Julie Morgan

Senior Urban Designer, Stafford Borough Council,

Morgan took her degree in town and country planning at the University of Central England and went on to work in development control at Rochford District Council in Essex and at consultants GVA Grimley in Birmingham. Dealing with numerous planning applications sparked her interest in the design of places.

"Planners have such a role in influencing and changing proposals from when an application comes in to what is agreed at the end," she explains. "I had various planning jobs in councils and consultancies but I got to a point where urban design was really important to me."

Stafford's planning team gave Morgan the opportunity to study urban design part-time over two years at Oxford Brookes University. Her work at the local authority gave her

ample chance to learn and she has never looked back. "Whatever stage you are in your career it is never too late because if you are passionate about something then it is worth doing," she reflects.

A key aspect of her role is to explain and promote the value of good design. "When I think about the difference I can make to an area because of schemes I've worked on and compare that with what might have been, it drives me to do more," she adds.