Meet our trainers

 Izindi Visagie LLB, MBA, LARTPI is a solicitor who worked in the planning legal teams at Local Authorities at Bromley, Kensington and Chelsea and Harrow before setting up Ivy Legal. Izindi has a hands-on approach to client work, and is as experienced on an early morning raid as she is as advocate at public inquiry. Izindi’s experience within local authorities means that she fully understands the needs of her LPA clients and the subtle interaction of politics, policies, resourcing and legal requirements that bedevil planning enforcement.  

Izindi is a member of the RTPI's Education and Lifelong Learning Committee and is the London and South East Representative for NAPE, the RTPI's network group for Planning Enforcement.

Mike established his independent planning consultancy, MH Planning Associates, in 2009.  Prior to this, from 2002, he worked at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.  As Enforcement Planning Officer he was initially tasked with the development of the newly formed authority's enforcement and monitoring function, which he went on to manage.  He was subsequently seconded to the position of Planning Service Improvement Officer, with his responsibilities including the implementation of e-Planning and the provisions of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006.  Mike now has over 35 years' planning experience in both development management and enforcement, he even tried planning policy for a short time!  He began his planning journey at the Lake District National Park Authority and Eden District Council.  Before discovering planning he had a eclectic range of jobs and other professional experience that he can now draw on includes structural and civil engineering, historic buildings and nature conservation, surveying and architecture.  For over 10 years he delivered training through Trevor Roberts Associates, specialising on planning enforcement.  He also ran the TRA Certificated Course on Planning Enforcement at Madingley Hall in Cambridge.

Ros discovered planning whilst at school through a friend's Dad who worked in Local Plans and thinks inspiring and leading planners is critical to the profession's future.  Having avoided becoming a geography teacher, her career began 25 years ago in the private sector, based in Manchester and Leeds and specialising in commercial planning. A new job facilitated a move back to Devon and for 15 years she worked in policy and major projects before leading an LPA Development Management team. 

In 2024 she established Eastman Planning Services and as well as undertaking consultancy work for private and public sector clients she enjoys delivering training with a focus on Development Management. Working for herself has enabled Ros to give back to the profession in other ways including being an APC Assessor and a member of the General Assembly and the Education and Lifelong learning committee of the RTPI.

Ahsan is a qualified and chartered town planner with over 20 years of practical experience. He has worked in private and public sector. Since 2007 he was a Planning Inspector rising to Professional Lead at The Planning Inspectorate. He trained and managed inspectors and led/developed continued professional development training and quality assurance systems for the appeals service. His expertise is enforcement, planning, community infrastructure levy, prior approvals, tree preservation and high hedge appeals and procedures. 

Ingrid Smith holds an Honours degree with economics, town and regional planning. She has over 11 years' experience managing a LPA enforcement team and her achievements include overhauling and improving the service, developing a model for financial independence, assisting the development of a new case management system and contributing to an award winning  'Beds in Sheds' project. At Ivy Legal Ingrid works with a number of different LPAs managing enforcement projects, regularly gives evidence in planning prosecutions and public inquiries and hosts Ivy Legal’s annual Introduction to Planning Enforcement training event. 

Neill Whittaker MRTPI holds a Masters degree in Planning Policy and Practice. He is immediate past Chairman of NAPE and has over 15 years’ experience working in planning enforcement, having previously managed the enforcement teams at Runnymede & Hertsmere Borough Councils and LB of Waltham Forest along with the delivery of the existing service for LB Ealing. Neill is an extremely effective service manager & problem solver,  dealing personally with more complex prosecutions and appeals. His  authoritative knowledge of planning enforcement satisfies landowners, complainants, managers and inspectors alike.

Roderick Morton is a partner in Ivy Legal. He holds a BA(Oxon) in law. He has been a solicitor for 23 years and was previously a partner at international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Roderick provides legal review support to our planners, prepares appeals and acts as advocate. Roderick provides an extensive and deep understanding of planning law and his first class legal brain has ensured that our approach to appeals is robust and successful.