Neil is the Director of Postgraduate Studies in Planning in the School of the Natural and Built Environment, which involves coordinating the MSc Planning and Development and MSc City Planning and Design programmes. He previously worked as a chartered town planner for Belfast City Council and DOE Planning Service. His professional experience includes drafting regional planning policy and guidance, preparatory work for local development plans, development management and planning enforcement. Neil completed a PhD in Planning at Queen's University Belfast entitled "Who Controls the Past? An investigation into the role of heritage interventions in post-conflict nation narration" on a part-time basis whilst working in practice. His current research interests include: planning for inclusive places; critical heritage studies; and planning policy and practice. 

Neil's teaching focuses on engagement with planning and urban design policy and practice. His modules focus on live projects and field trip completion as understanding real world challenges is central to becoming a good planner or urban designer. Neil leads the international field trip modules in the planning department at Queen's University Belfast as this acts an extension from his PhD research which focused on learning from comparative international practice. 

Modules Coordinated:

EVP3004 - Conservation of the Built Environment

EVP7014 - Design in the Built Environment

EVP7015- International Planning Studies

EVP7018 - Professional Practice Project in Environmental Planning

EVP7019 - Independent Specialist Project

EVP7038 - Comparative Urban Design

EVP7042 - Future Planning Practice

EVP7044 - Thesis