Citizen Participation

Maite Peris

Communications Strategist for Urban Projects

Based in Spain

Seasoned Communications and Citizen Engagement professional with 15 years of experience adept at elucidating urban policies for organizations through innovative means. Successfully spearheaded the implementation of +200 urban projects spanning sustainability, mobility, urban planning, architecture and urban services, including infrastructures, waste management, parks, beaches, energy and air quality. Proven expertise encompassing marketing, PR, Media Relations, Branding and Social Media, with a keen focus on nurturing Stakeholder Relations. Recognized for the ability to distill intricate information into clear, compelling narratives. Demonstrated leadership in overseeing teams exceeding 40 members

Meeta Goel

Senior Social & Planning Expert

Based in India

Meeta is a Social and Planning Expert at INI Design Studio, with 18+ years of experience of working on tourism master plans, development plans, social impact assessments, and vulnerability assessments. Meeta’s professional experience is diverse, from pursuing research on urban vulnerability to mapping frameworks for equitable development. A GSTC accredited professional in Sustainable Tourism, Meeta engages with government departments, NGOs, SPVs, and PPP entities for the identification of contextual and resilient interventions in urban and tourism landscapes. In her diverse career span, she has worked closely with experts in the international climate regime and sustainable development. Meeta's perspective has evolved to understand the user behaviour and their relationship with space and their surroundings. As a geographer, Meeta believes in creating sustainable and equitable designs and frameworks for communities so that they can thrive in safer environments.

Raúl Oliván Cortés

Based in Spain

Director of Hexagonal, a laboratory, foundation, and consultancy specialized in public and social innovation. He founded LAAAB (2018–2023) and Zaragoza Activa (2010–2017). He is the creator of the Hexagonal Innovation Model (HIP), commissioned by the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government. He advises institutions and organizations across Europe, Latin America, and Africa, helping strengthen systemic transformation processes through innovation labs and communities. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy, a BA in Advertising and Public Relations, and a Diploma in Social Work. Alumni of the United States’ International Visitor Leadership Program. Rockefeller´s Bellagio Center fellow and alumni.

Lior Steinberg

Based in Netherlands

Lior Steinberg is an urban planner and the co-founder of Humankind, a Rotterdam-based agency for urban change. He works with cities to shift from car-centric design toward "human-scale" urbanism - creating streets and public spaces that prioritize walking, cycling, and social interaction. His career path is unconventional: he spent six years as a computer programmer before transitioning to urbanism. This technical background informs his current work, including the development of "Cycling Lifestyle AI," a tool that helps planners and residents visualize the transformation of car-heavy streets into Dutch-style cycling infrastructure. Lior has consulted on urban mobility and strategic planning for cities around the world. A strong advocate for inclusive design, he specializes in tactical urbanism and child-friendly cities. He is also the author of the children's book The Car That Wanted to Be a Bike, which introduces sustainable mobility concepts to a younger audience.

Venugopal AV

Based in India

As a Program Manager working in urban development, I’ve learned that transforming cities is as much about transforming systems and mindsets as it is about infrastructure. My journey has centered on collaborating with government agencies, from city corporations to national ministries, to translate people-first ideas into funded projects and adopted policies. I’ve navigated the complexities of building consensus, strategizing for scale, and turning setbacks into learning opportunities within the public sector. I can offer support to mentees exploring: · Government Engagement & Policy: Strategies for effective collaboration, communication, and technical input to influence policy. · Project Strategy & Scaling: Moving from a pilot concept to a budgeted, city-wide or national program. · Navigating Professional Growth: Building a purposeful career in the public/social impact sector, handling motivation, and learning from challenges. · Personal Branding: Communicating your work and impact authentically to different audiences. If you're passionate about creating change within systems and seeking a thoughtful sounding board, I’m here to share insights from my own journey and what I've learned from peers.

Frank Dhondt

Based in Greece

Oleksandra Tkachenko

Work on the edge between urban planning and strategies.

Based in Netherlands

Oleksandra works at the intersection of urban planning, design, and strategy. This is reflected in her dual academic background. In 2012, she graduated as an urban planner from the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. In 2016, she complemented this with a Master’s degree in Urban Management and Development at Erasmus University Rotterdam. After gaining experience at several firms, she joined KuiperCompagnons in 2021. Her approach places strong emphasis on development processes such as scenario planning, participation, stakeholder management, and research. Her projects are always strongly oriented toward context, people, and program. In recent years, she has worked on projects ranging from area transformation visions to concept designs. In addition to her daily work at KuiperCompagnons, she also cstarted and leads the NGO Ukraine Netherlands Urban Network (UNUN).

Nicolas Kersting

Project, Acquisition & Development Manger

Based in Germany

I am Nicolas Kersting, an urban planner and project manager at Superwien Urbanism, working at the intersection of public space, sustainable mobility, and climate-resilient urban development. Over the past years I have supported cities and partners across Latin America, Europe, Central Asia, and Africa—helping shape diagnostics, action plans, and pre-feasibility packages that translate ambitious visions into implementable projects. My work combines technical structuring (from concept to costing and implementation planning) with strong participatory practice. I have designed and facilitated co-creation processes with municipalities, universities, communities, and multidisciplinary expert teams—turning stakeholder insights into street redesigns, green corridors, inclusive public spaces, and nature-based solutions for heat and stormwater challenges. I also support proposal development for donor-funded assignments (including World Bank, ADB, IDB and others), aligning teams, narratives, workplans, and compliance requirements. As a mentor, I support emerging urban professionals in three areas: (1) building a clear professional direction and portfolio, (2) strengthening practical skills in stakeholder engagement, project structuring, and delivery, and (3) navigating international urban-development work with confidence, cultural sensitivity, and realism—without losing purpose.

Gabriela Fontanals

Advisor in International Planning Codes Development

Based in Saudi Arabia

Architect specialized in urban land development with more than twenty years of international experience in urban regeneration and the organization of large-scale urban systems. My practice integrates urban design, architecture and regulatory frameworks through a structural understanding of the city, with a focus on identity, climate and long-term urban performance. I have worked across Europe and the Middle East in contexts of high technical and institutional complexity, developing my own methodology based on urban structure and operational viability. My work focuses on understanding the city as a system and defining clear frameworks for its transformation, linking urban form, public space and governance. I bring an approach aimed at structuring complexity, clarifying professional criteria and establishing stable frameworks within the field of urban planning, with an emphasis on strategic direction and long-term professional growth.

Sven Kohlschmidt

Specialist on collaborative urban design

Based in Germany

Sven Kohlschmidt is an Urban Planner and co-founder of the Urban Living Lab ‘Simeri Laboratorio Urbano’ (www.instagram.com/simerilab) working on a community-based regeneration process and placemaking strategy in Calabria. He has over six years experience as project manager at the studio urbanista (www.urbanista.de). His work is dedicated to co-creation strategies, participatory design and community engagement. Since 2022 until 2025 he was co-leading the Spring Term Design Studio at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary and was leading block seminars on the strategic activation of post-urban landscapes at HafenCity University (https://www.hcu-hamburg.de) in Hamburg as well as Placemaking & Design in 2025 at the (https://www.uam.mx/eng/). Sven is officially registered as a planner at the Hamburg Chamber of Architects (AKHH). In 2024 he was a mentor at the Public Space Academy Mentorship Program (https://www.publicspaceacademy.org/mentorship/). He is an active member of the Placemaking Germany Network as a subgroup within the wider network of Placemaking Europe (https://placemaking-europe.eu).

Jenny Sepulveda

Urban Planner at City of Calgary, Canada

Based in Canada

Jenny Sepulveda is a senior planning and environmental professional with extensive experience in municipal planning, environmental impact assessment, permitting, and regulatory compliance across public and private sectors. She has worked closely with local governments, multidisciplinary teams, and stakeholders to deliver projects that balance sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and community needs. Throughout her career, Jenny has held leadership and advisory roles, managing complex projects, supporting policy development, and guiding teams through regulatory and approval processes. She brings strong skills in project leadership, client and stakeholder engagement, business development, and strategic decision-making, with a particular focus on practical, implementable solutions. In recent years, Jenny has become deeply involved in mentoring junior professionals and emerging leaders, supporting their professional growth, confidence, and career transitions. She is passionate about knowledge-sharing, ethical leadership, and helping mentees navigate challenges such as career progression, workplace dynamics, and leadership development within planning and environmental fields. Jenny is also an experienced public speaker and community engagement practitioner, having completed advanced training to strengthen her communication and facilitation skills. As a mentor, she offers thoughtful guidance grounded in real-world experience, empathy, and a global perspective on cities, governance, and sustainable development.

