Discover Our Mentee Community

Aishwariya Krishna Kumar

Spain

Ghauzyla Fatanah

Indonesia

Mateo García Fernández

Spain

Leelavathy Talapaneni Ramamurthy

Germany

Maryam Erfanian

Germany

Merle von Bargen

Belgium

Carlos Tamayo

United States

Carlos Tamayo is a climate resilience, sustainability and smart cities strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning engineering, environmental science, public policy and urban innovation. Originally trained as a civil engineer, he began his career in construction and environmental engineering roles in Bolivia and the United States, working hands-on with structural inspections, environmental assessments and remediation projects. He then pursued a Master's in Environmental Engineering at Florida International University and completed doctoral-level coursework as a McKnight Fellow, moving into scientific research and numerical modelling of hydrogeology, flooding and sea level rise. This expertise led him to manage the City of Miami Beach's hydrogeological program, advising decision-makers on resilience and infrastructure strategy, and later to AECOM as Water Resources and Resilience Lead for the Southeast Region. He co-founded Resilience International Lab, earned a Master's in Smart City Management, and served as Innovation Manager for the City of Colorado Springs, leading smart city and digital-twin initiatives. He founded the consultancy Phronimos LLC, collaborating with governments, national labs and technology companies across the United States and Latin America, and now manages building-decarbonisation, energy-efficiency and circular-economy programs at the Colorado Energy Office. His work consistently applies systems thinking, data and AI to real-world sustainability and climate challenges.

Yichen Li

Australia

Jason Traves

Urban Planner

United Kingdom

Jason Traves is an urban planning professional with over 20 years of experience in development assessment and management across the UK and the Middle East. His work spans the full scale of planning practice, from individual sites to whole-city developments — including the Saudi giga-projects of Al-Ula and Qiddiya — and he has built a strong grounding in complex UK brownfield and estate-regeneration schemes in London, among them the redevelopment of former RAF sites at Uxbridge and West Drayton, as well as greenfield residential projects. Currently a Principal Planner for local government authorities, he combines technical expertise in urban planning, environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and design with an appreciation for the interconnected, cross-cutting nature of planning issues and the value of multidisciplinary teamwork. He recently completed an Executive MBA at Imperial College London, where his final project proposed a policy white paper on novel well-being indicators for sustainable development, using Saudi giga-projects as case studies. His professional interests centre on masterplanning, policy, strategy and senior management, and he is developing an advisory and non-executive-director track alongside his technical career, with a consistent focus on people-centred, well-being-driven sustainable development.

Zayneb Hussain

Planning Officer

United Kingdom

I am a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) with experience in the public sector in London, specialising in development management, planning policy implementation, and pre-application advice. Through my work, I have developed a strong understanding of planning systems, with particular experience in applying policies related to housing, sustainability, and net zero development.My academic background in International Planning, combined with my professional experience, has shaped my interest in strategic planning and large-scale urban development. I am particularly motivated to contribute to the creation of long-term spatial visions and policy frameworks, moving beyond development management into roles that influence how cities grow and evolve. I have a strong interest in housing and urban regeneration, having focused both of my university dissertations on housing-related issues.I am especially interested in international opportunities, including in the Middle East, where rapid urbanisation and new city development present unique challenges and opportunities for planners. Alongside my professional work, I have a longstanding commitment to social impact, demonstrated through volunteering with refugee communities in London and supporting the creation of inclusive “third spaces.” Ultimately, I am driven by a desire to contribute to more equitable, sustainable, and forward-thinking urban environments.

Aizere Amanbek

Kazakhstan

Michael English

Urban Planner

United States

Michael English is a municipal planner in rural North Carolina with a background in public-private partnerships, economic development, and university-anchored real estate strategy. He holds an MBA and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to graduate school, Michael worked in economic development supporting high-growth technology startups in securing the financial and talent resources needed to scale. His work centers on leveraging anchor institutions and innovative financing structures to drive inclusive, place-based growth. With experience contributing to domestic and international development initiatives—including innovation district strategies—he is particularly interested in operating at the intersection of higher education, real estate, and economic development across the U.S., Asia, and Africa.

Lennaert Dekkers

Independent program manager

Netherlands

Independent urban program manager working on complex city challenges. Combining program management and organisational change to turn ideas into real impact and systemic change.

BOUDJEMA Sara

Architect/ PhD candidate

Algeria

Sara BOUDJEMA is an architect and BIM specialist with over 10 years of experience in the AEC industry. She is a leading voice in computational design and workflow automation, specifically through the implementation of Dynamo and Revit standards. Currently pursuing a PhD in Urbanism, Sara integrates advanced data analysis with urban planning to address complex environmental challenges. Beyond her technical and research pursuits, she serves as a regional guide, advocating for the preservation and architectural heritage of historical sites in Algeria.

Bipika Poudyal

Australia

Bipika Poudyal is an urban planning professional with experience spanning private practice, education and research across Australia and Nepal. She began her career in her second year of university as a Planning Technician in Brisbane, working with planning regulations for residential houses and high-rise towers, and later moved into education, teaching schoolchildren about disaster resilience in Nepal, before joining the research sector. She currently works as a Research Operations Manager, supporting researchers with data analysis and literature review, formatting articles for two academic journals, and organising conferences, webinars and seminars. Her professional interests sit at the intersection of urban planning, climate resilience and disaster risk management, with additional focus on sustainable urbanism and public space design. She is particularly motivated to develop strategic, policy-oriented work — building the skills, networks and international exposure that will allow her to contribute to laws and programmes that reduce the impact of development on climate change and make communities more resilient to disasters.

Valentina González

Spain

Urban governance and programme designer advancing inclusive and participatory urban development. I design and implement community-centred approaches that strengthen citizen engagement in decision-making and support more equitable urban systems, particularly in fragile and unequal contexts.

