Planning Conference 2025 Speakers

Simon Cleary

Energy Transition Director, BiGGAR Economics

Simon is an economist with 14 years of experience in assessing the economic impact of the energy transition, the relationship between the energy transition and the wider economy. He has worked on policy development for both public and private sector organisations to maximise the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition.

Neil Collar

Partner & Head of Planning Law, Brodies LLP

Experienced adviser, inquiry advocate, blogger, author and conference speaker - Neil Collar of Brodies is the only Scottish planning lawyer in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He has over 30 years’ experience of renewable energy developments. He is a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute and an accredited specialist in planning law. His textbook Planning is now in its 5th edition.

Alison Hall

Director of Project Development, SSEN Transmission

Alison Hall is Director of Project Development at SSEN Transmission. She leads the development teams that are responsible for taking SSEN Transmission’s projects from single line diagrams through early design to a fully consented, deliverable project, ready for handover to the construction teams. She is also responsible for the Land & Forestry and the Consents & Environment teams which support not only the development activities but the whole asset lifecycle of the transmission network in the north of Scotland. Alison has extensive experience in project development and execution. During her 15 years with SSE Alison has held roles across the business including Renewables (Offshore Wind) and Energy Portfolio Management (joint ventures and gas). Prior to joining SSE she worked internationally in the oil & gas industry. Originally from Ireland, she now lives in Aberdeen with her husband, three children and part-time dog.

Craig McLaren

National Planning Improvement Champion, Improvement Service

Craig McLaren is Scotland's first National Planning Improvement Champion. This role was established in the 2019 Planning Act to monitor planning performance and support improvement; to identify, share and apply good practice; and to establish strategic challenges and broker action. Craig is based in the Improvement Service and took up post in September 2023.

Prior to that he was Director of Scotland, Ireland and English Regions in the Royal Town Planning Institute; Director of the Scottish Centre for Regeneration in Communities Scotland/ Scottish Government; Chief Executive of SURF (Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum); Scottish Policy Officer at RTPI; and a planner in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Craig writes a regular column for The Planner magazine’s website called Planning Positive and is a Fellow of the RTPI, the RSA and the Academy of Social Sciences, and an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism. He has sat on the Boards of Scotland's Towns Partnership, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Greenspace Scotland, Resilient Scotland and the Jim Boyack Memorial Trust.

Suzie Saunders

Senior Policy Analyst, ScottishPower Renewables

Suzie is a planning and environmental policy professional, currently working at ScottishPower Renewables. She holds an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and a Master's in Biological Sciences. She began her career at Natural England, where she managed protected sites within Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. She then moved to the Woodland Trust Scotland, leading their successful campaign on the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). Suzie's expertise lies in the intersection of nature and renewable energy, where she is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that promote renewable energy deployment while addressing biodiversity loss.

Barry Stalker

Head of the National Planning Hub, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate, Scottish Government

Barry Stalker is Head of the National Planning Hub, which is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government and Improvement Service. Working closely with Craig McLaren, the National Planning Improvement Champion, the Hub aims to provide direct support to planning authorities, strengthening capacity and accelerating decision making and development delivery. This includes support for strategically important renewable energy applications, including for onshore wind and hydrogen, and for housing. Barry is an experienced policymaker and former analyst, and has worked in a range of policy, strategy and delivery roles in Scottish Government.

Carolyn Wilson

Onshore Head of Consents & Environment UK & Ireland, SSE Renewables

Carolyn is a chartered town planning professional with over 35 years’ experience in public and private sector, in both mixed development and infrastructure planning and consenting across the UK. Experienced in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and significant planning appeal experience including acting as expert planning witness at Inquiry and Hearings. Carolyn is a volunteer lead facilitator and trainer on community engagement for Planning Aid Scotland, with over 25 years’ experience in delivering community and stakeholder engagement. She currently leads the SSE Renewables Onshore Consents & Environment Team across the UK and Ireland and has been with SSE Renewables for over 5 years, with over 10 years' experience in renewables development.