Anna Byrne is the RTPI's Governance Officer

As I write this, the RTPI Senior Executive Team and Board of Trustees are collectively embarking on their annual away day and will be discussing some big topics at the Institute, from how to amplify the voice of planning through to the future of planning education. And they also had the joy (or perhaps otherwise given the result) of the England v Argentina world cup semifinal to help them ‘relax’!

Earlier this summer we had a productive full Board meeting and a very engaging General Assembly meeting on 24 June.

Despite a red heat warning in London and an abundance of train cancellations, delays and even swans on the line, there was excellence participation from our General Assembly members both online and in person. The day encompassed a questions and answer session with the Chair of the Board and ‘new’ Chief Executive, Rachel Fisher three months into her role, a workshop on breaking down barriers of entry to the APC, a consultation on the 2027 members fees and insightful presentations on projects in Essex, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland. These presentations were a wonderful reminder of the tangible, long-term, positive power of that planning by creating (and here I unashamedly steal the strapline from the Colchester Tendring Borders Community Garden) “a place to live, work and play in a better way”. Read more about the General Assembly in the President’s June blog.

I always admire all the members at the RTPI who willingly carve out time in their busy careers and lives to make an active contribution to the Institute and their profession by volunteering with us. No-one knows planning and the needs of planners better than planners themselves, so they will always be right at the heart of the RTPI’s decision-making. Our volunteers offer their experiences, ideas and passion and collaborate with other members to support the Institute in delivering what its members need.

There are a wide range of voluntary roles on our boards and committees starting in January 2027 and I would really encourage you, wherever you live, whatever sector you work in and whatever stage you are at in your planning career, to browse the role descriptions and consider nominating yourself. Whether you join a committee in your local region or nation, become a member of the General Assembly or a Trustee (including the Trustee for the English Regions and Young Planner Trustee) or the Vice President, you can be a part of what happens next at the RTPI.

Self-nominations open on 19 August and close on 16 September and members will be sent the online self-nomination form in August.

Elections for contested roles will take place at the end of September and members will invited to exercise their voting rights in those annual elections.

Wishing you a lovely summer.

Anna Byrne and the Governance team