Ghadeer Alalaiwi

Architect

Saudi Arabia

Hi,I am Ghadeer, a graduate with a BA in Interior Design, and I am currently working as an architect. I am passionate about local architecture and urbanism.I am looking for guidance from an expert on how to transition my career from interior design to urban design, and I would really appreciate any advice or direction you can share.Thank you!

Ibrahim Kamin

Saudi Arabia

George Hibbard

Australia

George Hibbard is a strategic urban planner with experience across private consultancy and state and local government in Australia. After beginning his career as a consultant, where he explored different fields of planning and found strategic planning the most compelling, he relocated to a regional city to gain hands-on strategic planning experience — a formative period in his development. He returned to Melbourne to work on major projects for the Victorian State Government before moving to the City of Melbourne, where he led a community infrastructure needs assessment and contributed to both the transport planning and affordable housing teams. He currently leads major land-use and strategic planning projects at the City of Stonnington, developing and managing projects to completion with the support of consultants and junior staff, and advising councillors and management on planning matters and decision-making. His areas of focus include sustainable urbanism, strategic planning, sustainable mobility, affordable housing and urban governance, underpinned by a strong commitment to planning that delivers genuine social and environmental benefit and improves people's lives.

Jan Dashkevich

Urban Planner

Australia

I am an Urban Planner with a background in Australian Federal Government in infrastructure policy and regulation, NGO project management, and the manufacturing industry. I worked at the intersection of Australia's federal- and state-level infrastructure agendas and prepared policy advice to the minister on High Speed Rail and Cities issues. I also delivered a large multi stakeholder NGO project addressing human rights violations in Easter Europe and worked directly with institutional donors to successfully scope and develop a bid for a follow-up project. My inspiration comes from a variety of knowledge domains, which helps me solve problems creatively and collaboratively. My background in Commerce helps me with systems thinking and fiscal perspective, whilst my background in Urban Planning and Public Administration give me spatial planning, GIS, and governance frameworks to rely on. I am here because I would like to know what career track to pursue strategically, and workplaces value someone with my skills set and experience.

Jagriti Arora

India

Jagriti Arora is an independent consultant trained as an architect and urban planner, with a career that bridges the built environment and strategic communications. Based in Bengaluru, she has worked largely with think tanks and across a range of allied fields, including heritage conservation, mobility, political campaign design and communication — encompassing writing, editing and technical editing. In recent years she has moved increasingly toward climate and sustainability communication, building a distinctive practice that combines planning knowledge with storytelling. Her professional interests include the urban circular economy and international consulting, and she is steadily consolidating a niche at the meeting point of urban planning and communication. Her longer-term ambition is to act as a bridge between sustainable cities and storytelling, using narrative as a tool to advance more sustainable urban outcomes, while strategically upskilling to unlock international opportunities in this emerging space.

Tanishka Sharma

Associate Planner at Cities Forum

India

Tanishka Sharma is an associate planner whose work focuses on understanding how cities function across social, spatial and governance dimensions. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Geoinformatics, which gave her a strong technical foundation in spatial analysis, GIS and data-driven decision-making, and an RTPI-accredited MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham — a transition from purely technical work toward an interdisciplinary approach combining planning theory, governance, sustainability and community engagement. During her Master's she worked on academic and applied projects related to inclusive urban development, gender-sensitive planning, retrofit and sustainability strategies, and participatory planning. She has since gained practical experience through internships and collaborative projects with consultancies and local authorities in the UK, alongside policy- and research-oriented roles in India, deepening her understanding of the gap between planning theory and implementation on the ground. Her professional interests include citizen participation, urban governance, gender and the city, urban project management and international consulting, with a clear orientation toward inclusive, governance-focused urban practice in interdisciplinary, international settings.

Letsema Dikgale

Master of Community Planning Student

United States

I am currently a Planning graduate student, deeply interested in exploring the intersection of mobility, placemaking, and urban design to create inclusive, human-centered spaces that enhance quality of life. My interests focus on designing connected communities, improving accessibility and movement within cities, and shaping public spaces that are socially, culturally, and economically vibrant. I bring experience in land use planning and working with communities through my involvement with Local Authorities, where I contributed to planning processes that support sustainable and inclusive urban growth.

Luiza Raeli M. Penna

Brazil

Alicia Baker

Urban Planner

Australia

Alicia is an Australian urban planner, researcher and educator with over a decade of experience spanning private consultancy, local government, academia, and the non-profit sector. Her personal and professional journey has taken her from Australia to Germany, Singapore and Morocco, providing her with a rich, multicultural perspective and broad understanding planning and design histories, theories, systems, processes, and practices in diverse contexts.Alicia has worked on large-scale urban renewal, heritage adaptation and conservation, education and health infrastructure, and strategic plan-making projects. Her research and teaching interests include urban resilience, risk-based planning, governance and decision-making, urban megaprojects, people and places. Alicia holds a Masters of Planning from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Technology Sydney.Outside of "work", you will find Alicia enjoying life´s simple pleasures - sunshine, exploring new places, time in nature, the company of friends and family, and good food.

Pau San Juan

Spain

Rugiatu Koroma

United States

Heba Ammar

Associate Professor of Urban & Regional planning - Urban & Regional Planning Expert

Egypt

Associate Professor of Urban & Regional Planning, and a regional & urban planning expert with about 20 years of experience, I believe that professional work is essential for education development, which improves the profession. I have started my experience as an urban planner continuing to become an expert in regional and urban planning, Strategic and master planning, community services studies, and local area development planning.I have co-managed projects at multiple levels, enhancing my teamwork, project management, analytical skills, and flexibility.

