Rachel Fisher, Deputy Director for Food at the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to become Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Following a rigorous selection process, the outgoing and incoming chairs of the RTPI Board of Trustees have announced that Rachel Fisher will take up the CEO position in 2026.
Prior to her position as Deputy Director for food strategy and security, Rachel spent five years as Deputy Director of land use policy, bringing in biodiversity net gain and the land use framework for England.
Rachel has experience in the Cities and Local Growth Unit, within the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy and Local Strategy, where she led on regeneration projects, from high streets to HS2 growth strategies.
An associate member of the Institute for 15 years, and with time spent working at the National Housing Federation, Rachel has a broad knowledge of the built environment, both in and outside of Government.
Following a brief interim period in early 2026, Rachel will take up her post in March 2026.
Rachel will replace Dr Victoria Hills, who spent eight years as CEO of the RTPI. Victoria started her position as CEO of the Chartered Institute of Building in January 2026.
Rachel Fisher, incoming Chief Executive said: “I am delighted to take up the role of Chief Executive of the RTPI at such an important time for the profession. I’ve worked in the built environment for 25 years, the last 9 in central government, where I have seen first-hand the important role that planning and planners play in shaping the places in which we live.
“Of all the built environment professions - and there are many - the Planner sits at the centre of an intricate web between local people, newcomers to a community, and the developers, the change makers, who are looking to build infrastructure and homes.
“Importantly, the planner operates in the public interest - whether in the public or the private sector. I believe that this is the core value of the profession. The differentiator that creates the credibility of the institute and our members.
“I look forward to working with the RTPI Team, the Board, our Presidential team, and of course members to turn the vision and mission of the 2030 strategy into reality. Finally, I want to thank Dr Victoria Hills for her leadership and legacy over the last 8 years.
Outgoing chair of the Board of Trustees, Meeta Kaur, said: “I am delighted to appoint Rachel to the chief executive post at the RTPI and have absolute faith in her ability to lead the organisation while the planning system is undergoing a thorough overhaul. She brings with her a long history of experience in the built environment and the civil service, so is well equipped to take the institute forward.
“I have confidence that she will continue the work of her predecessors and take the institute from strength to strength.”
Incoming chair of the Board of Trustees, Elle Cass, said: “I am looking forward to working with Rachel as we start on this new period for the institute. Planning has never been more important to the Government than it is now, so Rachel’s experience of both Government policy and the built environment will help the institute navigate all that is to come.
“I know that the Board of Trustees, the senior executive team, the staff of the institute and all 27,000 members will join me in welcoming her into this new role and offer her all the support we can to ensure that her tenure is a successful one.”
