Our team

Fiona joined the TCPA as chief executive in February 2019 and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. Prior to joining the TCPA she ran the Campaign for National Parks for almost four years during which time she acted as a spokesperson for the organisation, led their influencing work around making the Parks even more beautiful, put in place a new five-year strategic plan and supported the board of trustees through a governance review.

Between 2007 and 2013 she worked at Campaign to Protect Rural England, for the majority of that time as Head of Planning. Key work during that time included leading work to influence the Localism Bill and National Planning Policy Framework and managing a major partnership project with the National Association of Local Councils, which was funded by the government’s Supporting Neighbourhoods and Communities in Planning. Other past roles have included working in the public affairs team of Macmillan Cancer Support. She has a geography degree from University College London and a masters degree in biodiversity, conservation and management from the University of Oxford.

While much of her professional career has been focused on rural policy she has lived and worked in London for the majority of the last 20 years so has a keen interest in the quality of urban environments.

Hugh’s responsibilities as TCPA Policy Director include leading on policy development, briefings and engagement with central government and politicians. In 2018 he led the secretariat for the Raynsford Review, setting out a blue print for a new planning system in England. Since 2015 Hugh has co-authored three books, including ‘Rebuilding Britain’ and ‘Town Planning in Crisis’ with Kate Henderson, and ‘The Art of Building a Garden City’ with Katy Lock and Kate Henderson. Hugh was closely involved in the passage of the 2004 and 2008 Planning Acts, including providing evidence to public bill committees and working closely with parliamentarians on both Commons and Lords committee stages of subsequent planning legislation. Hugh has given oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committees on various planning inquiries. He has led on TCPA campaign work on ‘planning out poverty’ and planning for people, and he is a strong critic of policies such as Permitted Development. Hugh sits on the UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Planning Sounding Board.

Hugh regularly delivers workshops to local authorities, including with Oxfordshire County Council on place-shaping, in Warrington as part of the North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership climate change skills programme, in Wales on climate change adaptation, and with the TCPA New Communities Group on issues such as strategic planning. Hugh has also delivered a number of local training sessions and local conversations on the invitation of Elected Members on planning committees, such as in Derbyshire, Oxfordshire and Sheffield. He is also the MC for the TCPA’s music event ‘Land of Promise’.

Prior to joining TCPA in March 2009, Hugh was the National Planning Advisor to Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, before which he spent a number of years working for the Coalfield Planning Cooperative on community planning projects. He has a Doctorate in Land Use Planning from the University of Sheffield, and he is an Honorary Professor at Queens University, Belfast.

Julia Thrift joined the TCPA in May 2013 and manages projects concerning planning and public health, green infrastructure, and planning and social justice. Throughout her career she has been interested in the links between the design of the built environment and the quality of people’s lives. She worked for CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, where she was the founding director of CABE Space, the government’s adviser on policy and practice regarding England’s urban parks and public spaces. She began her career as a journalist, writing about design, architecture and art. She has a degree in philosophy from University College London.

As Director of Communities and FJ Osborn Fellow Katy oversees TCPA’s work on new and renewed communities and leads on the TCPA’s campaigns and promotion of garden city principles in policy, legislation, education and the arts. This involves working at all levels of government and with a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations and individuals, at all stages of planning, design and delivery. Katy is also responsible for overseeing Project Delivery at the TCPA.

Katy leads the TCPA’s ongoing research on transferable lessons from the post-war new towns, and work supporting new town authorities through the New Towns Network and All-Party Parliamentary Group. She is the co-author of ‘New Towns: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth’ with Hugh Ellis (RIBA Publishing, 2020).  In 2017 Katy co-authored ‘The Art of Building a Garden City: Designing New Communities for the C21st’ with Hugh Ellis and Kate Henderson.

Katy is a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) and has a background in planning, urban design and sustainability. Before joining the TCPA in 2011, she worked for several years in the private sector as an environmental planning consultant. Katy is currently a trustee for Planning Aid for London, and a Design Review panellist for Design South East.

Celia joined the TCPA in September 2022. She is responsible for managing the TCPA’s work on climate change including guidance, advice and training for local authorities and communities.

Celia previously worked in strategic planning at the West of England Combined Authority, where she worked on policy areas including placemaking and design, health, green infrastructure and climate change. She also led the delivery of the West of England Placemaking Charter and public engagement on strategic planning projects. 

Prior to becoming a town planner Celia worked in community development, supporting people in Bristol to shape the future of their communities.

Celia has an MSc in Urban Planning from the University of the West of England and became a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) in Autumn 2022.

Rowan joined the TCPA as a Project Manager (FJ Osborn Fellow) in July 2024. She is responsible for managing the TCPA’s promotion of garden city principles in policy, legislation, education and the arts.