Ana Gaby Chavez

Saudi Arabia

Ana Gaby Chavez is an urban planner and mobility specialist working at the intersection of transport planning, urban design and architecture. Originally trained as an architect in Mexico, an early experience in social housing on the outskirts of Monterrey shaped her conviction that the urban systems around buildings — jobs, transport and accessibility — matter as much as the buildings themselves. She pursued an MSc in Urban Planning and Policy Design at Politecnico di Milano on a full scholarship, and began her career in Milan as an intern at the mobility consultancy Systematica, working on large-scale masterplans across Asia, Europe and the MENA region. She later taught urban mobility and site analysis at Tecnológico de Monterrey, helping launch its urban planning program, and worked as a consultant at Steer, where she led the Belize National Public Transport Study as project manager and contributed to urban freight, complete-streets and walkability projects. She currently works at NEOM, reviewing and aligning mobility strategies across masterplans with the project's vision for seamless, sustainable and user-centred mobility, including guidelines for multimodal hubs. Her focus areas include strategic planning, sustainable mobility, smart cities and urban regeneration.

Amalia Vrachnou

Greece

Olivanta Mwenda

Public Space Design & Waste Management Associate

Kenya

I am an urban designer based in Nairobi, specializing in climate-adaptive public spaces, participatory design, and community engagement. Currently working as Public Space Design and Waste Management Associate at the Public Space Network Kenya, I co-create equitable urban environments through collaborative processes that reflect local needs and aspirations.My professional journey includes developing the Safari Green Building Rating tool, advocating for community interests in built-environment decisions , transforming neglected public space to thriving community places and conducting GIS-based site analysis. These experiences have shaped my commitment to bridging grassroots action with systemic urban change.I hold a Bachelor of the Built Environment in Urban Design and Development and a Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment. I am particularly interested in urban governance, cultural placemaking, and gender-inclusive approaches to city-building.Through this mentoring program, I seek to strengthen my strategic policy skills, gain international perspective, and clarify my pathway toward influencing urban systems at a broader scale. I look forward to connecting with mentors and peers committed to shaping more just and sustainable cities.

Audia Kusuma

Indonesia

Kriti Rajkarnikar

Nepal

Kriti Rajkarnikar is an urban planner based in Kathmandu with extensive experience in disaster-resilient planning, governance and policy. After completing her Master's in 2016 and transitioning from architecture, she contributed to Nepal's post-earthquake reconstruction through Build Change in the aftermath of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, working in a range of capacities between 2016 and 2019. She subsequently worked on land pooling and physical development plans before moving into governance and policy framework projects at her current organisation. There she has gained significant experience developing a Local Disaster Resilient Framework for twelve local governments, amending and reviewing building and retrofitting by-laws, and contributing to risk-sensitive land use plan preparation and training. Having focused on disaster-oriented planning consistently since 2016, she has built a clearly defined specialism. Her areas of expertise include strategic urban planning, climate resilience, risk and disaster management, urban governance and international consulting, all directed toward building safer, more resilient communities.

Ana Elisa Torres

Architecture

Ecuador

Christos Loukas

Greece

Christos Loukas is an urban planner specialising in masterplanning and sustainable urban strategy. He studied Surveying Engineering (MEng) at the National Technical University of Athens, choosing urbanism as his major specialisation, and went on to complete an MSc in Sustainable Urbanism at University College London. During his master's programme he developed an urban strategy vision for Stockholm's new sustainable district of Väsjön and undertook the regeneration of London's underprivileged district of Poplar — projects that crystallised his passion for the masterplanning phase of the planning field and led him to pursue doctoral research into the principles of creative urban strategies. He currently works on land-use plans for several municipalities in Greece, organising land uses at the municipal level, while aiming to engage with more holistic, urban-scale projects. His core professional interests lie in strategic urban planning and urban regeneration.

Johan van den Berg

Architect-Urbanist / complex project manager & Mediator

Belgium

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.

Shruti Venkatnarayan

Graduate Student

United States

Shruti Venkatnarayan is an urban planner in the final semester of a Master of City Planning at UC Berkeley. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture and practised as an architect in India for two years, contributing to several large-scale masterplanning and design projects: a streetscape transformation focused on alleviating traffic, improving pedestrian safety and walkability; a net-zero-energy campus for a solar research institute, involving extensive passive-cooling and heat-simulation work; and a K-12 school designed around multiple stakeholders, site constraints and sustainable design. During her graduate studies she has developed practical skills in research, interviewing, GIS mapping and data analysis, exploring transportation, housing, climate resilience and infrastructure planning across both Global North and South contexts. She spent the summer of 2025 interning with New York City's housing and economic development office, working on affordable housing projects from site surveying and feasibility through to construction. Her interests span strategic planning, climate resilience, urban governance, public space design and international consulting, with a focus on holistic, community-centred planning and policy.

Hernan Guerrero Applewhite

United States

Hernan Guerrero Applewhite is an urban planner and independent consultant with more than 20 years of experience in community and economic development, urban design and GIS across the United States. He studied urban, cultural and economic geography at Clark University and holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute, where he was drawn to the community development corporation model, as well as a Master of Architecture from Florida International University. His early career spanned GIS systems for cities and towns across the north-eastern US before he moved to the analysis and implementation side of the field, leading housing acquisition, rehabilitation and historic-preservation initiatives with community development corporations and business improvement districts in New York. As a Senior Town Planner and Urban Designer with Dover, Kohl & Partners he directed design guidelines, corridor studies and masterplans, including a Congress for the New Urbanism Charter Award-winning plan for North Beach, Miami. He has also led affordable-housing and revitalisation efforts in Miami and teaches urban design at FIU. He provides technical assistance, mapping, research and planning services, with interests in strategic planning, urban regeneration, citizen participation, local economic development and international work.

