OURÂ
TEAM
OUR TEAM
Jim has over 40 years of experience in the industry, working for approving bodies, developers, and consultants. During his time, he has designed and detailed various sizes of projects for all aspects of commercial, education, healthcare, MoD, industrial, and residential infrastructure. Jim has worked on projects in the UK and internationally and has been involved with master planning and pre-purchase through conception, seeking approvals, site presence, final handovers and adoptions.
Away from work, Jim enjoys clay pigeon shooting and spending time with his wife and their dog. He also spends time raising funds for charity and has been a lifelong Marvel fan.
Jim Rudd
Managing Director
Managing Director
Nikki is an experienced Town Planner having developed her career over 20 years in local planning authorities, private practices, and non-profit organizations. She has a positive and proactive approach to planning with a professional skill set in high quality urban design and placemaking with effective green and blue infrastructure resulting in a people/place centric approach to developments where people want to live, spend time, and engage with their surroundings.
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Away from SPD Studio Nikki likes to spend time with family and friends, take part in CaniCross with her Labrador Hector and support her daughters sport activities.
Nikki Dawney
Associate Town Planner
Josephine is an Architect, Interior Designer and Artist with thirty years of experience and a unique talent for listening to clients' thoughts and emulating their ideas into exciting and inspiring spaces. With a particular interest in Landscape and Masterplan, Interior Design and Brand Implementation, her experience and intuition will ensure the project has exceptional quality.
Often her work will be unexpected but will have the qualities that the client holds dear in not only the appearance of the building or interior but the ambience, feel, goals and aims and character of the client. Josephine believes Architecture is a pleasure to be enjoyed by both Architect, Client, and Builder. Project-making should be an experience of joy and respect.
Away from work, Josephine enjoys spending time with family, her dogs and doing her family’s portraits when they let her.
Josephine Harkins
Principal Architect
Managing Director
Ellen joined SPD in April 2023 and is a Charted Town Planner with over 10 years of experience, including two years working in Australia. Ellen spent several years working across planning enforcement, regeneration, and development management before jumping the fence to the private sector, where she has relished the challenges and rewards of working as a planning consultant. Ellen has worked on a huge variety of projects across London and the South East, with a focus on major-scale residential and mixed-use schemes.
Outside work, Ellen enjoys socialising with family and friends and planning as many holidays as possible.
Ellen Nicholson
Senior Town Planner
Managing Director
George joined SPD Studio in May 2023 as a Design Engineer and has 10 years of experience within the industry. George has a great range of skills where civil engineering has been implemented, including London high-rises, large residential projects, logistical sheds, major highway schemes, and unique commercial sites, taking them from stage 2 planning to construction.
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He is also proficient in a wide range of software, including but not limited to Microdrainage, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, AutoTrack, ArcGIS and QGIS, and Site 3D.
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Outside of work, George is a keen cyclist, regularly re-building and replacing components on different bikes in his shed, and enjoys cooking new meals. Most of his free time is now spent raising his young family.
Senior Civil Engineer
George Westgarth
Managing Director
Emily Carter
Architectural Assistant
Keith has over 10 years’ experience working in the transport and civil engineering industry, working on projects both in the UK and internationally. His professional experience includes completing projects from concept design through to construction and providing calculated engineering solutions to complex site constraints. He ranges through multiple industries, including but not limited to: Large residential developments, commercial units, medium to heavy industrial sites, high-rise structures and work within the public sector.
Keith Green
Senior Architectural Technologist
Managing Director
Emily Carter
Architectural Assistant
Kiera immigrated to the United Kingdom in 2004 and hails from the vibrant country of South Africa. She has over two decades of rich experience in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry, as well as being a part of a Veterinary out-of-hours practice. Kiera’s extensive background highlights her dedication and versatility.
Seeking a slower-paced lifestyle to be able to cherish moments spent with her son, she has embarked on a career change post covid, first joining Push Resources Limited and assisting SPD Studio team which lead to a permanent position at SPD Studio as an assistant to the Managing Director, Jim Rudd.
Kiera’s enthusiasm for administration is marked by her exceptional organisational skills and keen attention to detail, which she is delighted to apply in her new position. Her unique expertise, honed through years of dedicated service in demanding roles, is an assurance that she will be a valuable asset to this company.
Beyond her professional capabilities, she is a very devoted “Springboks” rugby supporter and is a creative soul with a profound love for art. Her hobbies include drawing, painting, upcycling furniture and interior décor, reflecting her artistic flair and eye for beauty. This artistic side not only fuels her personal joy but also enhances her professional contributions, adding a touch of creativity to her administrative tasks.
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Kiera’s blend of skills and passions ensure she will be a dynamic and inspiring addition to SPD Studio.
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Kiera-Leigh West
Studio Administrative Assistant
Managing Director
Luke Lockyer
Senior Technician
Luke joined SPD Studio in February 2024 as a Senior Technician and has over four years’ drafting and design experience in the Civil Engineering and Infrastructure industry across residential, commercial, education and healthcare projects. He uses Civil 3D and AutoCAD daily to provide detailed drainage and highways plans, construction details, vehicle tracking and a variety of section applications and pre-development enquiries.
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He is currently undertaking a Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford alongside employment, expecting to graduate this summer.
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Outside of work, Luke enjoys practicing photography, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or playing tennis. As an avid film fan, he spends lots of his spare time at the cinema watching movies, or socializing with friends.
Managing Director
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OUR CULTURE
We bring together the best talent from across our industry, creating teams that navigate clients through the planning and development system successfully.
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At SPD Studio we build long-term relationships with our clients and consultants, which allows us to provide personalised, clear and honest advise throughout the entire process. We have created a workspace where opinions are respected, everyone is invited to contribute and where excellence is rewarded. The result is our people are highly motivated, ensuring you have the best experience.
