Zoë has a MA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc (with distinction) in Urban and Regional Planning at Heriot Watt University in 2006, during which she undertook her dissertation on the possibility of ‘culture change’ in the reformed Scottish planning system. Zoë has been with URS Scott Wilson for over 5 years and in that time has been involved in a wide range of planning and environment work. Zoë’s main experience has centred on project managing large national infrastructure projects including a number of trunk road improvements schemes and railway projects such as the Airdrie to Bathgate railway where she provided both planning and environmental advice. Zoë has provided support at a number of long running Public Local Inquiries and has also been involved in a range of community consultation exercises from in-depth stakeholder interviews to more innovative community consultation forums and public exhibitions. Zoë has also gained experience in policy work, providing support early in her career to a review of the General Permitted Development Order and has co-authored the Guidance on Outdoor Access Management Plans for Scottish Natural Heritage. She has also been involved in producing design statements, namely for a regeneration study in Fife and also for the restoration of Duthie Park, a Victorian park in Aberdeen and has prepared Land Use Framework and Development Briefs for a number of large mixed use settlements in Scotland.
Zoë is currently chair of the RTPI's Scottish Young Planners Network and has been a member of the steering group for over 4 years. The main activities of SYPN include organisation of an annual conference, networking and CPD events, APC workshops, cross-discipline events, production of a newsletter and liaison with the RTPI Chapters and Planning Aid to support other events. In addition SYPN speaks as a voice for young planners to the RTPI President, Ministers, the Scottish Government's Chief Planner and the Heads of Planning Scotland.