How do they do it? Tammy Adams

As a school girl Tammy Adams picked up a planning leaflet at a careers fair and saw a connection between planning and her enjoyment of geography. After studying town planning at Newcastle University involving a sandwich year with the Civic Trust she joined Coventry City Council, moving on to Hambleton District Council and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Adams then spent three years at the Department of Communities and Local Government, two years as head of planning at Northumberland National Park Authority and then moved to Homes for Scotland (HFS) in 2014. She was recently promoted to head of planning.

Q. What are your objectives in your current role and how are you measured against them?

HFS is the trade body for the Scottish home building industry, representing 200 companies and organisations. My overarching objective is helping to create a supportive policy environment for home building and work with the Scottish government and local and strategic planning authorities to facilitate the building of enough homes to meet the needs of a growing population. We are measured on what we can do to reduce the shortfall in housing delivery and retain the confidence of our members as well as persuade additional organisations to join us and work with us.

Q. What key lessons have you learned during your career  that help you to fulfil those objectives?

A. Believe in yourself. Trusting your judgement and standing up for what you think are very important. 

Think independently. Exercise independent professional judgement whatever sector you work in whether that's advising politicians or working with clients. 

Don't be dogmatic. Listen, reflect and be flexible, so you can work with and learn from others.