Gargi Roy

Senior Urban Planner

Based in Germany

As a conscious urban designer and planner, I have always taken steps toward an evidence-based, people-centric approach that weaves various design informants—political, social, and economic —into synergistic relationships to create responsive environments. With ten years of experience in both the public and private sectors, I have been involved in nation-building efforts that include capacity building and providing technical assistance to government and public-sector organizations in India, Germany, and across the globe. I have supported government entities in building collaborations and formalising strategic partnerships through the signing of MoUs.

ANA TORRALBA BARALLAT

“I illuminate new possibilities for professinals, teams, cities and climate futures—and help turn vision into reality.”

Based in Spain

"Change Your Perspective, Change the World". Cities are complex by nature. They are living systems shaped not only by plans, policies, and infrastructure, but by the mindsets, values, and decisions of the people designing them. My work begins there. I am a Systems Innovation Facilitator, strategic advisor, and mentor, collaborating with Cities Forum to support urban professionals who are navigating complexity. My expertise includes systemic urban strategies, stakeholder mapping, healthy cities, climate communication, and team coaching, always with an eye on long-term territorial impact. With a background in civil engineering, sustainable urban systems, and systems innovation, and complemented by my work as a Certified Executive & Team Coach and Mentor (CORAOPS–UCM), I support people who are shaping — or seeking to shape — more resilient, inclusive, and regenerative urban futures. My professional journey began in the technical world of engineering and sustainable urban development. I worked +10 yrs as road safety and urban mobility consultant (active mobility and vulnerable users expert). As I worked with urban strategies, mobility systems and climate-related initiatives a pattern became clear: many well-designed urban solutions struggled not because of a lack of expertise, but because of lack of mindsets that allowed to navigate systemic complex challenges. So I deepened my understanding in Systems Innovation & coaching to be able to see beyond the visible and help others do so. At the same time, a significant part of my mentoring and coaching focuses on career transitions with climate and social purpose. Here, mentoring becomes a space to transform uncertainty into direction, confidence, and intentional action. I also mentor entrepreneurs and teams developing climate solutions that balance innovation with social responsibility

Maria Natalia Paulino Araujo Alcantara

Urban Mobility & Transport Planner

Based in Italy

Urban Mobility & Transport Planner with an international academic and professional background, grounded in architecture and urban planning. She currently works on complex mobility and transport planning projects across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Latin America, contributing to large-scale urban developments, major venues and international masterplans. Her professional path spans Europe, the United States and Brazil, combining academic excellence with hands-on experience in multidisciplinary, international environments.She holds two Master’s degrees in Urban Studies and Urban Planning, including the Erasmus Mundus 4Cities program, and brings a strong ability to bridge spatial thinking, analytical reasoning and design-driven problem solving within mobility and transport planning contexts. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for translating complex data, spatial analysis and stakeholder inputs into clear, structured and implementable mobility frameworks. Her work focuses on creating alignment between planning, design and delivery, supporting informed decision-making and robust project outcomes in complex, high-stakes settings.As a mentor, she will support individuals navigating international careers in urban planning and mobility, particularly those seeking clarity on professional positioning, international transitions and long-term career direction. She can support mentees in structuring their profiles, refining CVs and portfolios, and navigating the transition from academic or early professional stages into complex, real-world planning and mobility environments. Her mentoring approach is practical, structured and outcome-oriented, focused on building strategic clarity, confidence and concrete next steps rather than generic advice. She works best with motivated professionals who are ready to take ownership of their path and translate ambition into informed, achievable decisions.

Alexandru MATEI

Senior Officer Urban Agenda and Partnerships | Speaker | Moderator | Guest Lecturer | Urban Agenda for the EU | Oxford AI Alumni

Based in France

Alexandru is a passionate urban (re)thinker and senior urban professional working at the intersection of cities, communities and European policy. With over 15 years of experience, he supports places across Europe in the design and implementation of just, sustainable and integrated urban development. Having lived and worked in nine cities and one village across four European countries, he is known as a connector of cities, networks and actors, and for his resilience in navigating complex career paths and cultural transitions. As a mentor, Alexandru supports urban city practitioners by combining strategic urban expertise with insights from psychology, including flow, positive psychology, meaningful work, relationship building, trust, resilience, communication, public speaking, conflict management, passion and purpose. His mentoring focuses on helping professionals navigate complexity, strengthen confidence, improve collaboration and align personal motivation with long-term impact. He brings particular experience in building a career in a different country and reflecting on the balance between personal and professional life goals. In 2022, he took over the restructuring of the Support Services for the Urban Agenda for the EU as part of the European Urban Initiative, leading its conceptualisation and implementation, advising multiple partnerships and managing a multidisciplinary team. His work covers EU urban policy, programmes and networks, and he is recognised for generating synergies between institutions and policies. His main interests include integrated, place-based and sustainable urban development, territorial strategies, regeneration, the common good, European spatial planning and the societal impact of artificial intelligence. He has initiated and managed numerous EU-funded projects and is also interested in photography as a tool for observation and exploration.

Didier Vancutsem

Based in Germany

Elena Ogando

Senior Urban Designer

Based in Spain

Elena is an architect with over 17 years of international experience currently working at AECOM Madrid as a senior urban designer, coordinating several mixed use masterplan and public realm worldwide projects. In the last years she has been working in several masterplanning, landscape and residential projects for some award winning practices in London, Shanghai and Rotterdam. Elena also got the LEED Green Associate Certification after improving her knowledge about sustainable design applied to architecture and planning. Elena got her architecture degree in Madrid (ETSAM) with specialization in Urban Planning and Environment. She was awarded a scholarship to work in the investigation project: “Planning variables in pedestrian mobility”.

Jeffrey Shumaker

Partner, PPD; Former Chief Urban Designer, NYC

Based in United States

Jeffrey Shumaker, AICP, has been working at the intersection of architecture, urban design and planning for more than thirty years, in both the public and private sectors, and in cities across the globe. He served the City of New York as its Chief Urban Designer and Director of Urban Design and held leadership roles in some of the world’s top architecture, urban planning and design firms, including SOM, KPF and BIG. Jeffrey is currently President of Urbanscape, an international urban design and planning consultancy and Co-Founder of Partners in Public Design. Taking a place-based approach to his work, Jeffrey is helping communities, architecture and planning firms, private and non-profit institutions, towns and cities create better places to live, work, study and play. Jeffrey provides a full range of services from urban design, planning and illustration to liaising with city agencies and advising clients on strategy and public approvals. Globally, Jeffrey is serving as expert advisor to UNHabitat on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – participated in two expert panel discussions - and is working with cities around the globe to build internal urban design capacity, most recently in Pretoria, S. Africa and Seoul, S. Korea. Jeffrey holds dual Masters Degrees in Architecture, Planning and Urban Design from MIT and a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Syracuse University. He is the recipient of the Public Architect Award from AIANY and the Michael Weil Award from the NYC Department of City Planning, both recognizing excellence in urban design in the public realm. Jeffrey teaches and lectures frequently and is currently an adjunct professor of urban design and planning for Columbia University and the Syracuse Architecture program in NYC.

