Maria Dunn and Tom Venables to join board as new trustees in 2026
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has announced the election of Maria Dunn MRTPI and Tom Venables FRTPI as new trustees, who will take up their roles in January 2026.
The appointments is the latest update in the Institute’s election process, which also confirmed Professor Samer Bagaeen as Vice President for 2026 and Elle Cass as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Maria Dunn, Head of Development Policy at Birmingham City Council, is a Chartered Town Planner with over 14 years of experience in local government. A long-standing RTPI volunteer and award-winning planner, she was presented with the RTPI Outstanding Service Award in 2021.
Tom Venables, Planning Director at Prior+Partners, has extensive experience in strategic planning and regeneration in the UK and overseas. His recent projects include the Jeddah Plans, Dubai 2020 Master Plan and the Ebbsfleet Garden City Framework.