Exploring career paths in urban planning

Tonia Vasile

Founder at TOVASTUDIO

Based in Italy

Tonia Vasile is an architect and urban planner with over ten years of international experience across Europe, Asia, and South America. Her work focuses on transforming underused urban and architectural spaces into places that people choose to inhabit, work in, and connect through always starting from real human behavior rather than abstract form. She was educated between Turin and Valparaíso, earning a double academic formation at Politecnico di Torino and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, an experience that shaped her sensitivity to public space, social life, and the relationship between landscape and everyday use. Professionally, Tonia has worked in Italy, China, and Chile, developing projects that range from large‑scale urban masterplans to workplace and interior strategies. She has worked in Shanghai and Beijing on urban regeneration, waterfronts, urban villages, and mixed‑use developments, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in fast‑paced international design environments. In 2020, she founded TOVA Studio in Milan, Italy, an independent practice dedicated to urban planning, regeneration, and spatial transformation. Across all scales, her approach is grounded in observation, cultural awareness, and the translation of everyday use into clear, inclusive, and spatial solutions.

Jaime Ruiz Huescar

Co-founder of CITIES FORUM

Based in Spain

Jaime is the Co-Founder of CITIES FORUM and Director of its branches in Spain and Colombia. CITIES FORUM is an international firm and think tank comprised of experts in sustainable urban development and smart cities, with presence and projects in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Oceania. He was the Smart City project coordinator and was in charge of electric mobility at the Murcia City Council in Spain, where he led one of the working groups of the RECI, the Spanish network of smart cities. Jaime is leading various international projects of CITIES FORUM in the field of sustainable urban mobility, aimed at providing advice, training, and technical support to governments and cities worldwide in collaboration with funding organizations such as the World Bank, the IDB, or the GIZ. Jaime is an expert evaluator of electric mobility projects for the European Commission and has been a juror for several international awards like the "European CIVITAS AWARDS." Jaime has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena and a Technical Architecture degree from the Catholic University San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM). He has completed training programs at business schools such as IESE and the University of Oxford. Jaime Ruiz has been a speaker at over 50 international events related to smart cities and sustainable urban mobility since 2018 to the present, in addition to being the master of ceremonies at five editions of the Latam Mobility Summit held in Mexico, Medellín, and Santiago de Chile. Jaime was also recognized as a Top Transportation Planning Voice on LinkedIn.

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.

Laura de la Plaza

Head of Urban Planning & ESG in JLL | Bridging Urbanism, Strategy & Sustainability

Based in Spain

I am a Senior Architect and Urban Planner with over 20 years of experience bridging the gap between technical design, strategic urban consulting, and ESG. Currently, I serve as the Head of Urban Planning & ESG at JLL in Madrid, where I lead multidisciplinary teams in managing complex infrastructure projects, masterplanning, and asset repositioning. My work sits at the intersection of city-making and corporate real estate strategy. At JLL, I drive business development and integrate urban planning with wider real estate advisory services. My technical portfolio spans from large-scale zoning due diligence and viability studies for land-use changes to the design of comprehensive ESG strategies, including risk analysis and decarbonization action plans for asset portfolios. Beyond my corporate responsibilities, I am deeply committed to knowledge sharing. I co-authored the book "Elements of Sustainable Architecture"(Routledge, 2019) and served as an Associate Professor of Urbanism and Sustainability at the Pontifical University of Salamanca (UPSAM) for five years. I am also an active contributor to the industry dialogue, recently serving as a speaker on Net Zero Carbon (NZC) strategies at "The District" and as a member of the ULI Sustainability Product Council. What defines my career—and what I aim to share as a mentor—is the diverse path I have traveled. I have navigated roles ranging from rigorous academic research to pragmatic, market-driven real estate strategy. This trajectory has granted me a comprehensive 360-degree vision of the industry. My goal is to help you leverage this multifaceted perspective, bridging deep market knowledge with sustainability applied to urban planning.

