Meet the 2024 judges

Since graduating from the University of Liverpool in 2013 with a Masters in Town and Regional Planning, Luke worked firstly in North Wales for a small property developer before spending two years in New Zealand and then returning to the world of work with WSP in Manchester in the Land Services team. He then transferred to the South West to work in the Bristol office before joining Mott MacDonald in 2021 where is now a Chartered Senior Town Planner predominantly working within the infrastructure planning space. Luke has experience across multiple sectors and consenting routes has most recently been working for Bristol City Council leading on the production of a Local Development Order for a heat network in the City.

Luke is also an active member of the RTPI Bristol Region Young Planners.

Dawn is a Principal Planning Officer for Sedgemoor District Council including managing the Area Team, and overseeing the registration process. She started her career as a Modern Apprentice for the I.W. County Council thus underlining her full support for the range of apprenticeships available, including in Town and County Planning. Gaining her Masters in Spatial Planning via day release at Oxford Brookes, and becoming RTPI accredited, she and her family moved 'off isle' to Somerset in 2015, progressing from a Senior into Principal role. She gained a CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership in 2018. Through her involvement with the RTPI SW Regional Activities she has promoted Planning Aid; organised and delivered CPD events for volunteers; and worked with Plymouth University determining awareness and outreach opportunities. 2019 sees more involvement in the RTPI SW Planning Awards and CPD programme. She still manages to enjoy fun times with her family and pets.

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!

John Marshall is a Chartered Town Planner with over 40 years of experience working in both public and private sectors .Public sector mostly with the then District Councils ,both policy/economic and development management ,up to chief officer level. Currently self-employed and mostly engaged by the Kingsley Group of companies in Cornwall on a range of projects.

John has a significant and wide range of experience including major urban expansion, commercial and retail development, holiday parks, mixed use schemes but also single bespoke residential.

Many years ago I was more active in the SW Institute affairs but after a dormant period I attended RTPI event on Falmouth Port and re enthused. Hope to bring a can do approach to planning and through the SW RMB may be able to influence Council and Government Agendas on getting things done ,promoting positive planning.

Outside of work an active member of the Better fitness group and living in Truro City in walking distance of good range of cultural ( Award winning Hall for Cornwall) and social venues and never too far away from fantastic coastline.

Rebecca is a chartered Town Planner with over 20 years’ experience in Local Authority Development Management. Rebecca is currently working in the private sector having joined Stantec in 2022 as an Associate Planner.  Over the course of her career, Rebecca has held various senior positions with corporate management of planning teams. She has significant experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams on major projects and presenting successfully to planning committees. This includes her work on the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) and Development Consent Order (DOC) regimes, as well as her role on the Hinkley Point C project and the National Grid Connection project. Rebecca also played a key part in delivering new garden communities as well as delivering major commercial and retail developments. 

Rebecca has been a RTPI SW Judge since 2021.

During my 35 years of planning working for Bristol City Council, the Department of the Environment (as a member of the Severnside Study Team), the SW Regional Planning Conference and Avon County Council I gained experience in a wide range of planning issues. I served as the last  Avon County Planning Officer. Over many years I have been a volunteer for RTPI SW including serving as Chair in 1982 and spells as Hon. Secretary 1997-2008 and 2016-2019. I was presented with the RTPI Outstanding Service Award in 2000. I have been a member of the Awards Judging Panel for the last 10 years and I am the Panel Secretary for 2021 having previously acted in this role from 2015 to 2019. This service on the Panel has certainly kept me up to to date with current planning practice.

Graham Stephens is a Main Board Director at Stride Treglown and responsible for their UK Town Planning and Masterplanning team.  He has over 27 years experience acting as Lead Consultant and/or Planning Lead for schemes with a total capital value of over £2bn. Based in Bristol, he has notable experience in leading University Estate Strategies, Masterplans and Major Planning applications. Notable clients include Royal Holloway University of London (Masterplan and outline permission), University of Reading (Whiteknights Campus Development Plan), UWE Bristol (Masterplan Coordinator), University of Wales Trinity Saint David (SA1 Waterfront Innovation Quarter), University of Plymouth (Campus Plan and University of Derby (Estate Strategy consultant lead).

