MEET THE 2020 LOCAL PATHWAYS FELLOWS
The third cohort of the Local Pathways Fellowship is bringing together a network of 128 young thought leaders, urban planners, sustainability advocates, researchers and innovators from 103 cities across the world to advance local dialogue, collaboration and problem solving around the Sustainable Development Goals and to make cities and urban settlements “smart, fair and sustainable”.
Abdullah-Al-Faisal
Dhaka, Bangladesh
GIS Specialist, Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Mr. Faisal, is a Researcher and an Urban Planner, who is passionate about working with environmental pollution and urban planning issues. Having a graduate degree of Urban & Regional Planning and a professional expertise in Climate Change issue, he seeks an integrated solution to decorate polluted urban areas in a sustainable manner.
Abraham Morris Weah
Monrovia, Liberia
Managing Director, SYCADI
Weah is a founder and a Managing director of SYCADI a youth organization working to promote education and community’s development by helping to improve the lives of hundreds of Liberians youth. With 8 years experience in communities’ development, education, and advocacy, weah has work with many international and local NGOs and also as classroom teacher for over 6 years now.
Adam Wronkowski
Poznan, Poland
PhD student, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Faculty of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management
Adam is a PhD student of socio-economic geography and spatial management at Adam Mickiewicz Univeristy, Poznan. Interested in GIS, urban development, public spaces, as well as spatial behavior and the needs of their users. He has experience in local and regional strategic planning and creation of urban renewal programs. Adam is also pasionate about spatial education.
Aditya Kaudan
New Delhi, India
Master's Scholar, Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP)
Aditya is a Master’s Scholar at Indian School of Public Policy, New Delhi. He is a Youth Leader & Ambassador for ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) & Kindness. An avid follower & advocate of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), he is working towards the promotion of emerging technology as a methodology for planning & operating Disaster Resilient Smart Cities of the future.
Aime Ludovic Pegdwende Sawadogo
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Participant, YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa Accra
Aime Ludovic Pegdwende SAWADOGO holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and promotes ecological constructions with local materials for poor people. He has three years professional experience and has been trained on the development of urban planning tools for sustainable cities. He attended an event on climate change during COP 21.He participated in the Benin Eco-Citizen Days.
Akash Malhotra
Gurugram, India
Academic Mentor, Citizens for Public Leadership
Akash is an economist; whose interests primarily lie at the intersection of Global Finance and Sustainable Development. He is formally trained in engineering and economics and was a fellow at the Citizens for Public Leadership. Akash conducts research on climate finance and design of innovative financial instruments for aiding sustainable development.
Aleksei Tikhonov
Moscow, Russia
Research Assistant, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Aleksei earned a specialist degree in chemistry from Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia and started Ph.D. in molecular biology and oncology at Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology. His work is focused on developing immunoassays for identifying new circulating tumor markers. Aleksei engaged in many socioenvironmental initiatives and volunteer at non-profit organizations.
Aliraza Alidina
Winnipeg, Canada
Researcher, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Aliraza is a graduate of the Master's in Development Practice (in Indigenous Development) program from the University of Winnipeg. Fluent in over 5 languages, he is passionate about diplomacy, peacebuilding, as well as intercultural and interfaith dialogue. In the Canadian context, Aliraza believes it is imperative to take into account reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples when discussing SDGs.
Amer Qawasmi
Amman, Jordan
Environmental Officer, ArabEnv
Amer holds a bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from the Jordan University of Science and Technology. He is a young passionate environmentalist who is looking for innovative ideas to make cities more sustainable to mitigate climate change and to save our planet for our next generation. Currently, he is working at ArabEnv, a firm specialized in environmental solutions and sustainability.
Ana Carolina Abreu
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
M.Sc Student, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro
Ana is an internationalist and is currently pursuing her M.Sc in Sustainable Development Practice at Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. She collaborates on projects in the Decentralization and Sustainability area at Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brazil and has held leadership positions in third sector organizations, such as Sustainable Cities Working-group Coordinator in Engajamundo.
Ana Paula Kasznar
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Master's Student in Global Environmental Leadership, Tsinghua University
Passionate about sustainable development, Ana Kasznar is a civil engineer with a focus on urban systems. She has background experience in transportation planning and management for more than 2 years and currently pursues her MSc in Global Environmental Leadership at Tsinghua University. Originally from Brazil, she has lived in England, France and, most recently, China.
Angela Moturi
Nairobi, Kenya
Intern, ESRI Eastern Africa
Angela Moturi is a passionate environmentalist and student of the world.She holds a degree in Land Use Planning from Jomo Kenyatta University. Her time is spent volunteering in local initiatives that raise awareness about climate change, enhancing child literacy and inclusive public spaces. She aims to develop solutions using technology to improve participatory planning processes in communities.
Anna Pozdniakova
Kharkiv, Ukraine
PhD graduate, Research center for industrial development problems of NAS
Anna is passionate about Smart Sustainable Cities and this was a topic of her PhD research. She is interested in technologies and digital products that contribute towards solving urban issues. Has taken part in several hackathons for civil society as an author of the idea. During her fellowship at the DSC, she along with a group of fellows created a board game for kids on Social Entrepreneurship.
Anne Marie Rey
Quezon City, Philippines
Project Development Officer, Resettlement Governance - Project Management Office
Anne Rey works as a Project Development Officer in a government agency in the Philippines that capacitates local government units on resettlement governance. She supports the conduct of research and the development of relevant policies and projects on addressing issues on housing and conditions of informal settler communities. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University
Apula Singh
Delhi NCR, India
Associate Manager - Advocacy, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
Apula Singh is an Economics & Urban Policy graduate. She works with Janaagraha and is currently consulting with Odisha government on municipal finance and staffing reforms. She has previously worked with governments of Telangana and Haryana as well. She is passionate about making waste management and transport sustainable in cities.
Babajide Oluwase
Lagos, Nigeria
Founder/Team Lead, RenewDrive
Babajide Oluwase is a certified Spatial Planner with a broad set of skills applicable across different sectors and roles, having a progressive six years’ experience in designing and deploying eco-friendly solutions, promoting urban planning, environmental sustainability, and the concept of green economy. Babajide is also a member of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economy Forum.
Bessy Thuranira
Nairobi, Kenya
Urban Development Consultant, TU Dortmund
An urban planner and a graduate student of Regional Development Planning at TU Dortmund in Germany. Experienced in international development, Bessy continues to work in projects on rapid urbanization challenges providing inputs on areas such as sustainable mobility and informal settlement planning. She is also interested in public policy.
