The things I know

Planning, 1 August 2008

- Where did you study planning?

I graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in history in 1993.

- What attracted you to planning?

Travel planning seemed to be an opportunity to put great rhetorical policies into practice. Sustainable transport is achievable but only if you genuinely approach the problem in a different way. Besides, it paid better than temping at the DfT.

- What did you learn in your first job?

In my first ever employment on a building site, I learned that if you work hard your colleagues will respect you for it. At the DfT - my first job in transport - I discovered that getting things done is often more about the way that things are perceived than what they actually achieve.

- What skills have you had to learn over your career?

Project management, business planning, programme management and marketing.

- What or who have been the biggest influences on your career?

Professor David Begg, chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport, made me realise just how crucial transport policy is. Colin Mann at Transport for London (TfL) believed in me and trusted me to get the job done.

- What is your career highlight?

Recently winning the outstanding contribution to smarter travel in the London Smarter Travel Awards organised by TfL.

- What have you learned outside work that has influenced you?

I play a lot of sport and I find that the need to trust the rest of your team and support them is key to success not only in rugby but also translates to the workplace.

- What further skills do you aim to obtain or develop?

I need more financial skills.

- How important is it to keep abreast of developments in allied professions?

Essential. It allows you to find new solutions to issues in your own profession. For example, major lessons on behaviour change can be learnt from the health sector.