Assembly Staff

Organisation Chart (updated May 2009) - 63 KB

Staff profiles:

Diana Pogson - Interim Managing Director

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Diana Pogson joined the Assembly in July 2005. Her key responsibilities include ensuring the efficient and legal administration of the Assembly's affairs and its sound financial management.

A qualified accountant, Diana has a wide range of experience in both the public and private sectors. After roles with leading catering and financial services organisations, she joined the BBC in 1991. In her most recent role with the BBC she spent 10 years as Business Manager for the Asia and Pacific region of World Service radio.

Martin Tugwell - Director of Development

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Martin Tugwell leads the Regional Assembly's work on delivery. He is leading the Assembly's work on implementation, including the development of a regional delivery plan that will see the implementation plans for the South East Plan and Regional Economic Strategy combined into a single document for the region. He is also leading the Assembly's work on the Regional Infrastructure Fund; a new delivery mechanism that enables the public sector to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure that enables growth to be realised.

He has responsibility for the work of the Regional Transport Board and Regional Housing Board, partnership boards chaired by the Assembly which advise Government on investment priorities totalling 600m pounds per annum.

Martin originally joined the Assembly as its Head of Regional Transport Planning in July 2000 and led its work on the Regional Transport Strategy. He has taken a leading role nationally in the development of transport planning, in particular the work on prioritisation. Prior to joining the Assembly he worked for the Government Office for the South East and prior to that Devon County Council. He is member of the Council of the Institution of Highways and Transportation, Chairman of the English Regions Transport Officers Group, a member of the Executive Committee of the Transport Planning Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Catriona Riddell - Director of Planning

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Catriona Riddell joined the Regional Assembly as the Planning Strategy Director in April 2006. She leads on planning policy with particular responsibility for the South East Plan preparation and review. Catriona is also the lead for monitoring and the Regional Sustainability Framework.

She is a Chartered Town Planner and has worked in local government for 16 years. Prior to joining the Regional Assembly, Catriona was Head of Spatial Policy and Information at Surrey County Council where she was responsible for preparing the Surrey Structure Plan and the County's contribution to the regional agenda, including the South East Plan.

Jill Wedge - Interim Head of Communications

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Jill Wedge ensures there is an effective and realistic communications strategy for the Assembly, and manages the Communications Team and Partner Support Manager. Her remit includes looking after publications, the website, internal communications, and public and media relations.

Before joining the Assembly in January 2009, Jill was a communications consultant, trainer and managing director of Vibrant Communications. She has been involved in corporate communications for 17 years, both on the client side, for communications agencies and as a freelance. At the start of her career, she took the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Proficiency Certificate and worked in newspapers and then public relations.

She is a former CiB, IVCA and PR Week Award-winner and a Fellow of the British Association of Communicators in Business.

Ameeta Rowland - Policy Adviser

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Ameeta is Policy Adviser at the Regional Assembly. As part of the policy team Ameeta has a particular focus and responsibility for the scrutiny of SEEDA and the Assembly's wider accountability role. She also works on social inclusion and European issues.

Ameeta joined the Assembly in 2007 as Policy Assistant having graduated from Cambridge University in 2006 with a degree in Geography. She specialised in human geography focusing on the economy, social policy and culture.

David Payne - Planning Manager

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David holds a degree in Biology and an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning and spent the first part of his career with the RSPB. After working as Regional Government Liaison Officer with the Environment Agency, during which he was seconded to both SEEDA and the Assembly working on sustainable development issues, he joined the Regional Assembly full-time as Regional Planner in mid 2001.

David currently leads on sub-regional strategies, implementation, and environmental planning issues, working closely with the Regional Assembly's Natural Resources and Climate Change Advisory Group. Current areas of work include waste, minerals, renewable energy, sustainable construction, climate change, water resources, water quality, flooding, and biodiversity including the Thames Basin Heaths delivery plan.

Alison Bailey - Planning Manager

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Alison Bailey leads the Regional Assembly's work on housing. Her role covers planning policy for housing, including the South East Plan, monitoring and demography, and the work of the Regional Housing Board. Alison is also the regional contact for the Central Oxfordshire sub-region.

Alison is a chartered town planner with 17 years experience of regional planning in the South East. Alison originally joined the Assembly in 2001 following 10 years working for SERPLAN on housing, demography and related topics.

Andy Mak - Planning Manager

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Andy Mak joined the Regional Assembly in September 2003 following transport and economic development posts in both local government and other public sector organisations. He has experience of transport, economic and strategic planning at unitary, metropolitan and regional levels, which has included project managing the development of the Assembly's pioneering prioritisation methodology for regional transport projects and contribution to the development of the South East Plan.

Andy is presently Planning Manager at the Assembly, with responsibility for the economy and transport areas of activity, as well as co-ordinating the Assembly activities on the 2012 Games. He is the Assembly lead officer for the Gatwick Area and Kent Thames Gateway sub-regions, and is responsible for the running of the Regional Transport Board. He leads on transport and economic development policy, and also has day-to-day responsibility for the Assembly's activities on employment land, ports and airports.

