Our Directors
Alison Hogan – Managing Director
Alison has over 20 years’ experience as a professional ecologist having undertaken many Ecological Impact Assessments. Alison has designed and implemented ecological mitigation for large-scale infrastructure projects and routinely provides advice in relation to large-scale residential developments. She has provided information for Appropriate Assessment, has assisted in Strategic Environmental Assessments, and has prepared and given evidence as an Expert Witness. Alison’s pragmatic approach combined with her thorough understanding of the UK planning process, enables her to provide robust advice to clients, ensuring the best possible chance of success.
Karen Colebourn – Professional Standards Director
Karen is a highly experienced ecologist, with over 20 years in ecological planning, providing realistic advice aimed at achieving a positive outcome as efficiently as possible. She led the team of experts which wrote the Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines for the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and has recently become a Fellow of the Institute. She has managed and written many Ecological Impact Assessments and Appropriate Assessments. In recent years she has taken a particular interest in the evolution of mitigation requirements for development near the Thames Basin Heaths SPA. She has presented evidence as an expert witness at over 30 public inquiries/EiPs.
Ben Kite – Group Strategy Director
Ben is a Chartered Ecologist and environmental planner with expertise in Habitat Regulations/Appropriate Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal.
Ben has particular experience addressing the effects of proposals on Natura 2000 sites. These include the effects of residential development on the Thames Basin, Dorset and Wealden Heaths Special Protection Areas (SPAs), the design of large-scale Green infrastructure proposals and SANG, and the assessment of the effects of air pollution and water pollution on the habitats of designated sites.
Ben is an experienced Expert Witness who has represented clients at Public Inquiry on ecological issues, including cases that related to potential effects on Ancient Woodland and European designated sites.
Rebecca Brookbank – Technical Director
Rebecca is an expert in site promotion, Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). She has particular expertise in the assessment of recreational and air pollution effects on Internationally Designated Sites, where she has acted as Expert Witness on high profile Inquiries associated with the Dorset and Thames Basin Heaths.
She has extensive experience of collating detailed site-specific evidence to inform impact assessments and the design of bespoke mitigation, including Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to avoid effects from increased recreational pressure. She developed an Outline Access Management and Monitoring Strategy for several Internationally Designated Sites in East Hampshire, including component parts of the Wealden Heaths, and worked with Planning Authorities in the Thames Basin region to examine the evidence base underpinning the delivery of SANG and heathland mitigation.
Rebecca was a contributing author of CIEEM’s latest advisory document ‘Ecological Assessment of Air Quality Impacts’, and recently produced a bespoke air quality mitigation strategy in relation to several components parts of the Dorset Heath(land)s International Designations, in consultation with Natural England.
David Smith – HR and Business Systems Director
David is responsible for EPR’s Eastern Region and has extensive experience of working on a range of projects including large residential schemes and infrastructure projects. He is experienced in Ecological Impact Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and protected species issues, and has a particular expertise in relation to birds. David enjoys problem solving when novel ecological issues arise on client’s sites. Having been a charity trustee and chair of ORCA, he has experience of producing business plans and securing grant funding for not-for-profits. David is a member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM) and he sits on the CIEEM UK Overseas Territories committee. He sat on the CIEEM working group that revised the guideline on Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and revised the SNCI criteria for birds in Surrey when he was Conservation Officer for Surrey Bird Club.
