The rationale for international work, by the “premier” professional planning institute in the world, is firstly self interest – we benefit hugely from sharing knowledge with our international colleagues. Getting on for five per cent of our members' work internationally and come together under the International Committee and Network, chaired by Vincent Goodstadt, and managed so well for many years by Judith Eversley. There are also particular initiatives that have a global reach and for which an international effort is essential, through governments and the UN.
Secondly, we have a professional obligation to offer our skills to areas elsewhere, in greater need, and sometimes a joint international approach is a good way of doing this. You will recall that this is one of the reasons I chose LINK Community Development in Africa as my Presidential Charity.
The reason for this long introduction is that my first commitment was to meet Marni Cappe, the President elect of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Marni is a long-standing friend of the RTPI and, when her husband was Head of the Canadian Consulate in London, invited the Board to meet there to demonstrate her support for UK/Canadian co-operation.
At the meeting this week, we discussed the Global Planners Network and, interestingly, one of the global issues where the UK can offer real experience to other countries, which is in “public intervention.”
In many other countries, the private sector rules on development, often operating in partnership at the local level but not necessarily with a national government policy lead. Marni has and continues to work with the Canadian Government and, together, we might offer the Americans and others, an interesting perspective on National Government intervention, not least in the light of the stated aims of President Obama?
My final meeting was with Rynd Smith and Tino Hernandez, when we met Bob Neil, the Conservative Shadow Planning Minister and John Howell, the Conservative Shadow Communities and Local Government Minister. This was one of a series of meetings we are holding with all the political parties. The meeting, inevitably, was confidential, but you will recall that one of my presidential objectives was to increase the profile of planners and planning, and improve our influence. This type of meeting is important and others in a similar vein will follow.
The arrangements for my “Leaders of Today” and “Leaders of Tomorrow” Awards are now in place, thanks in particular to Charles Veal, our energetic Members Services Manager. The details can be found on the RTPI website at www.rtpi.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2463 – and I look forward to recognising individuals, as well as projects, who have demonstrated “Planning – delivering solutions” - my 2009 theme, during my visits.
Philippa and I left for Darwin on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, for the Australian Institute of Planners Annual Convention. I will be presenting some of the results of the Global Planners Network international planning capacity exercise, the “Self Diagnostic Tool”, so ably completed by Will French and Lucy Natarajan, and talking about international co-operation.
Above, Darwin city skyline - photo by courtesy of Tourism Australia.
I will report back and I’m sure that, like my regional and national visits, there will be plenty of scope to capture “Planning Solutions” as per my Presidential theme.
Martin
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