RTPI names new chief executive

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has announced Victoria Hills will become its next chief executive.

Ms Hills, currently chief executive officer for the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) regeneration project, will take up her new role in April.

She will replace the current chief executive, Trudi Elliott, who steps down at the end of March to focus on new projects after more than seven years in the job.

Ms Hills has more than 20 years’ experience working at senior levels in planning and transport, and has been chief executive at the OPDC since June 2015.

The OPDC is the local planning authority and regeneration agency for the 650-hectare site in west London and is the second Mayoral Development Corporation in the capital, alongside the London Legacy Development Corporation.

The corporation aims to deliver 25,500 new homes and 65,000 jobs on the west London site. Construction work on the first 600 homes on the Oaklands site at Old Oak started in September.

‘It has been my great privilege to have had the opportunity to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation and to lead an enthusiastic and skilled team with whom I have been able to create a vision and framework for delivering this enormously complex project,’ said Ms Hills.

‘I’m thrilled to be joining the RTPI at such an important time for planning,’ she added.

‘I’m looking forward to making a positive difference, to put planning centre stage. I’m excited by the future opportunities this role will bring and I can’t wait to work with all the excellent staff, volunteers and members.’

The chair of the RTPI board of trustees, Graham Stallwood, said: ‘Victoria’s leadership, understanding and passion for planning combined with her impressive record of advocacy, partnership and influencing stands out.

‘Victoria joins us as our membership is fast approaching 25,000 and our research and policy work is having increasing impact and influence.  She will be a powerful addition to our campaign promoting the value of planners and planning both in the UK and internationally.’