Young Planner Award | The RTPI Planning Awards 2011

Young Planner of the Year

VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED

After a very high standard of submissions from all the candidates, the judges have agreed a shortlist for Young Planner of the Year 2011. Voting by members on that shortlist will produce the finalists, who will give a presentation to the judges in early January 2012. This year's judges are:

·         Steve Quartermain, Chief Planner, DCLG

·         Adrian Penfold, Head of Planning and Environment, British Land

·         Andrew Taylor, Assistant Director Planning and Building Control, Uttlesford Borough Council and RTPI Trustee

·         Bryan Johnston, Consultant Editor, Planning magazine

About

This award is intended to seek out and acclaim the brightest younger planners in the profession (whether in planning practice, innovation, enterprise or philosophy). If you are, or want to nominate, a professional planner who will be under the age of 35 on 31 May 2011.

Eligibility
Nominees must have been born on or after 1 January 1976, have achieved a great deal in their career when compared with their contemporaries, and promise even more for the future. At the date of entry and of presentation, nominees must be members of the Institute (either a Student, Licentiate, Technical, Associate, Chartered, Fellow or a Legal Associate).

Criteria
The judges will seek to identify younger planners who can be promoted as role models. In evaluating the candidates, the judges will take the following into account, as appropriate:

• The quality and reliability of their professional work
• The range and variety of their planning experience
• Involvement with professional institutes, associates, networks, events, outreach work or relevant voluntary activity 
• Their enthusiasm and originality of approach 
• Their personal and teamworking skills
• Their commitment to continuing professional development
• Most importantly, the extent to which they serve as a role model for other young professionals

How to Enter
The nomination process is online and you will need to submit the following:

• A citation of no more than 100 words from the nominator, explaining what the young planner has achieved and promises for the future (please save this document as Citation).
• A summary of no more than 400-500 words, detailing the nominee’s professional qualifications including universities attended; employment history, including posts held and dates; experience acquired in previous posts and a job description of current post. Any relevant professional or other activities outside work; hobbies and interests. (please save this document as Summary)
• A 100 word statement from the nominee, explaining how they would promote planning as a professional activity should they win (please save document as Nominee’s Statement)
• References – each nomination must include one referee who can vouch for the claims made in the submission. The referee must be different to the nominator.

Judging
Entries will be judged by a panel comprising nominees of the Institute and the publishers of Planning. Initially the judges will review all nominations, so the impact made by the initial entry material is of the utmost importance in deciding on the shortlist.

Up to ten entrants will be shortlisted and notified in August 2011; they may be approached by the judges at this point for further information. Short profiles of the candidates will appear in ‘Planning’ in September 2011 and their entry material will be placed on the Institute website at the same time. From this point all Institute members will be invited to vote for their preferred candidate electronically or by post. Based on the results of that vote, finalists will be invited to present to the judges in early November 2011. The winner will be announced at the RTPI Planning Awards ceremony in February 2012 , for which all shortlisted candidates will receive a complimentary invitation as guests of the RTPI.

The prize
The winner will receive a place at the 2012 American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference. This will include flights, accommodation and spending money. Please note the prize is not exchangeable for cash and is not transferable.

In addition, the winner will also receive a place at the Planning Summer School where he/she will be asked to give a talk on their experiences in at the APA Conference. They will also have the opportunity to speak at the annual RTPI Young Planners’ conference, held usually in October.

All enquiries about entry arrangements should be made to The RTPI Planning Awards Helpline: 020 8267 4145.