multiple sectors.  

Harrison has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Steering Group since January 2022.

Biography to follow

Biography to follow

Alex graduated from UWE Bristol with a Masters in Planning in 2019, which included a placement year at Planning Consultant’s, Walsingham Planning. Following graduating, Alex spent six months working at the Planning Inspectorate before returning to work with Walsingham Planning where he now works as a Chartered Town Planner, having recently achieved his RTPI accreditation.

He has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2023.