Malachi Ward
At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Malachi Ward.
Malachi is a chartered town planner and Associate Member of the BAME Planners Network. His work includes planning application support, heritage and townscape analysis, and the preparation of planning and design guidance, including Homes England frameworks and design codes. He has a strong interest in urban design and planning, particularly in how policy, design guidance and masterplanning can shape high-quality, inclusive and sustainable places.
Whilst Malachi has a passion for planning, looking deeper, what really motivates him is a broader interest in urbanism, particularly cities and design, and the way they evolve over time.
One of the things he enjoys most about planning is seeing a project from almost every angle. Planners might first encounter a site as a simple shape on a map, being considered by a Local Authority as part of a wider review. They can then follow it as the idea develops, working with architects and engineers and thinking about how the buildings, streets and spaces come together, before eventually seeing it become a real place.
Malachi finds that journey fascinating. For him, the most interesting part is at the beginning, when the bigger ideas are being shaped. He is particularly drawn to the strategic and urban design side of planning: thinking about what a place could become, how it should relate to the surrounding area, how people might move through it and use it, and what can make it feel like a genuinely good place to be.
“I think some of that interest comes from where I grew up. I grew up in Leicester, which is a real melting pot of different people, cultures and communities. I think being exposed to that from a young age has made me particularly interested in how different people experience and use the same city in very different ways. It’s also made me think about what makes a place feel welcoming and inclusive, and how good design can create spaces that work for a really broad range of people.”
This is something Malachi has explored further through his work with BAME Planners. He loves that planning sits somewhere between strategy, design and understanding people. You’re not just thinking about individual buildings, but about how streets, spaces, homes and communities come together to create somewhere that people can actually enjoy living in. He believes there is something really rewarding about being involved in that process, from the early ideas right through to seeing it take shape in the real world when it is eventually built.
Nowadays, Malachi is working on projects that help shape the skyline, but his inspiration for joining the property industry started much smaller. Malachi was drawn to property through Lego. He shared:
“When I was younger, Lego was my go-to toy, especially Lego City. Constructing the little sets was where most of my free time went! If I had the time now, I'm ashamed to admit I'd probably still be building them now!”
That early passion developed into an interest in urban design and led him to study geography at King’s College London. He was the first in his family to attend university and was awarded the Highest Achieving Student at King’s College London an accomplishment he’s incredibly proud of.
After leaving King’s College, Malachi decided to further his knowledge by completing a master’s in urban planning at Sheffield Hallam University. In 2026, he became a Chartered Member of the MRTPI.
Throughout his journey, Malachi has been supported by the people around him. His family, teachers, friends and colleagues have all played a part in different ways.
“I had to pick something that has been particularly valuable to me, it would be having mentors and finding those ‘third spaces’... groups and communities outside of work where you feel you connect with people and can be yourself.”
Malachi has found these spaces particularly important, especially when it can sometimes feel like there is pressure to have all the answers or to always know what the next step should be. He has found that having people outside your immediate workplace who you can talk things through with, ask for advice, or simply share experiences with can take some of that pressure away.
Sometimes, you don’t necessarily need someone to give you an answer; it can simply be helpful to have someone who has been through something similar and can offer a different perspective.
A few people who have really helped Malachi are Helen Fadipe and Ransford Stewart through the BAME Planners Network, who have both been very generous with their advice and support. He also highlights Artemis Ansell through the Academy of Urbanism and John Stiles.
What Malachi has valued most is that these relationships have developed outside of his day-to-day work. They have given him a wider network of people to learn from, challenge his thinking and talk to. Malachi believes this has been hugely important in helping him develop both professionally and personally.
“So, rather than one person helping me get here, I’d say it’s been the combination of lots of people and particularly those communities and relationships outside of work that have helped me along the way. I think seeking that yourself is really important.”
While we have seen how others have helped shape Malachi’s journey, we wanted to gain a deeper understanding of what has allowed him to push through and become a chartered planner. We asked Malachi: what is your superpower?
“I think my ‘superpower’ is being curious and willing to seek out opportunities and, perhaps more importantly, not being too afraid or ‘cringed out’ to put myself forward for them. I’ve learnt that other people aren’t always going to do it for you. Sometimes you have to be the person who puts your hand up, sends the email, applies for something that feels slightly out of reach, or just says, ‘I’d like to be involved.’ I used to think there was something a bit cringe about putting yourself forward, whether that’s on LinkedIn, in person, or for an opportunity, but I’ve come to realise that, as long as you’re not doing it at the expense of someone else, there’s nothing wrong with recognising your own value and creating opportunities. I think curiosity is a big part of that. I like trying things, meeting different people and understanding how other people think, even when something isn’t obviously connected to what I do day-to-day. Getting involved in lots of different things has introduced me to people I wouldn’t otherwise have met, helped me build connections and a network, and probably most importantly, helped me discover different parts of myself. Public speaking is a good example of that; it’s something I never thought I would enjoy, but by putting myself forward and doing more of it, I’ve slowly started to like it more. You don’t always know what you’re interested in or what you’re capable of until you give something a go. So I think my superpower is probably a combination of curiosity, putting myself out there and being willing to say yes.”
Malachi is still relatively early in his career, and he is excited by the fact that there is still a lot for him to learn and discover. He doesn’t have a particular title or level of seniority that he is working towards. For Malachi, it is more about the kind of work and environment he wants to be part of.
“If I’m somewhere in ten years where I’m still curious about what I’m doing, surrounded by good people and working on projects that I’m excited for, then I think I’ll be pretty happy.”
It has been an honour to share Malachi’s story. We want to celebrate people from across their careers, and Malachi is at the beginning of his property journey. His story demonstrates what can be achieved through curiosity, putting yourself forward and making the most of the opportunities around you. As the first in his family to attend university, Malachi has gone on to become a chartered planner and is now helping to shape the cities around us. We look forward to seeing how Malachi’s career develops and where his curiosity takes him next.
