About

Professional Background

I am a Chartered Town Planner, Chartered Manager, Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My work sits at the intersection of planning, placemaking, climate resilience and research, with a particular focus on how participatory approaches, blue green infrastructure and Water Sensitive Urban Design can contribute to more liveable, inclusive and resilient places.

My academic background in archaeology, together with my work in urban planning and conservation education, has shaped my interest in how people relate to places and how places change over time. It has also given me an interdisciplinary perspective that informs how I approach planning, bringing together questions of history, identity, community and the natural environment.

Over the course of my career, I have worked across regeneration, spatial and environmental planning, economic development, community engagement and planning education. I have worked with local authorities, housing providers, public agencies, communities and professional partners across Scotland and England. My work spans professional practice, academia and research, enabling me to connect policy and evidence with the realities of implementation.

My Approach

Today, I bring together professional practice, research and participatory approaches to address complex challenges in planning and placemaking. As a researcher and practitioner, I work across the boundaries of policy, practice and community knowledge, translating research into practical guidance and supporting meaningful participation. My work explores how planning and design can respond to climate change while creating places where people and nature can thrive.