Early Years Practitioners

NIPA EYPs has been established as a special interest group within NIPA to create an accessible way into NIPA and provide opportunities for early years practitioners to develop their knowledge of infrastructure planning and network with those working in the area.

The group welcomes members from all backgrounds and focuses on organising events as well as learning and development sessions for those with up to 10 years of Nationally Significant Infrastructure experience. Recent examples include collaborative seminars and site visits to projects in delivery. The EYP Steering Group also arranges networking and engagement/outreach sessions and socials. We have also recently launched a mentoring programme to support those in their professional career and development journey.

The group is intended to help widen engagement with potential members of NIPA and works closely with the NIPA leadership team. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with any of our members below.

Members of the EYP Steering Group

Luke Thurley

Co-Chair, EYP Steering Group

Luke Thurley, Associate, Volterra Partners and NIPA EYP Steering Group Co-Chair: 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.

Alex Higgin

Co-Chair, EYP Steering Group

Alex Higgin, Associate, Quod and NIPA EYP Steering Group Co-Chair: 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.

Odette Chalaby

Secretary, EYP Steering Group

Odette is a barrister at Landmark Chambers specialising in planning, infrastructure, and environmental law. She has advised on a number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects for promoters, local authorities and objectors and is currently involved in DCOs relating to airports and energy developments. She has particular experience in solar and has promoted more than 10 utility scale solar and battery schemes through the planning inquiry process. Odette is an elected trustee of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and is ranked by Planning Magazine as one of the top planning barristers under 35 in the country.

Ruth Taylor

Ruth is a Senior Associate in the planning team at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP and has experience advising on the consenting and delivery of major infrastructure projects, predominantly in the energy, water and transport sector. She works with clients on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious planning, including environmental impact assessments, habitats regulations, compulsory purchase and judicial reviews. Ruth also brings her experience from client secondments to Southern Water and the Government Legal Department (MHCLG).

Lucia Maclachlan

Lucia is principal planner at Arup. She began her career in communications, specialising in creating communications and engagement campaigns for complex and contentious infrastructure projects. Now a chartered planner, she works at the centre of Arup’s infrastructure team, focusing on consenting NSIPs and SIPs across England and Wales and specialising in energy and transport, from site selection to operation. She also supports Arup’s advisory team, working on behalf of clients to advocate for policy and legislative changes aiming to add value to infrastructure consenting and delivery.

Alicia Merricks

Alicia 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. She has experience of promoting DCO applications for the approval of major transport and energy infrastructure projects and has also acted for multiple interested third parties to DCO schemes.

Lottie Townsend

Lottie is an account director at Camargue, an award-winning employee-owned communications and stakeholder engagement consultancy. Lottie began her career in stakeholder engagement, working on projects at a local and regional level through the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA). Now, she specialises in planning and stakeholder communications, public affairs, and community relations across major UK infrastructure projects. Her consultation and engagement consultancy supports Development Consent Orders (DCOs) in the energy and transport mix. In addition to infrastructure experience, Lottie also has corporate/B2B clients, meaning she brings skills ranging from crisis communications and media management to profile raising and brand strategy. She provides expert consultancy to Camargue’s clients, with a keen eye on delivering strategies that create more inclusive and meaningful engagement.

Tom Beckford

Tom Beckford, National Grid: 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.

Sophie Young

Sophie Young, Consents and Environment Lead, Associated British Ports: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Orla Downs

Social Media, EYP Steering Group

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.

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.