Planning consultant Ann Skippers has succeeded Martin Willey as president of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has specified working more closely with other built environment professions as one of her priorities.
Ms Skippers who runs a consultancy with her husband in Essex has more than 20 years' experience of the profession and specializes in appeal work, trouble shooting and training and also works as a non-salaried planning inspector.
In her inaugural speech she said the public perception and image of planning is something that has dogged the profession through the ages. Local people show interest, passion and drive but how could they be harnessed?
"One of the biggest challenges we face is how to connect the local interest in planning with the bigger picture stuff - strategic planning," she said.
"Just think for a moment of our transport system, our infrastructure, services or energy supply. We need to continue to make the case for national spatial planning, for plans at an appropriate scale and long term planning, which is so critical to this country's future well being."
But, she said, new ways of capturing and harnessing that interest are needed and wider knowledge was needed.
She said in her presidential year she wants to raise the image and profile of planning and promote planning as a career.
