Helen Heward is a Chartered Town Planner and is Development Planner at Exagen with 16 years experience in the planning industry across the public sector, consultancy and most recently within the renewable development sector. She has vast experience of co-ordinating and managing public engagement activities and of the planning consenting process from both the public and private sectors across renewable, residential, waste and retail developments. She is currently working on a number of solar farm and battery storage applications across the UK and is passionate about the need for early stakeholder involvement and meaningful engagement to achieve positive planning outcomes. She is also Chair of Women in Planning North East which seeks to promote diversity and inclusivity in the planning industry.