CEPT University has announced the appointment of Mr. Barjor Mehta (FA UG ’74), an alum and former director of the School of Planning, as the President and Acting Director of the University for a period of five years with effect from January 20, 2024. Mr. Mehta currently holds the position of Lead Urban Specialist at the World Bank. In the interim, Dr. Bimal Patel will continue as the President and Acting Director.
Making the announcement, Mr. Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairperson of the Governing Body, said, “CEPT University is renowned for its rich legacy as a leading institute of higher education in the field of human habitat. It has been blessed with professionals contributing to its success and it has always been led by professionals from the beginning. With B V Doshi, then Hasmukh Patel followed by Dr. R N Vakil and since 2012, Dr. Bimal Patel.
I would like to congratulate and welcome Mr. Barjor Mehta as the new President of CEPT University. As a successful professional with global experience in urban planning and development, I am confident that he will carry forward the legacy and lead the institute to newer horizons. Though it is not yet time to say goodbye to Dr. Bimal Patel, I would like to thank him for his immense contribution to CEPT University.”
CEPT University has followed a rigorous process of selection for the President’s position. As the first step, a committee was set up by the CEPT University Chairman that reviewed the nominations and applications received. The selection committee had a detailed consultation with CEPT University faculty members and other relevant stakeholders and conducted the a round of interviews. Based on the search and selection committee’s recommendations, the Chairman announced the appointment of Mr. Barjor Mehta as the next President and Acting Director for the University, during a concurrent meeting of the Board of Management and the Governing Body held today at the CEPT University campus.
Barjor Mehta, an architect and urban planner, is the World Bank’s Lead Urban Specialist for the East Asia & the Pacific Region based in Singapore. Prior to this, he was based in the World Bank’s country offices in China (2016-2020), India (2012-2016), and Tanzania (2009 – 2012). Prior to that he was in Washington DC between 2002 to 2009 from where he worked on urban development initiatives in Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia as well as the Middle East and North Africa.
Before joining the World Bank, Mr. Mehta served as Associate Professor of urban planning (1990-1995) and as Director of the School of Planning, CEPT (now called Faculty of Planning, CEPT University) from 1995 to 1997. Working with different organizations he has also lived and worked as a planner in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and the United States.
Mr. Mehta holds a Diploma in Architecture from the School of Architecture, CEPT, and a Master’s in Human Settlements Planning from Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.