DAngelos Svenkeson

CEO

United States

Yoana Pirotska

Spain

Yoana Pirotska is a strategic master planner and urban designer whose work focuses on the strategic design and coordination of complex urban and industrial developments. Currently a master planning consultant and urbanist within an engineering company, she leads and contributes to projects at the intersection of strategic vision, infrastructure planning and long-term spatial structuring, requiring close multidisciplinary coordination. A defining aspect of her practice is a growing emphasis on place economics and strategic foresight: rather than focusing only on the built and physical environment, her work increasingly engages with socio-economic drivers, spatial productivity and long-term resilience, a perspective that has become central to how she approaches master planning. Her project experience includes large-scale developments in international contexts, strengthening her ability to work within culturally, climatically and institutionally specific environments. Overall, her trajectory reflects a consistent move toward integrated, forward-looking planning that combines urban design, infrastructure logic, economic reasoning and long-term spatial strategy. Her interests include strategic urban planning, citizen participation, urban governance, local economic development and international consulting.

Stephanie Bsaomaii

Grad student

Germany

Stephanie Bsaomaii is a researcher and Master's candidate in Sustainable Development with a background in architecture and humanitarian work. She completed a Bachelor's in Architecture, including urban planning coursework, and went on to spend five years working in the humanitarian aid sector before returning to academia to pursue her current Master's degree. She works as a research assistant in a faculty of Geography, supporting research on climate-health technologies by mapping out projects, maintaining an up-to-date database, reviewing policy documents and reporting as needed. Her Master's thesis examines air quality and citizen science in the smart city of Barcelona, bringing together her interests in environmental quality, technology and public participation. Her professional interests include sustainable urbanism, smart cities, citizen participation, urban governance and international consulting, reflecting a cross-disciplinary approach that connects the built environment, sustainability and people-centred urban innovation.

FALAKNAAZ PATNI

Falaknaaz Patni is an urban planning and housing professional working at the intersection of design, planning, policy, finance and implementation. She began her career in architecture in Mumbai, working on large-scale residential and mixed-use developments as well as historic building conservation — experiences that shaped her understanding of adaptive reuse, cultural continuity and housing as a long-term stewardship responsibility. She subsequently pursued a Master of City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University, focusing on housing, environmental planning and public systems, where she was selected as an Eagleton Fellow and received the Governor's Executive Award. Her graduate work and internships deepened her focus on housing stability and climate resilience, including statewide resilience planning at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection through the Blue Acres Buyout Program, and coordination across agencies with UN-Habitat. As a Financial Analyst at NW Financial Group, she now supports housing authorities and public agencies across New Jersey in evaluating redevelopment strategies, reviewing capital needs assessments, analysing project feasibility and structuring long-term funding. Her interdisciplinary background connects the financial, spatial and community dimensions of housing, with interests in affordable housing, citizen participation, urban governance and the circular economy.

Lívia Delgado Rodrigues

Brazil

Vaishali Anavatti

Consultant Urban Planning

Germany

Vaishali Anavatti is an urban strategist specialising in digital and sustainable urban development. Trained as an architect in India, she practised for around two years before becoming increasingly interested in questions that went beyond individual buildings — how cities function at scale, how decisions are made, and how spatial, economic and social systems interact. This led her to pursue a dual Master's degree in urban planning in Germany and China. In Germany she initially worked in an architecture and planning office on digital and sustainable urban development projects, building on her design background, before transitioning into a consulting-oriented role where she could focus on strategic thinking, analytical work and direct client advisory. She has developed a strong interest in technology, innovation and quantitative analysis, and is consistently drawn to urban economics and evidence-based decision-making within the urban context. Building on her interdisciplinary background across architecture, planning, consulting and urban economics, her focus areas include sustainable urbanism, smart cities, urban governance, urban project management and international consulting.

Esraa Jamal

Assistant Professor in Environmental Sciences

Kuwait

I am an academic and researcher working at the intersection of environmental planning, urban mobility, and inclusive design. I hold advanced degrees in environmental science and environmental planning, and my academic journey has focused on transportation systems and their role in improving quality of life in Kuwait and the Gulf region. During my master’s studies, I examined Kuwait’s public bus system, exploring operational challenges as well as public perception toward its use. Building on this foundation, my PhD research investigated alternative scenarios for Kuwait’s transportation system, assessing their potential impacts at social, economic, and environmental levels, with the aim of supporting more sustainable and livable urban conditions. My current work continues this trajectory by examining how transport systems, public space, and the built environment shape everyday urban experience, particularly in hot-climate cities. I lead and contribute to research on pedestrian movement, accessibility, and environmental conditions, using real-world settings to explore practical planning solutions. My approach combines field observation, environmental assessment, and human-centered analysis to generate evidence that can inform both design decisions and policy development. I am particularly interested in strengthening the connection between academic research and implementation in rapidly developing Gulf cities. Through research, teaching, and collaboration with regional and international partners, I aim to support urban strategies that prioritize accessibility, environmental performance, and long-term livability.

Ricky Wijaya Umar

Urban Planner & Researcher

Indonesia

Spatial planner and consultant with experience analysing climate-resilient strategies across international cities through a global perspective that blends policy, practice, and cultural understanding. Skilled in climate-focused research, GIS, and qualitative analysis, and in translating complex urban and climate policy into accessible visuals and materials. Passionate about supporting local governments and communities to design and implement practical adaptation and resilience solutions.

Mohammed Albarack

Certified Architect, Urban Planner, and Smart City Specialist

Saudi Arabia

I am a Certified Architect, Urban Planner, and Smart City Specialist based in Riyadh with over 5 years of professional experience driving large-scale urban developments. Holding a Master of Science in Global Smart City Management and a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, my focus lies at the intersection of innovative design, urban technology, and sustainability. Throughout my career, I have successfully managed the urban and architectural design for major, large-scale community projects across Saudi Arabia. To ensure the highest standards of sustainable and efficient project delivery, I hold a PMP certification and multiple LEED credentials, including LEED AP ND, LEED AP BD+C, and LEED Green Associate. Beyond traditional planning, I have a strong interest in the financial and technology sectors, particularly exploring how blockchain and decentralized finance can integrate with future urban ecosystems.