Betrand Njoya
Bamenda, Cameroon
Farm management expert, PIDMA- Ministry of agriculture and rural development
Betrand Shitiet Njoya is a young global leader working in sustainable agricultural development, youth empowerment, youth and women entrepreneurship. He is based at the Agricultural investment and market development project at the ministry of agriculture and rural development in Cameroon. His passion is the fight against hunger and poverty in communities.
Bingqin Shan
Shanghai, China
Consultant, Shanghai Digital Intelligence System Technology Co., Ltd
Bingqin Shan is a consultant with Shanghai Digital Intelligence System Technology Co., Ltd, designing solutions of digital governing and natural resource planning for central and local governments in China. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy & Planning from Tufts University, an M.S. in Environmental Science from Hokkaido University, and a B.A. in History from Shaanxi Normal University.
Boateng Sekyere
Accra, Ghana
Senior writer, Cridbox.com
Boat is a valuer passionate about sustainable urban land use. This has led him to start a blog on how the built environment can help in the fight against climate change. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Land Economy and he is also a member of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors.
Bruno Braga Batista
Porto Alegre, Brazil
Active Mobility Analyst, WRI Brasil
Bruno Braga Batista is an Active Mobility Analyst at WRI Brasil Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. He works on projects related to active mobility and the improvement of accessibility in Brazilian cities. Bruno currently works with the Complete Streets concept, encouraging cities to adopt safer, sustainable and more inclusive street models.
Carson Cooper
Nashville, TN, United States
Research Analyst, Greater Nashville Regional Council
Carson is a Research Analyst for the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the government entity that coordinates and creates regional plans. She uses mapping and database software to analyze changing demographics, development, economics, infrastructure, and natural resources. Passionate about sustainability and urban dynamics, she holds a BS in Natural Resources and MS in City and Regional Planning
Caterina Laurenzi
Milano, Italia
Consultant
Passionate about innovation and sustainability, Caterina is currently working as a consultant in the fields of urban regeneration, sustainability and social inclusion. Before, she worked at Fondazione Riccardo Catella as a junior project manager and as a strategy analyst at Accenture. Caterina holds a MSc in Management and a BA in Economics from Bocconi University.
Chantal Rietdijk
Taipei, Taiwan
PhD candidate, National Taiwan Normal University
As a PhD candidate, Chantal focusses her research on affordable housing in Taipei. In her work, she examines social housing policy in terms of social justice and advocates for measures to increase the social sustainability in local communities. Studying the complexity of urban systems, specifically how formal and informal practices are interwoven, she has research projects in Taiwan and Indonesia.
Christian Vargas
Santiago, Chile
Founder and Project Manager, Voices GY
Christian is an engineer who works primarily in the non-profit sector. Passionate about sustainable development and social innovation, he has experience working in different countries throughout Latin America with and alongside organisations such as 350.org and UNHCR. He is one of the founders of Voices GY, one of Guyana's leading NGOs in the areas of social integration.
Cibele Patrícia Damasceno de Oliveira
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Undergraduate Double Degree Student, Federal University of Minas Gerais and École des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris
Cibele is an undergraduate student in civil and urban engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and the École des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris. Passionate about urban and sustainable development issues, she has interned for Eau de Paris and has integrated the Studies in Urban Planning student association. She is also a member of the Latin American Public Servants Network.
Clarity Ropafadzo Mapengo
Pretoria, South Africa
PhD Student, University of Pretoria
A PhD student at the University of Pretoria. She is a published researcher and an empowering poet. Her research work includes developing biodegradable packaging material & functional foods using green chemistry. Clarity is part of the Unleash Innovation Lab community and hopes that her work continues to promote food security & also reduce the environmental impact of waste from industries.
Cyrielle Noël
Montréal, Canada
Program Specialist, Ocean Wise
Cyrielle is a spatial planner, with an expertise in marine and coastal environments. Being born and raised on the river island of Tiohtiá:ke (Montréal), she is passionate about social and environmental justice. Cyrielle founded Eau-Dacité, which is a community group dedicated to promoting waterway literacy and ocean conservation. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, caving, and fishing.
Dana Abeldinova
Nur-Sultan city, Kazakhstan
Head of Division for cooperation with international organizations, National Center of Public Health of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan/WHO Collaborating Center for promoting healthy lifestyle (KAZ- 6)
Dana is a Y-Peer Kazakhstan volunteer, Public Health professional and a project manager for the Kazakh National Healthy Cities Network development. Leading the project has brought her to expressing interest in sustainable development at the global level. She believes in the strength laid in the joint efforts of society and the state to fight all negative outcomes of urbanization.
Daniele Pronestì
Rome, Italy
Head of Sustainable investment and innovation Strategy, CDP - Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Real Estate
Daniele works at the Real Estate SubCo of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, a relevant italian investment bank. He integrates ESG financial model, sustainability and innovation across the asset management. He worked in Italy, Denmark, UK and USA and holds a MSc in Corporate Finance and a specialization course in Real Estate Finance at Harvard University. He is member of the World Economic Forum community
Danny Bwalya
Lusaka, Zambia
Founder and Director, DEEArch Designs and Consultancy
A built environment professional with vast experience in multiple facets of architecture and civil engineering, Danny is the Founder and Director of “Drivers of Eco-Engineered Architecture” (DEEArch). He was a researcher at SEU-Monash Joint Research Center for Water Sensitive Cities, China. He works on the use of Nature-Based Solutions and Sponge Cities to address the urbanization-water nexus.
David Bakka
Kampala, Uganda
Co-Founder, BrickeT
David Bakka is an entrepreneurship enthusiast intrigued by the concept of problem-centric entrepreneurship. This has contributed to his solid passion for engagement in impact-driven activities. He is the head coach at the Mentorship Class and the co-founder of BrickeT a venture dedicated to solving sub-Sahara Africa's forestry crisis through the digital distribution of briquettes.
David Timis
Brussels, Belgium
Curator, Global Shapers (Brussels Hub)
David Timis is currently pursuing an MA in European Political and Governance Studies at the College of Europe. He is also curating the Brussels Shapers, which is part of the Global Shapers Community, a network of inspiring young people working together to address local, regional and global challenges.
Emmanuel Dzisi
Kumasi, Ghana
Transportation Engineer, Phd Researcher, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Emmanuel is a PhD student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana where he is interested in finding sustainable solutions for improving urban mobility; particularly for the transport vulnerable. His research spans the fields of bicycling, walking and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) in the context of African cities and their development.
