Winner
Jozie Bannister, Devonshire Homes
Jozie is an exceptional MRTPI chartered young planner with a vast array of planning related experience, both through her personal and professional endeavors. Through local government, consultancy and developer side roles, she has worked across a huge range of projects, many different districts in policy, development management and enforcement capacities. Through roles with her local young planner’s network, she’s delivered events and other voluntary work. Adept at developing great working relationships, approachable, resilient, highly skilled and knowledgeable – she is a formal and informal mentor and role model to others through projects, collaborative working, APC applications and more generally.
Jozie was highly commended in last years awards and this year the judges were again so impressed with her contribution to planning within the south west that she has become the winner of the award.
Jozie is an exemplar planner who has had a wide-ranging career including Policy and Development Management in the public sector and is now the sole planner for a housebuilder which has enabled a fully rounded appreciation of the challenges in delivering sustainable development.
Jozie has a very forward-thinking approach to problem solving and a focus on successful communication and engagement with stakeholders to reach positive planning outcomes. With a legal background Jozie has maintained contact with her former law lecturers promoting this approach into Planning for other students.
Commended
Lucy Paffett, South Gloucestershire Council
Lucy is a dedicated and determined planner who represents the values and aim of the RTPI in her professional and personal life and is a worthy recipient of this award. Through her varied career within the Planning Service at South Gloucestershire Council she has demonstrated her passion for the profession and for improving the communities that she works within. Lucy embraces change and has utilised innovative methods to improve the performance and quality of her work. She supports others in their planning careers through her Women in Planning mentor role and encourages engagement with the RTPI in her organisation.
In selecting this entry for a commendation the judges were impressed with Lucy’s infectious enthusiasm and originality delivering outcomes and supporting the profession in complex and challenging times.
Lucy has demonstrated good career progression utilising shadowing opportunities to provide greater understanding and development and displays a clear passion for improving ways of working.
Lucy has demonstrated a flair for balancing public sector responsibilities, the need to maintain CPD and support colleagues. Lucy has encouraged and modelled pro active and improved delivery, building on cross departmental working and collaboration with a focus on developing others.
Shortlisted
Cleo Au, Systra
Cleo's journey to planning began with a planning policy internship at the Welsh Government, leading to 4.5 years of post-university experience and achieving chartership in 2023. Currently, he is a town planner at SYSTRA, focusing on HS2 town planning consent, navigating unique planning regulations. He has a diverse project experience, including support city funding bids, Clean Air Zones business case and regeneration site selection. Cleo embraces digital planning and social media for public engagement. He gives back to the planning community by mentoring aspiring planners, volunteers for multiple Young Planners committee and creating a podcast.
Cleo is a well rounded planner with a focus on significant infrastructure with engagement on Systra and HS2. He has clear ambitions to become an ‘Urban Innovator’ and has embraced technology in supporting the advancement and wider exposure of planning. Cleo has been heavily involved in young planners and has an ambition to engage in the wider South West opportunities such as STEM Ambassador and Chief Planner for tomorrow.
Shortlisted
Harriet Bray, McLoughlin Planning
Harriet Bray is a MRTPI Town Planner at McLoughlin Planning, who has worked on a range of projects in the Southwest and London. With over 4 years of experience, Harriet has an extensive planning portfolio and is actively immersing herself in industry events. Projects ranging from Transmission Towers & Railway Infrastructure, Education, Care Homes, Hospitals, Strategic Allocations, Airspace Developments, Commercial/Retail/Logistics, Barn Conversions, and planning appraisals. Harriet is also a member of the G4C Constructing Excellence, has supported junior staff members, is an advocate for Women in the Construction Industry and has volunteered to hold industry talks at schools.
Harriet is a well-rounded planner who is very enthusiastic about planning and her ability to develop positive relationships with case officers through the planning process is clear to see, alongside actively collaborating with her team to develop knowledge within the planning arena. Her commitment to developing her professional profile outside of work is evidenced, with particular focus to raising awareness outside of the typical RTPI sphere in the wider construction industry.
Shortlisted
Hollie Sturgess, Master Land & Planning Ltd
Hollie is an enthusiastic champion of neighbourhood planning and how planning policies can support sustainable rural communities. She demonstrates how widening engagement and understanding of our plan-led system can unlock improved outcomes to shape areas. She truly involves neighbourhood plan groups, and is led by evidence and by listening to the challenges faced by each community. Her breadth of experience and attention to detail enables the preparation of technical evidence to justify policy decisions. As Chair of her Young Planners Committee, she has delivered events and undertaken other voluntary work to the great benefit of the profession.