Nikki Nicholson - Regional Planner

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Nikki joined the Regional Assembly in July 2003 following over five years experience of working for environmental and economic consultancies. She began her career at environmental consultants, Land Use Consultants (LUC) and more recently specialised in economic development and urban regeneration for consultancy SQW. Prior to joining LUC Nikki completed a masters degree in Environmental Assessment and Evaluation at the London School of Economics and a MA in Geography at Cambridge University.

Nikki joined the Assembly as a Regional Planner and leads on economic and town centre and retail issues, providing support to the Assemblys Economy Advisory Group.

Mark Williams - Regional Planner

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Mark joined the Assembly in June 2007 from Greenwich Council. He holds a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning Studies from the London School of Economics, and has ten year's experience predominantly in local government planning policy.

Mark's work is principally concerned with housing issues such as housing market areas, land availability, dwelling type and size, and environmentally sustainable housing construction. Mark will also lead on the forthcoming partial review of the South East Plan covering Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, and he is the regional contact for the Kent Thames Gateway sub-region.

Sue Janota - Regional Planner

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Sue joined the Regional Assembly in June 2006 to lead the Assembly's work in carrying out its statutory duty to assess the general conformity of Local Development Documents with the Regional Spatial Strategy and as a statutory consultee on major planning applications.

She has an MPhil in Town Planning and is a Chartered Town Planner with 24 years experience of working in local government. Prior to joining the Assembly, Sue managed the District Liaison Team in the Planning and Countryside Service at Surrey County Council and had responsibility for leading on all aspects of planning policy related to infrastructure provision to support new development and to retailing.

Cath Rose - Regional Planner

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Cath joined the Regional Assembly in July 2004. She holds a MSc in Town Planning from London South Bank University, and a BSc in Geography.

Cath is responsible for work on the Thames Basin Heaths, green infrastructure, planning for health and the built environment, and the Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley sub-region. She is also the Assembly officer responsible for inter-regional liaison. Her previous work at the Regional Assembly has included planning application and LDD conformity and support on economic and minerals planning. Prior to joining the Regional Assembly she worked for Elmbridge Borough Council in the Policy and Environmental Planning Team, and also spent some time working in the Development Control section.

Jorn Peters - Regional Planner

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Jorn holds a degree in Spatial Planning from the University of Dortmund in Germany. He worked as a planner at Southampton City Council and Adur District Council. His responsibilities included strategic planning, policy development and Sustainability Appraisals. Jorn has also experience with the development and assessment of European projects from positions at the Environment Agency and the North Sea Interreg Secretariat. He joined the Assembly full-time as a Regional Planner in September 2006.

Jorn's areas of work include flood risk, climate change, water resources, water quality and the coast. He is leading the Sustainability Appraisal work and is the lead officer for the South Hampshire sub-region. Jorn also co-ordinates the European project work.

Dominick Veasey - Regional Planner

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Dominick joined the Assembly in August 2005. He holds a Diploma Town Planning and BA (Hons) in Town Planning from Sheffield Hallam University.

He joined the Assembly from Broadway Malyan Planning and has over two years experience within private planning consultancies within the South East. His experience includes a wide range of projects for both private and public sector clients. Dominick's work is principally concerned with housing issues.

David Nkrumah-Boateng - Regional Planner

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David joined the Assembly in January 2006. He holds an MA in Environment and Development from Kings College, London, and a BSc in Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Prior to joining the Assembly, David worked with the Wassa West District Assembly in Ghana and also spent some time undertaking field humanitarian research with the British Red Cross Society during his study period in the UK.

David's key role includes working on the development of minerals and waste policy issues, assisting in research and development of social-related policy implementation. He will also be contributing to developing the Assembly's role in assessing the general conformity of local development plan documents with regional strategies.

James Renwick - Regional Planner

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James joined the Assembly in August 2006. He holds a Diploma in Town Planning and BA (Hons) in Town Planning from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

He joined the Assembly from North Tyneside Council, where he worked in local planning policy. Previously he worked as a development control officer for Selby District Council. His experience includes a wide range of local planning issues, from policy development to planning enforcement. James' work is principally concerned with transport issues and the implementation of the South East Plan.

Fiona Thorp - Regional Planner

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Prior to joining the Regional Assembly in June 2007, Fiona spent two years with Broadway Malyan Planning, following three years at Surrey County Council in the Transportation Development Control team. Fiona holds an MSc in Transport Planning and Management from Westminster University and a BSc in Human Geography from the University of Reading.

Fiona's work programme is primarily focused on transport issues and the implementation of the South East Plan, and she contributes to other elements of the Assembly's work on planning.

Greg Pitt - Sustainable Development Planner

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Greg joined the Assembly in April 2007 from Thurrock Borough Council where he worked as an Environmental Planning Assistant. His work primarily focused on developing the Council's Greengrid Strategy and taking this forward into the Local Development Framework. At the Assembly Greg has worked on the South East Regional Sustainability Framework, prepared responses to consultation on local development frameworks and worked on climate change and natural resources.