Other notable SW projects and roles include leading the c45ha Dorset Innovation Park Local Development Order for Dorset Council and assisting Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a strategic advisor.  He is currently leading the Whitehouse Street Regeneration Framework commission for a public/private partnership in Bedminster, Bristol.

Graham led team and submission resulting in Stride Treglown being awarded the title of National Town Planning Consultancy of the Year in 2016 (Planning Awards) and an RTPI National Consultancy Finalist in the same year.  He has been a RTPI SW Judge since 2018.

Following a BA with Hons in Town and Country Planning at the University of Manchester, Richard held several posts with local planning authorities in the north, midlands and south of England prior to moving into planning consultancy, becoming a Director at Terence O’Rourke. He subsequently ran his own Practice, Shaw Cramond, which then became part of Savills, where he was instrumental in growing the current large and diverse planning division.  He has a post grad Diploma in Urban Design and was a founding member of the Academy of Urbanism. Richard’s planning and urban design experience extends across a diverse range of projects including large scale urban extensions, regeneration schemes, leisure developments, continuing care communities, town centres and rural diversification initiatives, acting for developers, landowners, public sector bodies and charities.  His experience extends across the south west region, including a previous SW RTPI award for the Silverlake leisure development in Dorset.

Since completing her MSc Planning degree at the University of Plymouth in 2018 Faye has been working as a Town Planner in a multi-disciplinary team at Bailey Partnership.  Faye was elected as a Chartered Member of the RTPI in September 2022, and has now secured the role of Senior Town Planner within the company.

During her career Faye has dealt with a variety of applications within the South West of the UK, across public and private sectors including: retail; leisure; education; healthcare; residential; and listed buildings.  These have ranged from small scale building conversions to major housing developments.  Faye is committed to delivering high quality place making in a way that protects our environment.

Faye is also part of the RTPI South West Young Planners Devon, Cornwall and Somerset Steering Group, having been a volunteer with this group since 2020.

Hollie started her planning career in 2018 while completing an MSc in Spatial Planning and Development at the University of Reading. She has spent most of her time since then in private consultancy and is currently the Senior Town Planner at Master Land and Planning, based near Salisbury. Hollie works across a wide range of residential schemes through southern England and has a particular focus in her current role supporting a number of Neighbourhood Planning Groups in Wiltshire with the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plans.

Hollie has also had experience working in the Swindon Borough Council Policy team, working on the preparation of evidence to support the emerging Local Plan. She is currently working towards completing her APC and becoming a chartered member of the RTPI.

Hollie has recently become the Chair of the newly formed RTPI Young Planners Group in Wiltshire.

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.

Robin retired from planning practice in 2019 - with over 40 years’ UK wide experience principally as a consultant, on behalf of an array of clients. His experience included input into various strategic and local plans and numerous development projects throughout the South West region – mostly with a housing emphasis.

As well as FRTPI, Robin has also been FRICS and FCIH. Tetlow King Planning Ltd, the company he founded in Bristol in 1985, continues to flourish.

Robin’s current pre-occupation is promoting Beyond Bristol Walks – a series of guides he has devised encompassing the best 72 country walks within easy reach of Bristol. The books have proved extremely popular – the third (and final!) volume being published in late 2023.

Robin has enjoyed remaining involved in the RTPI through the national and regional awards since 2018 – seeing it as crucial to highlight and promote the positive achievements of the profession.

Stuart is Chartered Town Planner and qualified Urban Designer.  As Head of Development Management, Stuart now oversees the Development Management service for Plymouth, including two Area Planning Teams, Strategic Developments, Planning Technical Support and Building Control. Stuart has been with Plymouth City Council since 2015, previously working as Strategic Growth Manager leading on growth area visions/ masterplans, urban regeneration strategies and placemaking programmes. Stuart has been involved in a number of Plymouths successful award submissions in the past few years and is keen to help the panel to drawn out and recognise planning excellence in the region. Originally from Birmingham, Stuart has held a number of posts in the Midlands and in New Zealand before relocating to the south west.