RTPI would like to congratulate Bob Phillips and Tom Venables on their election as Fellows of the Institute.
Chartered Fellow is the highest professional membership grade offered by the RTPI and is only awarded to chartered members who have made a major personal contribution to the planning profession for the benefit of the public. Under the provisions of the Royal Charter, they are now entitled to use the designatory letters FRTPI.
Bob Phillips said: “I am delighted to be elected a Fellow of the RTPI, which is the ultimate recognition that a professional town planner can achieve – it’s something I didn’t think would ever happen to me when I started my career.
“I’m doubly delighted because Fellowship is recognition from your peers that you are a trusted professional and identified as being a leader of the profession striving to achieve the best for the future of planning and placemaking.
“It’s a great privilege to be recognised for not only the breadth and quality of the work undertaken during my career, but the way in which I’ve done it!
“I hope that being a chartered Fellow will allow me to inspire both further generations of planners, as well as colleagues and co-consultants to embrace their chosen profession.”
Bob has worked for several planning consultancies in and around Manchester before founding Urban Imprint in 2012, which works for public and private sector developers. He was also a lecturer at the University of Manchester and is a member of the Manchester Urban Design Lab.
Bob has demonstrated a strong commitment to the RTPI over the years, particularly in the North-West and with the Partnership and Accreditation Panels.
The sub-committee was also impressed with how he has grown his consultancy, which was named North West Consultancy of the Year in 2022, academic work and ongoing involvement and support for RTPI.
Tom Venables said: “I am deeply honoured to become a fellow of the RTPI – an organisation which continues to make a profound impact in shaping vibrant and sustainable places and communities, both nationally and internationally.
“This influence vividly resonates with my career ambitions and experiences to date, where I have had the great fortune of working on transformative large-scale regeneration and new settlement projects across the globe.
“Professionally, I hope that the esteem that being a fellow brings will enable me to continue to push for planning to be recognised as an innovative and creative vocation, and one that is vital to the future of towns and cities around the world.
“I am also impassioned to continue my advocacy for the RTPI as a professional institute and support its ongoing legacy for generations of planners to come.”
Tom has worked on a significant number of sub-regional and city-scale transformation plans, including north London, Ebbsfleet and Southampton.
He has led large-scale strategic plans internationally for Dubai, Jeddah and Istanbul and has been embedded in the transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly at the UNESCO heritage site of Al Ula.
Tom established Prior +Partners in 2018, which won RTPI Consultancy of the Year in 2024.
The sub-committee was impressed by his strong commitment to the profession and institute throughout his career. This included being on the Board of Trustees and chair of RTPI London four times. He was awarded Young Planner of the Year in 2009, and that trajectory has continued throughout his career.
Applications for Fellowship are considered by the RTPI Nominations Subcommittee. The next deadline is 4 August.
Find out more here.