Justin Paul Ware

Urban Planner and Project Manager at Interboro Partners

Based in United States

I am an urban planner, architectural designer, and creative strategist committed to promoting social justice, human dignity, and sustainability in the built environment. I seek opportunities to collaborate with communities on the creation of cities and spaces that cultivate equity, inclusion, and long-term resilience. I currently work as a senior planner and project manager at Interboro Partners, a multi-disciplinary ideas-based firm offering inventive and inclusive planning, urban design, and architectural design services grounded in good listening, keen observation, and productive community engagement. I also freelance and operate Spatial Politics, an applied research and design platform established to pursue initiatives with overtly political and social dimensions. I mentor students through the Architecture League of New York’s Mentorship Program and act as a poll worker for New York City elections. With more than twelve years of professional experience, I’ve worked as an urban planning consultant to the Planning for Humanitarian-Development Practice at UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) and as a project manager and architectural designer at firms such as Mapos, Grizform Design, and Urban Nouveau. I hold a Master of Emergency Architecture and Urban Resilience from Università IUAV di Venezia and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Patricia Gimenez Franco

Senior Urbanist | Architect | International Advisor

Based in Paraguay

Urbanism is about people’s everyday life — and that conviction has shaped my professional journey. I am an architect and senior urbanist with over 20 years of experience across architecture, urban and territorial planning, and geography. I have built an international career working in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments, living and working in different countries, with strong language skills and high geographical mobility. My professional path spans the public and private sectors, advising cities, governments, development projects, and international cooperation programs in Latin America and Europe. My core areas of expertise include urban policy, planning and design; housing, land management; real estate; public space; urban regeneration; urban governance; resilience; capacity building, among others. I have contributed to complex urban initiatives with institutions such as the WB, IDB, UNDP, UN-Habitat, EEAS, the EU, LILP, KRIHS, and Gehl, among others, through projects, advisory roles, workshops, and learning programs. Beyond academic frameworks, my work is grounded in practice and real-world complexity, shaped by governance constraints, institutional dynamics, implementation gaps, and the relational dimension of urban management — understanding not only how cities are planned, but how they actually work. I write to reflect on practice, translate complexity, and share urban knowledge. As a mentor, I support professionals navigating career transitions, international and consulting pathways, and complex decision-making processes, offering clarity, grounded strategic thinking, and a pragmatic understanding of how urban work unfolds in practice. My mentoring approach is reflective and structured, helping mentees work through moments of uncertainty or stagnation by reconnecting skills, experience, and direction. Despite extensive experience, I continue learning from practice, context, and people — because urban work is dynamic, and context matters.

Connery Cepeda

Sustainable Mobility + Urban Planner

Based in Japan

Accomplished transportation/mobility, community and land planner with 20+ years of project delivery experience, including 8 years in international development and smart cities – supporting, managing and leading projects across all stages for public and private sector clients – with design, project management, research, data analysis, technical writing, translation, and collaboration skills.

Marina Kyriakou

Architect / Urban Planner at the Climate Change & Environment Department of the Cyprus Energy Agency

Based in Cyprus

Marina Kyriakou is an architect who holds a bachelor’s degree from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Strasbourg in France (2013). In 2014, she completed her Master's in Urban and Regional Planning at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She is a member of the Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus, both as an Architect and an Urban Planner, and a board member of the Urban Gorillas NGO. From 2015 to 2019, Marina was working in architectural offices in Cyprus and was active in citizen initiatives on socio-cultural and environmental issues. In 2019, she joined the Global Bicycle Mayor Network representing her city of Nicosia, through this independent and voluntary role in cycling advocacy. In the same year, she was employed by the Cyprus Energy Agency as an Architect and Urban Planner, participating in and contributing actively to many European and local projects within the Climate Change and Environment Department. Marina has participated in various trainings and initiatives on active mobility, Nature-based Solutions, energy and transport poverty, and other matters related to the human-centered and sustainable development of cities. She is also one of the founding members of the European Creative Rooftop Network. Marina is very passionate about urban cycling, green roofs, and play-friendly and child-friendly cities!

hemalatha M C

Master Planner

Based in India

Policy, Planning and Design professional in the fields of Urban Development, Industrial corridor planning, Smart Cities, Master Planning including Project Management Consultancies and Project Management Units. Experience working in Middle-east, India, Zambia and Nepal. Team mentoring, and Project Structuring. Experience formulating and strategizing projects from inception upto project implementation methods. Supports program management through conducting Techno Economic Feasibility studies, Land suitability/Capability studies and detailed Site assessments. Company representative and Client fronting.

Merve Akdag

MSc Architect and Urban Researcher

Based in Turkey

Merve Akdağ is an interdisciplinary designer with a background in architecture (B.Arch, Istanbul Technical University) and a Master’s in City and Architecture from Özyeğin University. She has led teams and developed public strategies as a design professional. As the founding leader of Şehrine Ses Ver, she has initiated award-winning participatory projects, interdisciplinary workshops, and interactive urban panels. Her work is grounded in inclusive design, urban justice, governance, public engagement, and data-driven design. She is committed to authentic thinking and effective coordination in shaping equitable urban environments. Her studies focus on producing innovative content, fostering team & community engagement, and developing and detailing unique artificial programs and collaborations in The Spatial J/U/S/T Art & Design Collective.

Dagmar Köhler

Based in Germany

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Konstantinos Kourkoutas

Coordinator of a Strategic Research Community of Sustainable and Smart Cities

Based in Spain

City enthusiast working currently as the coordinator of a multidisciplinary strategic research community of more than 30 groups, research centers and institutes in the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in Spain, impulsing open urban innovation processes, promoting quadriple helix implication and citizen co-creation. Design Thinker, strategic vision and social catalyst. Experience in masterplanning of ecological mixed-use and residential settlements. Involvement with smaller scale urban and architectural design projects, utilizing bioclimatic criteria. Experience in energy performace analysis and calification for residences and tertiary sector buildings. Research experience in territorial,regional and urban studies in European and National Research programs.

Jorge Pérez Jaramillo

Based in Colombia

Alexandra Gomes

Based in United Kingdom

I am a Research Fellow at LSE Cities, where I lead spatial analysis across a wide range of projects, applying both technical and critical approaches to understand urban complexity. I am an urban researcher and socio-spatial data analyst whose interdisciplinary training in engineering, sociology, and planning informs my approach to studying cities at different scales. My work bridges research, policy, and practice, combining comparative urban analysis with a focus on socio-spatial inequalities. My research spans urban health, sustainable development, urban mobility, and public space, and I have worked on projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Gulf. I teach and present my work in the UK and internationally. My research is shared through diverse formats—from academic publications, policy reports, and blogs to comparative mapping, art-in-policy exhibitions, serious games, and digital outputs—reflecting my commitment to human-centred, accessible, and visually engaging research that promotes knowledge exchange and real-world impact. Careers often involve making sense of a piecemeal process, and I can try to offer guidance, perspective, and support as you navigate your own path.

Reza Ambardi Pradana

Based in Singapore

Milena Ivkovic

Based in Netherlands

I’m an architect and urban planner. My professional journey began as a public space designer at a large international consultancy in the Netherlands, where I worked on masterplanning projects for cities across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. However, I was never interested in designing spaces alone, and my focus shifted to a broader question: how can urban planning better reflect everyday life and community needs? Over the years, I’ve worked across diverse countries and governance contexts, collaborating with international organisations, cities, and institutions as an expert in public space renewal, adaptation, and reconstruction. I have contributed to projects with UN-Habitat, UITP, Placemaking Europe, and ISOCARP, where I served as a Board Member and led the Urban Planning Advisory Teams (UPAT) programme. As Creative Director of BLOK 74 in Rotterdam, I develop innovative digital tools for learning and capacity-building, helping diverse stakeholders engage with complex urban challenges in practical and accessible ways. I also lead Placemaking Balkans, a non-profit think tank implementing EU-funded programmes (Interreg and Erasmus+), focused on public space transformation and participatory approaches to urban development. Alongside my project work, I contribute to the urban design field through leadership and advisory roles on international boards, juries, and professional networks, actively supporting international urban policy dialogue and knowledge development. Since 2024, I have served as a validated expert in integrated urban planning for the URBACT IV Programme of the European Commission, and in 2025 I joined the VNG International pool of experts. Why mentoring? Because I remember how confusing and overwhelming the early stages of a career can feel. Urban planning is interdisciplinary, political, and often messy. I look forward to supporting mentees in building confidence, sharpening their ideas, and finding their way in this complex field.

Andreas Michelsen

Director, Sustainability Lead, Gehl People

Based in Portugal

Since qualifying from Bartlett School of Architecture as a building designer, I have covered a range of architectural fields; I have shaped furniture, interiors, single family dwelling, kindergardens, offices, apartments, neighbourhhoods, districts, cities and recently countries. I have done competition design, site inspection, speaking, strategy, engagement, process design, and teaching across the world. Working in architecture is a journey and it's fun!

