How do they do it? Rob Krzyszowski
Rob Krzyszowski is team leader for planning policy and borough development at the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea where he heads up borough-wide statutory planning policy.
Before taking up his current post earlier this year he worked at London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and before that the London Borough of Ealing.
Krzyszowski did a four-year degree and masters in planning at Sheffield University before landing hid first job at Birmingham City Council.
Q. What are your objectives in your current role and how are you measured against them?
A My objectives are set by the head of forward planning and include putting policy through consultation and examination stages. I have an annual and six-monthly review that focuses not only on professional delivery but behavioural issues such as responsiveness to residents' and members' concerns and external challenges including government legislation and the state of the economy.
Q. What key lessons have you learned during your career that help you to fulfil those objectives?
A Keep up to date on emerging legislation and policy. This is crucial: the last few years have seen some of the biggest changes for planning and if you don't keep abreast you're leaving yourself open to making mistakes or doing something unlawful.
Share information within the team and across authorities. No one is an expert in all fields and learning to form best practice is a two-way thing.
Don't forget your life outside of the job and do things like voluntary work. This is a great way of picking up skills and expanding knowledge. There are all kinds of organisations such as Planning Aid but gaining experience doesn't have to be through planning. Be thirsty for knowledge and new skills.
