Dr Gavan Rafferty, PhD, MSc, BA (Hons.), Pg Cert HEP, MRTPI, FHEA, is a Lecturer in Spatial Planning and Development at the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, and is a member of the Built Environment Research Institute (BERI) at Ulster University. Before his lectureship at Ulster University, Gavan had a temporary Lectureship (2007-2009) and was a Research Assistant (2005-2007) at Queen's University Belfast, and was a Development Control Officer (2004-2005) at the (then) Planning Service in Northern Ireland. Gavan's research interests include: the interplay between community planning (integrated service delivery) and spatial planning (land use development); community engagement and participation; regeneration and urban governance in post-conflict societies/contested spaces; modernisation and reform of planning policy and practice; European and cross-border spatial planning Gavan is a member of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and is past Chairperson of the RTPI Northern Ireland Branch (2009-2010).