Helen Brookes Martin

Planning Regulation and Online Service Manager, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

After studying geography at Manchester Metropolitan University, Brookes Martin completed a masters in civic design at the University of Liverpool. She went on to work in development control and regeneration
at three other Midlands authorities.

At Dudley, she has drawn up and put into effect an improvement plan to boost the authority's performance by working "not just faster but smarter". She has also organised the council's web-based planning service, which improves contact between applicants, planners and the public.

Brookes Martin is due back to work from maternity leave in January. "I enjoy planning because it has massive variety, even more so now that the system is changing," she says. "I meet a lot of people and there are huge opportunities to go a long way."

Last year she was elected Young Planner of the Year in a poll of Royal Town Planning Institute members. "There were few women in the office and very few at management level when I began my career in planning, so it is a big compliment. It is really nice to get the recognition," she says.