UDG Exec Committee Nominations 2020

At the end of November all UDG members in good standing were invited to put themselves forward to join the Executive Committee for 2020 / 2021. Candidates were asked to complete a nomination form, provide two proposers and outline what they wished to achieve during the next 12 months if elected, and the resources they might need.

The AGM will take place on Monday 14 December at 6 pm. 

For reference: Exec Committee members for 2019 / 2020

Nominations

CHAIR

Katja Stille  

In the next 12 months and beyond, I wish to support the UDG in achieving its specific objectives and promote the group as well as good urban design practice in general.

Good urban design happens through collaboration and looking beyond one’s own specialism. I would like to break down the professional silos and improve communication and understanding between all of those involved in delivering good places.

I seek to bring together professionals and interest groups from many different specialisms and work with our members to make delivering good places easier and tackle the barriers that we encounter in our day-to-day work. As well as promoting urban design and the skills of urban designers I wish to work with the Exec and core team to increase our membership numbers by drawing in a broader group from across the UK and internationally.

First Proposer: Christopher Martin
Second Proposer: Leo Hammond    
 

 

TREASURER

Christopher Martin  

Urban Design as a discipline and profession shapes the places where we live, work, and play to harness wide-reaching benefits for residents, businesses, visitors, and society alike - unifying architecture, engineering, and planning behind this ambition.

As a profession we have long-known and emphasised that how we plan, build, and manage our cities now, will determine the outcome of our efforts to achieve a regenerative and harmonious development tomorrow. The power we have to shape inspiring places is more relevant every day - so I will use these 12 months to ensure we double down, sharpen our resolve, and grow.

First Proposer: Katja Stille
Second Proposer: Leo Hammond
 

 

HONOURARY SECRETARY

Paul Reynolds  

My aim for the next 12 months is to work with the new chair to review, amend and update the constitution in a few areas, including the role / rights of Recognised Practitioners, to clarify the ability of representatives of corporate members to stand in their own right and most importantly to look at the role and function of Patrons and to investigate potential alternatives to the current system.

I will probably need some assistance from the UDG office, mostly in send emails and co-ordinating member responses. I will also seek a small working party from the executive to support on the Patrons issue.

I am also keen to organise 2-3 events in the year, including at least one in partnership with the Landscape Institute.

First Proposer: Katja Stille
Second Proposer: Leo Hammond
 

 

EXEC COMMITTEE

Leo Hammond (past chair)  

To continue to evolve the UDG, build on all the excellent work of the core staff and Executive, and utilise my networks for the good of the group. To help in the handover to a new Chair and Treasurer.

First Proposer: Christopher Martin
Second Proposer: Katja Stille
 
Husam AlWaer  

I am an ‘urbanist’, with a multi-disciplinary background in ‘Architecture, Urban Planning and Sustainability’, who writes extensively, and speaks regularly, about making sustainable places. I am an award-winning author and curator of events, focusing on issues of place making, sustainable urban design practice and their social impacts. I currently hold a professorial READER position in Sustainable Urban Design at University of Dundee, having previously researched and taught at Reading and Liverpool Universities. My work sits at the intersection of disciplines (sustainability, urbanism, urban design, architecture, anthropology), the intersection of spatial scales including their core and periphery (Buildings, Neighbourhoods, and Cities), and at the intersection of theoretical and contemporary thought (policies and their application).

My interest in serving on the Executive Committee of the UDG is driven not only by my knowledge, leadership and research expertise, but by the mutual belief that ‘place matters most’ and the desire to have a significant impact in helping individuals, organisations and societies make the significant and necessary shifts towards achieving more socially equitable, economically thriving, and environmentally sustainable cities, towns, and neighborhoods. I am very motivated by the UDG mission and its vision to understand, promote and celebrate what makes great places and to apply these lessons to the improvement of towns and cities across UK, Europe and beyond. The role would enable me to collaborate with UDG directors and staff to set strategic directions, enhance financial performance, facilitate interdisciplinary working across the UDG events/congresses, and enhance learning of young urbanist through the development and supporting highly innovative training events and symposia. Through building on the exciting and strong foundations that the UDGand its staff/ directors provide, I envisage that I would also be in a good position to work collegiately with the UDG directors and staff to strategically enhance the influence of the UDG within UK/Scotland, Europe, the Middle East, and to enhance its reputation and impact nationally and internationally. The role is thus a very good fit for me given that my leadership, research, teaching and practice interest embrace the commitments laid down in the UDG vision.

