Ayano Kikuhara
Ayano joined Arrow Planning in summer 2023 after completing her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at UWE Bristol and Master of Town Planning and Design at Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan.
Before moving to the UK, Ayano worked as an Assistant Planner for private consultancies in Japan, focusing on community-based projects. She became a Chartered Member of the RTPI in 2025 and was promoted to Senior Planner in April 2026.
Ayano supports a number of residential developments across a variety of scales and has a strong professional network in both the UK and Japan. She is a regular at networking and RTPI events and is passionate about supporting people who are new to the industry. Ayano enjoys helping junior colleagues build their confidence as they begin their planning careers.
Ayano’s Role
Ayano was promoted to Senior Planner in 2026 in recognition of her commitment and dedication to people and projects. She proactively coordinates and project manages multidisciplinary teams across the South East and supports the senior team with the submission and negotiation of complex planning strategies. Ayano is known for her attention to detail and the high standards she brings to all aspects of her work and her colleagues.
Away from Arrow
Ayano enjoys going to music concerts with her friends and plays both the drums and bass guitar. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to play alongside her mum when she returns home to Japan. In winter, you might find Ayano heading to the slopes for snowboarding with friends.