Ludo Campbell-Reid

Based in Australia

Angela Lopez

Associate - Urban Planner and Designer at ARCADIS | Architect LEED AP BD+C | MSc Cum Laude Urbanism + Technology in Sustainable Development (TISD) Specialization

Based in Mexico

Urban designer & planner committed to make a positive impact on the people around me and my environment: my city, my country and the world. My wish is that my dedication to sustainability and sustainable living at home and at my workplace ‘practicing what I preach’ will inspire others to follow my lead. My goal is to encourage sustainable designs and practices as my way of making a difference in my professional practice. During my years of professional experience in the construction industry I have sought to combine the success of clients with improving the quality of life of people and caring for the environment. With more than 15 years of professional practice, I have had the opportunity to accumulate experience in the design and development of Interior Design, Architectural, and Urban Design & Planning projects, as well as their execution and coordination. I enjoy new challenges, as evidenced by my educational and professional experiences abroad. As a result of my multi-cultural background I am extremely adaptable which has been essential for my professional career. During my role as the Urban Design Team Lead and Sustainability Coordinator for a small practice in Mexico City I was part of an interdisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to the development of Sustainable Master Plan projects in multiple Mexican cities such as Colima, Culiacán, Durango, Mérida, San Luis Potosí and Mexico City. I joined IBI Group (now Arcadis) Mexico City practice in December 2020. Since then I have participated in master planning, urban design, and sustainability & resilience consulting projects in North America and Latin America, mainly in Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil. The Pedestrianization and Parking Management Consultancy for Oaxaca Historic City Center in Mexico was one of my latest projects where I played a key role as the project coordinator between the client (IDB), the beneficiaries (Municipality) and the community involved.

Federica Risi

Senior Policy and Project Officer, European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN)

A natural connector and trained sustainable urban development practitioner, Federica has been shaped by living and working across different countries and urban realities. For the past 10 years, she has worked at the interface of action-research, participatory planning, and sustainable urbanisation, engaging with complex challenges such as everyday urban risks, informality, migration, inclusive city-making, and global environmental justice. Her work focuses on translating research into policy, particularly across Europe and South America. With a strong background in action-research and project management, Federica has contributed to participatory initiatives in several countries (i.e. the UK, Portugal, Peru, Brazil, and South Africa) across different sectors. She also has consultancy experience with international organisations such as the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Silent Spring Consultants, supporting policy-relevant research and programme design. Mentorship is an important part of Federica’s practice. In 2024–2025, she served as a mentor for the Public Space Academy, an experience that deeply enriched her and reinforced her belief in learning as a reciprocal and collective process. She currently works as a Senior Policy and Project Officer at the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN), where she manages multiple EU projects related to nature-positive urban development and planetary health, being the team's go-to expert on just-green urban transitions. At the EUKN, she also provides strategic advice to EU national ministries responsible for urban matters, contributing to intergovernmental cooperation and multi-level governance frameworks. Federica holds an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from LUISS Guido Carli. She speaks Italian (native), English and Spanish (fluent), and Portuguese (intermediate).

Vinita Dhume

Based in United Kingdom

Vinita is Director of Urban Design and Architecture. Her work includes projects in both the public and private sectors, specialising in regeneration and housing renewal, master planning, placemaking, and stakeholder-community engagement. Vinita has over 25 years of experience in master planning and architecture, and brings a broad breadth of knowledge on urban regeneration. She places a particular emphasis on a people-centred approach to co-creating places which are liveable and inclusive. She has led complex regeneration projects as part of larger interdisciplinary teams, working jointly to create innovative solutions to challenging problems, drawing critical insights from urban research into community engagement, design guidance (codes), sustainable place shaping and the design process. She serves on many Design Review Panels across the wider South East in the UK. She is also co-chair of the Westminster Design Review Panel and Tower Hamlets QRP in London.

Florinda Boschetti

Urbanist - Clean Air Advocate - Sustainable Mobility & Social Innovation Advisor

Based in Belgium

Dr. Florinda Boschetti is a city and transport planner and a committed advocate for liveable, healthy, and climate‑neutral cities. She has over 20 years of experience in sustainable mobility and urban governance across research, the public sector, philanthropic organisations, and European city and network associations. Her work involves close collaboration with city leaders, public officials, national and international stakeholders, European institutions, and intergovernmental organisations. Since 2009, Dr. Boschetti has led and contributed to major strategic research and innovation projects funded under the 7th EU Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, and Interreg. Her areas of expertise include sustainable urban mobility planning, active mobility, clean and connected mobility, and urban logistics. She has held senior roles with the European Cyclists’ Federation, the European city network Polis, and was a founding member of the management team of EIT Urban Mobility (2020-2024). Before moving to Brussels in 2009, she worked with the Municipality of Ancona (2004–2005), where she coordinated a public participatory laboratory within the city’s Piano Innovativo in Ambito Urbano, financed by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure. She currently works with Clean Air Fund, supporting European cities in accelerating the transition towards clean air by leveraging collective intelligence of civil-society organisations. Dr. Boschetti regularly serves as an international expert in the evaluation of European co‑funded research projects. Since 2018, she has been a Senior Expert for the Solar Impulse Foundation, contributing to the assessment of clean technology solutions, and an Expert Evaluator for the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership's Call for project on 15-minute cities approach. As a mentor, she creates a trusted space for reflection, helping professionals reconnect with their purpose, and translate values into impactful action within complex policy settings.

Dayana Al Alam

Based in The Netherlands

I am an architect, researcher and urban manager with 12+ years of experience. l started my career as an architect but I spent the last 9 years in the training and learning fields. I studied and worked in both The Netherlands and Lebanon, and I have a wide experience in managing projects in the MENA region (Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Oman, KSA, Jordan) and in Bhutan. My main interest lies in integrated urban and environmental development, including topics such as sustainability transition, good local governance, spatial and social development, the SDGs, climate change response and water policies reform.

Saira Vilchis

Expert in urban development and mobility

Based in Mexico

I have 17 years of experience in designing, evaluating, and implementing strategies for more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable cities. My work focuses on the intersection of technical knowledge, with a strong emphasis on generating evidence for public decision-making. Since 2013, I have been collaborating with the Mario Molina Center in project coordination, where I have developed technical analyses, designed methodologies and indicators, and accompanied private companies in the design of sustainability strategies, especially in the social component. I have participated in international programs such as Women in Motion – Urban Leaders and Urban95, an initiative promoted by the Van Leer Foundation and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for the design of cities focused on early childhood. I also participated as a specialist in the technical groups on transportation and gender of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) for the development of the Sustainable Taxonomy of the financial system in Mexico, a pioneer in integrating the gender perspective into a financial instrument. I integrate gender perspective, care approach, and territorial justice across the board, promoting urban policies that respond to the differentiated needs of women, girls, boys, and other historically excluded groups. As a mentor, I combine my technical expertise with soft skills development, recognizing that while technical knowledge can be acquired, leadership, communication, negotiation, and networking skills require an intentional development process. I accompany mentees in defining career strategies, professional leadership, strategic communication, and decision-making in complex environments, with the aim of strengthening urban leadership committed to territorial, climate, and social justice.

Shuwen Sailer-Zhou

Based in Germany

Shuwen Zhou is an urban and digital geographer. She is currently leading the International Center for Social Equity and Participation. Her expertise lies in the interaction of urban governance, digitalization and social equity. Shuwen has professional experience with the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank Institute, and international NGOs, working on poverty reduction, urbanisation, and community development. She holds degrees in urban planning and public policy from the University of Oxford, the University of Tokyo, and University College London.

Mariana Gomes

Based in Brazil

Mariana Gomes is the Associate Director of Development at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Latin America. An urban planner with 15 years of experience in urban planning, public policy, and fundraising, she works to mobilize strategic partnerships for conservation projects, socio-environmental justice, and sustainable development. She has led initiatives focused on territorial equity, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, and nature-based solutions in institutions such as the City Hall of Fortaleza and the International Society for Urban Health. She holds a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham (Chevening Scholar), an MBA in ESG from Ibmec, an MBA in Project Management from FGV, and a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the Federal University of Ceará. She is a member of the Women's Leadership Network at Columbia University in New York.

