Speakers

Odette is a Planning and Environmental specialist, practising at No5 Barristers’ Chambers, and an elected trustee of UKELA. Her practice includes the promotion of minerals operations, solar schemes and residential development. She regularly advises developers and local authorities on topics such as biodiversity net gain, the role of climate change in determining applications, and environmental impact assessment.
She has acted as junior counsel at a number of major public inquiries, including a two-week inquiry concerning the proposed extraction of 1.5 million tonnes of sand and gravel at Straitgate Farm in Devon, which involved complex questions around hydrogeology, private water supplies, need, highways, ecology, and heritage.

Christina joined Devon County Council as a Graduate Planner in 2008 and has since gained a wide variety of experience in planning policy. She was appointed as Principal Planning Officer – Minerals and Waste Policy in August 2019. In this role Christina represented Devon County Council at the South West Aggregate Working Party, was responsible for the preparation of the Local Aggregate Assessment and coordinated input for the 2019 Aggregate Mineral Survey. In November 2021 Christina commenced a secondment at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as Minerals and Waste Team Leader.

A love of rocks led to studying Applied Geology at University of Sunderland and then to Leicester University for an MSc in Mineral Exploration I began a planning career at Warwickshire County Council as a Mineral Policy Planner. Moving to the Environment agency as a regional planner I work on East and West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategies before becoming a Planning Team Leader and then Climate Change lead in West Midlands Area.  I now work for the EAs National Planning Team as a Senior Advisor on Local Nature Recovery Strategies and continue to represent the EA UK Minerals Forum and the West Midlands Aggregate Working Party as well being a member of the Town and Country Planning Association’s Policy Council in a personal capacity.   

James Dodds is a Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying. He is a nationally recognised expert in the water management and water resources hydrogeology of mines and quarries, boasting over 35 years of experience.

In recent years, James has led a team of regulatory specialists at Envireau Water, heavily involved in the changes to the abstraction licensing rules, both at policy and practical application levels. The team prepared some 140 licence applications under the 2017 regulations, driving the determination of licences up and down the country.

Andrew joined Flintshire in 2009 as Head of Planning having previously held a similar role at Cheshire East Council.  He has over 25 years of public sector experience predominantly working in minerals and waste planning for unitary and County Councils in the north and south of England. He commissioned the establishment of the North Wales Minerals and Waste Shared Service in 2011. Since joining Flintshire, Andrew’s role has expanded to take on the management of the Public Protection and Economic Development and Regeneration functions.  He is also the Council’s lead officer for carbon reduction activities.  Andrew was Chair of Planning Officers Society for Wales for a number of years and was involved in the Independent Advisory Group which informed the Wales Planning Bill.

Richard is recognised as a leading practitioner in planning and environmental law, advising and appearing in residential, minerals, waste, energy, and infrastructure proposals, and frequently in environmental litigation. He has appeared recently at some of the largest and most complex plan examinations and advised on major strategic proposals for  FTSE 100 minerals and waste companies operating throughout England and Wales, including: EfW, aggregates, PFA, specialist block, cement, high PSV, including complex ROMP, Habitats and MWFSA cases.

Karen Hanghøj is the Director of the British Geological Survey. She is a geologist with extensive experience in research and innovation management and the minerals and metals industry. Karen is passionate about understanding the complexity of resource management, about environmental and social sustainability, and about the role of geoscience in finding solutions to societal challenges.

Karen holds a PhD in Geology from University of Copenhagen and has worked with research on geological processes in the lower crust and mantle and their associated mineral deposits, before taking senior leadership roles in research and innovation organisations. She is a member of a range of international committees and working groups.

Having initially trained as a geologist and with a post-graduate qualification in environmental planning, Nick has worked in minerals planning for 40 years.  With management experience in local authority, consultancy and the minerals industry, Nick has extensive knowledge of EIAs, development management, policy formulation and local plan examinations.  He has been with the Mineral Products Association for the past 7 years with a broad portfolio covering industrial minerals, aggregates and MPA Wales.  Nick is Director of the Silica and Moulding Sands Association (SAMSA) and sits on the Board of EUROSIL.

