Like a handful of my fellow Storytellers I studied Geography at university. I loved it, especially learning about and understanding the relationships between people and their urban environments and rural landscapes. But I had no real concept of any careers that could put Geography into practice. So when I graduated I went into "industry" to learn about business, pay off some student debts and in the process qualify as a Management Accountant. I didn't have a clear long term plan. After five years of valuable and diverse experience – managing brands including Vicks Vaporub, Old Spice and Fixodent denture cream (!), trying to implement a major IT project, and running the finances of Tesco's trucks and warehouses – it was time for a change. 

I grew up in rural Northumberland and Cumbria, and while living in London, had become fascinated with its complex dynamics, the endless possibilities for new experiences and exploration, and the challenges of making the city work for its people. I heard a new term - "urban regeneration" - and wanted to study it. Richard Rogers' Urban Task Force had just published "Towards an Urban Renaissance", a manifesto for the successful redevelopment and socio-economic transformation of our post-industrial cities. So I left my job at Tesco HQ and studied Urban Regeneration at The Bartlett School of Planning. My tutor was a legendary Geographer, Sir Peter Hall, a compelling storyteller. I loved learning about the intricate process of masterplanning whole pieces of city; and realised that in many ways, designing good buildings and the spaces in between, is the easy bit. It's often much harder to achieve meaningful and lasting socio-economic improvements for local people.   

Much of my work since the Bartlett has been about forging and managing partnerships to deliver major new city quarters. In 12 years at Lendlease I was lucky to be involved in 3 of London's largest regeneration projects – Stratford City, Greenwich Peninsula and Elephant & Castle. After Lendlease, I spent a decade at Stanhope and worked on Television Centre, the new British Library extension and led Royal Street, a 2 million sqft mixed-use project next to Waterloo Station. Major projects are high profile and challenging but smaller projects can allow you to establish stronger relationships and a broader, deeper understanding of place and local needs. These included partnering with an order of monks to deliver a new secondary school and new homes in Battersea, and working with a community gardening club to secure, design and build them a new base.  

I'm married and have 3, almost grown up, children and when time allows we tend to head for mountains to walk, run, swim, ski, cycle, and camp. I'm also a trustee and the treasurer of my local Scout group, which does amazing work giving young people the chance to spend time outdoors learning new skills, resilience and fostering their sense of community.  

It's great to have joined Stories – not just for the fellow Geographers – but because of the commitment to social impact through property, which reflects my own motivation for work.