Orla Downs appointed Co-chair of NIPA Early Years Practitioners Steering Group

We are delighted to announce that Orla Downs, Principal Consultant at Ardent, has been appointed Co-chair of the National Infrastructure Planning Association’s (NIPA) Early Years Practitioners (EYP) Steering Group. 

The appointment recognises Orla’s contribution to the infrastructure planning profession and her commitment to supporting collaboration, knowledge-sharing and professional development across the sector. 

NIPA’s EYP group provides a forum for people in the first ten years of their careers to learn, build their professional networks and share their experiences and ideas. Its activities are overseen by a multidisciplinary Steering Group representing the breadth of expertise involved in planning and delivering nationally significant infrastructure. 

Orla has a background in planning and transport planning, now specialising in stakeholder engagement and communications. Her understanding of the planning process enables her to develop robust engagement strategies that help projects build understanding, strengthen relationships and create meaningful opportunities for people to participate. 

Orla has been an active member of the NIPA EYP Steering Group for the last couple of years and previously supported the group as EYP Communications Officer. Her appointment as Co-chair provides an opportunity to build on that experience, helping shape the group’s future programme and ensuring it continues to respond to the needs of professionals developing their careers across the sector. 

On her appointment, Orla said: 

“I am delighted to take on the role of Co-Chair and to continue supporting the NIPA EYP community. 

“The infrastructure planning profession brings together people from a wide range of disciplines, and the EYP network creates valuable opportunities for those at earlier stages of their careers to learn from one another, build relationships and contribute their ideas. 

“I am looking forward to working with the Steering Group and the wider NIPA membership to build on that work and create an engaging and inclusive programme for members.” 

Tom Hacker, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications at Ardent, said: 

“We are incredibly proud of Orla’s appointment, which reflects her expertise, enthusiasm and commitment to supporting others within the infrastructure planning profession. 

“Effective engagement is rooted in listening, creating opportunities for different perspectives to be heard and helping people participate with confidence. Orla brings those qualities to her work every day, and they will be enormously valuable as she helps lead the EYP Steering Group.” 

Congratulations to Orla on this fantastic achievement!