Joanne Hooper receives her Tomorrow’s Leader award
from RTPI President Martin Willey.

Drivers Jonas employee Joanne Hooper has scooped the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) West Midlands’ inaugural Tomorrow’s Leader Award 2009.

Joanne (26) who works as a planner within Drivers Jonas’ Birmingham office is the first recipient of the award, initiated by the President of the RTPI, in order to recognise future planning leaders.

Chair of the RTPI’s Young Planners Group in the West Midlands, Joanne is an active member of the planning community, driving forward Group activities and regularly hosting events for the 300 strong Young Planners, alongside contributing to industry publications.

“She has already shown great enthusiasm, dedication and leadership in her current role at Drivers Jonas”

A popular member of the Drivers Jonas team, Joanne was nominated for the award by John Acres, director of planning at Catesby Property and Gary Cardin, head of Drivers Jonas in Birmingham:

“Jo shows all the signs of being a first class leader of the future within the planning world,” commented Gary Cardin.  “She has already shown great enthusiasm, dedication and leadership in her current role at Drivers Jonas and provides an important role in mentoring and providing regular support to graduate members of the team.

Jo is highly valued as a member of the Birmingham team and we are thrilled that the commitment she demonstrates towards colleagues, clients and the RTPI has been formerly recognised.”

RTPI President, Martin Willey added:  “I’m delighted that Joanne has been awarded the inaugural Tomorrow’s Leader award. These awards were established to recognise the outstanding contributions of planners to their profession and Joanne’s award is fitting as she has played a leading role in driving forward innovative initiatives in her roles as Chair of the West Midlands Young Planners and at Drivers Jonas. The future of planning looks bright with people like this leading the way.”

A geography graduate from University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Joanne, who lives in Harborne, joined Drivers Jonas as a planner in December 2007 from King Sturge, Birmingham.  Joanne is currently involved in a range of projects across the UK including a large marina scheme in Kings Lynn, a retail led development in Bath and a large scale mixed-use redevelopment scheme in Stechford.

“The hard work of the other six members of the RTPI Young Planners Core Group is central to the success”

“Being nominated by both a member of the RTPI Regional Activities Committee and my own company was a real compliment and having invested so much time in RTPI activities it is great to have my efforts recognised,” commented Joanne.  “The hard work of the other six members of the RTPI Young Planners Core Group is central to the success we have in the Midlands and the RTPI West Midlands Regional Activities Committee has also provided much support both financially and in promoting and attending our events.

I am delighted to have received the award and hope the career achievements and enjoyment that I have gained through being a member of both Drivers Jonas and the RTPI will encourage more young people to consider careers within the planning industry.”

Drivers Jonas has developed a strong support network to guide licentiate members of the RTPI through the Assessment of Professional competence (APC), which takes between 1-2 years following MSc planning qualification.  The company regularly hosts in-house workshops and focus groups at which licentiates, mentors, assessors and line managers can discuss ways to support licentiates through the process in order to achieve a high success rate in joining the RTPI.