Rynd trained in law at the London School of Economics, a process that turned him into a 'want to be' planner, and then in planning at the University of Sheffield and Université Lumière de Lyon 2, France.
In the UK he has held policy and plan review roles for the RSPB and local Councils, where he has also worked in regeneration, urban design and major projects roles.
Resident in the regenerating seaside city of Geelong, Australia from 1997 to 2006, he worked for the Victorian state government reforming their planning system and for 7 years as the equivalent of a 'Planning Inspector', making decisions about new development plans and development projects and leading a major infrastructure group of inspectors. He has chaired public inquiries into many motorway, power, renewables, new town, leisure, marina, harbour and dredging proposals in Australia.
Rynd is now Director of Policy for the Royal Town Planning Institute, where he leads work across a wide range of national planning policy issues, including the reform of UK planning systems. He sees a future where the only certainty is change, but where to be acceptable, changes must be sustainable and provide the best balance of social, economic and environmental benefits for people.
Rynd is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Fellow of the RSA.
