Joel Mills is Senior Director of the Architect Foundation’s Communities by Design program. The program has catalyzed billions of dollars in sustainable development across the United States, helping to create some of the most vibrant places in America today. Joel’s 29-year career has been focused on strengthening civic capacity, public processes, and civic institutions. This work has helped millions of people participate in democratic processes, visioning efforts, and community planning initiatives. He has delivered presentations, training content, workshops, and public processes in over a dozen countries across 5 continents. 

In the United States, Joel has provided consultative services to hundreds of communities, leading participatory processes on the ground in over 100 communities across 38 states. His work has been featured in over 1,000 media stories. Joel has served on dozens of expert working groups, boards, juries, and panels focused on civic discourse and participation, sustainability, and democracy. He was a founding Board Member of the International Association for Public Participation’s United States Chapter. He has spoken at numerous international conferences concerning democratic urbanism and the role of democracy in urban success, including serving as the Co-Convener of the Remaking Cities Congress in 2013. Joel is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism in London, UK. He is the author of numerous articles on the relationship between democracy, civic capacity and community.

Charles is Partner-in-Charge of Collaborative Planning with communities and stakeholders from all backgrounds and sectors. He leads JTP’s dedicated community planning team, managing and facilitating co-design processes around the UK and internationally that combine both in-person and online activities to ensure that everyone is able to participate. 

Internationally, Charles has co-led a cooperative regional planning Charrette in Auroville, India; community Charrettes as part of the Scottish Government’s Charrette mainstreaming programme in Girvan, Wick and Thurso; several Charrette processes in Sweden, and an international multi-disciplinary team through three Charrette processes to plan an eco-resort in Tanjung Ringitt, Indonesia. Charles’ book entitled ’20/20 Visions: Collaborative Planning and Placemaking’, published by RIBA Publishing was a finalist in the Urban Design Group Book Award 2019. In 2009, he travelled to San Diego to accept the International Association of Public Participation Project of the Year Award 2009 for Scarborough Renaissance. Charles is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism and a Design Council Expert (Specialist). He has lectured at various universities and spoken at a range of international conferences and seminars including The Academy of Urbanism Quality Life, Beautiful City conference in Hangzhou March 2018, The American Institute of Architects Conference in San Diego in 2018, and the Remaking Cities Congress in Pittsburgh 2013. He has contributed to various publications, including drafting ‘Collaborative Planning for All’, published by Civic Voice in 2015. 

Enhancing people’s experience of public spaces through the strengths of technology and data has been at the heart of Jo’s work for over 20 years. By embracing inclusive participatory practices, such as co-design and community engagement, she hopes to create healthier neighborhoods for all. As Co-founding Director of Association of Collaborative Design, Jo co-authored the Engagement Overlay to the Royal Institute of British Architects' Plan of Work, providing guidance on engagement across a project's lifecycle to promote best practice and ensure the most successful and collaborative outcomes.