Ernest Tsifodze
Accra, Ghana
Facilities Officer and Admin Specialist, Huawei Technologies and Graduate Student, Built Environment, Anant National University
Ernest worked in India where he focused on housing and learning spaces for migrant construction workers. Driven by his deep passion and great interest in sustainable housing and research, Ernest hopes to make social change in his local community and create better, sustainable cities for future generation.
Faduma Ali
Toronto, Canada
Urban Planner, Bousfields Inc. and Member, Water Youth Network
Faduma Ali is an Urban Planner with Bousfields Inc., where she partakes in project coordination with multiple stakeholders. She is also responsible for gathering data and analyzing information for a variety of properties across the Greater Toronto Area. Faduma is an active member of the Water Youth Network. She is passionate about creating and maintaining sustainable, healthy and liveable cities.
Felipe Suárez Giri
Montevideo, Uruguay
Economist, Program Informal Settlement Integration - Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning
Felipe Suárez Giri works as an Economist for Uruguay’s Informal Settlement Integration program. He has over five years of experience working as a consultant for public and private institutions in his home country. Felipe holds an MSc. in International Development and Tourism from the University of Brighton (UK), and he has recently graduated from the 4CITIES MA in Urban Studies.
Felix Mmeka
Toronto, Canada
Green Economy Program, Ryerson University
Felix is very passionate about Sustainability (SDGs) and Community development which is evident in previous roles e.g. Ambassador at Global Schools SDSN-Youth, Live Green Volunteer (current), Beneficiary Management volunteer at Slum2Schools. Currently, Felix is completing the Green Economy Program at Ryerson University and previously an MSc and BEng in Civil Engineering from Swansea University.
Francesca Vanelli
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Academic Assistant, Institute for Housing and urban development Studies (IHS)
Francesca is a licensed Architect, Urban Planner, and Land Specialist. She is an Academic Assistant within the Urban Land Governance for Sustainable Development track at IHS, Rotterdam. She is also engaged in different projects in the development and humanitarian field, working in the areas of housing, land and property issues and across the topics of social and environmental justice.
Gayflor Zimawu Worzi
Paynesville City, Liberia
Co-Founder and Administrative Manager, Centre for Inclusion and Empowerment
Gayflor Z. Worzi is a Co-founder and Administrator of Centre for Inclusion and Empowerment, a youth-led organization working to reduce the social and economic barriers that affect sustainable growth, especially in young women and children. He is a Counselor with expertise in Peace-building and Gender programs to include; SGBV, Teenage Pregnancy, SRHR, Peace-building, and Civic Rights Advocacy.
Goodness Odey
Calabar, Nigeria
State Coordinator, Nigeria Youth SDGs Network
Goodness is the State coordinator of Nigerian Youth SDGs Network in Cross River State, Nigeria where she coordinates a group of young people, passionate about localising the global goals through advocacy, community engagement and partnerships. She is actively involved in public health promotion; Adolescents behavior change; and creating a sustainable city in Calabar, Cross River State.
Goutham Konikar
Mysore, India
DST INSPIRE Fellow, University of Mysore
Goutham Konikar is an Urban Planner and a DST INSPIRE Fellow at the University of Mysore. His research studies focus on Sustainable Mobility and its role in creating Sustainable & Resilient cities. Goutham is a University Gold Medalist and a recipient of numerous National and State Awards, Fellowships, etc. He holds a Master’s Degree in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Mysore.
Heba Elhanafy
Alexandria, Egypt
Project Associate, Ecumene Studio
Heba is an urban planner, researcher and developer, her centre of interests lies in human settlements, arts, heritage, community and urban development. She has a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree In urban development. She worked with many international organisations on various development and research projects and is currently a project associate at Ecumene Studio.
Helen Tartaglia
London, England
Design Resident, City Co-Labs, Makerversity
Formally trained in design, Helen’s practice focuses on some of the most challenging issues faced by urban society. Currently a design resident of the City Co-Labs series at Makerversity, she is one half of a design duo working on public place-making project 'Hydro Commons’ which aims to repurpose excess rainwater. Helen holds an MA in Spaces and Participation from Goldsmiths University London.
Hien Dang
Singapore, Singapore
Employer Branding Specialist, International SOS
Hien is passionate about helping organisations to recognise business opportunities from SDGs and incorporate the framework in their strategies. Having lived and worked in Vietnam, Finland, Mongolia, Estonia and Singapore, she is deeply interested in sustainable urban design. Hien held several leadership positions in AIESEC and was a talent at UNLEASH 2019 - SDG 7.
Holly Nicole Kandel
Dakar, Senegal
Program Coordinator, Global Research and Advocacy Group (GRAG)
Dedicated to working toward gender equality and social justice, Holly has designed, implemented, and coordinated various research and programs centered on youth/adolescent sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in low-resource settings throughout Senegal and beyond. Previously, Holly has worked as a peer health educator and global health communications consultant in New York.
Ilkin Aliyev
Baku, Azerbaijan
Business Coach, Trainer, GIZ
As a Business Coach and Trainer at GIZ, Ilkin works to improve socio-economic participation of IDPs. He holds a MA in Social Anthropology from the ANU (Australia). Ilkin is a member of UNYAC, GPI Ambassador and a MYS accredited trainer. As a freelance researcher, trainer, and community development specialist, he is providing consultancy to various national and international organizations.
Iman Abdulkadir
Toronto, Canada
Co-founder, Sustainable Pathways
Iman is a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning and Project Management from Ryerson University, Toronto.She is co-founder of Sustainable Pathways, a multidisciplinary online platform focusing on the curation of ideas to promote sustainable and resilient transformation of cities.
Iman is passionate about urbanism and the growth of squatters as a consequence of urbanisation in the Global South.
Iria Katritsi
Athens, Greece
CEO / Founder, Nature Above
Iria is passionate about innovation and social entrepreneurship. She holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Edinburgh Business School and has already worked in various industries and positions. Currently, she is working on her startup idea regarding the Green Roofs. Her vision is to transform Athens and raise awareness about sustainability issues.
Isaac Oloruntimilehin
Ilorin, Nigeria
Co-founder, Save the City initiative
Isaac Oloruntimilehin is a fifth-year student at the University of Ilorin, studying Urban and Regional Planning. Isaac loves volunteering and has special interests in environmental sustainability, open-source education and human rights protection. He was recently appointed as the President of the Wikimedia Fan Club, Unilorin in the new academic session.
Jacob Miller
New Bedford, United States
Founder, SouthCoast Prosperity
Jacob Miller is a social entrepreneur based on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts. He recently completed an MSc in Building and Urban Design in Development at University College London and an MPhil in Management at Cambridge University on the Marshall Scholarship. He also graduated from UMass Dartmouth. He currently works for the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council.
