Heather Thwaites

Heather is an experienced chartered town Planner who has spent a significant career within local government delivering high quality development. Moreover she is an accomplished leader and Chief Executive with extensive experience in the areas of strategic leadership, transformation and change.

Prior to joining Cogito in Spring 2019 she was acting as Chief Executive of Wokingham Borough Council leading 1100 staff.

As a chartered town planner she is very familiar with the planning regime She has led planning teams in Wokingham and Elmbridge. Prior to that she has acted professionally in Woking, Runnymede and Kingston upon Thames.

She is no stranger to major schemes, being a lead officer on the Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands and the McLaren HQ at Woking.

Her corporate work at Wokingham means she has been involved and is familiar with the funding and delivery of public infrastructure such as schools, roads and new communities.