Gender and City

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.

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.

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.

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

Didier Vancutsem

Based in Germany

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.

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

Strategic Advisor Sustainable Mobility

Based in Germany

I am a strategic advisor at Mobycon and with extensive expertise in sustainable transportation incl. walking, cycling, road safety, urban transport and mobility projects. I focus my work to helping cities and regions to improve walking, cycling and make their transport systems more sustainable. At Mobycon, we are able to add a Dutch perspective on cycling projects, the only place in the world with a truly inclusive approach to make cycling a real option for transport for everyone. Prior to Mobycon, I have led the German Cycling Academy at the German Institute of Urban Affairs in Berlin and worked for almost a decade at the European city network POLIS in Brussels. I conducted my academic studies in geography and communications at universities in Leipzig, Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Madrid. I have led and contributed to numerous European and German mobility projects, research initiatives, and training programs. I am among the founders of Women in Cycling Germany and continue to support Women in Cycling internationally.

Lucía Mejía Dorantes

Senior specialist in sustainable mobility and urban development

Based in Germany

Senior transport and urban mobility specialist with extensive experience advising European and international institutions on sustainable mobility, transport equity, and inclusive urban development. Combines strong analytical skills with deep expertise in transport economics, mobility behaviour, and policy evaluation. Proven track record delivering high‑quality research, strategic guidance, and evidence‑based recommendations for the European Commission, the European Parliament, the JRC, and the IDB. Experienced in working across disciplines and coordinating transdisciplinary collaborations, applying quantitative and qualitative methods, and integrating gender, diversity, and social equity into transport planning. Skilled communicator with international teaching, mentoring, and conference experience. Currently supporting cities, institutions, and organisations in designing equitable and inclusive mobility strategies.

Ananya Bhatia

Sustainable Urban Development consultant

Based in Vietnam

I’m an Urban Planner and Climate Researcher based in Ho Chi Minh City, with ten years of experience in climate resilience across South and Southeast Asia. My work focuses on nature-based solutions, urban heat mitigation, and disaster risk reduction. After my Master’s in Urban Planning (2015), I worked on GIS and spatial analysis in Punjab. From 2018-2024 at IRADe, I developed heat action plans for Indian cities and expanded to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with gender-sensitive approaches. Since 2024, I’ve been consulting with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, leading capacity development programs across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. I’ve gained experience in climate resilience using GIS and remote sensing, integrating nature-based solutions with urban planning, disaster risk reduction, gender-inclusive climate action, and designing training programs for diverse stakeholders from government officials to communities. I’m happy to share experiences with early-career climate professionals, urban planners integrating climate into spatial planning, practitioners developing gender-sensitive interventions, capacity builders designing training programs, researchers bridging research and policy, and those interested in South-South knowledge exchange. I’ve worked on proposals for international funders, participated in COP events, published research, and managed multi-stakeholder projects across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam. My approach is collaborative—sharing what I’ve learned while listening to what you’re working on. I’m glad to have a conversation and offer whatever insights might be helpful from my experience making cities more resilient across Asia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Bernadette Gordyn

Sustainable Urban Development Specialist

Based in Spain

Bernadette Gordyn is an urban planner and architect from Buenos Aires, Argentina, currently based in Barcelona, Spain. She holds a degree in Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires, a European Master's in Urbanism from UPC Barcelona and KU Leuven, a postgraduate degree in Cities and Urban Policies from Di Tella University, and a Public Policy Analysis Certificate from UCL. With over thirteen years of experience in sustainable territorial and urban development, Bernadette has worked across Latin America, West Africa, and Europe. Since 2019, she has served as Urban Development Consultant with the World Bank, supporting operations in West Africa and Latin America. Her work encompasses project management of loans and technical advisory services, policy dialogue with governments, research and data analysis, and technical publications. She has contributed to projects in Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Panama, Togo and Angola, focusing on slum upgrading, housing, urban regeneration, transit-oriented development, climate resilience, and territorial planning. From 2016 to 2019, Bernadette worked with UN-Habitat's Mexico Country Office, where she coordinated programs on housing, the SDGs, and urban prosperity indicators, helping local governments to localize global agendas. Earlier in her career, she advised local governments in Argentina and Colombia on strategic planning and urban development. Bernadette has co-authored numerous publications with the World Bank and UN-Habitat and has taught urban planning at the University of Buenos Aires. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Catalan. Her work is characterized by a commitment to inclusive and sustainable cities, participatory processes, and evidence-based decision-making that translates global frameworks into local realities.

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.

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.