Jasprit Kaur
Delhi, India
Consultant, GIZ
An alumn of London School of Economics, Jasprit is currently working on the implementation of circular economy approaches at GIZ. She has worked at different fronts of the policy spectrum and aims at integrating a systems-oriented approach with her work to ensure meaningful and sustainable transitions.
Javier Gallardo Salgado
Quito, Ecuador
Habitat and Urban Development Specialist, MIDUVI
Javier is an architect from UDLA. He has mixed his professional career between offices of architecture and urban planning. He was part of the Vision 2040 project, which seeks to develop a new city model for Quito through the participation of all actors. He currently works at the Ministry of Urban Development of Ecuador. He also invests in projects that promote local and responsible consumption.
Jehan Salim
Zaatari Camp, Jordan
Head of Technical unit at Zaatari/Site Planner, UNHCR
Jehan is humanitarian who currently leads the Technical Unit at UNHCR Zaatari camp. She is a recent graduate of MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from Heriot-Watt. With her role, she aims to improve the living condition of refugees by implementing SDG and focusing on providing innovative solutions to the services, shelter, and site planning of Zaatari camp and also camps world-wide.
Jhonatan Melendez
Guatemala City, Guatemala
DR Projects (Projects Administrator), Potter's House Association
Jhonatan is passionate about Sustainable Development and Civil Engineering. He believes Civil Engineering is one of the leading professions for achieving a sustainable society. He is currently working for a local NGO in Guatemala City, overseeing and managing infrastructure projects in the communities that surround the garbage dump of the city.
Joao Henrique Alves Cerqueira
Curitiba, Brazil
Coordinator, Ciclimaticos
João is an environmental engineer and climate activist. Coordinated the climate working group of the organization Engajamundo and was the Cofounder on the project Ciclimaticos. He was part of the Brazilian official delegation on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th UNFCCC's COP's and in 2019 he won the UN Green Ticket contest for young climate leaders to participate at the first UN Youth Climate Summit.
José Gil
Mexico City, Mexico
Strategic Alliances Analyst, World Resources Institute (WRI)
José is specialist in climate change and sustainable urban development. He has aided on the above topics at Mexico, US, Argentina and Malawi and is the focal point in Mexico for the State of the World's Transport and Climate Change Report of the Sustainable and Low-Carbon Transport Partnership (SLoCaT). He holds a degree in International Relations from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico.
Juan Alejandro García Rodríguez
Monterrey, México
Director and Founder, Ruta Amarilla
Juan is a political scientist interested in cities, climate change and accountability. He works in Nuevo León Council for Strategic Planning as a public policy analyst. He is developing a nonprofit called Ruta Amarilla that seeks better public spaces and citizen engagement. His current projects are: developing safe routes for pedestrians, geo-mapping sidewalks and citizen-driven projects.
Juan Diego Oliva Heinsen
Monterrey, Mexico
Undergraduate Student, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Juan Diego is a Dominican student pursuing a BSc in Engineering in Sustainable Development at Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico. Because of his interest and passion for environmental questions he has founded Sprout, a startup that takes root in sustainability by developing and executing SD solutions for the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainability.
Julia Alvarenga
Florianópolis, Brazil
M.Sc Student, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
Júlia has worked in the private sector for environmental and hydrology projects. She currently pursues a M.Sc. in environmental engineering, researching the Clean Development Mechanism and its effectiveness via Life Cycle Assessment. Júlia is passionate about urbanism and she is also an environmental activist, engaged in communicating about sustainability and the environment.
Keynes Tamo
Bafoussam, Cameroon
Responsible for studies, NTFS planning office
Keynes is a young urban planner who had to work as an individual consultant in several urban projects between Togo and Cameroon. Passionate about sustainable urban development, he proposed project for the sustainable development of a semi-urban municipality in Cameroon. Now he works in the private sector in collaboration with the state and the municipalities to assist them in their development.
Kimberley Sakho
Paris, France
Urban Planning Engineer, EIVP
Kimberley is a young urban planning engineer, living in Paris currently working on public spaces design. She worked on a study for the city of Lyon discussing the women representations in public spaces. As a local pathways fellow, she aims to develop solutions regarding the housing affordability in cities facing fast urbanization. She graduated from the engineering school of Paris (EIVP)
Konstantina Vidou
Athens, Greece
Urban Planning and Development Engineer, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Konstantina is an urban planner from Greece. She has experience in research and placemaking, gained through her year abroad in The Netherlands, while working at the Center of Expertise and Social Innovation and STIPO; an area development consultancy. She specializes in climate change adaptation and urban resilience, and is deeply passionate about the environment and animal welfare.
Kusha Verma
Delhi, India
Founder, Women in Parliament (WIP)
Kusha is a labour economist, and centres her work around gender issues. She holds an Msc in Economics from UCL, and founded Women in Parliament; an initiative aimed at increasing women’s representation in governance. She also works as a data analyst at Good Business Lab, where she is involved with the menstrual health program. As a poet, she co-founded ArtRefurbish, a community collaborative.
Lechindem Efuetngwoa Benrollince
Limbe, Cameroon
Team Leader - GIS Manager, GeoView
Benrollince is a young Geomatics engineer. He works as Surveyor for Cameroon Development Corporation and GIS Manager for GeoView which delivers GIS and Mapping services to public and private organizations. Ben is passionate in capturing, analyzing and displaying using maps real world situations like crisis, settlement etc to assist decision making and planning in accordance with the SDGs.
Leigh Huffman
Asheville, United States
Urban Planner
Leigh Huffman is an Urban Planner aspiring to help small cities create sustainable systems that improve livability for all residents. She received a Master in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech and a B.A. in International Relations from the College of Wooster. Her passion for system approaches led her to work for Habitat for Humanity, the International Monetary Fund, and governments.
Liubov Shkurenko
Stockholm, Sweden
Graduate Student, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Liubov is an environmentalist and urbanist, driven by matters of sustainability and inclusion. She has been studying ecology at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine), and sustainable urban planning at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden). Liubov believes in great power of promoting global human values, sharing knowledge, and supporting capacity development within communities.
Londiwe Dlamini
Durban, South Africa
Assistant Project Coordinator, World Water Academy
Londiwe is a hydrologist currently working as an assistant project coordinator for World Water Academy. Londiwe is a member of the Young Experts Programme (Water), which is aimed at capacity building for young professionals at an international level. She is passionate about sustainable urban development and addressing impacts of climate change on water resources and people.
