Shruthi Guruswamy

Shruthi is an Associate Director of Masterplanning and Urban Design at Arcadis and bringing her interdisciplinary skills in urban planning, urban design and architecture. She was recognised as a ‘Woman of Influence’ by the Planner magazine in 2024 for her work on liveable / 20-minute neighbourhoods and driving net zero carbon and sustainable development. She has led and delivered various strategic frameworks, masterplans and design guides / codes for urban regeneration, city development plans, sustainable new communities, active travel and infrastructure schemes in the UK, Sweden, India, Middle East, and Panama. She has extensive experience of working with local authorities and project leadership, where her inclusive and empathetic approach coupled with pragmatism has resulted in effectively managing multi-stakeholder expectations and relationships, thus delivering best value for the site and community.

Shruthi is passionate about equitable placemaking and creating evidence-based sustainable and resilient design solutions. She has presented at forums on sustainable planning, climate resilient development, and design codes as an effective tool for planning / delivery, including at the UKREiiF and Planning Futures. She is a Design Review Panel Expert at Design West where advises on strategic planning, urban design, placemaking, climate resilience, healthy places and sustainability.

Beyond her technical role, she is positively influencing planners, designers and built environment professionals from diverse backgrounds through mentoring, delivering lectures at postgraduate courses and serving as an RTPI assessor for chartership applications. She is also working with business leaders and clients to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at Arcadis.