Equality, Diversity and Inclusion  Recognition List

Citation: "Amon, a member of the BAME Planners Network, is an absolute rising star! He joined Carter Jonas a year ago following his university studies and has impressed us within his work ethics, knowledge and love for all things planning! He's taken it upon himself to be our Headquarter's Social Value rep and has organised charity events and runs raising money for Land Aid. He is with us on a 3 year visa but has made us realised that we need to offer people like him the opportunity to stay in the country and in the industry. As such, Carter Jonas has successfully gone through the process of obtaining a Sponsorship Licence and we hope Amon will choose to have a long and successful career with us."

Citation: "Anjuli's contributions over the first 9 years of her career include: 1) dedication to her projects and clients in the public and private sector; and 2) the value she adds to Quod. Anjuli is working with EW+S and LLDC on two new communities in the Olympic Park, East Wick and Sweetwater. She is supporting the planning delivery of EW+S commitment to maximising social value. Her impact on this project means a lot to her, especially as she was born and raised in East London. Her work with TfL on projects across their portfolio, from railway arches to the redevelopment of stations and car parks, has helped to provide new homes for London and meaningful benefits to local communities. 

Since Quod became an Employee Ownership Trust in 2021, Anjuli has been the driving force of the EDI Team, establishing initiatives and affiliations to improve EDI at Quod and the communities we work in. Anjuli is central to putting forward ideas and making them happen. She challenges our Management Board to ensure that Quod not only follows best practices but is a leader in the industry. Anjuli's impact can be seen, with Quod becoming a more inclusive, diverse and enjoyable place to work for all. This is recognised in the planning profession, with Quod winning RTPI Planning Consultancy of the Year, where judges were impressed by our proactive approach to EDI."

Citation: "Edith in her role as planner within Croydon’s DM team strives for excellence, consistently being one of the highest performers. She combines her hard work and commitment, with a caring and positive persona, facilitating the creation of an effective team dynamic. The supportive environment she creates, welcome new planners often from range of ethnicities into the team, making everyone feel valued. She has taken active role in recruiting, not only in terms of interviewing, but also advising on how to improve diversity of candidates. "  

"Edith is a multi-talented young planner. As a former journalist, she has combined her unique professional journalism expertise and planning experience in her volunteer work at BAME Planners Network. In 2022, she initiated, directed and produced the first ‘Pathway to Planning’ documentary. Through extensive research work and in-depth interviews with participants of ‘Tomorrows Planners’ PATH Programme (a Government initiative in 2003), she unravels the experiences of BAME planners that have never been told and offers valuable and critical insights about how the planning profession can be more diverse and inclusive. Her pioneering documentary has been screened at high-profile planning events and widely viewed online. It is highly commended by planning practitioners and has been followed with an extensive discussion in the industry. Edith also leads the editorial work of the Network’s newsletter, which is instrumental to the fast growth of the Network.   

Edith has an enormous passion for planning.  She always champions the power of planning and presents the latest planning matters in a digestible way for the general public on her bilingual social media page ‘Urban Broadcaster’."  

"Edith is a passionate planner and dedicated to promoting EDI through the BAME Planner Network's communication team and her social media platform. By making use of her experience in journalism, Edith makes BAME planners more visible. She is a rising star in the industry."

Citation: "Gabrielle is a Senior Stakeholder Engagement Consultant at AECOM. She has five years of experience delivering inclusive consultation and engagement programmes with political stakeholders and diverse communities across the UK for major regeneration and nationally significant infrastructure schemes. Gabrielle has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in empowering women and promoting diversity within the industry, serving as the co-chair of Women in Planning London. In 2023, she has hosted over 10 inclusive and topical events in a wide variety of creative formats including walking tours, which played a pivotal role in facilitating women at all stages of their careers or lives to participate. This provided a key platform for women and allies to connect, learn, and inspire in a safe and diverse setting, fostering longer-term relationships. Within the workplace, Gabrielle presented as part of the RTPI Explore Programme and wider CPD on Regeneration Plans for the Olympic Park from her previous perspectives on the Board and Planning Decisions Committee for LLDC and the Legacy Youth Board. Her journey has been inspirational for many young people in underrepresented groups and those within the planning industry."

