Emma Robinson, Project Officer

Posted on 7 Jul 2025

With a career that began in housing at Salford Council, Emma now plays a key role in delivering some of Rochdale’s most important heritage and cultural regeneration projects, including the stunning restoration of Rochdale Town Hall and the transformation of Touchstones.

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I started my career at Salford Council in housing, where I worked for 14 years in various roles. After that, I took voluntary redundancy and moved to Salford University before I found my way to the RDA, where I’ve been ever since.

What is your role with the RDA?
I’m a Project Manager, which means I take projects from an initial idea through to completion. I work with design teams, contractors, conservation specialists, and funders to bring everything together. A big part of my job is knowing who to go to for expertise and making sure all the different elements of a project align so we can deliver successfully, on time and within budget.

Why did you choose to work with the RDA?
I’ve always been interested in regeneration, and when I saw the role with the RDA, it felt like the right fit. At the time, I had been looking for opportunities in the field, but funding for regeneration projects tends to come in waves, so they’re not always available. The timing was perfect, and I liked that the RDA had a strong track record of securing funding and delivering meaningful projects.

What projects do you work on?
For most of my time at the RDA, I’ve been heavily involved in the Rochdale Town Hall restoration, which has been a huge and rewarding project. Now, I’m working on Touchstones, reconfiguring the space to make it more welcoming and dynamic for visitors. We’re incorporating more flexible exhibition spaces and making it a place people want to return to. Alongside that, I’ve been involved in other heritage and cultural regeneration projects in Rochdale.

What do you really enjoy about your profession?
I love the variety. No two days are the same, and every project comes with its own challenges and surprises, especially with heritage buildings, where you never quite know what you’ll uncover. I also enjoy working with specialists in different fields and learning from them. Seeing a project go from concept to completion and knowing it will have a lasting impact is incredibly rewarding.

What makes you get up in the morning?
I like making things happen. Whether it’s unlocking funding, solving a complex issue, or seeing a space transform, I get real satisfaction from moving things forward. Even when challenges come up, like discovering a roof needs replacing mid-project! I enjoy finding solutions and making sure we keep progressing.

Tell me something people don’t know about you.
I wasn’t originally a heritage specialist, I kind of fell into it when I was assigned to the Town Hall project. At first, I thought heritage work was a niche field, but I quickly realised how interesting and rewarding it is. Now, I can’t imagine not working on projects like this!