Nominees for Exec Committee 2022

The Urban Design Group is run by an Executive Committee, led by a chairperson with the support of two vice chairs. The Executive Committee meet regularly throughout the year and are responsible for all major decisions relating to policy, new initiatives and the management of the Group.

Executive Officers have a two year term and having been elected in 2020 there is no requirement for election this year. The Executive Committee will continue to be led by:

 

Nominations for Executive Committee:

 

Husam AlWaer  Reader in Sustainable Urbanism, University of Dundee

I would seek to:

  • Work collegiately with the UDG, to support development to a new level so as to increase international impact in the EU, China, the Middle East and Latin America
  • Identify themes and topics for future programme of events. Identify up to date international and national presenters, beyond narrow comfort zones, with a balanced gender representation and the inclusion of young urbanists/urban designers
  • Provide feedback on various urbanist events for UDG Scotland/Middle East
  • Promote ideas for tackling urbanism issues with which UDG members identify
  • Support the development of content for UDG main events including those in the UDG Middle East and beyond
  • Co-ordinate recommendations on Awards categories
First Proposer
Second Proposer
Colin Munsie
David Rudlin
Leo Hammond  London Borough of Newham
  • Advice and support for the Design Officers Network  
  • Advice and support for local authority directly delivered housing and regeneration (future Journal editor on this topic with Jacob Willson)
  • Advice and support on Strategic Urban Design and good growth masterplanning
  • Links to UCL and the Urban Design Masters course through teaching
  • Links to the AoU through being a mentor
  • Energy and enthusiasm for all things urban design
First Proposer
Second Proposer
Colin Pullan
Amanda Reynolds
Colin Munsie  CRMA UK & Kensuriyachat+Partners

World Economic Forum: “Today, 55% of the global population lives in cities: by 2050, it's expected to increase to 68%.”

Urgency created by climate change, movement and housing of peoples, means a quick response with creative governance and urban planning. Peter Hall pointed out 8 years ago, “Urban Britain is not functioning as it should. Social inequities and regional disparities show little sign of going away.”

Aim: Address eight goals by Peter Hall and Nick Falk, "GoodCities Better Lives" p309-310, encourage 6-10 highly skilled, top professionals, produce credible UK proposals, to create a vision motivating both government and nation.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Husam AlWaer
Philip Cave
Colin Pullan  Urban Design Director, Lambert Smith Hampton

To continue to support and contribute to the Urban Design Group's activities and members and the exec. To continue to contribute to the UDG's healthy debate on creating better places. To add my aged wisdom (not quite so aged as some of our more esteemed members)! where ever I can. To support the growth of the UDG.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Leo Hammond
Amanda Reynolds
Amanda Reynolds  Director, AR Urbanism

Enthusiastic ongoing support for the transformation of our cities and towns into fabulously liveable places into which we can sink, heading towards obscure old age, as the world starts to pass us by completely (or comes to a soggy end...)

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Leo Hammond
Colin Pullan
Barry Sellers  Principal Planner, Wandsworth Borough Council

To continue to respond to Government initiatives on planning reform on behalf of UDG; to continue involvement in pushing for Strategic Urban Design; to raise the profile of Recognised Practitioners and expand internationally; to contribute to the climate change agenda and local authority design initiative. Investigate a re-launch of Urban Design Week in September 2022.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Paul Reynolds
Alan Stones
Kenji Shermer  Urban Designer, East Devon District Council
To continue to develop research, evidence and design guidance for Health and Wellbeing of future communities. To help shape Planning guidance, policy and legislation that enables or requires masterplan based land allocation and Planning policy and development management that is outcome focussed and therefore design led. To help develop a consistent approach to considering urban design in Local Planning Authorities to focus on good places, not good bricks.
First Proposer
Second Proposer
Katja Stille
Colin Munsie
Alan Stones  Consultant

I hope to highlight the need for a strategic urban design content in Local Plans and how to achieve this. I also hope to press for ongoing monitoring of urban design skills in planning authorities and publicise shortcomings.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Paul Reynolds
Barry Sellers
Louise Thomas  Thomas Design, Regeneration & Consultation

Greater awareness of and contributions to the UDG's journal as a platform for sharing and learning about colleagues' work, and more representation from issues being dealt with in the regions.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Sebastian Loew
Dick Cole
Rob Thompson  RTU

I'm motivated by making sense of place and contributing to the creation of great places. I'd play an active part in the debates surrounding urban design, place making and urbanism and existing and emerging ideas/issues and  themes. I would engage in debate across the Regions to help realise best practice. 

I’m a good listener and I'd like to think I could contribute positively as well as add to the mix of skills and experience within the Executive.

First Proposer
Second Proposer
Francis Newton
Andrew Slaney
 

 

Co-opted Members

The following members have put themselves forward as coopted members of the Executive Committee and will be appointed at the first meeting of the UDG Executive in the new session:

  • Scott Elliott Adams Urban Design Lead at Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
  • Patricia Aelbrecht   Lecturer in Urban Design, Cardiff University
  • Meenakshi Bhagat   Urban Designer + Senior Architectural Designer, Populous Design, New Delhi
  • Philip Black  Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, University of Manchester 
  • Graeme Moore  Oldham Council | Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • Raj Rooprai   Studio Rooprai
  • Brian Quinn  Urbanthoughts
  • Graham Smith   Consultant

 

Scott Elliott Adams Urban Design Lead at Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)

With a few years’ experience contributing to the UDG Executive Committee, I am keen to continue to contribute my expertise as a practicing urban designer and focus on my areas of passion: strategic planning, design coding and placemaking.  

Patricia Aelbrecht   Lecturer in Urban Design, Cardiff University

I would like to continue to organise knowledge exchange activities and collaborative projects between urban design practice and research, and to have the UDG and its community as partners. I have done some progress in this respect through my ‘Public Space Toolkit for Wales’, a project in partnership with the DCfW, UDG and Living Streets and 4 Welsh local authorities, but this is just a first and small step. I have more ideas to continue and expand this engagement.  

Meenakshi Bhagat   Urban Designer + Senior Architectural Designer, Populous Design, New Delhi

I would be happy to offer my support for an initiative or an idea in progressive urban design field. I would be aiming for people to join and participate in various initiative through UDG group.

Philip Black  Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, University of Manchester 

Continue to help shape the student awards and university/student membership offering.

Graeme Moore  Oldham Council | Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Provide a link to the Greater Manchester LPA's, also as a founder member of the Common Good initiative, able to keep the executive informed of events being held around it.
Raj Rooprai   Studio Rooprai
  • Promote the UDG: As a tutor in Urban Design at UCL, I will encourage students to join the UDG; become Recognised Practitioner; submit projects for the Student Awards.  
  • Promote Urban Design to the wider public. There is a lack of understanding of wider benefits that UD delivers e.g. benefits that are valued in more than merely monetary terms – UD tends to be seen as ‘nice to have’ rather than ‘essential must have’. 
  • Encourage UD to take on more of a facilitative and enabling role: Finding new ways of problem solving - fostering knowledge and making things happen, rather than the prescriptive application of UD principles through regulation, legislation and specialist input.
Brian Quinn  Urbanthoughts

I am partaking in the monthly review of RP applications and would like to continue this. I am also interested in developing trip ideas with Robert Huxford  for the UK and also depending on COVID restrictions looking at overseas trips either in supporting Sebastian Loew or without him if he doesn't want to continue.

Graham Smith   Consultant

Contributing to consultations, for example to the forthcoming Manual for Streets, to speaking and writing opportunities.