Professor Samer Bagaeen has been announced as Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) next Vice President, and the first RTPI President of Arab descent.

As a seasoned RTPI Trustee and passionate advocate for transformative planning, Samer has outlined his commitment to redefining literacy in planning and providing the consistency and stability needed to amplify the planning profession’s voice and redefine its impact.

Samer will spend one year as Vice President of the RTPI under Jan Bessell – who will be inaugurated as RTPI President in January 2026 – before progressing to the role of President of the RTPI in January 2027. He has stated that he will use his platform at the RTPI to leverage digital innovation through unified, sector-specific competence frameworks that prioritise sustainability and resilience.

Samer was first elected to the RTPI General Assembly in 2012 and served two terms as an RTPI Trustee (2016-17 & 2023-25). He is Professor and Head of School of Town Planning at the University of the Built Environment and Technical Director at Arcadis in London. He also serves as Visiting Professor at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London.

Prof Samer Bagaeen, Vice President of the RTPI in 2026, said: “Planning is at a crossroads, and we are on the threshold of a literacy paradigm shift; now is the time to rise above being side-lined. I will champion digital competence and bold, yet balanced, approaches that empower planners while ensuring stability in challenging outdated norms. By inviting planners to think critically, creatively, and ethically in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, we will demand that our profession and our expertise shapes policies, so we can strengthen our agency in securing an inclusive future.”

“Together, we can harness the full potential of planning as a consistent and dynamic force for societal good. Let’s inspire the next generation, engage the public, and ensure planning leads the way for resilient communities.”