Cynthia Echave

Strategic Advisor on Regenerative and Systemic Transformation

Based in Spain

I am a strategic advisor in systemic transformation, supporting communities, cities and territories in navigating complex transitions within ecological and social boundaries. I currently work as an independent professional, advising public institutions, regional and local governments, and territorial ecosystems on systemic, place-based and climate-just transformation processes, with a strong focus on governance, implementation and long-term impact. Shared agendas & strategic advisory From 2023 to 2025, I collaborated with the Government of Catalonia as Senior Advisor for the RIS3CAT 2030 Strategy, contributing to the design and activation of shared agendas addressing rterritorial revitalisation, resilience and just transitions. My work focused on system mapping, multistakeholder governance and transformative innovation, supporting local and regional actors in aligning public policy, territorial strategies and implementation pathways. International cooperation & economic transformation. Previously, I worked as Senior Project Coordinator at the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA), coordinating international teams and contributing to European and Mediterranean cooperation projects focused on sustainability, green economy, energy transition and territorial development. This experience strengthened my understanding of the economic dimension of urban and territorial transitions, and the role of policy frameworks, investment and cooperation in enabling systemic change. Urban ecology & implementation background. Earlier in my career, I was Head of the Urban Planning and Public Space Unit at the Barcelona Urban Ecology Agency, where I led multidisciplinary teams and coordinated over 30 national and international projects on Superblocks integrating sustainable urban planning, mobility, public space, green infrastructure, urban metabolism and liveability. This role grounded my work in real-world implementation, institutional comple

Danbee Lee

Urban Expert

Based in Germany

I am an urbanist passionate about creating happy cities through public spaces that incorporate urban Nature-based Solutions. In addition, I am highly interested in enhancing social capital in cities through placemaking. I have 5 years of professional work experience in an international organization to enhance climate resilience in Asian cities. My academic background ranges from political science, economics, international security, international development cooperation, to sustainable urban planning. To achieve various experiences, I lived in several cities: Seoul, Chicago, Berlin, and Frankfurt am Main. I believe that building livable cities is not something we can do individually. It happens when we connect and exchange ideas and visions with like-minded people, because this “togetherness” is key to a sustainable urban future. Hence, I hope to support young urban planners who are looking for clarity and direction as they navigate their journeys.

Luciana Renner

Executive Director, Fundación Placemaking

Based in Mexico

Luciana Renner is an architect and urban practitioner with over ten years of experience in participatory urbanism in Spanish-speaking contexts. Her work focuses on transforming public spaces into meaningful places that promote community wellbeing, social cohesion, and everyday urban life, with an emphasis on early childhood, gender equity, older adults, and sport. She is the Executive Director of Fundación Placemaking, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing collaborative approaches to public space transformation across Spanish-speaking contexts. Since joining the organization in 2019, she has contributed to consolidating its strategic vision, strengthening partnerships with public institutions and international foundations, and scaling programs that combine technical expertise with community participation. Luciana leads LAPIS – Lugares Amigables para la Primera Infancia, a flagship program supported by Fundación FEMSA that promotes early childhood development through play and community participation. The program has been implemented in more than 90 public spaces across 23 states in Mexico and five Latin American countries, adapting to diverse urban and cultural contexts. Her experience includes advising and coordinating initiatives such as Parques México with Fundación Coca-Cola, Pinta tu Cancha with Fundación MetLife, and SHE – Safety, Hygiene and Empowerment with Essity, as well as providing technical assistance on age-friendly public spaces in Costa Rica and participatory budgeting pilots in Yucatán, in collaboration with GIZ and local governments. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with an academic exchange at Bauhaus University Weimar, and has completed executive training at INSEAD and the American Express Leadership Academy. Luciana is a frequent speaker and educator at international forums and universities, and is the author of the LAPIS Manual.

Salvador Herrera

Based in Mexico

I am an urban planner with a professional journey spanning over more than two decades at the intersection of law, ethics, governance, and urban design. Trained as a Planner, with a graduate specialization in Urban Management in France and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture. My experience bridges public institutions, international organizations, and professional practice. I have held senior roles in municipal planning agencies in Mexico, worked with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, CAF, and UN-Habitat, and since 2014 I lead Urbanística, a Mexico-based planning firm that develops urban, territorial, housing, mobility, and regulatory strategies across Latin America and beyond. My work covers the full planning cycle: diagnosis, legal and normative design, participatory processes, implementation instruments, and capacity building. Cities, regions, and national governments have relied on my expertise to translate policy goals into actionable spatial and regulatory frameworks. As a mentor to other urban planners, I offer three concrete forms of value. First, professional clarity: guidance on how to build a coherent planning profile that goes beyond technical silos and responds to real institutional constraints. Second, practice-oriented judgment: mentoring planners on how to navigate complex political, legal, and social environments without compromising ethical standards or professional integrity. Third, strategic growth: helping emerging professionals understand how to move between academia, public service, international cooperation, and private practice, and how to translate planning ideas into credible projects, instruments, and careers.

Tiago Mota Saraiva

Based in Portugal

Tiago Mota Saraiva is an architect, urbanist, and founding partner at Ateliermob and Working with the 99% co-op. Over the past two decades, his practice has been deeply engaged with participatory processes, community-led design, and cooperative housing in Portugal. He has advised municipalities and institutions on housing policy and is a vocal advocate for structural public support of collective forms of living. Tiago has taught, published, and curated extensively on architecture, urban politics and territory. Nowadays he is Invited Associated Professor at the Architecture School of Lisbon University.

Ludovic Pittie

Fellow, Landscape Advisory

Based in United Kingdom

After leading and growing WSP’s landscape and urban design UK business from 17 to over 120-strong over the past 8 years, Ludo is now focusing on amplifying the strategic impact landscape architect and urban designers can have on the future for the benefit of the planet and society. As a WSP Fellow, he is a global thought leader in strategy, design excellence and natural systems, his latest thought piece “What if cities were more like forests?” exploring nature based placemaking. Ludo is advising clients on how nature-led urbanism founded upon designing for all lives can reshape our societal health and equity, resilience of built environment and how to shift towards a regenerative economy. He provided strategic direction to the Homerton Green Corridor project for NHS Homerton Trust and was design lead for the public realm of Barking Riverside, one of the 10 Healthy New Town pilots. He was also project director for the Cambridgeshire Greenway Green Blue Infrastructure strategy. He was one of the authors of the new Manual for Streets working with the CIHT and DfT, leading stakeholder dialogue and developing principles about moving towards designing Climate Adapted and Net Zero Streets. He is project director for the development of the design framework for Portobello Road. In recent years, he has started to provide strategic advice to clients about how green finance and new financial instruments can reshape our urban and rural landscapes. Ludo is also a highly experienced public speaker who has presented in conferences on the global stage such as The Biophilic Summit, Urban Future and has taken part in numerous podcasts including URBCast, the Biophilic Design Journal Podcast and What’s That Green. He’s led the WSP global initiative “Future Ready Landscapes” since 2018. He is a visiting lecturer at the Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris and University of Boulder.

Judy Baker

Based in United States

Judy Baker is currently a Senior Advisor with Cities Alliance, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, Advisory Council Member on Latin America at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and International Consultant working on urban development issues. Until 2023 she was a Global Lead and Lead Economist at the World Bank in the Global Practice for Urban, Resilience and Land. Throughout her 30-year career at the World Bank she was responsible for leading policy dialogue, project management, and analytical work, particularly in East Asia, Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. This work has spanned engagements in over 30 countries and covered topics related to sustainable urbanization and its impacts, affordable housing, service delivery, climate change, local governance, economic development, urban poverty, and monitoring and evaluation. She has led several communities of practice with outreach to global partners from many organizations. She has published six books, as well as produced numerous country and regional reports for the World Bank. She has also been an invited speaker at many international events and guest lecturer at numerous universities. As a mentor, Judy brings extensive experience in recruiting and leading teams, deep analytics and policy guidance on a wide range of urban development issues in many different types of cities, project design, problem solving, partnership building, and career guidance.

