Sumita is an architect, teacher and writer with awards including the UIA:UNESCO International, Women In Business and Atkins Inspire. She founded Architects For Change, the Equality forum at RIBA and is past Chair of Women In Architecture. Sumita has served on many RIBA committees since 1996, including the Professional Standards panel and Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission. She is a nationally elected RIBA Councillor and the Board Trustee for Education. Sumita was a non-executive Director in the NHS for nine years. Sumita is a trustee of Architects Benevolent Society, Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills and Commonwealth Association of Architects; and founding director of Charushila, an environmental design charity. She has also taught sustainable design for over 25 years, is a visiting Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, lecturer and external examiner at several UK universities. Sumita is the author of several books on architecture and sustainable design.

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Sumita received an OBE for services to architecture in 2021.