Professor Samer Bagaeen

Professor Samer Bagaeen is a leading expert in town planning and urban resilience, with extensive experience spanning higher education, the private and public sectors, and philanthropy. He currently serves as Technical Director in Town Planning & Stakeholder Capability at Arcadis while holding a leadership role in planning education.

Samer established and secured RTPI accreditation for two planning schools at the Universities of Kent and Brighton. He joins the University College of Estate Management as Head of Town Planning in 2025.

Samer is also a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, contributing his expertise to urban resilience research. He previously worked as an Associate Director with the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities programme, supporting cities globally in crafting their resilience strategies.

As an elected Trustee of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Samer plays a key role in advancing the profession. He previously served as a Trustee at the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), where he is now a Policy Council Member, continuing his commitment to progressive planning practices. He is also a Design Council Expert, supporting the Council’s Design for Planet Mission.

Samer is a judge of the Planning Awards 2025.