Digital Planning Innovation, AI and Consultation

Simon is a journalist and the deputy editor of The Planner, the RTPI's member magazine. Over the years, his work has seen him reporting on parish council meetings, planning committees and a murder trial; mentoring young journalists from inner cities; interviewing Kosovan refugee children in Serbia and village kids in Tanzania; ghostwriting the autobiography of a successful immigrant entrepreneur; and interviewing influential figures in UK planning. He believes everyone has a story to tell and specialises in helping them to tell it.

Timothy David Crawshaw MIED MRTPI FRSA is a highly experienced built environment professional and advocate for planning as a key part of the solution to the challenges of our time. With over 20 years’ experience in a UK and international contexts Timothy is an expert in nature-based solutions, healthy placemaking, culture and economic development. An adjunct professor of planning and urban design at Newcastle University he is an acclaimed and inspiring public speaker and facilitator with a passion for great places and community involvement. Timothy is currently the Director of Planning and Placemaking for Surrey County Council, Chair of the Tees Valley Nature Partnership, and a former President of the RTPI and Immediate Past Chair of the RTPI NE.

Alphie joined the PropTech team at MHCLG as a Collaboration and Engagement Lead for the Digital Planning programme. New to the civil service, Alphie has a wealth of private sector experience, previously working for LandTech and VU.CITY. Her experience also includes delivering public consultations for major planning applications across the UK giving her a unique insight into how digital tools can transform the planning system for public sector planners.

Graham is the Strategic Lead for Service Improvement and Digital Transformation across Economy Innovation and Growth at Gateshead Council. He has worked in Local Government for 20 years and although his background is in planning, where he has held a number of posts including  manager of the Built and Natural Environment Team at Gateshead, he has recently moved to a transformation role. This is following the completion of postgraduate qualifications in change management and transformation and because in his own words he’s “not great with faff and inefficiencies and wants to make a difference”.

Gateshead are actively involved in the Open Digital Planning Programme run by MHCLG and this has acted as a springboard for the innovations and improvements Gateshead is trying to implement within the Local Planning Authority, as well as the wider group. His experience in the planning sector, as well as a passion for digital transformation, change management and user experience, gives him a valuable insight into how the sector and the stakeholders involved can make a positive impact and enhance the service that is provided.

Grace is a planning solicitor and has experience across the stages of a development's planning lifecycle. She has an environmental science and management background and applies this knowledge to support clients to manage the environmental impacts of development. She also uses her science background to leverage new technologies like AI within her practice at Dentons. She was shortlisted by the UK Proptech Association as Rising Star for 2023 for her work at Dentons to launch the first client-secure AI large language model tool for legal work. Grace attended the One Young World 2024 Summit in Montreal to contribute to ideas, challenges, and solutions to make AI a force for good; as a One Young World Ambassador, she is focused on the ethical use and governance of traditional and generative AI.