Congratulations to two TPS members, Paul Hanson and Paul Kirby, who have been awarded the TPP qualification through the Senior Route.

Paul Hanson, who is a Regional Director with AECOM, not only provides technical leadership for the company’s transport modelling work but also plays a key role in the development of their younger transport planners.  Paul began his transport planning career with MVA 25 years ago, specialising in strategic planning together with the associated software, modelling and appraisal methods, and since joining AECOM has extended his work by integrating modelling with major scheme delivery requirements.

In the early stages of his career, Paul found that ‘the technical standards required of a chartered engineer were only tangentially relevant to the areas of work of most interest to me. The development of the TPP qualification was a significant step in the maturity of the transport planning profession.

When I became responsible for introducing the TPS the Professional Development Scheme (PDS) within AECOM. I decided to work towards the TPP both to demonstrate leadership and to deepen my understanding of the qualification.  AECOM now has over 40 staff working to obtain the TPP, or another professional qualification, through the PDS’.

Out of the office Paul is enjoying more leisure time with his children all at university which in the near future will be partly taken up helping to organise scoutabout, the biannual camping  event for the regions’ guides and scouts.

Paul Kirby, who is with Capita in Newcastle, started his career in highway design, joining  North Yorkshire County Council from school, before moving into traffic and transport planning.  He has since worked for both consultants and other local authorities, returning to the North East where he joined Capita Symonds through TUPE in 2010.

Paul sees award of the TPP as ‘recognition of the contribution I have made towards the profession and the breadth of knowledge and experience I have gained in the process. Despite confidence in my knowledge and ability, I have always been conscious that I do not possess the educational base, such as MSc, of many of my colleagues. Attaining TPP status has removed this doubt, as this is the highest level of professional recognition that we can achieve as transport professionals.

The Transport Planning Professional standard will help to raise the status of our profession so that we are seen in the same light as our complementary professionals. We must therefore encourage as many of our colleagues as possible to work towards and achieve TPP status as this is a key route towards raising the profile of our valuable profession’.

Out of the office, Paul enjoys music of all types and is a regular visitor to the Sage Gateshead amongst other local venues and, living in rural Northumberland he has
‘beautiful countryside in which to walk, although my sport ravaged knees reduce the challenges that I can take on and the sporting activities I can now undertake’.