Jose Bernardo III Gochoco

Urban Planner

Canada

I design and deliver climate-resilient, data-driven planning and mobility solutions for cities and communities, helping governments and partners close climate risk, emissions, and capacity gaps so they can implement actionable, equitable plans that strengthen urban resilience, guide sustainable investment, and improve quality of life for residents.

Marcos Rojas

Associate. Laboratorio de Innovación Ciudadana Oaxaca

Participatory urban planning initiatives and citizen-led innovation projects, focused both on co-creating solutions with communities and on scaling climate-adaptive approaches in urban contexts. Working at the intersection of open urbanism, citizen participation and community-driven urban transformation.Through his work at Laboratorio de Innovación Ciudadana Oaxaca, Marcos promotes collaborative approaches to urban challenges, connecting design, governance, learning networks and social innovation to foster more inclusive and resilient cities.His approach seeks to ensure that urban planning is not limited to technical expertise alone, but actively involves communities to co-create solutions to their own collective living challenges, through human-centered and systems-thinking frameworks.He brings growing expertise in:Citizen participation and collaborative urban processesUrban regeneration and public space activationFacilitation of interdisciplinary and intersectoral networksSocial innovation and community engagementSDGs implementation and spatial equity approachesMarcos aims to launch collaborative platforms that connect universities, communities, institutions and international actors through open exchange and collective problem-solving.

Sneha Ajayan

United Kingdom

Sneha Ajayan is an urban planning and transport professional currently pursuing a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield. She holds an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and began her career as an intern in transport planning, going on to spend six years at the same company and progressing to the role of Lead Consultant before returning to postgraduate study to broaden her planning expertise. Her professional interests include strategic urban planning, sustainable mobility, smart cities, public space design and gender and the city, reflecting a focus on integrating her transport background with a wider, people-centred approach to planning. Her combination of engineering grounding and consultancy experience positions her well to connect technical mobility expertise with strategic, inclusive urban development.

Nicasio Martinez Alba

Spain

Carolina Benavides

Germany

Carolina Benavides is an urban mobility professional who combines planning, data analysis and operational execution. She holds a BA in Architecture and an MSc in Urban Management, and over the past decade has worked as an urban analyst and project developer supporting projects in both public and private spaces, as well as a project manager overseeing complex urban developments. Over the last five years, following her master's degree, she has focused on urban mobility as a business strategy analyst within a startup environment, where she works on scaling shared services, integrating electric fleets and leveraging connected technologies — combining planning, data analysis and day-to-day operational delivery. Her areas of interest include strategic urban planning, sustainable mobility, transport infrastructure, smart cities and open data and urban big data, reflecting a practice that bridges mobility strategy and data-driven implementation.

Kyra Cuevas-McCarthy

Senior Borough Planner

United States

8+ years in the public sector in NYC with a mix of Transportation, Land Use & Zoning, Urban Design, Civic Engagement, Sustainability and Economic Development.Currently liaising (3+ years) with two contrasting neighborhoods/community districts, one of which poses coastal flooding risks and the other of which is lacking quality green spaces.Professional background includes architecture and grassroots organizing around public spaces and social justice.

KASMITA BASING

Program Management Officer (PMO)

India

Urban-environmental planner and Program Management specialist with 10+ years of international experience across South and Southeast Asia, working in LMICs on inclusive governance, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, gender equality, and community empowerment. I combine field-based implementation with research and policy engagement. My expertise includes feminist and participatory MEL, Results-Based Management (RBM), LFA, Outcome Mapping and Harvesting, grant and contract management, adaptive learning, strategic reporting, and proposal development. I integrate DEI principles into program design and management, ensuring meaningful inclusion of marginalized communities. I have led multi-country programs, managed complex stakeholder networks, and navigated international development and humanitarian financing systems. With a systems-thinking and intersectional approach, I generate evidence-based insights to inform policy and strengthen partner capacities. Currently, I serve as Program Management Officer at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), based in New Delhi. I support research on democracy, inclusive governance, climate emergencies, forced displacement, gender equality, and human rights, strengthening institutional research capacity across conflict-affected LMICs and fostering global research partnerships.

Jayden Holmes

Operations Manager

I am a multidisciplinary urban planning and sustainability professional with over a decade of experience spanning climate policy, international development, and urban design across Australia, the Indo-Pacific, and Latin America.My journey began with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, majoring in Geography. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to attend COP17 in Durban, South Africa, as an Australian youth delegate — an experience that inspired my Honours thesis on climate change loss and damage in small island developing states, for which I conducted fieldwork in Fiji. Alongside my degree, I completed a Diploma of Languages in Spanish at RMIT University and took an urban planning and design elective in Mexico City, which first sparked my passion for cities and the built environment.After graduating, I worked as a Renewable Resources Officer for a Melbourne water authority, helping to prepare integrated water management plans for growth areas across the city. This role, combined with my experiences in Mexico City, inspired me to enrol part-time in a Master of Urban Planning and Environment at RMIT University — a degree I continued while transitioning into a climate change policy role in the Victorian Government.Following the completion of my Master's degree, I took a deliberate career break and moved to Buenos Aires, where I improved my Spanish, taught English, and worked remotely as a research assistant on a project examining university teaching and learning on the SDGs. Returning to Melbourne, I took up my first dedicated urban planning role at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, a non-profit organisation, where I helped develop the masterplan for the redevelopment of a 7,200m² mixed-use precinct in Fitzroy. I also commenced a Master of Urban Design at the University of Sydney to further strengthen my design capabilities.I then moved to the City of Greater Geelong as a Senior Strategic Planner, where my work centred on zero carbon development, biodiversity conservation, and cultural heritage planning in partnership with Aboriginal Traditional Owners. From there, I stepped into my most recent role as Operations Manager for the RISE Program at Monash Sustainable Development Institute — a $50 million AUD research initiative delivering nature-based solutions to water and sanitation challenges in informal settlements in Fiji and Indonesia.As my contract at Monash draws to a close, I am relocating to Barcelona in April and am actively seeking new opportunities at the intersection of urban planning, design, and international development — with a particular focus on sustainable and just cities.