Lucy Dunhill
Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
Founder, Dujo
Lucy is the Founder of Dujo, an interdisciplinary consultancy using Architecture, Technology, Commercial & Project management. She utilises her lived experiences as an autistic woman and her professional experience in MMC, to enable human centred and inclusive design. Lucy sits on the RIBA Committee for the Humber region and is a board member of the Autism Partnership Board in her city.
Luísa Schiavon de Araújo
São Paulo, Brazil
Chemical engineer, University of São Paulo
Luísa is a chemical engineer passionate about sustainability. Currently, she works with renewable energy at Total Eren. Luísa is deeply involved in themes related to the SDGs and she truly believes in the power of working together toward a common goal. Her personal motto is “be the change you want to see in the world”. For Luísa, education is key to the swift to a more sustainable future.
Macarena Domínguez Fernández
Olot, Spain
Former Junior Legal Consultant, UN Habitat Bolivia
Former legal Junior Consultant UN-Habitat Bolivia. Public International & Environmental Law (University of Groningen) Macarena is a young legal professional passionate about innovation and engagement in municipal government. After working in the elaboration of the first Policy for Bolivian Cities, she now hopes to bring SDG11 to her home city in Catalonia.
Marcella Cutrim
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Architecture & Urbanism student, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Marcella is a young Architecture & Urbanism student from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has been involved in several distinct initiatives to build new homes for low-income families in Brazil and Portugal. Also, she developed a pioneer urban intervention workshop, during the largest sustainable event in Brazil. Nowadays, she is studying space and the impact of urban mobility on an unequal society.
Mariana Marmelada
Lisbon, Portugal
MSc Architecture Student, University of Lisbon - School of Architecture
Since her exchange in Japan, after 2018 July’s Heavy Rain Disaster, Mariana has become more aware of the importance of disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. She is currently developing her Master Thesis in Architecture where notions of social sustainability and community engagement are studied side by side with Architecture’s theories of placemaking and urban resilience.
Mariana Pallarés
Madrid, Spain
Civil Engineer, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Advisor, IWBI
Mariana is a civil engineer specialized in energy efficiency in the built environment. As a young Venezuelan advocate of the SDGs, she is passionate about urban development, sustainability and social impact. Currently in Madrid, she is working as a Sustainability Consultant driven by her strong commitment in creating better and resilient cities. She is a WELL Accredited Professional by the IWBI.
Marina Kyriakou
Nicosia, Cyprus
Architect / Urban Planner, BYCS / Urban Gorillas
Marina Kyriakou is an architect and urban planner. Her research and projects focus on transforming underused spaces into community places. She has also researched the potential of bottom up cycling initiatives in Nicosia. She is the Bicycle Mayor of Nicosia and she is now active in an influential network of independent leaders working to make cities more human-centric and fit for the future.
Marketa Nosalova
London, United Kingdom
Development Manager, TOWN
As a development manager, Marketa works on projects ranging from regeneration schemes to urban extensions with a focus on building compact, walkable and green neighbourhoods. She is interested in how urban design influences people’s behaviour and is passionate about building places that are welcoming for people and not cars, with the ideal street being one where children can cycle to school.
Maroua Chaouechi
Sfax, Tunisia
Urban designer and architect, founder, Meden
Maroua is an urban designer and architect, founder at Meden - a firm that revolves around people and human based city-design with a focus on public spaces and playgrounds. As a Fulbright Alumni, she holds a master in urban design from the University of Colorado, Denver. With a working experience in Tunisia, Poland and Mexico, Maroua conducted her studies in her home country, the US and Denmark.
Mateo Lu
Barcelona, Spain
Independent Researcher, UAB
Originally from Quito, Mateo has recently studied or worked in a number of cities, including New York, London, and Maputo. These experiences have shaped his research interests in the importance of polycentric cities and inclusive urban growth, with focus on the integration of sustainable tourism into the city. Mateo holds a MsC in Urban Development Planning from the Bartlett School at UCL.
Matthew Nguyen
Melbourne, Australia
Co-Founder, Action for Health
Passionate about finding innovative ways to further participation within urbanism, Matt is the Co-Founder Action for Health, a advocacy group that mobilise young people for healthier cities and of cityzenlabs, a place-making agency that facilitates community-driven projects. He has been recognised by the Australian Government as an Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leader and is a WEF Global Shaper.
Methembe Mdlalose
Durban, South Africa
Researcher, Part-time lecturer-PhD Candidate, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Methembe is an an energetic, hardworking and self-motivated individual who has keen interest in efficient land use management models for spatial planning for sustainable urban spatial development.He is a researcher of the Regional and Local Economic Development Initiative RLEDI) within the Graduate School of Business & Leadership (UKZN). He holds an MCom degree in Local economic Development.
Mohamed Okash Sugow
Mogadishu, Somalia
Co-founder and Executive Director, SDGs 252
Okash is a development strategist, activist, and researcher. He is passionate about sustainability, social inclusion, and resilient cities. Okash is a policy, governance and development junkie who focus on innovating and shaping public policies to address complex local and global challenges. He holds MA in Development Studies at Kampala International University (Uganda).
Mohammad Ibrahim Masoudi
Kabul, Afghanistan
Deputy Project Manager, SFCC
Engineer, Social activist.
Ibrahim is an Engineer from Afghanistan who is passionate about rebuilding his war-torn country. He believes to manage the effects of rapid urbanization we must work on developing and implementing sustainable solutions. because of his passion to inspire change and to work for bringing peace, he has been volunteering with AIESEC since 2015.
Mostafa Gouda
6th of October, Egypt
Urban & Environmental Planning and GIS Consultant, Master Student, School of Engineering, Ain Shams Student
Mostafa is a master's student in the Resource Efficient Cities IMaREC program within CNRD. He has participated in projects spanning the areas of urban development and infrastructure. Mostafa is a former Nile fellow of the Drosos Nile project, Friend of the Energy Globe Award, and he is the APA ambassador in Egypt. He is passionate about smart & sustainable cities and environmental management.
Namitha Thomas
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Graduate Environmental Scientist, AECOM Middle East
Namitha is an environmental scientist at AECOM. From being a part of entrepreneurship programs with Global Green Growth Institute and UAE Ministry of Environment to creating an initiative to eradicate educational inequality to being part of a team that will build an innovative, sustainable home for the Solar Decathlon 2020, she believes that sustainability is the endless expression of generosity.
Narotum Dass Yudhish Rohee
Curepipe, Mauritius
Sustainability Consultant, Ecosis Ltd
Yudhish holds a masters degree in Sustainability and currently works as Sustainability Consultant. He is also the National Secretary of JCI Mauritius, an organisation that works towards creating long lasting positive change in the society. He is passionate about environment, urban development, social impact and innovation and has more than 5 years experience in working in these fields.
