The things I know

Planning, 4 July 2008

- Where did you study planning?

I took a degree in town and regional planning at the University of Dundee.

- What skills did you have when you graduated?

An appreciation of the context in which the planning system operates and time management skills.

- What attracted you to planning?

An interest in human geography and creating better places, combined with wanting to do a degree that would prepare me for a job.

- What did you learn in your first job?

As a graduate planner at the Scottish Executive, I learned about collaborative working, engaging effectively with stakeholders and tracking changes in Word when editing draft policy documents.

- What skills have you had to learn over your career?

How to negotiate, be more diplomatic, ensure that all meetings result in agreed actions and, recently, project management techniques.

- What or who have been the biggest influences on your career?

The two people who stand out are Jim Mackinnon for his constant support and tolerance of my enthusiasm as a graduate planner and Vincent Goodstadt for restoring my belief in planning as a career and getting me involved with the RTPI in Scotland.

- What is your career highlight?

Being offered my current job, which presents a great opportunity to contribute to the modernisation of planning in Scotland.

- What have you learnt outside work that has influenced your career?

As a cub scout leader, I learned how much successful teamwork adds enjoyment to an experience.

- What further skills do you aim to attain or develop?

People management and anything else that crops up on the way.

- How important is it to keep abreast of developments in allied professions?

It is absolutely essential, particularly in finding areas of common interest where joint effort and communication can achieve change more effectively than working in isolation.