Joan Watetu Gachoki

Based in Kenya

Joan Watetu Gachoki is an Urban Planner and Sustainability Consultant specialising in climate governance, sustainability transitions, and ESG frameworks. She has over five years of experience spanning government, consultancy, and applied research, supporting climate-informed decision-making across the built environment, energy, and environmental sectors. She is the Founder and Lead Consultant at Eliye Consults, where her work focuses on climate policy analysis, ESG disclosure, sustainability reporting, and green building certification. Her expertise includes GRI Standards, CSRD, ISSB, EDGE, G-SEED, and environmental impact assessment, with a strong emphasis on translating complex regulatory and policy developments into practical implementation strategies. Joan previously served as a Senior Physical Planner with the Government of Kenya, contributing to national land-use and climate-related policy development and supporting county governments in aligning local plans with national frameworks. As a Visiting Researcher at Aalto University (Finland) under the World in Transition programme, she co-authored and published research examining climate governance and political-economy dynamics, using Nairobi River regeneration as a case study (World in Transition Working Paper Series, ISBN: 978-952-64-3026-3).

José Carpio-Pinedo

Based in Spain

Jose is an Architect and PhD in City and Regional Planning, with wide experience in planning and transport consultancy in both the public (CRTM, Madrid Transport Authority) and private sectors (Atkins Ltd, London, and Tragsatec, Madrid). Currently, Jose is an Associate Professor (tenured) at ETSAM - High School of Architecture in Madrid Polytechnical University (UPM). In 2025, he was a Fulbright visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. His main specialities are sustainable mobility, urban design, public space, spatial analysis, pedestrian planning and modelling (LEGION certified user). At the bigger scale, Jose has worked on transport-land use planning integration, transit-oriented developments (TOD), city-wide pedestrian strategic masterplans, and the definition of criteria for Low Emission Zones. Jose has received the First Prize at the Madrid City Council Urban Economy Research contest (2016), the 2nd prize at the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge-Spain 2020, the UPM's PhD Extraordinary Award, and the Spanish Association of Geography's Best Urban Geography PhD Thesis Award (2022).

Federica Risi

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

Based in Italy

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).

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.

Sonia Medina

Sustainable mobility and gender specialist

Based in Germany

Urban manager specialized in sustainable mobility and gender. I am passionate about promoting sustainable mobility and advocating for just transport systems. My goal is to work towards making cities more sustainable, equitable, healthier, and safer places to live. To this end, I have been working in sustainable urban mobility since 2015, focusing on active mobility and gender. I have focused my professional career in advocating for safer and more inclusive transport systems. Formerly I worked at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) México office as the Active Mobility and the Cycling Cities Strategy Coordinator managing some projects related to cycling, pedestrian mobility, and urban design considering the gender perspective. In 2018 I was able to take the Planning the Cycling City Summer School at the University of Amsterdam and in 2020 I was part of the Urban Leaders of Women in Motion taking the course Mobility and Gender in Latin America. I managed the project E-MOVILIZA focused on the transition toward low-carbon electric mobility in Ecuador.

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

CEO at Urbanística

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.

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.

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.

Alejandro Ceballos

Based in Colombia

Experienced Urban Planner in the development and monitoring of public policies and sustainable urban planning and transportation projects for climate change mitigation and gender mainstreaming, in the field of international cooperation and public sector.

Melissa Gómez

Based in Germany

ANA BAEZ FORNIELES

Based in Spain

oy arquitecta por la Universidad de Sevilla y Máster en Liderazgo y Dirección Pública (UIMP–INAP). Con más de veinte años en la Diputación de Huelva, he desempeñado responsabilidades técnicas y directivas orientadas a la innovación, la gestión estratégica y la mejora continua del servicio público. Entre 2020 y 2024 dirigí el Servicio de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, coordinando 28 profesionales y presupuestos superiores a 16 millones de euros, tras haber gestionado inversiones provinciales y prestado asistencia técnica a municipios. Impulsé la Oficina de Gestión del Cambio (2016–2023), reconocida con el Premio Blas Infante, desarrollando proyectos de mejora organizativa basados en datos y procesos. Cofundé la Asociación de Mujeres en el Sector Público y he ejercido como mentora en su programa, convencida del valor transformador del acompañamiento profesional. Formo parte de la Red “Los 100 de Cotec” y participo activamente como formadora y ponente en innovación pública. Creo en la mentoría como herramienta clave para preparar a la próxima generación de profesionales comprometidos con ciudades más sostenibles, inclusivas y orientadas al impacto.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jashwanth tej Kasala

Program Manager (Asia)

Based in India

ashwanth Kasala has over 12 years of experience in urban mobility, transport planning, and sustainable urban development, working across South and Southeast Asia. His work focuses on advancing safer, more inclusive streets through the planning, design, and implementation of people centered mobility projects in rapidly growing cities. He currently supports city partnerships under the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI), working closely with municipal governments to advance street redesign, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian safety initiatives. Through these programs, he collaborates with city agencies, traffic police, and technical partners to help cities translate road safety commitments into practical, on ground interventions. Jashwanth has extensive experience working with municipal corporations, state agencies, multilateral development banks, and international technical partners, bridging policy, planning, design, and implementation. His work includes program management, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, policy advisory, and project delivery, ensuring that city led initiatives are technically sound, scalable, and aligned with global safe street design principles. Through his work, he supports cities in strengthening institutional capacity, fostering cross departmental collaboration, and advancing safe, equitable, and climate responsive urban mobility systems across the Global South.