PLANNING AID WALES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community Engagement & Development Officer
Deb is responsible for building the capacity of community and town councils to engage more effectively with the local planning process and making our services better.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Management Board
- Freelance Consultant at Digital Transformation Relationships Ltd
Derek is a freelance consultant at Digital Transformation Relationships Ltd. working for clients such as The Automobile Association, Business in Focus and Oracle and has recently completed two years as Interim Digital Transformation Director at Careers Wales.
He joined DWP as Head of Digital Services six years ago becoming Head of Digital Efficiencies and Channels introducing, amongst other things, robotics and disability friendly channels.
Before that he was Head of Strategic Marketing at The Pensions Regulator (responsible for rolling out Automatic Enrolment to every employer in the UK), Head of Insight & Marketing at DVLA (responsible for rolling out Online Car Tax, Driving Licenses and Personal Registration Marketing), Motoring Franchise Director at DirectGov (responsible for the biggest volume franchise on DirectGov site) and CEO of Valleys Arts Marketing (responsible for marketing support for venues in 10 Local Authorities). Prior to that he ran his own Mail Order Furniture Company for 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
Francesca has been working as a Lecturer in Planning at Cardiff University since 2004. Prior to her move to Cardiff, she worked in practice and in academia in Scotland, Germany and Italy. Her research agenda maps the areas she worked in whilst a (planning) practitioner and focuses on strategic planning practices, citizens engagement in planning processes and urban design cultures - with the occasional detour onto pedagogical issues (having turned into an educational practitioner).
Since coming to the UK, Francesca has designed, lead and delivered over 15 modules and been part of interdisciplinary teaching teams developing new UG and PGT programmes. Her teaching covers planning systems, comparative planning studies, urban design, participation and engagement in planning, research methods and she has experience in designing non-conventional teaching environment such as charrettes, flipped classroom, learning-by-doing settings. She has also been fortunate to supervise seven talented PhD students, with both internal and external funding. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
She has been a Director and Trustee for Planning Aid Wales between 2009 and 2017 and again since 2019. She has been part of the Civic Trust Cymru Policy Advisory Group between 2014 and 2016. She covered the role of UK representative to the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) between 2014 and 2020, sitting in the Council of Representatives.
She lives with two boys: a 12 years old human and a 3 year old canine, both pretty spirited and curious. If she had time she would indulge in a variety of crafty and culinary activities, but she does not have any spare time so her craftiest endeavour at present is making time - with poor results.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
Graham is a recently retired barrister. He was in practice in Cardiff for 30 years and a founder member of Civitas Law, civil and public law barristers, and remains there as a door tenant. he specialised in administrative and public law generally with a particular emphasis of planning and public inquiry work for developers and public bodies.
He maintains his interest in the planning and development process in Wales and seeking to widen understanding of it.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
- Chartered Planner ( Retired )
Ian Horsburgh was a Planner with Cardiff Council in various guises between 1972 and 2009. He is now ‘retired' but has been involved with community groups and also helping gypsies and travellers. He has been involved with Planning Aid since 1976 and was instrumental in making South Wales Planning Aid, the precursor of Planning Aid Wales, an independent charity. He has previously served as Chair of the organisation and is a Board member.
Ian has been heavily involved with community groups in South Wales and has founded two other charities. Over the winter months, he migrates south to the Alps to indulge his passion in off-piste skiing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
James is accountable to the Board of Directors for the maintenance and management of the organisation and its staff.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
- Lead Officer for Planning and Strategic Transportation at Bridgend County Borough Council
Jonathan is currently the lead officer for Planning and Strategic Transportation at Bridgend County Borough Council. He joined a local council planning team straight from School in 1985 and has since worked for a number of South Wales planning authorities in various capacities whilst also undergoing part time study before becoming a chartered town planner in 1996.
His experience covers all aspects of planning work including development control, policy, appeals, enforcement and policy. This has included working on large scale infrastructure, regeneration and residential projects. More recently he has been involved in regional planning and transportation initiatives. Jonathan's involvement with Planning Aid Wales started as a volunteer in 1998 taking on a variety of case work and community engagement events.
Jonathan remains committed to promoting the work of the planning profession as the key driver to delivering good quality, healthy and sustainable places.
Job Titles:
- Planning Engagement Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
- Charity Manager of the DPJ Foundation
Kate is the Charity Manager of the DPJ Foundation, a charity that supports mental health in the agricultural community, by providing a helpline and access to Counselling as well as training and awareness raising. Before taking on this role, she worked with a range of voluntary and community groups and volunteers in the Neath Port Talbot area supporting and advising them to ensure strong governance practices. Kate is a non-practising solicitor and specialised in Employment Law and HR during her legal career where she advised a range of public sector bodies and businesses.
Kate grew up on a beef and sheep farm in South Wales and farms with her partner in Gower. She is a trustee of Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and is a volunteer mentor for the Prince's Trust. Kate is training to be a Counsellor and in her downtime enjoys playing netball, walking with her dog and travelling.
Job Titles:
- Administration Officer
- Finance
Kay is responsible for financial administration and provides administrative support to the staff team and directors.
Job Titles:
- Planning Engagement Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
- Transport and Regeneration Consultant
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Board
- Member of the RTPI Cymru Executive Committee
Robert is a Chartered Town Planner with over 15 years' experience in both the Public and Private Sector. He is a Director and Owner of C2J Architects & Town Planners and principally responsible for the planning sector of the Cardiff and London offices. He specialises in spatial planning, development management and residential development.
Robert has been a member of the RTPI Cymru Executive Committee since 2015, and is currently serving as the Junior Vice Chair. He lives in Cardiff and outside of work is a keen golfer, rugby enthusiast and enjoys spending time with his young family.