Frances Keenan is a Chartered Planner, Planning Manager at Spitfire Homes and the RTPI National and West Midland’s Young Planner of Year 2024.
The APA - NPC 2025 in Denver was a melting pot of approximately 4,500 Planners from all over the USA and worldwide with international friends from Mexico, Germany, Japan, Vietnam and South Africa.
As APA president Sue Schwartz said in her opening speech, “the love of learning never ends”.
The conference took place at the Colorado Convention Centre
Frances (right) attended a dinner of the Global Planners Network
It was a great experience to listen to the CPD sessions, attend the keynote opening and closing talks and travel around the city on the study tours. But most importantly, the conference is an opportunity to learn from colleagues, share experiences, challenge perspectives and build networks. I’ll remember the people I met and the generosity they showed Victoria, Helen and I over anything else. Planning really is a vocation that extends borders.
Frances at the Hawaii Chapter Dinner
Travelling to the US following the election of President Trump made for some unprecedented circumstances. It is without question the US is facing a momentous time in history with huge cuts to a number of key federal agencies, including: education, veteran affairs, homeland security, energy, environmental protection…the list goes on. Universities have lost grant funding more or less overnight for any research that includes words such as ‘diversity’ and ‘equity’ and I met a lot of Planners affected by the changes.
However, the message in the opening keynote speech was one of ‘resilience’ - the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity. Planners will ‘stay the course’ putting our communities at the forefront of our minds and decision making, constantly striving to overcome difficult political and climatic events.
Denver was once a gold mining town where fortunes were found but today it is unique urban landscape where successful planning meets outdoor adventure. The city is known as the “Mile-High City” as its official elevation is 1-mile above sea level, benchmarked by the steps outside the Capital Building with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains not too far in the distance.
Capital Building – taken from the Denver Art Museum
Union Station
I had the opportunity to walk, run (I’m training for the London Marathon 2025!) and cycle the length and breadth of the city, visiting areas of urban regeneration, transport orientated development, affordable housing schemes, community solar, green SUDs features and re-wilding sites. My key highlights where:
- The Mile High Migration Bus Tour
- Girl Scout - Youth Planning the Future with YEP! Youth Engagement Planning
- Climate Resilient City Bicycle Tour
Frances on the bicycle tour
The girl scout workshop
The conference gave me the opportunity to learn from a wealth of experienced planners, CEOs/chief planners and presidents and the trip will always be a career highlight of mine. I would encourage all Young Planners to be inquisitive, learn new things, grow your networks and think about applying to be Young Planner of the Year. I have not looked back.
