MSP Research Network

I am a qualified Town Planner with over five years’ experience working within marine licensing for the Marine Management Organisation, two of which were gained at management level. I have extensive knowledge of offshore wind consenting in the UK and have worked on the regulatory side of several offshore wind farms and other offshore Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. This has been gained at all stages of the consenting process including post-consent conditions discharge. In addition I have extensive onshore planning experience gained through numerous undergraduate and postgraduate teaching assignments, including within planning policy and sustainable development.

I now work in private consultancy as a Senior Environmental Consultant, specializing in both on and offshore renewables.

My PhD thesis entitled “Governance, Decision Making and Publicness in Marine Space” draws heavily on my previous regulatory and EIA experience and has given me the opportunity to develop my understanding of stakeholder engagement within the offshore consenting process and in particular the policy drivers which apply to the offshore energy generation market. This has included extensive research into offshore consenting legislation, EIA and the marine licensing and Development Consent Order process. As my PhD draws to a close I am excited to be able to apply my research within a professional context. Whilst academia has given me unique opportunities to develop knowledge in this field I am keen to return to offshore consenting and the dynamics of the private sector.