He has an MA in Planning Policy and Practice from London South Bank University and a BSc in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of the West of England.

Cath Stubbings - Housing Policy Advisor

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Catherine joined the Assembly in April 2005. Her role involves coordinating the work of the Regional Housing Board, developing the Regional Housing Strategy in conjunction with the Board's support team, and providing housing policy advice to the Assembly.

Prior to joining the Assembly, Catherine worked mainly in local authorities, both in housing management and corporate strategy roles. Her experience of the housing association sector has been gained via board and committee positions with local and national housing associations.

Catherine is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an assessor for the CIH professional qualification.

Kate Aulman - Regional Analyst

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Kate joined the Assembly as a Regional Analyst in 2002. Prior to taking up this role, Kate completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and then moved on to work in the oil and gas, telecoms and water resources industries.

When she joined the Assembly Kate set up and now manages and develops the Assembly's GIS and associated data and information systems. She oversees the production of maps and graphics for Assembly publications and an evidence base for the development of regional policy.

Kate leads on monitoring and is responsible for the development of the Assembly's monitoring framework and production of the annual Regional Monitoring Report.

Sandrine Mathard - Regional Analyst

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Sandrine joined the Regional Assembly in July 2004. She holds a BSc in Geography and a MSc in Tourism and Planning from the University of Bordeaux/Exeter.

Prior to joining the Assembly she worked for a Consultancy where she was responsible for evaluating projects.

As a Regional Analyst, Sandrine is part of the monitoring team where she is responsible for providing support on housing monitoring, GIS and demography issues. She is also involved in drafting the Regional Monitoring Report and managing the monitoring surveys.

Tom Kingston - Regional Analyst

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Tom joined the Regional Assembly in August 2006. He holds an MSc in Spatial Planning from Oxford Brookes University and is a chartered member of the RTPI. He also holds a BSc in Cybernetics and Control Engineering from the University of Reading.

Tom primarily works for the monitoring team as well as supporting the economy and LDF delivery teams. As a member of the monitoring team, he collects and analyses data for the Regional Monitoring Report using databases, GIS and other analysis tools. His work in the economy team has focused on developing a regional economic forecasting model to support the Regional Strategy.

Bridget Williams - Office Manager

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Bridget joined the Regional Assembly in October 2001. She is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Assembly offices in Guildford and for providing information to the members and general public. Prior to this, Bridget worked for 14 years in both the telecommunications and manufacturing industries in the positions of Office Manager and National Customer Service Manager. Bridget has a BSc (Hons) in Sociology and Research.

Steve Baker - Public Relations Executive

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Steve joined the Assembly in June 2007 coming from a journalism background. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Media and Cultural Studies from Middlesex University in 2001, before gaining the NCTJ journalism qualification at Harlow College in 2004. Steve is involved in writing press releases and articles for the Assembly as well as content for its publications and website.

Neil Stanton - IT and Web Developer

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Neil joined the Regional Assembly in January 2002 and is responsible for the development, maintenance and promotion of the three Assembly websites. His skillset includes several design and development packages, as well as hand-coding in many languages used in website development. Neil is also responsible for maintaining the office computer network and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator and Technical Specialist, with knowledge of Microsoft operating systems and server software, networking and security issues, as well as anti-virus, content management and backup applications.

Since joining the Assembly, Neil has developed many areas of the site, and worked to improve interactivity and accessibility, as well as ensuring the site is consistently kept up to date. Additionally, he has been responsible for overseeing the redesign of the Assembly website (writing code for many areas of the site), developing new interactive database systems, and designing the web templates for a new regional intelligence portal for the South East.

In his IT role, Neil has been responsible for specifying and implementing a new office server network, adding functionality to existing systems and rolling out the distribution of new software packages.

Andre Schmid - Regional Planner

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Andre joined the Assembly as a regional planner in April 2008 from Slough Borough Council. He holds a Masters of Regional and Resource Planning (MRRP) and a BSc in Geography from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Andre has seven years experience working in Local Government town planning, in both the UK and New Zealand.

Andre's main focus is housing issues including the first review of the South East Plan. He is also supporting the Partial Review for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

Simon Worsfold - Media and Communications Manager

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Simon joined the Partnership Board in May 2009 after two-and-a-half years as communications manager at a London NHS trust, where he oversaw the public consultation on a £500m redevelopment of an 80-acre Victorian hospital site.

Prior to that he was a marketing manager in the pet industry and spent many years in travel: first as public relations manager for a ‘volunteer travel’ tour operator and then, more recently, as a freelance travel writer and columnist at Verge magazine. In 2006 he wrote a book called The Greatest Travel Tips in the World, which was published in 2007.

His training is in English, communications and visual art and graduated from Leeds University with a BA in History of Art in 2001.

Nick Evans - Regional Planner

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Nick joined the Partnership Board in February 2009. He holds a BA (Hons) in Planning With Transport from the University of the West of England.

Nick works as part of the transport team, focusing primarily on delivery of the DaSTS transport objectives and the work on aviation.