In conclusion, I would seek to bring the following to the UDG:

• Working collegiately with the UDG, to support the development the UDG to a new level in terms of its ability to have international impact in the EU, the Middle East and Latin America;
• Identifying themes and topics for the future programme of events. Identify up to date international and national presenters, beyond narrow comfort zones, including attention to a balanced gender representation and the inclusion of young urbanists;
• Providing feedback on various urbanist events;
• Promoting ideas for tackling urbanism issues with which UDG members identify;
• Supporting the development of content for UDG main events including those in the UDG Scotland beyond;
• Co-ordinating recommendations on UDG Awards categories;
• Enhancing the UDG financial performance, Identifying and nurturing potential streams of sponsorship linked to UDG activities (JTP, Sustrans, Scottish Government, Hilson Moran Partnership, Erasmus Plus, ESRC, the Insight Institute, University of Dundee….);
• Assisting the UDG and the UDG Scotland in identifying and applying for grants for projects, events and research in the UK, Scotland and the EU;
• Identifying and nurturing potential members and Young Urbanist from the UK, EU and the Middle East; and
• Contributing to the development of activities, such as meetings, seminars, network events etc, in the run up to the UDG 2021 Congress and all future events/congresses.

Together, my background, experience and expertise, combined with my enthusiasm and leadership capabilities, would enable me to play a key role in the strategic development and promoting the diverse interests of the UDG as a whole.

First Proposer: Leo Hammond
​Second Proposer: David Rudlin
 
Philip Black  

I would like to bring urban design practice and education/academia closer together in a meaningful way, using the platform of the UDG to enhance these links. I would seek to develop and deliver a series of short urban design training programmes (in conjunction with University of Manchester and UDG) focusing on themes such as technical skills, urban analysis, and design process.

I would also like to advance the agenda of what core skills and competencies urban design programmes should be teaching, and how, across the UK; seeking to better understand, and narrow, the gaps between professional practice, theory, and education.

First Proposer: Lindsay Whitley
Second Proposer: Robert Philips
 
Colin Pullan  

Continue to work with the exec team to raise the quality of design and awareness of design matters.

First Proposer: Leo Hammond
Second Proposer: Amanda Reynolds
 
Amanda Reynolds  

To continue to lobby whenever, wherever for great urban design practice to improve the lives of urban dwellers in this country and any other I can influence - through the good offices of the UDG where possible.

First Proposer: Colin Pullan
Second Proposer: Amanda Reynolds
 
Raj Rooprai  

Continue to produce low/zero carbon master planning projects with sustainability strategies based on renewable energy systems and to make place more connected and efficient. I believe architecture and urban design should not be viewed as disconnected abilities, but united to generate a distinctive functioning environment where city and buildings converse to each other.

To create innovative projects, solve complicated problems in a holistic manner and enhances the quality of the lives of the people that use it. To bring together economic, social and environmental attributes of planning, transportation, architectural, development economics, landscape and engineering to generate a vision for the built environment that is functional yet aesthetically pleasing.

First Proposer: Leo Hammond
Second Proposer: Paul Reynolds
 
Barry Sellers  
  • Continue to support UDG in raising its profile to the public
  • Assist with responses to Government publications
  • Continue to raise profile of UDG internationally
  • To work collaboratively with similar organisations such as Place Alliance on initiatives on urban design
First Proposer: Paul Reynolds
Second Proposer: Alan Stones
 
Kenji Shermer  

I trained and worked in Architecture before working in local government as a planner and urban designer. I care deeply about evidence-led good design and its benefits for human and planetary health.

With design, health and wellbeing so prevalent in public discourse there is real opportunity to tackle the systemic failings leading to poor design and create an environment where good design is the norm.

I will work to ensure close collaboration with other professions to find solutions to these issues and clearly communicating with the public and those in power to create a better designed world.

First Proposer: Nick Thomas
Second Proposer: Katja Stille 
Alan Stones  

I hope to work with UCL to relaunch the survey of urban design skills in planning authorities. I also wish to pursue the efficacy of Local Government Ombudsman complaints in getting planning authorities to include consideration of design issues in determining large planning applications

First Proposer: Amanda Reynolds
Second Proposer: Barry Sellers
 
Louise Thomas  

I would like to see greater regional involvement in the UDG, via the events and the journal. As co-editor of the journal, I can see the need to provide support to members (and those not yet involved in the UDG) whereby London is seen as a valuable place for best practice, but the challenges and case studies from further afield are explored in more detail. Influencing clients in the public and private sectors about the value of urban design should remain a key activity.

First Proposer: Sebastian Loew
Second Proposer: Amanda Reynolds
 

 

CO-OPTED MEMBERS

Co-opted members are voted onto the Exec Committee by the elected members of the committee (as opposed to the whole membership). UDG members can put themsleves forward at any time. If you are interested please contact adminstration@udg.org.uk

UDG members who have already expressed interest:

  • Scott Elliott Adams
  • Patricia Aelbrecht
  • Meenakshi Bhagat
  • Jas Bhalla
  • Valentina Giordano ​
  • Daniela Lucchese
  • Graeme Moor
  • Colin Munsie
  • Brian Quinn
  • Hannah Smart
  • Graham Smith