Omar Abaza

Urban Planner and GIS Analyst

Saudi Arabia

Urban Planner and GIS Analyst with a background in urban planning from Cairo and experience across government planning roles, HBU analysis, and GIS-based surveying work in Saudi Arabia. My career evolved from urban design to planning and then into technical GIS roles, where I realized I want to reposition myself as an urban planner who uses GIS as a strategic decision-support tool rather than as a primary function. I am particularly interested in Highest and Best Use (HBU), sustainable mobility, walkability, and humanizing city. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning, I aim to align my thesis and professional path with international planning and consulting environments. Through this mentoring program, I seek clear direction, stronger positioning, and a better understanding of how to transition from a technical GIS role into impactful urban planning practice.

Paola Tovar

Architect / Urban Designer

Netherlands

I am a Mexican architect and urban designer currently based in the Netherlands. I completed my Bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City, with a year of Master’s studies at ENSA Paris-Malaquais in France. Later I obtained an MSc in Architecture and Urban Design at TU Delft. My professional trajectory spans multiple scales and disciplines, ranging from landscape design to architectural and urban projects. A defining chapter in my career was working with a real estate developer, where I contributed to urban strategy and land acquisition processes. In this role, I operated at the intersection of design, policy, and long-term investment thinking. I worked on strategies that integrated accessibility, livability, and future growth, while collaborating closely with leading architects, policymakers, and investors. This experience shaped my interest in frameworks that align spatial quality with economic feasibility and long-term urban transformation. Currently, I work as an Urban Designer at UNStudio. My work focuses on the development of urban guidelines, strategic frameworks, and competition proposals. My core interests center on the future expansion of cities, particularly how growth can be managed in sustainable, inclusive, and economically viable ways. I am motivated by projects that bridge architecture and urbanism with governance and finance, shaping cities not only as physical environments but as resilient and adaptable systems.

Jasmine Kaur

Municipal Planner

Canada

I am a municipal planner with over thirteen years of experience working across diverse planning systems in Canada and India. My professional journey has been shaped by a deep interest in how communities grow, adapt, and make decisions, and by hands‑on involvement in planning processes that balance policy, development pressures, and public interest.I began my career in India, working on large‑scale urban and environmental planning projects, including redevelopment plans, informal settlement upgrades, and environmentally sensitive areas. Those early years gave me a strong foundation in spatial thinking, regulatory frameworks, and the social dimensions of planning, as well as experience working in complex, high‑pressure environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.Since moving to Canada, I have worked in municipal planning roles with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the City of Calgary, and currently Rocky View County. My work has included reviewing and deciding on land use redesignations, subdivisions, local plans, endorsements, and development applications across rural and urban contexts. Over the past several years, I have rendered decisions on hundreds of planning applications and contributed to statutory plan updates, resilience initiatives, wildfire recovery efforts, and redevelopment programs.In my current role, I am involved in major intermunicipal planning initiatives, including managing complex concept plan files with regional economic significance. I regularly prepare planning reports and recommendations for Council and senior leadership and value clear communication, professional judgment, and collaboration as essential tools in public decision‑making.I hold a Master of Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture, and I continue to invest in professional growth through mentorship, learning, and service. At the core of my work is a commitment to thoughtful, fair, and pragmatic planning that supports resilient communities and meaningful outcomes.

Esmeralda lopez garcia

Spain

Esmeralda López García is an architect and project director whose work develops at the intersection of architecture, urban regeneration, sustainability and research, shaped by an international background and a strong interest in social and environmental impact. She holds a PhD in Architecture focused on urban regeneration and public space, developed between Spain and Italy, where she also spent several years working and teaching; her doctoral research explored how neglected urban spaces can become opportunities for social and spatial transformation. With more than fourteen years of experience in international architecture studios, energy companies and engineering consultancies, she has worked on projects ranging from sustainable buildings and urban regeneration to green energy infrastructure and circular-economy strategies, holding senior design and project-leadership roles in Italy and Spain and leading flagship projects, multidisciplinary teams and large-scale developments to high environmental standards, including Passivhaus, LEED and ESG-driven projects. She maintains a strong academic profile, teaching sustainability and bioclimatic architecture at university level and contributing to international research and publications on urban regeneration and public space. Her interests include sustainable urbanism, urban regeneration, public space design, tactical urbanism and international consulting, with a growing orientation toward social-purpose urban work.

Lucy Peguero

Architect specializing in urban and territorial planning, currently in professional transition towards international environments linked to strategic planning and urban resilience.

Spain

I am an architect with over eleven years of professional experience gained in the Dominican Republic and Spain. Throughout my career, I have transitioned from building architecture to urban and territorial planning, driven by an interest in understanding and addressing urban processes from a more structural perspective. My approach to urban planning began in the public sector, participating in territorial assessments and regulatory processes in contexts of informal growth and urban pressure. This experience allowed me to understand the social, institutional, and political dimensions of planning and sparked my interest in specializing in urban planning. Subsequently, I have combined professional practice with applied research, delving into topics such as urban resilience, territorial expansion models, urban health, and environmental quality. These experiences have reinforced my conviction that planning must integrate sustainability, territorial equity, and technical feasibility, especially in vulnerable or transforming contexts. In recent years, I was part of the team responsible for developing a large-scale tourism and residential master plan in the Caribbean (1.2 million m²), leading the urban model, zoning, and environmental criteria. This period solidified my technical skills, but it also led me to reflect on the kind of impact I want to make in the long term. I am currently in a professional transition. I am looking to orient my profile towards international and multilateral environments where I can continue learning, contribute my experience, and better understand how urban policies and projects are structured on a global scale. I am working to strengthen my international standing and reach, and I see this mentorship process as a key opportunity to gain clarity, focus, and strategic direction in this new phase.