Frank Dhondt

Based in Greece

Oleksandra Tkachenko

Work on the edge between urban planning and strategies.

Based in Netherlands

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

Nicolas Kersting

Project, Acquisition & Development Manger

Based in Germany

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

Gabriela Fontanals

Advisor in International Planning Codes Development

Based in Saudi Arabia

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

Sven Kohlschmidt

Specialist on collaborative urban design

Based in Germany

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

Jenny Sepulveda

Urban Planner at City of Calgary, Canada

Based in Canada

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

Gargi Roy

Senior Urban Planner

Based in Germany

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

Alexandru MATEI

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

Based in France

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

Didier Vancutsem

Based in Germany

Jeffrey Shumaker

Partner, PPD; Former Chief Urban Designer, NYC

Based in United States

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

Justin Paul Ware

Urban Planner and Project Manager at Interboro Partners

Based in United States

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

Patricia Gimenez Franco

Senior Urbanist | Architect | International Advisor

Based in Paraguay

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

Connery Cepeda

Sustainable Mobility + Urban Planner

Based in Japan

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

Marina Kyriakou

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

Based in Cyprus

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

hemalatha M C

Master Planner

Based in India

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

Konstantinos Kourkoutas

Coordinator of a Strategic Research Community of Sustainable and Smart Cities

Based in Spain

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

Jorge Pérez Jaramillo

Based in Colombia

Alexandra Gomes

Based in United Kingdom

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

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.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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.

Sam Austin

Senior Land Use Planner

Based in Canada

Sam Austin is a community planner with professional experience across Australia and Canada, working in municipal government and consultancy roles on land use policy, strategic planning, and community engagement. He has led and contributed to projects for local, regional, and state level governments, giving him a comparative perspective on how different planning systems respond to shared urban challenges. Sam is currently a Senior Land Use Planner with the City of New Westminster in British Columbia. Alongside his professional practice, he is an active public communicator on planning and city-making, contributing through media commentary, policy submissions, public speaking, and social media. His work focuses on issues affecting younger generations, including housing affordability, the night-time economy, and building more resilient and climate-ready cities.

rodrigo vargas

Urban and territorial planning consultant

Based in Spain

Architect and urban planner with over 10 years of international experience in urban resilience, territorial sustainability, and strategic planning. My work bridges data science, urban analytics, and planning practice, with a strong focus on integrating ecological systems, infrastructure, and governance into actionable frameworks for cities and regions. I thrive at the intersection of strategic vision, technical rigor, and applied research, developing tools and methodologies that help territories adapt to climate change and build long-term resilience. Committed to innovation in planning, I have promoted collaborative processes across local governments, academia, and international organizations. My contributions have been recognized with the Premio de Urbanismo Español 2025 (ex-aequo), awarded by the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España.

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)

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

Vinita Dhume

Based in United Kingdom

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

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.

Danbee Lee

Urban Expert

Based in Germany

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

Prasenjit Shukla

Urban Consultant, Senior Associate at Ernst & Young LLP, India

Based in India

Prasenjit Shukla is a Senior Associate at Ernst & Young (EY) LLP, India and an urban planner by training. His work focuses on shaping public learning ecosystems, particularly museums and cultural infrastructure projects across India. Over the past five years, he has been closely associated with the Museums and Archaeology Department of the Government of Gujarat in the capacity of consultant, contributing to the conceptualization, procurement, and commissioning of museum projects. His role spans the full lifecycle of cultural infrastructure development from identifying project typologies to structuring procurement frameworks, conducting market assessments, and supporting execution oversight. One of the key projects he contributed to is the Archaeological Experiential Museum at Vadnagar, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India that provides visitors access to a live archaeological site within a world-class museum environment. The project reflects his engagement with heritage-led infrastructure that integrates culture, education, and public experience. Prasenjit’s experience in working with institutions and regulatory processes enables him to see cultural infrastructure not just as buildings, but as long-term public assets shaped by governance and accountability. He has also worked internationally as a Young Planning Professional in Ningbo, China (2019) and contributed to a future vision initiative for Almería, Spain (2023) as a Young Planning Professional Program (YPP) for International Society for City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP). As a mentor, Prasenjit aims to share practical insights into translating academic training into diverse professional pathways. In understanding how public infrastructure decisions are shaped within institutional environments, how procurement and governance frameworks influence project outcomes, and how planning education can serve as a strong foundation for roles beyond traditional practice.

