I’m Leah, a chartered transport and street engineering specialist with a keen interest in the public realm and a passion for making healthy, prosperous and inclusive places. I joined Civic in 2016 from Fore Consulting and have previously worked at Buro Happold in Leeds and Alan Baxter & Associates in London. I have worked extensively in development planning and urban regeneration for both public and private sector clients, and have provided strategic advice on transport and infrastructure solutions to support future growth. I have taken a leading role in the preparation of transport assessments, travel plans and design codes helping secure planning permission for a wide range of projects; from office and residential developments to large mixed-use masterplans and urban areas. I lead Civic's transport input on projects across the practice and I also provide advice on sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and civil engineering design. Through the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, I sit on the Climate Emergency and Quality Places and Spaces committees. I spoke about the benefits and delivery of SuDS at the 2019 International Healthy Streets Summit and have delivered training sessions on good quality street design to local authorities. Outside work I like to bake sourdough bread, go on adventures with my husband and children, and ride my bicycle. I'm the proud owner of a gold cycle helmet: partly because it acknowledges my enthusiasm for cycling and sustainable transport in general; partly because it’s a glamourous way of protecting my head in a world of boring utilitarian cycle gear, thereby representing a fundamental principle of delivering high quality in terms of form and function; partly because it sparks conversation and leads to interesting interactions on my daily commute; and mostly because it makes me look and feel like a superhero… yes?