Misha Mittal

Based in United Arab Emirates

Misha Mittal is a senior urban strategist and city advisor with over 17 years of experience shaping policies, mega-scale developments, and sustainability-led urban transformation across the UAE, India, and international markets. She currently serves as Senior Manager – City Advisory at Expo City Dubai, where she works closely with mayors, city leaders, multilateral organizations, developers, and technical experts to design and deliver future-ready urban strategies, flagship initiatives, and global partnerships. Her work focuses on translating long-term urban vision into implementable and investable outcomes across land use, mobility, infrastructure, and climate resilience. In parallel, Misha leads the G100 Smart and Sustainable Cities Mission in the UAE as the Country Chair, advancing women-led leadership, city diplomacy, and systems thinking at the intersection of governance, climate action, built-environment, technology and economic resilience. She has led intellectual property development that integrates urban planning, ESG, finance, governance, and communication into structured frameworks and digital metrics and has been a member of several national and emirate-wide task force. A Certified Circular Economy Professional and sought-after speaker, Misha is known for bridging strategy with execution. Her expertise spans climate-conscious real estate, heat and water resilience, circular economy models, and nature-positive urban systems, as well as building effective public–private and international partnerships. As a mentor, she supports mid-career professionals, emerging leaders, and founders in urban planning, sustainability, infrastructure, and real estate, helping them move from technical roles to trusted advisory and leadership positions. Her mentorship is strategic, candid, and grounded in real-world decision-making, focused on navigating complex institutions, leading in ambiguity, and creating meaningful, long-term impact.

Cornelia Dinca

Sustainable & Smart Cities

Based in Netherlands

I am an urbanist, consultant and educator focused on sustainable urban development. I am the founder of Sustainable Amsterdam, a boutique consultancy specialized in transferring Amsterdam and Dutch approaches to sustainable urban development internationally through experiential learning programmes. I have extensive experience working with governmental and semi-governmental partners such as the City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam Smart City, with a strong focus on international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Throughout my work, I have been involved in various mentoring roles, including as mentor city representative in the EU Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC), supporting other European cities in their urban innovation and sustainability journeys. I have also mentored startups through different EIT and New European Bauhaus programmes. I also support individuals in their career development paths, particularly (young) professionals moving to Amsterdam / the Netherlands who are navigating the local urban and sustainability ecosystem. My mentoring approach combines practical urban experience with reflection, learning and personal guidance in complex sustainability transitions.

Bram Dewolfs

Director of Placemaking - Educational & Living Lab Expert - EU Projects Director

Based in Belgium

Bram Dewolfs is a placemaking expert, trainer & EU project developer who co-founded and director of Placemaking of Urban Foxes, an NGO working at the intersection of youth participation, placemaking, public space, and inclusive city-making. His work focuses on helping (young) people & children (including those with fewer opportunities) to analyse their neighbourhoods through fun tools, co-design interventions, and turn ideas into tangible pilots that strengthen belonging, safety, play, climate resilience, and everyday quality of place often through an Urban Living Lab model. With strong experience in Erasmus+, Creative Europe and other European collaborations, Bram supports cities and partners to translate ambitious goals into concrete methodologies, workshops, toolkits, and deliverables, while keeping projects realistic, evidence-informed, and implementable on the ground. He is particularly skilled at bridging grassroots creativity with institutional contexts: aligning youth-driven processes with municipal realities, sustainability, accessibility needs, and long-term policy embedding. As a mentor, Bram is practical, creative, ethical and encouraging. He helps individuals and teams move from a compelling vision to a credible project design: clarifying the “why,” sharpening objectives, building partnerships, designing participatory journeys, and stress-testing workplans and budgets so delivery remains fair and feasible. He also brings strong facilitation skills (online and offline), a toolbox of playful and inclusive placemaking methods, and a clear eye for storytelling, supporting participants to communicate their ideas in a way that convinces stakeholders, funders, and communities alike. On top of this, through his NGO, Urban Foxes also is able to potentially provide fully funded EU City Labs (including transport, accommodation and meals) on the above mentioned topics to the mentees. This way building practical knowledge and skils in a real life setting.

BANKIM KALRA

Urbanist & Place Branding Professional

Based in India

I am the CEO of the Centre for Green Mobility and the Founding Director of Quantum Leap Studio. Over the past two decades, I have worked across cities in India and internationally, learning that real urban transformation happens when policy meets empathy and design meets people’s lived realities. My work focuses on reimagining city-regions and neighborhoods through active mobility, equitable access, sustainable transport, and meaningful behavior change. I believe cities are not just systems to be optimized, but communities to be nurtured. Through the CITIIS Forum mentoring program, I hope to support aspiring and budding professionals in thinking boldly, acting pragmatically, and building climate-resilient, people-first urban futures on a global platform.

Clinton Moore

UNDP Asia-Pacific - Urban Governance Specialist

Based in Thailand

I'm now leading a new flagship initiative - UNDP's Future-Ready Urban Governance training programme, working closely with 10 cities across Asia-Pacific. I am also a recognised expert on secondary cities strategy and urban governance, and am working on a book and projects on supporting secondary city development across Asia-Pacific. As a mentor I bring honest insights into the urban field in Asia-Pacific - how to build a career here, and insights into urban regional trends. I bridge the personal and the professional in my sessions – what is your personality like? What kind of person are you? How are you tapping into that and being a better urban professional? How are you showing me impact and output in your communications?The below are sample questions I have helped others with on their journey:What does it take to make or break an urban career in the Asia-Pacific?Is the UN still a viable career path for an aspiring urban professional?How does one transfer from local government professional to the UN system and connect to other international opportunities?How do you deal with the frustrations of projects ending as an urban contractor or consultant?How does one balance being a 'generalist' and finding a niche?What's it like to work on reinvigorating UNDP's urban programming?Anyway - more about me I guess? I am Australian and based in Southeast Asia with UNDP's Bangkok Regional Hub, where I am UNDP's focal point for urban governance - doing the groundwork of connecting, leading, and making sure that UNDP's urban portfolios in Asia-Pacific are grounded in cutting-edge urban thinking and practice and strong partnerships. Previously, I worked with UN-Habitat and UN ESCAP in Bangkok, but the life of a UN consultant is often not as glamorous or rewarding as one assumes.Southeast Asia has become my home, and where my expertise has grown. I have a rare "street to strategy" perspective. Before Bangkok, I spent almost 10 years with City of Melbourne in Australia in direct community facing, planning, policy, strategy, and Councillor support roles. I loved this work. This gave me an excellent foundation in how to work across a complex community, organisation, and political system - including as an Assistant to now Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece.My journey is not linear. I have moved between local government, regional roles, and the United Nations. This diversity is a strength. This is also not by choice - contract and funding issues, and organisational re-shuffles have built my resilience - so if you need help trying to navigate change and an international career, contact me!

LAURELINE LHUILLIER

Based in France

I am an architect and urban planner specialized in urban resilience, climate adaptation, and water governance, with over ten years of professional experience across Latin America and Europe. My work lies at the intersection of urban planning, architecture, public policy, and applied research, with a strong focus on how cities can respond to climate and social challenges in systemic, inclusive, and realistic ways. I have worked extensively in Mexico—including Monterrey, Mexico City, and the Caribbean region—on metropolitan resilience strategies, water-related urban systems, and climate-vulnerable territories. These contexts, shaped by water scarcity, flooding, rapid urbanization, and institutional complexity, have deeply influenced my understanding of cities as living systems. Collaborating with local governments, planning agencies, international organizations, and community actors has given me first-hand insight into how urban visions are negotiated, implemented, and constrained in practice. Alongside this, I have contributed to projects and research initiatives in France, Spain, and Ecuador, focusing on resilience frameworks, nature-based solutions, and territorial adaptation. Working across diverse geographies has strengthened my ability to connect scales, disciplines, and stakeholders, while keeping social equity and long-term impact at the center of planning processes. As a mentor, I offer a practice-based, honest, and non-linear perspective on building a career in urban planning. My own trajectory has been shaped by international mobility, interdisciplinary work, uncertainty, and professional reinvention. I support early-career urban planners in clarifying their professional positioning, navigating complex institutional environments, and transforming strong values into coherent and sustainable career paths.

Iria Lopez-Carreiro

Assistant Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Based in Spain

I am an Assistant Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and a researcher at the TRANSyT–UPM (Transport Research Centre at UPM). My background combines architecture, urban planning and transport research, with a strong focus on sustainable mobility. I hold a PhD in Urban and Mobility Planning (2021) and a Master’s in City Sciences (2016) from UPM, as well as a Master’s in Architecture (2015) from the Universidad de Navarra. I began my professional career as an urban planner in Ljubljana, Slovenia. That experience gave me first-hand insight into the real-world challenges of implementing planning strategies and led me to realise that I wanted to better understand the systems underpinning urban mobility and human behaviour. This motivated my return to academia in 2017, when I joined TRANSyT–UPM as a pre-doctoral researcher. In 2021, while completing my PhD, I moved into a European innovation environment as a Sustainable Mobility Project Officer within the City Club Team at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – Urban Mobility. There, I worked with cities and stakeholders across Europe, while continuing my collaboration with TRANSyT–UPM as an external researcher. In 2023, I returned to academia full-time after being awarded a competitive post-doctoral fellowship. This included one year at the Smart Public Transport Lab at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Netherlands, followed by a second year back at TRANSyT–UPM. As a mentor, I would love to bring a perspective shaped by both practice and research, international experience, and movement between academia and applied innovation. I understand that career paths are rarely linear, and I am particularly motivated to support others in navigating transitions and defining their own professional direction.