Citation: "Kathryn has had a meteoric rise since joining Be First as a Graduate Planner in 2019, having been promoted twice to become a chartered Senior Planner. She has handled a significant number of strategic developments in the borough and is currently the lead planner for the Gascoigne Neighbourhood redevelopment - one of London's largest estate regeneration schemes where Kathryn has had responsibility for securing consent for over 1,200 homes. Kathryn was also responsible for almost single-handedly clearing a large backlog of overdue applications when she first joined Be First and was therefore instrumental in stopping the LPA from falling into special measures. Kathryn is a role model to other planners in the organisation, not least those she has line-managed and mentored. Her professionalism, skill and astute problem-solving help to ensure the needs of Barking and Dagenham residents are met and that opportunities for investment and regeneration in the borough are maximised."

Citation: "Morgan, a young and multidisciplinary planner, is a passionate advocate for urbanism and the transformative power of planning. He founded the bilingual social media platform Urbanplanet.city, showcasing photographs, videos, and articles on cities, planning, and architecture to the general public. In 2022, his platform was recognised as Cities Forum's 'Urban Action Avenue,' a global platform for intellectual works shaping cities' development and growth. In addition to being a dedicated member of the communication team at the BAME Planners Network, Morgan actively contributes by co-organising talks to share his experiences with students and early-career planners. Recognising the growing community of built environment professionals moving from Hong Kong to the UK, he recently launched Urban House HK, a platform fostering knowledge exchange among Hong Kong practitioners in the UK. Morgan's initiatives reflect his commitment to promoting planning, diversity, and professional collaboration."

Citation: "Pan is Chartered Member of the RTPI and an exemplary Development Management Planner, focused and dedicated to providing excellent Planning Service. He has an impressive career history . He has enabled the first industrial intensification scheme in North London, which would deliver above 42,000 sqm of employment floorspace and public realm improvements adjacent to Southbury Station, through the planning process in 9 months from initial pre-application to resolution to grant. He also facilitated the delivery of an innovative alternative model affordable housing model by Naked House CIC that allows occupiers to self-finish and adapt their homes as their circumstances change, which led the Enfield Planning team to be shortlisted for the Planning Award for Affordable Housing Delivery. 

Two-time Enfield Staff Award winner. Commended by senior management, developers, councillors and colleagues on delivery focus approach. He had a proven track record of timely delivery, positive outcomes and effective working relationships with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders under Planning Performance Agreements and provided in-house training on effective management of PPAs. He secured the highest number of PPAs and generated the highest income from PPAs in the financial years between 2021 and 2023. In addition, Pan is a founding Member of the Bame Planners Network, Steering Group Lead member, in charge of Communication. He also volunteers for Planning Aid London" 

"I believe Pan Chong is a hugely talented Principal Town Planner, he has progressed as a planner at great speed becoming a Principal Planning Officer within the first 5 years of graduating from his Masters in Planning at the University of Sheffield. Hugely gifted, Pan is excelling in his professional career as a planner, not only building a reputation as an asset for Enfield Council, winning the Star Award at Enfield Council in 2022 and 2023 for his commendable service, but he is also the backbone of the BAME Planners Network Communications team which he leads." 

"Pan offered a big helping hand to be my mentor for the RTPI submission. His guidance is tremendously appreciated, and he would edit my work till 1 am. and still be able to squeeze time in leading the communication team of BPN. He has set an example of how to be a good mentor." 

"Pan has brought substantial dedication to the work of BAME Planners Network. He has put enormous effort into improving the communication of the Network so that the Network can reach out to more people and expand its influence in the industry. From the management of the Communications Team to the design of the Network's website, Pan's contribution to EDI should not be just recognised but also celebrated."

Citation: "Sabelle is a Planning Officer at the London Borough of Haringey. She is a rising star for her planning work but also for her work in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). In her short time at Haringey so far she has had a big impact showing a keen interest in developing the Planning service's own EDI Action Plan which is currently work in progress and draws on work from various sources including the BAME Planners Network's recent D&I Survey. Sabelle sits on the BAME Planners Network Administration/Events Committee, recently supporting the Survey results launch event, and has written a blog for the network "Being Young, Black and Female: A Journey to Planning". Sabelle has been part of the Women in Planning London Committee and has written a UCL blog "Inspiring Women in the Built Environment" and a blog for the Urbanist Platform about her experience in architecture and planning."