I'm migrating across to Resources for Change (R4C) while retaining my role as a Big Local Area Advisor to NE Hastings, Eastern Sheppey (Kent), Heart of Sidley (Bexhill) and Sompting (West Sussex). I continue to advise on a number of neighbourhood plans across Kent and Sussex.

Ten years ago I struck out from Maidstone Borough Council to start a freelance community planning practice. I am currently working with a range of communities across Kent, Sussex and occasionally further afield in London Boroughs and Essex. After speaking at the DCLG's Neighbourhood Planning Road-show in East Grinstead in March 2016 and an event with Action for Communities in Rural Kent (ACRK) in Lenham in April 2016, I have been working with an increasing number of parish councils in Kent to help develop Neighbourhood Plans - Benenden, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst were all ‘made’ this year after successful referendums. Horsmonden, Peacehaven and Telscombe are now moving towards ‘submission’. UPDATE: And another speaking engagement with the RTPI in Lewes in February 2020 resulted in a new collaboration with Alison Eardley.Alongside this community planning work, I have been working as the long-term Big Local Representative for North East Hastings, Eastern Isle of Sheppey, Sompting (Adur, West Sussex) and Devonshire West (Eastbourne). Each of these areas have been awarded £1 million by the Big Lottery.To help me with this busy portfolio, I work with some fantastic collaborators: Alison Eardley (previously mentioned), Margaret Wilkinson from Planning for Real, Michael Thornton RTPI, Nancy Astley (Brighton) and most recently Mike King a former colleague at the Conservation Volunteers now Director at Resources for Change (R4C).As a Planning for Real Consultant I have recently worked with Margaret in Croydon delivering consultation events for their review of their Local Plan. Mike King and I recently completed a project with Brighton and Hove City Council to engage residents and stakeholders in developing a 'whole estate plan' for their 4,500ha City Downland Estate.Every spring, I deliver a community engagement seminar to the University of Brighton Town Planning Masters and in previous years have involved their graduate students in supporting nearby neighbourhood plans.

Managing sports, play, youth development, arts, healthy lifestyles and community planning.

Lead for sustainable development including developing climate change strategy, the sustainable community strategy for the borough, managing the local strategic partnership and supporting parishes with the development of parish plans.

Lead officer for parish plans and community planning including village design statements and the former Kent Coalfields and Romney Marsh Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) rural development programmes.

Promoted three times from fundraising assistant specialising in direct marketing and charitable trusts, to fundraising officer for charitable trust and corporate fundraising before switching to broader marketing programmes including the Million Tree, Pond, Hedgerow and Woodland Action Campaigns. Appointed Public Relations Manager in 1997 working across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.