Salvador Herrera

Based in Mexico

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

Dinda Dewinta

Based in Indonesia

Dinda is an urban planner based in Jakarta. She possesses 8+ of extensive experience in the development field, specialization in urban planning, international cooperation, public policy, climate change and climate financing. Through her expertise, she has successfully delivered impactful project both for international, national and local governments. These experiences have refined her skills in strategic planning and public management. Her passion lies in fostering climate change adaptation and mitigation in urban areas, promoting sustainable finance, and addressing urban resilience. In her free time, she loves doing yoga, reading books, travelling, and learning photography.

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.

Giacomo Lozzi

Based in Belgium

I am a freelance advisor and researcher in urban policy, focusing on innovation and research in urban mobility, transport and logistics. My expertise covers policy development, stakeholder engagement, and project management within the EU transport sector, with a background in non-profit organisations, public administration, and academia. My hands-on experience with EU policies and projects, combined with my academic research, equips me with a deep understanding of EU transport policies and the promotion of sustainable mobility practices. I have extensive experience in orchestrating stakeholder collaboration towards pioneering sustainable transport solutions. I'm keen on connecting with professionals and organisations dedicated to enhancing urban mobility and logistics. Let's work together to shape sustainable, efficient and inclusive urban futures.

Nadeem Ahmed

Based in Saudi Arabia

International Urban Development professional with a strong background in sustainable urban planning and infrastructure in both the UK and global markets, with in-country experience in Nepal, Myanmar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Expertise centres on managing and delivering urban economic development and fostering resilient infrastructure with demonstrated proficiency in coordinating and developing city plans, identifying and prioritising green actions, and guiding their implementation. A chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, previously Vice Chair of the International Committee.

Hitesh Vaidya

Urban Practitioner

Based in India

Urban climate governance and institutional reform specialist with over 30 years of experience advancing climate-responsive urban transformation in India and internationally. Former Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Country Manager, UN-Habitat India. Recognised for shaping national and international policy dialogues on urban climate resilience, mainstreaming climate considerations into planning and governance systems. Designing scalable institutional frameworks adopted by over 250 urban local bodies representing nearly 70% of India’s urban population. Provided strategic leadership in aligning India’s urban development agenda with global climate commitments, including the SDGs, New Urban Agenda, and Paris Agreement, and actively engaged in global platforms (G20–Urban 20, COP, World Urban Forum) to strengthen the role of cities in climate and sustainability transitions.

Judy Baker

Based in United States

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

Misha Mittal

Based in United Arab Emirates

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

Cornelia Dinca

Sustainable & Smart Cities

Based in Netherlands

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

Bram Dewolfs

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

Based in Belgium

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

BANKIM KALRA

Urbanist & Place Branding Professional

Based in India

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

LAURELINE LHUILLIER

Based in France

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

Iria Lopez-Carreiro

Assistant Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Based in Spain

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

MUSTAFA SHERIF

Based in Sweden

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

Victoria Freyssinier

Based in Mexico

Hassan Elmouelhi

Based in Germany

Jens Aerts

Based in Ethiopia

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

Sean Hertel

Based in Canada

Giselle Sebag

Executive Director | Founder

Based in Spain

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

Diego Garcia Fernandez

Based in Mexico

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

Mayra Madriz

Based in Mexico

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

Leelavathy Talapaneni Ramamurthy

Based in Germany

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

Sílvia Casorrán

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

Based in Spain

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