Young Planner of the Year - Winner 
Bart Shirm
Making the move from working at a global real estate firm to a local authority was hard. It took tenacity and self confidence to go against the prevailing direction of the job market and accept a role that felt right for me in the face of a mixed reaction from experienced practitioners in my network. I am so glad I made the move. Working at Sandwell Council has reignited a passion for town planning I first kindled at university. In roles as a Regeneration Officer and now a Senior Planning Policy Officer I have experienced first hand the impact planners have on the communities they serve and how planning done right has immense power for good.