Speakers

Rachel Fisher is Deputy Director for Land Use Policy at DEFRA. She began this role in September 2020 and is responsible for developing and delivering environmental planning reform policy, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, and Biodiversity Net Gain.

Prior to this she was responsible for regeneration, investment and infrastructure policy in the Cities and Local Growth Unit at MHCLG / BEIS. In this role she led the development of the £3.6bn Towns Fund, including the Future High Streets Fund, and the High Streets Task Force, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

She has held a variety of roles in policy and public affairs across the built environment industry including the National Housing Federation, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), Design Council and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

In 2012 she co-founded Urbanistas an international network whose mission is to amplify the voices of women to make cities better for everyone. She is an associate member of the RTPI and a Fellow of the RSA.