Nazmi Ahmed
Washington, D.C., United States
Program Analyst, U.S. Federal Government
Nazmi Ahmed graduated from the University of Florida with her Masters in Sustainable Development Practice focusing on Water and Soil Science, Urban Regional Planning, and Tropical Conservation and Development. Her research focused on water provision systems in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh working with BRAC BIGD & BRAC URP. She is passionate about climate resilience planning and social equity.
Nedaa Mahboub
Cairo, Egypt
Urban Research Assistant, The American University in Cairo
Nedaa is an architect who is working in the areas of social connectedness and urban happiness. Her ongoing research investigates the potentiality of spatial well-being within areas of extreme poverty and deteriorated conditions in the Greater Cairo metropolitan. Mahboub served internships as well as cultural exchange programs under NOGs suchlike UNESCO, DAAD, AIESEC Morocco, Takween, AUC, and CLUSTER. She is currently working as an urban research assistant at The American University in Cairo, NextARCH interdisciplinary lab.
Neslişah Doğan
Istanbul, Turkey
Student, Özyeğin University
Passionate about energy efficiency, Neslişah is graduated from Süleyman Demirel University in Climatization and Cooling. She pursues her Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Özyeğin University. She is an SDG Coordinator at the UN SDSN-Youth, and project assistant in the Center for Energy, Environment, and Economy, which focuses on R&D projects about science and engineering architecture.
Nicola Coundourakis
Johannesburg, South Africa
Consultant, Simanye
Nicola is a passionate socialpreneur, with extensive research experience across sectors. Her focus is on community economics, sustainability and equality, and the use of data to enable improved quality of life indicators. With roots in critical discourse analysis, Nicola has specialised in public and development management. She plans on completing her Master's on the intersections of her work.
Nnaemeka Eke-okocha
Siena, Italy
Master Student, University of Siena
Phil is a graduate student in Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action. He is a fellow at Rondine Association in Italy, focusing on conflict transformation. Phil has worked on water sanitation projects in Nigeria.he is a contributor in the upcoming book Effective Forms of Diplomacy, which will be published by Routledge. Phil is delivering several trainings on SGDs in different schools in Italy.
Noah Baars
Amsterdam, Netherlands
City Analyst, Circle Economy
Driven by finding the sweet spot between idealism and pragmatism. Noah is currently working as City Analyst for Circle Economy - an organisation that strives for a practical and scalable implementation of the Circular Economy. Before this, he worked as a strategist often applying design thinking and co-creation methods. Like his biblical namesake he is motivated to save humanity from the flood.
Patricia Aguchiku
São Paulo, Brazil
Sustainability Consultant, Centro de Tecnologia de Edificações (CTE)
What drives Patricia is the promotion of public spaces that places people at the center of the planning perspective. Having an academic degree in Architecture and Urban Planning, she also holds a civil engineering extension and developed academic research on open spaces systems in Brazil. She works in a consultancy company that brings sustainability concepts and strategies to urban developments.
Paula Sahyoun
Montreal, Canada
Project Lead, Global Shaper
Paula Sahyoun currently works in philanthropy to scale the roles post-secondary institutions and public interest journalism play in accelerating societal contributions towards a just and sustainable world. Prior to that, Paula sought to explore and incorporate social innovation and systems change thinking as a social entrepreneur, researcher, healthcare worker and public servant.
Pratik Kunwar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Pratik is a social entrepreneur and civic innovator from Nepal. He is the Managing Director of CEI - a non-profit ideation lab and research center that pioneers civic innovation and social empowerment in the context of developing countries. He is a WEF Global Shaper, a Daayitwa National Public Service Fellow (2018), and a delegate at the Yenching Social Innovation Forum at Peking University.
Priyanka Kulkarni
Thane, India
Environmental Architect Planner, Consultant/Associate
Priyanka Kulkarni (M.Arch., Pune University) is a ‘Environmental Architect Planner’ working as an ‘Consultant/Associate’ with different experts on sustainable design/planning and research projects. She has diverse experience of working on range of projects that include macro level environmental management to building design - Its common thread is "nature conservation" which forms an integral part.
Priyanka Walanj
Mumbai, India
Circular Economy Consultant. United Nations Development Programme, India
Passionate about Sustainable Development Goals, Priyanka is currently working as a Circular Economy Consultant at UNDP,India.She is the Cofounder of The Big Energy India-a green energy venture and has been working on various SDG verticals. Priyanka is a member of various sustainability forums and keeps deep interest in writing on sustainability, resilient communities and reduced inequality.
Regina Ynestrillas Vega
CDMX, Mexico
Masters Student, The New School
Regina grew up in Mexico City, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Economics. After graduating she worked as a volunteer in Yomol A’Tel, a fair trade coffee led by the Tseltal community in Chiapas. At the same time she worked for PepsiCo as a Project Manager. Later on she moved to New York City to pursue a Master’s in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management at The New School.
Ritika Jain
New Delhi, India
Program Manager, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation
Ritika works as a Program Manager at Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. She did her Masters in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from Lund University Sweden. Ritika's key interest areas are Circular Economy, Clean Energy and Sustainable Travel. Ritika enjoys traveling to learn about new cultures; she has visited 25+ countries so far. Ritika aims to create happier and cleaner cities!
Rodelon Ramos
Manila, Philippines
Design and innovation manager, Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Rodelon is an architect & environmental planner. He is the Design & Innovation Manager of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, working with the urban poor, PWDs, indigenous people & disaster-affected groups. He is also part of the United Architects of the Philippines Emergency Architects, working on humanitarian projects such as emergency shelters, core housing & disaster-resilient reconstruction.
Sabareesh Suresh
Dehradun, India
Associate Consultant, Athena Infonomics
Sabareesh Suresh is an urban planner and an architect with advanced qualifications in infrastructure planning and management. He currently works as an Associate Consultant with "Athena Infonomics"- a data-driven global consultancy, where he conducts research on government reforms and urban infrastructure development.
Samantha Hernandez
Miami, United States
Student, Lewis and Clark College
Samantha is a student at Lewis and Clark College pursuing a degree in environmental studies. She is passionate about creating resilient cities that involves engagement with local stakeholders. She is also interested in the role of education in sustainable development and was able to explore this topic with a Davis Project for Peace grant.
Sanchita Rajvanshi
Toronto, Canada
Program Coordinator, Evergreen Canada
Passionate about technology for development, Sanchita is an IT engineer and an IDEX fellow who works at Community Solutions Network at Evergreen to build capacity and awareness around open smart communities. Her past experience of handling partnerships at eGov Foundations, a company building governance platforms in India, has helped her understand the breadth and the depth of urban governance.
