Aisling O’Loghlen

42/6 Wester Hailes Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland EH14 3AQ

Tel:  075 80329481   Email: aislingologhlen@gmail.com       Nationality: Irish

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

University of Manchester (September 2010 – September 2011)

Master of Planning (Specialing in Urban Development Planning)                                                Final Result: 2.1

·         Thesis titled “The challenge of the growing mega slums: The provision of water service in the informal settlements of Onitsha and Kisumu”.

·         Awarded an Economic and Social Research Council CLG bursary to complete the Master of Planning.

Queens University Belfast (September 2007 – September 2008)

MSc. in Environmental Management                                                                                      Final Result: 2.1

·         Thesis titled “A Study of the Effectiveness of UN Habitat’s Settlement Policies in the Cities of Bosasso, Garowe and Hargeisa, Somalia”.

University College Cork (September 2004 – June 2007)

B.A. (Hons) Degree Major in Geography, minor in Archaeology                                  Final Result: 1^st Class Honours

Publications

·         UN Habitat (2008) Gardho, Garowe and Sheikh – First Steps Towards Strategic Urban Planning, UN HABITAT

PLANNING WORK EXPERIENCE

South Lanarkshire Council Planning Dept., Lanark, Scotland –  Planning Enforcement Officer (May 2012 – November 2012)

·         Investigating and taking appropriate action (including serving statutory notices) to secure the cessation of unauthorized planning consents.

·         Monitoring of planning consents to ensure compliance with approvals and conditions; monitoring of sites on which statutory notices have been served.

·         Liaising with other sections within the Service to provide information and assistance as required. Responding to requests for information and assistance, and participating in discussions as appropriate. Provide information and advice to enforcement and planning matters to members of the general public, community and other organizations, Elected Members, developers and development agencies.

·         Processing planning, advertisement, listed building and other statutory application; providing development advice to householders, agents, developers and landowners.

·         Developing and maintaining manual computerized records, information systems and statutory registers relating to the monitoring of planning consents, complaints, enquires and enforcement activity.

·         Preparing and presenting the Council’s case at appeals, inquires and hearings. Preparation and presentation of reports to Committees and securing authorization and approval from the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service to submit cases to their website.

Laurence Gould Partnership Ltd., Edinburgh – Renewables Planning Consultant (September 2011 – May 2012)

·         Production of feasibility reports, design and access statements, environmental impact statements and supporting statements, which involve identifying the main issues of the site and collecting the relevant data (site visit, policy analysis, planning history of the site and surrounding locality).

·         Preparation and submission of appropriately detailed planning applications and appeals and the construction of informed arguments supported by planning policy.

·         Project management, keeping the clients regularly updated on the progress of the project as well as continuously monitoring applications as they go through the planning system, and also liaising between the client, planning officers and other consultants.

·         Collaborative and multi-disciplinary team building, improving communication skills when working in partnership with architects and various consultees for applications such as SNH and SEPA.

·         Production of landscape and visual impact assessments with photomontages, wireframes, ZVIs, noise reports and shadow flicker reports for wind turbine applications. This involves site visits, taking photographs, and recording specific site details and the use of WindPRO software for wind turbine applications as well as PT Mapper and ArcGIS.

Galway Co. Council Planning Department, Galway – Student Planner (June – August 2010)

·       Work shadowed various planners in the areas of development management, policy planning and enforcement planning, including completing site visits.

·         Contributed to the drafting of planners’ reports and policy documents (collating evidence base). 

·         Liaised with applicants in pre-planning consultation meetings offering strategic planning advice.

·         Proficient in MapInfo and iPlan which I used for completing pre-planning reports, validating planning applications, researching  planning histories, analysing site suitability assessments and EIA reports.

·         Operated the Galway Map Store owned by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) which involved using MapInfo to locate site maps for planning applications and print them to correct specifications.

UN HABITAT Somalia Office, Nairobi, Kenya – Planning Intern (July – September 2008)

·         Supported the Shelter and Internally Displaced People (IDP) Programme Officer in compiling a set of publications on urban development and urban planning in Somali cities.  

·         Attended community meetings which involved community micro planning and beneficiary selection.

·         Worked on projects started by other UN Interns in Mathare and Kibera Slums, teaching geography lessons in the local schools and consulting on a sanitation project underway in the slum.

·         Contributed to development of agreements, work-plans, and joint resource mobilization with key partners in urban development planning and partners from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and city networks.

·         Consulted with internal networks and SUD-NET on development with partners on the linkages between governance, planning and management with citizenship, services and infrastructure in Somali cities.

·         Researched and compiled information about key urban development aspects of the cities, and revised and finalised the existing graphic material (plans, drawings, maps, images).

·         Presented the compiled information in a publishable format (Adobe Indesign).

Clare Co. Council Planning Department, Ennis, Co. Clare – Heritage Planning Assistant (May – July 2005)

·         Assisted in the Burren Ecotourism Initiative, working on integrating and advancing community, nature conservation, archaeological and tourism initiatives that are already operating in the Burren.

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Antelope Safari Park and Gweru Orphanage, Gweru, Zimbabwe – Volunteer (September – October 2008)

·       Conducted surveys of the wild lion population, tracking spoor and taking photographs for identification.

·       Visited the local orphanage twice weekly to help teachers in their classes.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

·         Licentiate member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

INTERESTS AND ACHIEVMENTS

·         Co – founder of MUD Africa, a not–for–profit NGO whose aim is to develop sustainable housing construction methods in Malawi, specifically in slum areas.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

·         Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, Adobe Indesign, WindPRO, PT Mapper, MapInfo and ArcGIS.

·         Hold a full UK driving licence.

REFERENCES

·       Available on request.