Zoe D'Ath

Architect

Denmark

I’m an architecture and urban design professional with a passion for climate resilient and people-centred change. My background involves: Architecture and residential designUrban design and masterplanning exposureClimate Resilience and flood adaptation researchGIS and spatial analysis skillsCommunity focused and collaborative design approaches I bring strong value as a communicator, of both presenting ideas visually and verbally and building strong relationships. This has allowed me to translate local stories and experiences into design ideas and be supportive throughout participatory processes. I am passionate about and drawn to projects that:Strengthen community connectionsPrioritise sustainability and resilienceInvolve collaboration and participatory processesImprove everyday urban life for people I enjoy making complex ideas comprehensible and meaningful - whether it's turning ideas into drawings, translating engineering into design, or coordinating with people to create change.

Luisa Fernanda Alcocer Rubio

Social Consultant

Mexico

Social impact and development consultant with 5+ years of experience leading community engagement and social impact assessments for 15+ land development and large-scale infrastructure projects across the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Proven expertise coordinating international teams, admission on multi-stakeholder selection processes, and delivering metropolitan-scale territorial strategies for vulnerable and disaster-affected communities. Interdisciplinary background in social and political sciences applied to urban development. Multilingual: Spanish, English and German.

Nada Soliman

Planning & Development Specialist

Egypt

Nada Soliman is an Egyptian Planning & Development Specialist. With a technicalbackground in architecture and 2 years of professional experience in urban planning.She holds an MSc in Urban Management and Development from the Netherlands and iscurrently based in Cairo, Egypt. Nada is at a pivotal career juncture, seeking to consolidateher transition from architecture to urban planning and to establish herself as aprofessional consultant. Her aspirations are international in scope, with a particular focuson Europe (especially the Netherlands),the MENA region, and global organizations.Nada’s interests span advisory roles, community engagement, circular economy, sustainability,and heritage preservation.She is open to both employment and freelance consultancy opportunities.LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nada-soliman-82876a77/Resume: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kEGgLxD6uxR_308YQzhoNlx_FYfE-qbH/view?usp=drive_linkPortfolio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KoTQ4ubU0KZHwsckHUnh-rY8qiRFEqzz/view?usp=drive_link

Evelin Raico

Urban Planner

Italy

Urban Planner and Project Manager with 6+ years of experience translating complex urban and infrastructure challenges intoactionable and data-driven solutions that deliver social, economic, and environmental impact. Skilled in urban planning and research, project and portfolio management, and data-driven decision-making, with experience leading cross-functional teams, stakeholder engagement, and public–private partnerships. My international experience includes collaboration with UN-Habitat on GIS-based urban analysis and urban planning initiatives, as well as contributions to academic research in Italy. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian. I bring a holistic perspective to projects and am committed to advancing sustainable, resilient and community-oriented urban planning.

Alejandra Fazekas

Urban Planner

United States

Alejandra Fazekas, AICP, has over a decade of public-sector planning experience in the U.S., including Southern Nevada and South Florida. She currently serves as Principal Planner in the City of Henderson’s Community Development & Services Department in Southern Nevada. Since joining the City in 2015, Alejandra has led long-term planning efforts in regional and comprehensive planning, neighborhood revitalization, brownfields redevelopment, transportation planning, transit-oriented development, historic preservation, and open space initiatives. She has successfully secured grant funding to support the development and implementation of various plans, resulting in meaningful, tangible impacts on the community. Additionally, Alejandra has developed policies for Henderson Development Code on urban agriculture, food pantries, and grocery stores. Prior to joining the City of Henderson, she worked for the City of Winter Garden in South Florida as a Planner I. She worked on review of entitlement applications for residential and non-residential development, business licenses, and facade renovations for Winter Garden's historic downtown. Alejandra holds a Master’s in Regional and City Planning from the University of Oklahoma, a Master’s in Urban Design from Kyushu University in Japan, and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the Universidad Católica de Nicaragua.

Amer Qawasmi

Green Policy Advisor

Jordan

I'm a sustainability and climate policy professional specializing in private sector–led green transition. With over five years of experience spanning corporate sustainability, decarbonization, and climate policy, my work sits at the intersection of business, government, and environmental strategy.My career involves hands-on engagement in corporate sustainability, supporting organizations in decarbonization planning, GHG accounting, and sustainability reporting. This foundation gave you a practical understanding of the challenges companies face when translating climate ambition into operational reality.Today, as a Green Policy Advisor under the GIZ-implemented GAIN Project, I work with the Government of Jordan and affiliated institutions to design policies, programs, and strategies that enable private sector sustainability adoption. The focus is on creating regulatory and institutional frameworks that encourage green investment, strengthen public–private collaboration, and align national development with climate and environmental national and international priorities.Alongside my policy work, I remain committed to connecting climate action with communities through my engagement with UN SDSN Youth, supporting locally driven initiatives that link urban development with sustainability goals.