Ezgi Guler Tozluoglu

Based in Sweden

Ezgi is a multidisciplinary urban planner and designer with a decade of experience focusing on climate adaptation and sustainable spatial development. She has worked across the public, private, and academic sectors at all planning scales—from master planning and early-stage site analysis to climate-responsive urban and landscape design. Her core expertise includes integrating advanced GIS analysis and climate-adaptive strategies into planning processes. Ezgi has contributed to strategic frameworks, resilient design concepts, and implementation projects across Sweden and Turkey. She is also a former researcher with international publications on urban morphology, thermal comfort, and environmental performance in urban public spaces.

MUSTAFA SHERIF

Based in Sweden

Mustafa Sherif is an urban planner and placemaker from Iraq, based in Stockholm, dedicated to creating cities for people, especially children. As Studio Manager at AFRY’s Urban Planning & Design studio, he leads projects focused on human-centered urbanism and applies the Swedish Child Impact Analysis model to ensure urban environments support children’s needs. He specializes in public participation, community engagement, and placemaking. Mustafa is the founder and host of the Urbanistica Podcast, with over 550 episodes and listeners in more than 150 countries, featuring global leaders in urban development. He frequently lectures at universities and professional events, advocating for inclusive cities. Mustafa is Director of Placemaking Sweden and founder of the Nordic Placemaking Network. He has received several recognitions, including awards from the Swedish Architects’ Association and the Jane Jacobs Lecture.

Otto-Zimmermann Konrad

Based in Germany

KONRAD OTTO-ZIMMERMANN EDUCATION Diploma in Engineering (Dipl.-Ing.), Architecture and Urban Planning, Technical University of Hannover, Germany Magister (MA), Administrative Sciences, University of Administrative Sciences, Speyer PROFESSIONAL CAREER • Creative Director, The Urban Idea, Freiburg/ Germany • Founding Director, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, Seoul/ South Korea • Secretary General, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, World Secretariat, Toronto, Canada / Bonn, Germany • Deputy Secretary General and Regional Director for Europe, ICLEI, Freiburg/ Germany • Head, Environmental Planning Division, City of Freiburg, Germany • Project Director, ‘Black Forest’ Environmental Project, Stuttgart/ Germany • Division Head “Environmental Planning”, German Federal Environmental Agency, Berlin/ Germany INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, INITIATED AND LED • Ecological building and construction • Environmental impact assessment at local level • Green public procurement • Local Agenda 21 in Europe • Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Europe • Resilient Cities (urban resilience and cities’ adaptation to climate change) • EcoBudget (local, natural resources management) • EcoMobility (integrated promotion of walking-cycling-wheeling-‘passenging’) • Fine Mobility (German: Feinmobilität), promotion of mobility on foot and with vehicles in the range between shoe and car EXPERIENCES • Initiating, founding and building organizations (esp. NGOs) • Managing organizations including (re-)structuring, HR and financial management • Building partnerships and alliances between national and international organizations • Conceiving, conceptualizing and initiating programs with national or international impact • Developing and positioning innovative concepts, methodologies and brands • Motivational speeches • Teaching professionals

Hassan Elmouelhi

Based in Germany

Jens Aerts

Based in Ethiopia

Experienced in international urban development assignments with a diversity of key actors, I combine technical knowledge and human skills to support multi-stakeholder projects towards sustainable urbanisation, corridor development and green transformation. With a sharp analytical focus, I am good at data analytics, strategic thinking and clear reporting. I have been trained as a Master in Civil Engineering Architecture in Belgium and a Master in Urban Planning in Spain. With my 20 years of experience in practice, policy and research, I have been managing complex projects with cities and municipalities, international institutions, NGOs and project developers in different international contexts. Currently I provide technical assistance to the European Union, World Bank, Cities Alliance and the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, focusing on regional development, urban climate resilience and urban mobility. I am regularly asked to provide technical assistance in spatial research, local policy development and innovative urban development practices, to help shape investment programs and planning policies based on principles of sustainability, inclusion and economic feasibility. Nowadays I commute between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Brussels, Belgium.

Claudine Enduma

Based in Philippines

Licensed Urban Planner (Environmental Planning specialization) with over a decade of professional experience in partnerships and project management in the fields of travel industry and public service. Innovative, resilient, and a goal-driven leader who is passionate about education and contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. University Lecturer at the University of the Philippines with research interests on ecotourism, urban resilience, and sustainability. Most recent engagements include being one of the panelists at the Nobel Prize Dialogue 2022 in Singapore, 3rd Place Winner in the Geneva Challenge 2022 held in Geneva, Switzerland, and delegate of the United Nations Office on Disaster Risk Reduction Global Resilience Forum 2023 in Dubai.

Sean Hertel

Based in Canada

Giselle Sebag

Executive Director | Founder

Based in Spain

I’m Giselle Sebag (MPH, LEED AP)—an architect, urban planner, and public health practitioner focused on improving health by design. I work at the intersection of urban planning, public health, mobility, climate resilience, and equity, helping cities and civil society partners translate evidence into place-based strategies that improve everyday life—how we move, what we breathe, how safe we feel, and how connected we are. I serve as Executive Director of the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), a global network advancing the field of urban health and strengthening the bridge between evidence and real-world action. I also founded Vital Cities, an evidence-driven advisory practice that partners with city governments, the private sector, and mission-driven organizations to ensure urban investments deliver the greatest possible impact—improving health, quality of life, and economic outcomes. My career has been built in the “in-between spaces” where change is hardest—and most promising: between planning and health, policy and design, infrastructure and community life. I’m especially interested in how practical shifts—safe walking and cycling, public-space activation, access to nature, healthier housing and neighborhoods, and inclusive community life—can transform places and reduce inequities. I’m based in Barcelona and New York and work internationally. What I offer as a mentor: Strategic, practical support for mentees who want to create measurable impact across disciplines. I can help you (1) clarify your direction and refine your professional story, (2) translate research and data into implementable urban strategies, (3) navigate cross-sector stakeholder dynamics, and (4) apply a place-based approach that breaks down silos and builds shared purpose. Bring a real challenge—an initiative that’s stuck, a career crossroads, or a project that needs a sharper strategy—and we’ll work together to move from insight to action.

Martin Grisel

Based in Netherlands

What really drives me is working with a wide variety of stakeholders, sometimes at a high strategic level, to develop policies and research projects that contribute to greener, more just and yet prosperous cities. As founding director of the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN), a network of national ministries responsible for urban matters, I operate as a knowledge broker, a connector, a networker, and a strategic advisor and trusted partner of policymakers from the local to the global level. With my team at the EUKN, I have been providing an increasing range of activities to support both EUKN members and non-members with strategic knowledge support, ranging from policy advise, research, conferences, Policy Labs, and knowledge dissemination activities. Since 2007, I have supported over 25 member states holding the Presidencies of the EU, which led to the establishment of several strategic urban agendas, including the Leipzig Charter for sustainable cities (2007), the Urban Agenda for the EU (2016), the global New Urban Agenda (2016) and, more recently, the New Leipzig Charter (2020) and the Ljubljana Agreement (2021). With the EUKN, I have organised and moderated over 50 EUKN Policy Labs and conferences and has coordinated over 20 EUKN publications, covering practically all aspects of urban policy.

