Councillor Shanika Mahendran is Cabinet Member for Planning & Placemaking on Milton Keynes City Council, where her portfolio includes Planning, Economic Development, Sustainability, Innovation, Culture & Equalities. She was the youngest ever and first female Asian councillor to join the Cabinet in Milton Keynes. She holds a BA in Art History with Journalism and an MSc in Sustainable Cities. She was recently selected as a 'Young Leader' by the global Urban Futures conference.