Charlotte Collins

Translator/Editor

Germany

I am an urbanist, geographer, and environmental planner specialising in urban green spaces, public health/wellbeing, and future-orientated mobility. I hold a First-Class BA in Geography from UCL and an MSc in Environmental Planning from the TU Berlin, where my award-winning research examined the relationship between the use of the city’s urban green space during the COVID-19 pandemic.Alongside my academic work, I am an early-career professional working as a Technical Translator and Editor in the field of public transport, where I communicate complex technical, policy, and mobility-related content to international audiences. My research and professional interests lie at the intersection of urban design, environmental planning, and public health, particularly how urban environments shape everyday experiences and quality of life. I am especially interested in contributing to research, for example, in a think tank, political, or academic context.

Jonathan Jay Arreola

Spain

Jonathan Jay Arreola is an architect with international experience spanning Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia. He completed a five-year BS in Architecture in the Philippines and a two-year Master's in Architecture in Hungary, and worked as a Project Architect in the Philippines before joining Graphisoft, a software company focused on BIM solutions for the architecture and engineering industry, while completing his master's studies in Budapest. After graduating, he spent a year working remotely on projects in the United States and Australia, and is relocating to Madrid to continue his architecture career. His professional interests include strategic urban planning, risk and disaster management, the urban circular economy and international consulting, and he is keen to transition further into urban planning and design, building on his combined architectural practice and BIM technology background.

Francis Attikpo-Magloe

France

Francis Attikpo-Magloe is a technology professional whose career bridges IT engineering and digital transformation. He began in software and web development, which provided a strong technical foundation before he transitioned into IT operations, and spent several years with the World Bank Group delivering advanced IT support across West Africa and contributing to major initiatives focused on modernising collaboration systems. After moving to France, he strengthened his expertise in Modern Workplace technologies: at Adecco Groupe France he led VIP support operations, managed a team and took ownership of enterprise video-conferencing services, before joining MSIG Europe, where he currently works as a Modern Workplace Engineer. Throughout his career he has continued to grow through involvement in a range of IT projects, including electronic document management, digital transformation, smart-living solutions and mobile application project management, reinforcing his commitment to building efficient, user-centred workplace environments. His professional interests include strategic urban planning, transport infrastructure, smart cities, urban project management and international consulting.

Wendy Tsoriyo

Wendy Tsoriyo is an urban planning researcher specialising in citizen participation, spatial justice, place attachment and climate resilience in African cities. She studied planning in Zimbabwe and began teaching at Great Zimbabwe University shortly after her Master's, where she became increasingly interested in the gaps between what is taught about participation and inclusive planning and what actually happens on the ground — particularly for informal traders, pedestrians in small towns and people rarely heard in formal planning processes. This led her to a PhD examining street spaces in small towns in South Africa, working closely with street vendors, commuters and municipal workers to understand how planning decisions shape everyday life. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg, analysing the Gauteng City Region Quality of Life survey of over 13,000 respondents to study patterns in citizen participation, service-delivery satisfaction and neighbourhood experience, and she sits on provincial policy review committees that connect research to planning decisions. Her interests span sustainable urbanism, climate resilience, urban regeneration, citizen participation and international consulting, with a commitment to research that stays connected to real planning challenges of inclusion and spatial justice.

Kamohelo Motopi

Digital Construction Coordinator

Saudi Arabia

I am a digital construction strategist working with Urban Planning, Architecture and Computer Science. My work takes the fundamental traditional design techniques into digital, sustainable ecosystems that improve how spaces are built and experienced.With international experience across Africa and the Middle East, I lead the integration of data-driven design, high-performance modeling, and scalable construction coordination.I want to build a future where cities are not for vehicles and flashy but are centered on people and safety.I need help and guidance and would appreciate any direction

Stephanie Tsopanidis

Junior Project Manager

United States

I completed my undergraduate degree in both Environmental Studies and Urban Design & Architecture at New York University. This double major came about from a longtime love for ecology, systems thinking, and my own lived experience growing up in New York City. I am now pursuing a Master's of Urban Planning at CUNY Hunter College part-time, while I also work full time for the NYC Department of Design and Construction as a Junior Project Manager in Capital Programs. I've previously worked in economic development, capacity building for community nonprofits, energy consulting, horticulture, private construction/contracting, local political campaigning, archival digitization, and more. I've enjoyed aspects from all of these various roles, however I am still figuring out what type of role best fits my working style and interests. In addition to my upbringing in NYC, I have spent a lot of time in northern Greece visiting family! This has absolutely contributed to my interest in international planning practices, and made me open to exploring work outside of NYC/the USA.

Darragh Grealy

Urban Governance Student

Netherlands

Darragh Grealy is an Irish national currently residing in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He possesses a robust academic foundation in sociology and urban governance, holding a master’s degree in Urban Governance. Darragh’s professional journey has spanned policy research, public advisory, and the non-profit sector, with a recent and deliberate pivot toward urban governance and development. His academic and practical interests are centered on participatory policy analysis, bottom-up initiatives, and placemaking, with a particular focus on Dutch, Irish, and German contexts. As Darragh nears the completion of his studies, he is at a pivotal juncture: he seeks to consolidate his professional identity, clarify which roles within urban planning best suit his skills and aspirations, expand his professional network, and build the confidence necessary to pursue international opportunities especially in placemaking and participatory planning.

Nadia Surbakti

Teaching Assistant, Junior Researcher, and Freelance

Indonesia

Nadia Surbakti is an urban planning researcher and practitioner based in Jakarta. She holds a Bachelor's in Architecture and a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning, and has worked as an assistant researcher to associate and full professors since 2022, alongside freelance urban planning work. Her research focuses on green infrastructure and sustainable urban tourism — including her master's thesis on developing a low-emission zone in a tourism area — and extends to applied projects on land investment in urban tourism contexts. She is now seeking to bring her research and practitioner work closer together, aiming to build expertise in urban climate resilience and adaptation in line with her current research and projects. Her areas of interest include strategic urban planning, climate resilience and local economic development, reflecting a profile that bridges academic research and on-the-ground planning practice.