Johan van den Berg

I am an urban strategist with over 25 years of experience across architecture, public administration and complex urban development. My professional path reflects a deliberate broadening of scale and complexity, each step reinforced by additional training. I was initially trained as an architect, grounding my work in spatial design and the material reality of the built environment. As my interest shifted from buildings to territories and governance, I specialized in urban planning, expanding from project scale to municipal and regional systems. To navigate institutional complexity more effectively, I further trained in public management and complex project leadership, strengthening my capacity to operate within political and administrative environments. I began my career in architectural practice before moving into public administration as an urban planner. I worked for two municipalities, each time taking on greater responsibility in spatial policy, regulatory frameworks and long-term territorial development. My role evolved from technical/permit planning toward strategic coordination and governance structuring. After more than two decades in the public sector, I transitioned into private urban development in a regie role, orchestrating complex multi-actor projects. As part of the Intendant team, I contributed to regional system inquiries focused on modal shift and spatial restructuring, engaging with large-scale transition challenges. Later, as a mediator at Solv, I deepened my expertise in stakeholder alignment and decision-making in politically sensitive contexts. Today, I work independently as a strategic advisor and transition facilitator, integrating design thinking, governance structuring and mediation to enable durable spatial, social and ecological impact.