Early Years Practitioners
Tom Beckford
Co-Chair, EYP Steering Group
Tom Beckford, National Grid and NIPA EYP Steering Group Co-Chair:
Tom is a communications professional responsible for the delivery of stakeholder and community engagement across National Grid’s major projects. With over seven years’ experience, he has successfully led the delivery of consultation and communications on a range of major energy and transport NSIPs during both consent and construction. Tom also serves as the Co-Chair of the NIPA Early Years Practitioners (EYP) Steering Group.
Read More >Sophie Young
Co-Chair, EYP Steering Group
Sophie Young, Consents and Environment Lead, Associated British Ports and Co-Chair, NIPA EYP Steering Group Co-Chair: Sophie is a highly motivated and experienced marine and landside consenting professional working as part of a successful capital projects team. Responsible for securing and delivering consents for port infrastructure development to support the strategic growth of the business. Successful track-record of consent delivery and management across a diverse portfolio of high value port development projects spanning the DCO, HRO, Town Planning and Marine Licensing regimes. Sophie also serves as the Co-Chair of the NIPA Early Years Practitioners (EYP) Steering Group.
Read More >Olivia Henshall
Olivia Henshall, Associate (Energy and Infrastructure Planning), Pinsent Masons: Olivia is a planning lawyer experienced in advising clients on all aspects of infrastructure planning across the water, energy and transport sectors. Olivia’s experience includes advising promoters and interested parties on the Planning Act 2008 regime, advising on judicial review legal challenges and advising on the Hybrid Bill and parliamentary process. Olivia brings her experience from client secondments to Southern Water and Heathrow Airport to her work advising infrastructure clients on the successful consenting and delivery of projects. Olivia is also the Secretary of NIPA EYPs, having been involved since it started in 2021.
Read More >Alex Higgin
Alex Higgin, Associate, Quod: Alex is a Chartered Town Planner and an Associate in Quod’s Infrastructure team. She primarily focuses on consenting NSIPs via the Planning Act 2008, with particular specialisation in renewable energy projects including solar and offshore wind. Her experience spans from project inception to implementation. Alongside her consultancy work she has an in-house Planning and EIA Work Package Manager role at EDF Renewables, as part of their DCO programme.
Read More >Daisy Noble
Daisy Noble, Barrister, Francis Taylor Building: Daisy was called to the Bar in 2015 and has been a member of Francis Taylor Building since 2018. Daisy practices in planning, infrastructure and compulsory purchase and compensation and has advised on a number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects since joining Chambers. Daisy was involved in the team promoting Sizewell C nuclear power station and is currently acting for National Grid in relation to a number of projects that will be the subject of a DCO application. Daisy also has experience acting for a number of statutory undertakers and other businesses in respect of the impact of NSIPs on their existing infrastructure and businesses.
Read More >Jess Bere
Jessica Bere, Technical Director, Gateley Hamer: Jess is a Chartered and Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer who has been specialising in promotion of Compulsory Purchase powers in relation to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
She advises developers on the lands elements when promoting of Development Consent Orders schemes, this has included advising Low Carbon on Gate Burton Energy Park, Springwell Solar Farm for EDF Renewables. This includes the acquisition of land required for the Scheme, drafting of the Statement of Reasons, Schedules of Negotiation and advising on the use of Compulsory Purchase powers once granted.
Read More >Jo Camille-St.Marie
Jo Camille-St.Marie, Solicitor, National Grid: Joanna is a Solicitor at National Grid in the Property and Planning team. With experience in planning law, compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and Nationally significant Infrastructure Projects (including the Yorkshire Green DCO), she has developed expertise in navigating complex legal issues in the planning and development space. She has a particular interest in Biodiversity Net Gain and community benefits and is committed to ensuring that solutions support both environmental and community goals.
Read More >Orla Downs
Orla Downs, Senior Engagement Consultant, Ardent: Orla began her career in planning and transport planning, working on projects at both local and national levels. Now specialising in engagement, she leverages her in-depth understanding of the planning process to deliver robust, best-practice engagement strategies, with a strong focus on innovation. Orla has extensive experience supporting Development Consent Orders (DCOs) in the energy sphere, and major transport projects under the Transport and Works Act Order consenting route. She provides expert consultancy to both private and public sector developers, going beyond legal compliance to redefine best practice and create more inclusive, transparent, and meaningful engagement—bringing communities into the heart of the planning process.
Read More >Luke Thurley
Luke Thurley, Associate, Volterra Partners: Luke is an economist and Associate at Volterra Partners LLP. He has over seven years’ experience in economic impact modelling and economic strategies. His interests lie in understanding the links between policy interventions and the economic environment, with specific skills in econometric modelling, socio-economic assessments and community benefits. Luke’s national infrastructure experience spans from promoting and opposing DCOs in transport and freight, to more recently supporting a range of renewable energy projects across the UK. He is well versed in public speaking and has given evidence at public inquiry and issue specific hearings.
Read More >Will Shayshutt
Will Shayshutt, Junior Project Development Manager, Tribus Clean Energy: William is a project developer supporting the progression of renewable energy projects at both the NSIP and TCPA level as the applicant. William's experience has been in supporting developers and applicants in obtaining consent for their DCOs across transport and water sectors.
Read More >Celestia Godbehere
Celestia Godbehere, RenewableUK: Celestia co-leads the Offshore Wind Industry Council's Environment and Consents team within RenewableUK, and currently sits on the NIPA EYP Steering Group. Celestia's work for OWIC includes leading the delivery of the Pathways to Growth workstreams which collaboratively resolve the top challenges for offshore wind consenting. Previously Celestia worked in Orsted's Environment and Consents team on a range of UK offshore wind projects, specialising in the delivery of Habitats Regulations Assessment compensation and other strategic environment matters. Celestia is motivated by the positive role infrastructure can have in meeting parallel net zero and nature recovery ambitions.
Read More >Henry Jeffreys
Henry Jeffreys, Associate, DLA Piper: Henry works in the Development and Infrastructure Planning team at DLA Piper and advises on a variety of development planning, infrastructure and compulsory purchase work in relation to the consent regimes under both the Planning Act 2008 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. He has experience of promoting DCO applications for the approval of major transport and energy infrastructure projects and has also acted in relation to drafting statutory schemes overseas
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