Making Planning Positive for All

Karen Charles

Executive Director, Boyer

Karen is an Executive Director and Head of Boyer’s Wokingham office. Karen joined Boyer in 2016, prior to which she was the Head of Cushman & Wakefield’s (formerly DTZ) London Planning Team. Karen has advised on a wide range of projects across many different sectors but more recently has predominantly advised on residential development in the Thames Valley and surrounding area. Karen has experience managing a wide range of complex projects including development within the Green Belt, brownfield regeneration, and heritage projects. Karen also advises on site promotion through the local plan process, has given evidence at Local Plan examinations, and has advised on litigation and appeal work.

Kevin Hollinrake MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government

Kevin Hollinrake is the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. He currently undertakes the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government

Paul Campbell

Chief Executive, Richborough

Paul Campbell is the award-winning chief executive of Richborough, the UK’s leading independent land promoter. The pioneering firm designs and secures market-facing and deliverable planning consents in the places they are needed, while maximising value for landowners and stakeholders. Paul is also a founding board member of the Land Planning and Development Federation (LPDF), which works to represent the industry, help shape policy and raise awareness of the housing crisis. Paul has long called for planning system reforms to enable more homes to be built. In March 2025 he was invited to a roundtable at 10 Downing Street to discuss the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Dr Victoria Hills

Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute

Victoria Hills is Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute with over 26 years experience, in senior leadership roles, most latterly in the membership sector, and in planning, transport, regeneration and regional government. Working for all three Mayors of London, she latterly led establishment of the UK’s largest regeneration project at Old Oak, setting up the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation. Using the convening role of the Royal Town Planning Institute, she advocates for resourcing planning and putting planning at the heart of delivery for quality places. She is driving forward delivery of the RTPI’s Strategic Plan for the 27,000 members both domestically and globally, focussing on raising the profile of the work of planners, reaffirming the respect for, and value of, the profession, and attracting a diverse and inclusive profession. Victoria has overseen an 8% growth in membership since joining the RTPI 2018.

David Hutchinson

Land & Planning Director, Boyer

David is a Director and Head of Boyer’s Midlands Office where his time is split between working for Boyer and for the Land & Development Team for the Group. For Boyer, David specialises in strategic land promotion for residential and commercial development. David has over 10 years of experience working in private consultancy and has managed a wide range of complex projects including large mixed-use developments delivering new homes and infrastructure across the Midlands. David excels in project and client management ensuring that all his projects are delivered with expertise, creativity and enthusiasm.