Sue Manns was inaugurated as President of the RTPI on 22 January 2020. Having studied Town and Country Planning as a Postgraduate at Manchester University, Sue started her career at Birmingham City Council.
She then moved to academia as a senior lecturer in planning law and practice at the University of Central England, before returning to the public sector as Head of Planning and Transport at Advantage West Midlands.
In 2005 Sue joined Arup where she led their Midlands Planning, Policy and Economics Business, followed in 2009 by a move to become National Planner for the RTPI Planning Aid England.
In 2011 Sue moved to the Pegasus Group as a Regional Director and since 2018 has run her own practice which specialises in strategic advice on community engagement and consultation in relation to development projects. She is a visiting lecturer at Birmingham University, and a Fellow of the RSA and RGS.
The Royal Town Planning Institute champions the power of planning in creating prosperous places and vibrant communities. Using expertise and research, RTPI bring evidence and thought leadership to shape planning policies and thinking, putting the profession at the heart of society’s big debates. RTPI set the standards of planning education and professional behaviour that give planners a unique ability to meet complex economic, social and environmental challenges. They are the only body in the UK that confers Chartered status to planners, the highest professional qualification sought after by employers. RTPI support their members throughout their careers, offering them a wide of range of opportunities to learn and share ideas and skills.