The Irish Planning Institute has elected Limerick based planning consultant Mary Hughes as its President for 2014-2015. 

Commenting on her election as the 29th President of the all-island Institute representing professional planners engaged in physical, spatial and environmental planning in Ireland, Hughes said: 

“It is a great honour and privilege to be elected President of the Irish Planning Institute particularly in a term which includes the 50th anniversary of professional planning in Ireland following the commencement of the Local Government (Planning & Development) Act in 1964 and the 40th anniversary of the Institute in 2015. My Presidency will focus on representing, communicating, and promoting planning and the planning profession at national level. One of the primary roles of the Institute is to ensure that Ireland has a planning system that is fit for purpose and responsive to guide development for the next fifty years. The forthcoming Planning Bill, and the input of the IPI will provide an opportunity to ensure that planning promotes a strong and viable economy, a clean and healthy environment and strong communities”.

Hughes continued “With delicate green shoots emerging and the economy showing signs of recovery it is critical that adequate resources and skills are put in place to enable the planning system and the profession to deliver to the best of its ability. I also consider it imperative to demonstrate to the public and to professionals the added value of planning and the function of planners in economic development and recovery.  It is time to holistically explain and define planning and its profession.”

I also believe that “the planning profession needs to be protected and regulated with specific reference to standards of knowledge, capability and ethical practice and that Councillors need robust and regular capacity building to deliver their planning role with confidence.  It is these beliefs will guide my challenges throughout the year” says Hughes.

Mary Hughes is a Director of HRA PLANNING town planning & environmental consultants with offices in Limerick and Dublin. She holds a MSc in Town Planning from Queen’s University Belfast and a Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment Management & SEA from University College Dublin.  Following graduation in 1996 she held planning positions in a number of planning authorities throughout the country. In 2002 she joined a multi disciplinary international planning consultancy and became an Associate Director before establishing HRA PLANNING in 2005. 

The full IPI Council for the year 2014/15 can be viewed here.