Cllr. Prof. Samer Bagaeen

Samer is presently a Technical Director in Town Planning & Stakeholder Capability at Arcadis. He sits in the Environmental Planning team, in the Resilience Global Business Area. He previously worked as an Associate Director with the Rockefeller Foundation resilience cities network supporting a number of cities on their resilience journey. Samer is also Professor of Planning & Resilient Systems at the University of Kent where he is Programme Director for the MA in Urban Planning & Resilience. He also holds the role of Visiting Professor in Urban Resilience at Imperial College London.

Samer is a member of the Academic Advisory Group for the Real Estate Data Foundation, a Member of the RICS Land and Resources Technical Expert Working Group, and a Member of the Advisory Group for the BAME Planners Network. Samer is also a Design Council Expert, supporting the Council’s Design for Planet Mission. He is a Trustee of the Royal Town Planning Institute and Chair of the RTPI’s International Committee, a position he also held in 2023. He previously served as a Trustee and Policy Council Member at the TCPA.

Samer received the Freedom of the City of London in September 2023 and was nominated for the UKREiiF (UK Real Estate Infrastructure & Investment Forum) EDI Champion Award in May 2023. He was awarded the BAME Planners Network EDI Champion Award in 2023. 

Samer was elected to Brighton & Hove City Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He presently sits as an Independent.