Lisa Kirby-Hawkes is Development Planning Manager at Hampshire County Council. She has held a variety of roles in the minerals field including monitoring, enforcement and planning policy.  She currently leads the development management, monitoring and enforcement functions which includes also traded service contracts with other authorities. She also feeds into the development of minerals and waste policy.

Lisa has been working with the Minerals Products Association (on behalf of Minerals and Waste Planning Officers Society (MWPOS)) on the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain. She is also part of a MWPOS working group looking at recruitment and retention issues in planning.

Kirsty Kirkham is a Director of BSG Ecology. Kirsty has been working with the minerals industry for 30 years.

Kirsty has a successful track record of finding innovative biodiversity gain solutions using the Biodiversity Metric for a sector that does not naturally fit with the Metric led approach. She is a member of the MPA Biodiversity and Nature Conservation (BANC) group involved in minerals sector biodiversity gain guidance and national case study preparation. Kirsty wishes to help the minerals industry ‘get ready’ for mandatory biodiversity gain, understanding the key issues and opportunities it faces, so that it continues to deliver positive biodiversity outcomes.

Alex is a Director at Burges Salmon LLP (Partner from May 2023), acting on a wide range of projects for developers, landowners, and local authority clients.  Alex has particular experience in the consenting of energy and infrastructure projects (including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) and advising on the compulsory purchase process (including compensation claims).  He has a history of acting on developments relating to mines and minerals: either promoting extraction schemes or advising those with sterilised reserves.  He is a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association, and a representative for the firm at the Mineral Products Association.

David is Senior Planning Advisor to the Mineral Products Association.  He is also secretary of the CBI Minerals Group which recently produced the UK Mineral Strategy.

He also works as a consultant for Cissbury Consulting and BPP Consulting for a range of clients.  Previously he was planning manager for the South East England Regional Assembly, and also worked for the Environment Agency and the RSPB.

David has a degree in Biology and Masters in Urban and Regional Planning (MRTPI).  His interests include playing and watching football, mountain biking and natural history.  He lives with his family in Hove.

Lindsey is a chartered town planner with over 30 years experience in planning, design and delivery, primarily working in the public sector. Lindsey’s previous roles included leading the planning team at Milton Keynes Partnership, responsible for the expansion of Milton Keynes and introducing the Milton Keynes Tariff.  Lindsey moved to English Partnerships (now Homes England) in 2009 to head up the delivery team in the Midlands. 

Lindsey’s last role was Head of Planning and Profession at Homes England, Lindsey was responsible for driving design quality standards and oversaw the introduction of a community engagement strategy and toolkit to support Homes England projects. 

Lindsey stepped down from her role at Homes England in April 2023.

Lindsey is a member of the General Assembly of the RTPI, vice chair of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee and became a Fellow in 2018.   She will start her presidential year in January 2024.

Lindsey is a Trustee for Design: Midlands

Mark Russell is an Executive Director of the Mineral Products Association (MPA), the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries in Great Britain. Alongside responsibility for planning and mineral resource issues, Mark is also Director of the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA), the representative body for the UK marine aggregate sector. He has worked in the minerals industry for 25 years, following previous experience gained in the ports sector and an environmental consultancy. Mark holds a degree in marine geography from the University of Wales, College Cardiff and a Masters degree in marine resource development and protection from Heriot-Watt University.

Harry is the RTPI’s Infrastructure Specialist. He holds an MA in International Political Economy and a BA in Politics, Policy and Economics from the University of Birmingham. Harry has previously worked in strategy and communications consultancy with a specialisation in nationally significant infrastructure projects and transport planning. At the RTPI, Harry manages the Transport Planning Network and leads on research projects including Green Growth Boards and Planning Agencies. 

Clive is a renowned and respected archaeologist, author, as well as a businessman. He has worked in archaeology for 30 years covering various commercial roles as well as roles for Historic England, a lectureship at the University of Newcastle and then founding (2004) and running award-winning Archaeological Research Services Ltd, a sector-leading consultancy and contracting company. Clive was a lead member of the Minerals and Historic Environment Forum since its early formation in 2006 and lead author on various iterations of Minerals and Archaeology guidance documents. He has appeared regularly on television and radio, from live BBC News and the Today Programme to Christmas Auntie’s Bloomers!