Rowan is undertaking this role as a 12-month secondment from her role as Senior Town Planner at NHS Property Services. At NHSPS she primarily manages policy responses, planning applications, and the healthy planning workstream.

Rowan is a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of Sheffield. 

Denean joined the TCPA as a Project Manager in February 2022. In collaboration with Planning Aid for London, she manages the support service for communities to influence planning decisions and engage in the planning process.  

Prior to this, Denean was the Development Manager for Centre for London. She managed the partnerships for research and events. She also developed research projects on the future of active travel and community engagement.   

Gemma joined the TCPA in October 2021 and is responsible for managing the TCPA’s work on healthy place-making. Gemma supports local authorities and other organisations to create healthier, active environments in collaboration with Sport England. This includes promoting and supporting implementation of the TCPA’s 20-Minute Neighbourhood Guide and the TCPA’s wider work on ‘Reuniting health with planning’.

Gemma has an MSc in Urban and Rural Planning, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health from the University of the West of England. Prior to joining the TCPA Gemma worked as a Planner in a private planning consultancy and has experience working for local government and non-governmental organisations in planning and public health, including the National Childbirth Trust.

Dr Rosalie Callway joined us from the University of Bristol, where she was previously Senior Research Associate working on the ‘Tackling the Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development’ (TRUUD) project.

She brings over 20 years experience promoting different aspects of sustainability, and a wealth of policy knowledge and expertise. Rosalie leads our Healthy Homes Campaign.

Alex House is Projects and Policy Manager at the TCPA and a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI). She is responsible for the TCPA’s events programme and managing the TCPA’s New Communities Group which consists of local authorities and development corporations bringing forward new large-scale communities. The group collectively helps to develop plans, provide political support and encourage a sharing of knowledge and best practice through seminars, study visits and parliamentary meetings.

Alex joined the TCPA in 2006, and has been involved in policy and project work across a diverse range of planning issues, including housing, transport, green infrastructure, energy and climate change. Alex has worked on several European projects; she was Energy Planner for Leadership for Energy Action and Planning (LEAP), and coordinated the Intelligent Energy Europe project Spatial Planning and Energy for Communities In All Landscapes (SPECIAL).

Alex managed the Planning and Climate Change Coalition (PCCC), which was led by the TCPA and Friends of the Earth. The PCCC influenced Government to ensure climate change was enshrined in planning policy, whilst maintaining a large cross sector of support. The PCCC was influential in bringing about the draft PPS Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate in March 2010, and published planning guidance and model policies on climate change for local authorities in England. The Coalition won a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Contribution to Planning in 2010.

Sally joined the TCPA in April 2022 and works on the Healthy Homes campaign and healthy place-making workstream. This includes working with local authorities to achieve healthy and sustainable places.

Prior to joining the TCPA, Sally worked in sustainability consulting for the built environment and homebuilding industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London, and preceding that she studied geography, sustainability and geology at Hofstra University in New York. As a part of her studies, Sally completed an internship at Nature Connect in Cape Town that focused on conservation and environmental education.

Sian joined the TCPA as Communications Officer in October 2023. She has previously worked in communications, policy, and grant management roles, primarily in the charitable funding sector.

Sian has a degree in Politics with International Relations from the University of York and a master’s degree in Migration Studies from the University of Sussex.

David joined the TCPA in September 2016 and provides financial and database support and is the first point of contact for queries relating to TCPA membership.

Previously he has worked in a range of finance, grants management and membership roles with the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute, the Big Lottery Fund and the British Council.

David has a degree in Politics with Sociology from the University of Plymouth and Master’s degrees in Database Systems and Social Research Methods from the University of Westminster and Nottingham Trent University respectively.

Prior to joining the TCPA, Abi was part of a PR and events agency, assisting on events, social media, and PR for a variety of different clients. Abi completed a degree in 3D Design with a heavy focus on spatial design. She then went on to complete her MSc in Marketing and Communications. Abi is responsible for assisting on the production of the TCPA’s events, webinars, and conferences.

Charlotte joined the TCPA in June 2023. Prior to joining the TCPA, Charlotte worked at a marine technology start-up working towards a more sustainable fishing industry. Charlotte completed her undergraduate degree in Geography, with a particular focus on place, democracy and social justice, before gaining a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Sheffield. She is responsible for supporting the TCPA’s work on Garden Cities and New Towns as well as the New Communities Group.  

Clémence joined the TCPA in February 2024 after recently graduating from a Double master’s degree in urban policy from Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics, with a particular focus on regional and urban planning studies. Prior to this, she completed her undergraduate degree in Geography and Planning between France and Italy, developing her understanding of urban issues and challenges in different international contexts. Clémence is responsible for supporting the TCPA’s work on Healthy Homes and Planning for Climate Change.