Sandra Samantela
Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines
University Research Associate, University of the Philippines-Los Baños
Sandra is an environmental planner and research associate in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she conducts research on human settlements planning and provides technical assistance to municipalities in formulating local development plans. Sandra holds a MSc in Urban Management and Development in IHS- Erasmus University Rotterdam where she specialized in Urban Land Governance.
Savannah Wu
New York, United States
Urban Planning Graduate Student, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
Savannah is an urban planning graduate student at Columbia University. Passionate about sustainability, design, education, and public health, she has interned at the International WELL Building Institute, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and Design Museum Boston. She has a background in architecture and is interested in circular economy initiatives in the fashion and building sectors.
Shahd Abuserriya
Cairo, Egypt
Strategic planning & Urban development program intern, UN-Habitat
Shahd Abuserriya is a Palestinian engineer, writer and Researcher for sustainability & environment, she is a master candidate in Environmental studies and energy efficiency at Cairo University/Egypt. Miss Abuserriya is Passionate about sustainable development and environment.
Shalhevet Visner
London, UK
Urban Designer, Greater London Authority (GLA)
Shalhevet is an urban designer at the Greater London Authority, with a background in masterplanning and architecture. She is currently developing urban design strategies for Opportunity Areas in London, planning the infrastructure needed to support growth. She is an environmental activist and volunteered for the Israeli Green Party, promoting sustainability and zero energy building.
Shelby Coleman
Syracuse, NY, United States
PhD Candidate, SUNY ESF
Shelby is a PhD Candidate in the environmental chemistry department at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. Her research focuses on air pollutants near an elevated highway system and the potential health implications of exposure to these pollutants. Shelby is very interested in public health and environmental protection.
Shey Vitalis Mbunkur
Nicosia, Cyprus
Founder, Better Future For All Association
Shey earned a Bachelor`s in History from the University of Maroua in Cameroon he has over four years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He served as an African volunteer team leader for African Youth Human Rights and Citizenship Development Initiative, Cameroon chapter leader Youth For Human Rights International, SDG city ambassador and he is the founder of Better Future For All Association.
Shweta Gandhi
Dubai / Sharjah , United Arab Emirates
Student, University of Oxford
Shweta is an Architect l Urban Planner with an experience of working on Urban Master Plans & Conservation Projects in the U.A.E and currently pursuing MSc in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford, U.K. Also, her research contribution towards UNESCO bid “Sharjah: Gateway to the Trucial States” has allowed her to hone her skills and understanding of the built environment further.
Sofia Cavalleri
Bangkok, Thailand
Research Associate, Ph.D. Candidate, Yoga Teacher, Stockholm Environment Institute - Chulalongkorn University
Environmentalist, Ph.D. candidate and yoga teacher. Sofia is currently pursuing a joint Ph.D. in Bangkok at the inter-disciplinary Department of Environment, Development and Sustainability of Chulalongkorn University as well as at the Stockholm Environment Institute Asia. She graduated in June 2019 from the Erasmus Mundus Masters programme in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (MESPOM).
Solomon Jeong
Dublin, Ireland
MPA Development Practice Student, University College Dublin
Solomon Jeong is a graduate student at University College Dublin. He was a diverse range of international development experience ranging from Malaria and HIV prevention in Mozambique to transportation safety in Ghana. He currently has a passion in urban conservation and wants to empower the youth to utilize their resources for a more sustainable community.
Swapnil Saxena
New Delhi, India
Program Officer, National Institute of Urban Affairs, India
An architect and urban planner by training, Swapnil is driven by her deep passion about building environmentally sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities by empowering local communities. Serving as Program Officer at National Institute of Urban Affairs, India she works with local governments to support development challenges in 12 cities through innovative, integrated and sustainable solutions.
Tara Chen
Kaohsiung City , Taiwan
Project Manager- Global Health Literacy Summit 2020, E-DA Healthcare Group
Tara is a young Canadian, public health specialist and SDG advocate, passionate about developing cross-sectoral collaborations to advance health systems and build healthy cities. She is currently the Project Manager working at E-DA Healthcare Group, working to mobilize global actors in health literacy. Tara is a proud UWO alumni and holds a dual MPH from Europubhealth+.
Tony Luo
Melbourne, Australia
Urban Planner, Victorian Planning Authority
Passionate about placemaking and community development, Tony Luo is an Urban Planner with the Victorian Planning Authority, where he plans for high-quality urban renewal precincts. Born and raised in Melbourne, Tony holds a Bachelor of Environments with majors in Property, Urban Design and Planning from the University of Melbourne.
Tyler Rivera
Boston, United States
Youth Climate Justice Organizer, Youth On Board / Boston Student Advisory Council
Tyler Rivera is an activist working at the intersection of climate justice and community organizing. Through the Boston Student Advisory Council, he helps to ensure Boston’s youth are at the center of climate change dialogues and decisions. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Tyler is committed to building power with historically oppressed communities, and to winning a just, vibrant future for all.
Ucha Abbah
Austin, United States
Urban Ecological Planner, Asakura Robinson
Ucha is an Urban Ecological Planner at Asakura Robinson focusing on how design and planning impact urban ecology. She is on the Natural Systems Advisory Group for the City of Austin’s Community Climate Plan. Ucha has two bachelors from Southern Methodist University: Human Rights and Environmental Studies. She also has a masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.
Valentina Castillo Cifuentes
Region of Waterloo, Canada
MES Candidate in Sustainability Management, University of Waterloo
Valentina is a graduate student at the University of Waterloo. She focuses on social partnerships that help local governments to implement sustainability community plans. She represented the University of Waterloo at the UN Climate Conference COP25, in Madrid, Spain. Currently, Valentina is working as a research assistant in the SDG Cities Index for Canadian Municipalities at SDSN Canada.
Venugopal A V
Chennai, India
Senior Research Associate for Urban Development, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy
Venugopal has been working with the city government in Chennai providing assistance for various complete streets projects through his role at ITDP. He is currently working on expanding the street transformation works across the city through the Mega Streets Project. He is also involved in policy and planning works for transforming urban mobility to nurture early childhood development in Pune.
Victor Oliseh
Benin, Nigeria
Commissioner for Strategic Planning and Execution, Ignite StartupX and Project Initiator, Domestication of SDGs in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions
Victor is a distinguished young Agricultural graduate from the University of Benin, He is a passionate volunteer with a large heart for humanitarian services. He currently seats as the commissioner for Strategy & Execution at the Ignite StartupX business and Leadership School.