Diego Garcia Fernandez

Based in Mexico

Diego García es Arquitecto y Urbanista con más de 16 años de experiencia, principalmente en los campos de planificación urbana, placemaking, diseño urbano y arquitectónico, desarrollo orientado al transporte público (DOT), gestión de proyectos, regulaciones urbanas y arquitectónicas. Diego posee una Maestría en Urbanismo de la Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (Barcelona TECH) y es egresado de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UNAM. Entre los proyectos relevantes en los que Diego ha participado se encuentran 4 planes maestros para plantaciones de café cerca de Antigua Guatemala, cada uno abarcando más de 70 hectáreas, tres planes maestros en el área sur de la Zona Metropolitana de Guatemala, que cubren más de 1,000 hectáreas, 2 proyectos de mejora urbana con enfoque en el Desarrollo Orientado al Transporte Público (DOT) en Belo HoDiego García is an Architect and Urban Planner with over 16 years of experience specializing in urban and architectural design, placemaking, transit‑oriented development (TOD), master planning, project management, and urban regulations. He currently leads the Urban Planning & Architecture practice for Arcadis in Mexico, where he has grown the team from 1 to 21 professionals and driven significant business development and project delivery. Diego holds a Master in Urban Planning from UPC / Barcelona TECH (ETSAB, DUOT Barcelona) and an Architecture degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Among Diego’s notable projects are strategic master plans for coffee farms near Antigua Guatemala, covering more than 100 hectares, and several large‑scale urban master plans in the Guatemala City metropolitan area exceeding 1,000 hectares. He has contributed to innovative TOD initiatives in cities such as Belo Horizonterizonte y Río de Janeiro, un estudio de pre-factibilidad para el teleférico de Chapultepec.

Betty Chemier

Director at ReURBE

Based in Panama

Hi, I’m Betty—a self-made urban professional from Panama City. I started the journey that led me here because there was no park in my neighborhood, so I decided to build one. Together with my neighbors, we planned it, raised funds, and built and planted the park we had been dreaming of. That was my first real experience with participatory planning, co-design, and tactical urbanism (I only learned those terms after we finished). That project changed my life. I leaned into learning—taking courses with Gehl, Project for Public Spaces, and participating in design charrettes at Harvard—then came back home and founded a social enterprise, ReURBE. With my team, I’ve led projects across the country focused on creating more livable, inclusive, and meaningful places. Later, I joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Labs network, where for three years I helped test and scale practical solutions for challenges that shape our cities—disaster risk reduction, circular economy, waste management, and more—using systems thinking, experimentation, and a “learn fast” mindset. I’m now back in my own practice with ReURBE, working with clients on projects that mix place activation with sustainability strategy—turning big goals into real-world pilots, partnerships, and measurable impact for the territories and people they serve. If you’re a young professional who wants a mentor to help you navigate participatory processes, design projects with communities, structure experiments, or bridge urban practice with sustainability and systems thinking, I’d love to support your growth.

Oliver Lah

Based in Germany

Oliver Lah coordinates the Urban Urban Living Lab Center, a UN-Habitat Collaborating Center co-hosted by Technical University Berlin, Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the director of the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative and an Adjunct Professor at the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH). Prior to that Oliver worked with UN-Habitat, UN Environment, UNDP, OECD/ITF and GIZ on urban mobility and climate change issues. He was a lead author for the Fifth IPCC Assessment Report, was a member of the Habitat III Policy Unit on Urban Services and Technology and worked at the Ministry of Transport of New Zealand and the Minister of State to the German Federal Chancellor. Oliver holds a Bachelor of Art in History from Humboldt University, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science and a Master of Environmental Studies from Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in Urban Ecology from Technical University Berlin.

Viviane Weinmann

Based in Ghana

Viviane is a transport and mobility professional with over 12 years of international experience in project management and transport infrastructure planning. She holds an M.Sc. in Transport and the Environment from Newcastle University (UK, 2012) and a B.Sc. in Aviation Management from the European Business School (Germany, 2010). As a Certified Intercultural Coach, she brings a strong focus on inclusive and gender-responsive mobility development. Since 2020, Viviane has been a Transport Advisor and Project Manager at GIZ, where she supported the design and implementation of urban mobility projects, including EU-funded project in Cameroon. She advises on strategic development for gender-inclusive mobility through initiatives such as Women Mobilize Women and contributes to global advocacy. Viviane also develops capacity-building formats & creating digital learning products. Her work extends to implementing pilot projects in collaboration with local administrations, such as school zone redesigns in Indonesia and traffic studies in Uganda. Previously, as a Transport Planner at ARUP Singapore (2014–2019), Viviane contributed to major urban and regional projects, including the Sentosa Island and masterplans for Singapore’s new CBD. Her work integrated multimodal planning, low-carbon mobility strategies, and transport simulations to advance the city’s Zero-Car-Growth Vision. She also played key roles in the design of cycling corridor projects by supporting the development to Singapore’s national cycling standard. Earlier in her career with Lufthansa German Airlines (2010–2012), Viviane focused on airport master planning and terminal optimisation, enhancing operational efficiency through Lean Management approaches.

Mayra Madriz

Based in Mexico

I'm an urban strategist with a background in psychology and a deep love for nature. My way of making change is to craft and implement plans to make neighborhoods green, vibrant, and social. I was raised in Caracas, a tropical dream city that devolved into a dystopia, held together by its people's resilience and an incredibly strong social infrastructure. The experience of my homeland has shaped my professional practice as a sustainability consultant working on ambitious master planning projects and later as a Director at Gehl - a leading planning and urban design studio based in Copenhagen. To date, I have led placemaking initiatives in 30 cities and 10 countries. My work spans a wide range of contexts, from informal settlements in Latin America to corporate campuses in Silicon Valley. I'm now starting a private practice focusing on eco-districts and corporate social responsibility for real estate projects in Latin America. I'm also a co-founder of an agro-tourism project in the Paria Peninsula in Venezuela. Outside work, I'm a mother, an avid cyclist, a student of radical theology, and a music enthusiast.

Leelavathy Talapaneni Ramamurthy

Based in Germany

I am an urban development and sustainability professional with an interdisciplinary background in Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Sustainable Mobility Management. I hold a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and an MBA in Sustainable Mobility Management from Technische Universität Berlin. My work focuses on climate-responsive urban systems, inclusive mobility, integrated land-use planning, and multilevel governance. I have gained professional experience across international development, research, and policy-oriented environments in both Germany and India, supporting EU- and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)-funded programmes, urban resilience initiatives, and sustainable mobility transitions. At Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), within the Transport and Climate Change cluster, I contributed to research, policy briefs, knowledge products, and cross-country coordination efforts focused on sustainable transport and climate mitigation. This experience strengthened my understanding of climate governance frameworks, donor reporting structures, and evidence-based urban policy development. As a Research Associate at Zentrum Technik und Gesellschaft (ZTG), Technische Universität Berlin, I supported the EU-funded SUMRICA project, facilitating academic cooperation, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives centered on sustainable urban mobility. I contributed to structured reporting, workshop coordination, and knowledge dissemination across international partners. Currently, as Programme Coordinator at Cities Forum, I support EU-funded and multilateral urban initiatives through programme coordination, concept development, stakeholder engagement, and structured documentation. My work involves synthesizing technical research into actionable insights, facilitating peer exchange among cities, and contributing to climate-smart urban policy frameworks.

Sílvia Casorrán

Secretary general at RedBici.org (Spanish cities and regions network for cycling)

Based in Spain

Sílvia Casorrán Martos (Barcelona, Spain, 1979) is graduated in Environmental Sciences and MBA, and part of her studies took place in the Netherlands (Utrecht) and in Mexico (Guadalajara). She has got more than 20 years of professional career in the fields of sustainable mobility and transformation of public space, working from both private and public sector (2002-2014 as a consultant, 2015-2020 as chief of the Bike Metropolitan Office in Barcelona, and in 2021-2023, as Deputy at the Chief Architect Office at Barcelona City Council, implementing Superblocks, Protecting Schools and Cycling strategy). In the period 2019-2023 she was the Mobility Councilor for Sant Martí District in Barcelona. Nowadays she is the Secretary General at the Spanish cities and regions network for cycling (RedBici.org, an NGO with more than 150 public bodies, municipalities and provinces from all around Spain). At a European level, in April 2024 Sílvia was elected as European Cyclists' Federation Board Member and since September 2025 she is a Eurovelo Council Member. She has been active since 2003 from many sustainable mobility social movements in Barcelona and Catalonia (right now she’s board member of Association for Promotion of Public Transport, Catalunya Camina and part of the Foundation for Sustainable and Safe Mobility). She has been speaker at most mobility congresses and many seminars and teaches regularly at master’s and other studies on sustainable and livable cities. She has participated in different books and documents about active mobility and sustainable cities.