In Conversation with Angelika Solomons‑Tibi, Grayling Planning & Infrastructure
With a career shaped by global experiences, political curiosity and a commitment to inclusive engagement, Angelika Solomons Tibi brings a distinctive perspective to the planning and infrastructure sector. Currently an Account Director at Grayling Planning & Infrastructure, she combines academic rigour, lived experience and a passion for social justice to influence how major projects serve communities.
In this conversation, Angelika reflects on her journey, the values that guide her work, and the importance of building spaces where every voice is heard.
Grab a cuppa and dive in!
A Global Upbringing
Angelika Solomons‑Tibi’s story begins in the UK, but her worldview was shaped long before she stepped into a professional setting. Born to an English mother and French father, she moved to Paris at a young age and grew up in an international school environment where “everyone spoke at least two languages.”
That early exposure to different cultures, identities and ways of thinking became foundational. “Diversity wasn’t something I had to learn about later in life — it was just the world I lived in,” she reflects.
Her academic journey took her even further afield. Angelika moved to Canada to study at McGill University, majoring in Political Science, History and Communications. Surrounded by friends from Lebanon, Hong Kong, Singapore and beyond, she found herself immersed in yet another multicultural community. “It expanded my understanding of the world in ways I couldn’t have predicted,” she says. “Most people spoke French and English, so there was always a shared language.”
Her political awakening came early. She describes her first year at university as a formative period, shaped by a growing fascination with politics, power dynamics, and the forces that shape societies over time. Much of her focus was on understanding the history of social injustice and the role communications plays in influencing public opinion, culture, and change. That curiosity and determination would become a throughline in her career.
Angelika Solomons-Tibi
From Global Politics to Infrastructure and Inclusive Engagement
Angelika’s first professional chapter unfolded in Los Angeles, where she worked as a producer for a major news organisation. It was a defining year — the US election, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic. “I felt completely immersed in the issues I cared about,” she says. “It was rewarding to communicate stories that mattered.”
But the pace and breadth of news left her wanting more depth. “I was talking about so many issues, but it often felt I was only skimming the surface. I wanted to focus and really hone in on one or two areas where I could make a tangible difference.”
She returned to the UK to pursue a Master’s in Global Politics at LSE, where her dissertation explored the intersection of far‑right rhetoric, climate narratives and ideas of conservation and tradition. That academic grounding led her into the planning and infrastructure sector, working on solar projects and contributing to over a gigawatt of solar power — a milestone she remains proud of.
In August 2025, she joined Grayling’s Planning & Infrastructure team as an Account Director, expanding her portfolio and stepping into a role that allowed her to combine her political grounding, communication expertise and passion for inclusive engagement.
“It inherently adds value to hear from people who don’t share the majority perspective. That’s where you’re most likely to find insights that change outcomes.”
Leading Communication Projects: Why Inclusive Engagement Matters
At Grayling, Angelika leads several major communication programmes, including work with National Grid — a client she describes as deeply rewarding for its major scale and significance in the sector.
“Infrastructure projects often take place in rural areas where the people who participate in consultations tend to share similar backgrounds,” she explains. “If we only hear from the loudest or most familiar voices, we miss perspectives that could fundamentally improve a project.”
Her approach is rooted in meeting people where they are. That means designing engagement strategies that reach underrepresented groups, placing materials in community spaces, translating technical information, and ensuring accessibility needs are met.
“It inherently adds value to hear from people who don’t share the majority perspective,” she says. “That’s where you’re most likely to find insights that change outcomes.”
Working in London has also been a turning point. “It’s the first time I’ve worked in a city where diversity is naturally part of the process,” she notes. “It enriches everything.”
“[D&I initiatives] are important to me, both personally and professionally. They enrich my work and my life.”
Championing Inclusion: Internal Networks and External Communities
Angelika moderating a Women in Planning x Grayling P&I panel discussion.
Angelika is an active member of three of Grayling’s employee resource groups (ERGs) — the Women’s Network, the Multi‑Faith ERG and the Mental Health Network. For her, these spaces are essential. “It’s not always about finding solutions. Sometimes it’s about solidarity — being together, sharing experiences, and knowing you’re not alone.”
Externally, she is active in Creatives for Climate and Women in Clean Tech & Sustainability, and she strongly supports the Women in Planning network.
A standout moment was moderating a Women in Planning x Grayling panel event with her P&I colleagues. “It was standing‑room only,” she recalls. “Seeing so many women come together and feel their voices were being prioritised was incredibly powerful.”
She was especially proud that junior women in the team led the concept and delivery. “It was inspiring to watch them shape the agenda. The reception was amazing and it reminded me that this is the work I’m meant to be doing.
Despite a demanding workload, she makes time for these initiatives. “It’s important to me, both personally and professionally. They enrich my work and my life.”
Heritage, Identity and Perspective: How a Mixed Background Shapes Her Approach
Angelika’s heritage is layered and rich — Tunisian roots on her father’s side, Polish and Russian heritage on her mother’s. Diversity, she says, is “an inherent part of who I am.”
But she is careful not to generalise. “Everyone has a unique perspective. No one is defined solely by their identity. Even within my own family, all four grandparents have opinions I disagree with — but they’ve lived through things I haven’t. I learn from that. I’ve learned how to disagree with empathy.”
This ability to hold multiple truths, to recognise privilege, honour lived experience and stay open to difference, underpins her approach to leadership and engagement.
A huge thank you to Angelika for sharing her journey.