Serena Ralston

What brought you to JBP?

I first got to know the JBP team as a freelancer, working on property stakeholder engagement projects. I then brought the Bristol Housing Festival project to JBP - we had a lot of fun working together on the comms for the launch. I enjoyed it so much that I took up the offer of a permanent role here. A bit of an urban planning and housing geek, I have experience, and qualifications, in town planning and journalism and have worked extensively in P.R.

Tell us about your role:

I head up property and planning stakeholder engagement for the south west and the Midlands, in particular for clients who have schemes at the pre-planning application stage. I look after an exciting range of projects, including several which aim to provide much needed housing. Our team works to ensure that clients have the most effective engagement strategy in place from an early stage. Getting the messaging right, and forging positive local relationships, helps secure the best results, not only for clients but also for communities.

How does Serena make it brilliant?

Community and stakeholder engagement / copywriting / media relations

And finally, what do you do in your spare time?

Pootling around in normal clothes on my bike (look no Lycra!), yoga, hiking and green activism. I also love great architecture and am passionate about tackling homelessness – when I can I volunteer at the Wild Goose Drop-In Centre in Easton in Bristol which provides free hot meals and other support for those in extreme poverty and need.