I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Part of my early career was in the co-operative movement, both in a worker co-operative and in a co-operative support agency. Later on I worked in local authorities in the south-east and West Midlands, responsible for economic development, regeneration, and latterly sustainable development.

My Fellowship, looking at the creation of small businesses, was in the United States during this period. It was an important element in my choice of career and in providing international experience in the roles I had.

Since retiring I have chaired a number of national charities in the arts and environment fields and have acted as a consultant, particularly in the small museums sector. I still write a regular column for the magazine Town and Country Planning, on planning, sustainability, regeneration and related topics.