RAC - Who's who

After graduating from the University of the West of England this Summer (2023) with a BA in Architecture and Planning, Abbie has recently started as a Graduate Town Planner for Bailey Partnership, in their Plymouth office. During her first three months working for the multidisciplinary construction consultancy firm Abbie has contributed to multiple projects within the South West of the UK. Abbie has a keen interest in planning for health, resilience to climate change and sustainable placemaking.

Abbie is new to the RAC and is excited at the prospect of contributing to future events and inter-professional networking opportunities, whilst also inspiring and supporting future / Young Planners and raising the profile of planning.

Outside work, Abbie enjoys playing hockey for Caradon ladies first XI, spending time with family and friends, alongside watching Cornwall’s sunsets.

Adam joined the University of Birmingham in 2024 as an Assistant Professor of Urban Planning. Prior to this Adam taught for over a decade and a half in the RTPI Planning School at UWE Bristol, as well as at the university of Gloucestershire. Adam moved into academia from industry in 2007, having previously worked in Development Management for a number of Local Planning Authorities. Gloucester based, Adam now teaches and undertakes research focused upon placemaking, design, development management, enforcement, community participation, decision making/policy interpretation, urban rewilding and Biodiversity Net Gain, planning implementation, aspects of planning history, and research methods.

Adam is an Associate at JLL, located in the Bristol office and working on projects across the South West region. He started his career on the graduate scheme at Montagu Evans in London following undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Town Planning at the University of Newcastle. At Montagu Evans, Adam worked his year to RTPI accreditation, becoming ‘MRTPI’ in 2018. Following a short spell at another private consultancy, Adam moved into the public sector and spent two and a half years at the Royal Borough of Greenwich as a Planning Officer before relocating to Bristol in 2020. In his current role, Adam works on a mix of developments across the region with both public and private sector clients.

Adam is new to the RAC but is excited to get involved in both the committee itself and the various working groups.

Outside of planning, Adam is a keen racquet sports fan, and enjoys spending time in the great outdoors as well as in the cinema.

Anthony is a Principal Planning Consultant at AECOM (Bristol) specialising in planning policy, five-year housing land supply, housing delivery, housing and economic land availability assessments (HELAAs), site selection and site allocations in local and neighbourhood plans.  Anthony works almost exclusively for local planning authorities and qualifying bodies supporting local and neighbourhood plan-making and has significant plan-making experience across different areas and at different spatial scales.  Anthony previously worked as a Principal Planner at Swindon Borough Council and still lives in the area.  Outside of planning Anthony is a keen cyclist and enjoys cooking. 

Chris began his career in 2003 in the Development Management team at Sedgemoor District Council, based in Bridgwater.  Chris stayed at SDC for 12 years rising from Planning Officer through to Principal Planning Officer.  Chris’ later years at SDC were characterised by involvement in various large-scale renewable energy schemes including numerous solar and wind farms; as well as large urban extensions to Bridgwater. 

In 2015 Chris moved on to Bath & North East Somerset Council where he was both Principal Planning Officer and latterly DM Team Manager responsible for the oversight of many of Bath’s urban redevelopment sites as well as day-to-day team management.  Recently Chris has swapped Georgian Bath for Regency Cheltenham and is now Head of Development Management, Enforcement and Compliance at Cheltenham Borough Council.

Outside of work, Chris is very occupied dealing with his two children and tries to look after his high-maintenance garden.  Chris also enjoys travel both with and without his children!

Cat is a lecturer at University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol with over 20 years planning experience.  Cat has worked in the South West as a Chartered Town Planner for the past 15 within the academic, public, private and third sectors.  Cat’s current role at UWE involves teaching and research, working on their RTPI Accredited Masters and Undergraduate urban planning programmes.  Cat’s research centres around Sustainable Planning and Environments and focusses on planning practice including development management and neighbourhood planning, climate change, affordable housing and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).  Cat is passionate about training the planners of the future and championing sustainability through planning.  Before joining the RAC, Cat worked for the RTPI Networks and with Planning Aid as Neighbourhood Plans advisor.  Cat has continued to work on Neighbourhood Plans with IPE Ltd as a Neighbourhood Plan Advisor and Examiner.  Outside of work, Cat likes to take advantage of the South West music scene, attending as many gigs and festivals as possible.

Bio to follow

Bio to follow

Bio to follow

Suzanne started out as a Planning Assistant at Woking Borough Council. She graduated from Newcastle University with a Masters in Town Planning in 2007, specialising in urban design and conservation. This interest led to 8 years working in the Development Management section of Bath and North East Somerset Council, where she held a dual planning and conservation role, before moving on to Tewkesbury Borough Council. After a spell working in Strategic Sites, Suzanne is now a Principal Planning Officer in the Development Management team at South Glos Council.  Suzanne also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Historic Environment Conservation from the Ironbridge Institute. Outside of planning, Suzanne enjoys travel and yoga.

Dr Stephen Essex is the Programme Leader of the MSc Planning and MSc Town Planning (Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship) programmes at the University of Plymouth. His research interests lie in urban planning (especially post-war reconstruction and restructuring of coastal communities, waterfronts and resorts); the impact of mega-events (including the infrastructural implications of the Olympic Games); and the environmental impacts of tourism (including water resource use and sustainable tourism).

PPP: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/stephen-essex

Rachel is an experienced Chartered Town Planner having spent over 20 years at Bath & North East Somerset Council before leaving in 2018 to join Mendip District Council where she secured the role of Head of Planning managing a large multi-disciplinary team and oversaw a major review of the development management service.  Rachel now runs her own Planning Consultancy with extensive experience in development management providing services to both private clients and local authorities.  Rachel is also member of the RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence Judging Panel. Apart from planning, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as competing in Agility with her 3 dogs.

Rebecca is the City and Net Zero Planning Manager at Plymouth City Council with over 15 years local government experience including planning policy and plan making, engagement and consultation, and neighbourhood planning.  A chartered town planner, Rebecca leads a multidisciplinary team of staff responsible for implementing the Joint Local Plan in Plymouth, climate emergency strategy and policy, data, graphics and neighbourhood planning initiatives. Rebecca was a founding member of the Devon and Cornwall Young Planners group and was proud to represent young planners on the RAC.  Rebecca is passionate about promoting the role of planning and planners and is keen to inspire the next generation to choose planning as a career.  Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her young family, dancing and performing in local theatre productions and exploring the south-west in her campervan.