Seema Manchanda

Seema joined ARE in 2002 having long been an advocate for equality and delivery through her regeneration work. She has been Chair of the Trustees since December 2014.  Seema Manchanda made the jump from the world of planning and regeneration to arts in 2020 when she joined The Showroom as Managing Director, following the completion of a Fine Art Diploma from the Art Academy in 2019.  She became the Co-chair of Deptford X Festival in December 2020. 

Simultaneously to her art diploma she was the Director of Smart Urban Planning, a planning consultancy.  Prior to that, she was Assistant Director Planning and Environment at Wandsworth Council in a role leading on planning, transport, building control and environmental health.  During this time she led on major planning schemes in Nine Elms, of course this includes the iconic Battersea Power Station, and developments across the borough. 

She has also previously been Assistant Director at the London boroughs of Islington and Newham working on Kings Place, City Road Basin, Stratford Westfield, the expansion of London City Airport, Excel and supporting development of the Olympics. She set up Workplace, Newham’s highly rated employment and training agency. 

Seema holds a BA in Land Economy from Cambridge, an MPhil in Town Planning from UCL and Diploma in Fine Art from Art Academy London.  She is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.