Vivek Yadav
Bangalore, India
Software Development Engineer, Philips Innovation Campus - Healthcare Research
Vivek is a Software Developer with Philips Healthcare Research and an enthusiast Public Policy Research Analyst. He is engaged in many social-environmental initiatives and member of WEF Global Shapers and Google Developer Group.He has interned with Gov. of India and UNDP on e-Governance projects to improve citizen-centric services. He is interested in smart urban planning and human-centric design.
Vladislav Fedorov
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
International Project Manager, BG Be Active Association
Holding a BA in International Relations, Vlad is responsible for project coordination and international communication at BG Be Active that fosters behavior change in Bulgaria through healthy lifestyle and urban interventions. Having coordinated several placemaking initiatives in local communities in the country, Vlad believes people’s engagement is a key element to sustainable and inclusive cities
William McIntyre
Melbourne, Australia
Masters Student, Monash University
William is an emerging urban planner with a passion for sustainable solutions to international development issues. He has worked on a number of international development projects across the Asia Pacific region, focusing on water sensitive urban design, ecosystem services and collaborative governance. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning and Design at Monash University.
Wrixon Mpanang'ombe
Blantyre, Malawi
Research Assistant, Enabling the Circular Economy For Sanitation in Kenya and Malawi Project
Wrixon worked as a corporate environmental analyst and consultant before his current role in urban sanitation research at the University of Malawi’s WASHTED Centre. He also leads Our Fresh Futurez, a not-for-profit initiative, which conducts sustainable innovation training and runs an ethical leadership program for youth who aspire to contribute towards environmental sustainability.
Xu Liu
Ithaca, USA
Graduate Researcher, Cornell University
An interdisciplinary engineer at Cornell and a graduate from UBC, Xu (www.xliu.net) is passionate about advancing the energy transition and creating low carbon businesses. She was named as a Future Energy Leader by BP plc (2019), was selected into the Clinton Global Initiative University by the Clinton Foundation (2019), and was an invited speaker at SPARK - Energy Re-Imagined in London (2020).
Yana Bryk
Kyiv, Ukraine
Road Safety Expert, Traffic Code Campaign Coordinator, NGO U-Cycle (Kyiv Cyclists' Association)
Yana Bryk has Master degree in Land Law and also she is a MSc student in Urban Planning and Development at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. Being a Road Safety expert at NGO U-Cycle, her aim is to develop sustainable mobility in Ukraine. Yana has also worked with the institutions: local municipalities, Ukrainian Parliament and Ministries, UN Migration Agency etc.
Yasmina Bendikha
Montpellier, France
Student - Entrepreneur, Pépite (Languedoc-Roussillon)
Yasmina holds a bachelor degree in physics from the university of Montpellier & an urban and environmental engineering diploma from Polytech'Tours. After an internship within a local government in Normandy & at Assystem Technologies, she took this year the plunge : starting her own company ! She also volunteered with ARLSG (Ankara), Paiwand and has been involved with the 'Petits Débrouillards'.
Yee Man Ko
Hong Kong, China
Student researcher, Lingnan University
Upholding faith in humanity and civilisation, Jasmine finds her passion on sustainable development and natural heritage through literature and leadership experience. She has been brand advocate for Smart City, Plastic-free, sustainable built for her university, joint-institution alliance and HK government. Her aspiration is to foster greener and smarter city by partnership and collaboration.
Yoldez Halleb
Sousse, Tunisia
Architect / Heritage consultant, Sousse Demain
Yoldez graduated from the National Architecture school of Tunis and holds a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from The University of Georgia, USA. She has worked with the National Heritage Institute of Tunis and has been volunteering as a heritage consultant with “Sousse Demain”, an NGO that aims at safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Medina of Sousse, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mengxue Gao
New York City, USA
Resilience Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti
As a civil engineer, Mengxue has worked in a team of engineers, architects and risk specialists on multi-hazard risk assessments, resiliency and mitigation design projects for properties owners in coastal cities like New York City and Boston. She believes that a sustainable future urban waterfront relies on collaborative effort between public agencies and private local stakeholders.
Aashreetha Koonu
Chennai, India
Junior town planner, Town Development Council
Raised in a rapidly urbanizing metropolitan city, Aashreetha is a passionate and avid urban planner with experience in various disciplines of planning and urban research over the past 2.5years. She is passionate about urban spatial development and sciences and is looking forward to promoting thought leadership advocacy in the field of urban development and planning.
Priya Gosain
Ahmedabad, India
Student, Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University
Priya Gosain is an Architect, who is currently pursuing her Master's in Heritage Management. Her interest in vernacular architecture, cultures, and communities lead her to draw a parallel between Heritage and Sustainable Development Goals. Her aim is to make a remarkable contribution to society by working towards development through a sensitive and holistic approach.
Roberto Salvador Herrera Castro
Mexico City, Mexico
Project Lead, Participatory Habitat Initiative, UN-Habitat
Roberto is an international professional with experience specializing in sustainable urbanization through knowledge, skills and expertise based on a three-pronged approach to legal frameworks, city planning, and local finances. Currently, Roberto leads the Participatory Habitat Initiative; an innovative multi-dimensional approach to accelerate the SDGs https://pb.unhabitat.org/
Geetika Ahuja
New Delhi, India
Deputy Manager, Chief Minister's Good Governance Associates, Haryana
Geetika is a policy professional working with the Chief Minister's Office, Haryana, India. As a part of her work in Haryana, she has led initiatives to improve the state bus transport unit and designed strategies for streamlining service and scheme delivery in the state. She is passionate about addressing complex policy problems through citizen-centric solutions and strengthening state capacity.
Divya Kasarabada
Malmö, Sweden
Resident/Research Assistant for International and Housing office + Urban Studies Masters student, Malmö University
Divya an architecture graduate pursuing an Msc. Urban Studies at Malmö University is passionate about Circular Economy and working for Agenda 2030. The 4IR conference (UNPAR) made her reflect on 4IR-circularity as the world moves into a deeper digital age. Along her studies she works for MAU as a Research-Resident Assistant to enhance the experiences of the students who live at University Housing.
Madhusudan Kothari
Pune, India
Chief Minister Fellow, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Madhusudan is passionate about participatory governance and sustainability. He works with the nodal planning authority for Pune as a Chief Minister Fellow in a finance & strategy role. Before this, he worked with Govt. of India on a civic engagement platform. Madhusudan is a finance specialist holding CFA & CA degrees. He completed his undergraduate program from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
Isha Sharma
London, UK
Company Director and Member of Council, London School of Economics and Political Science
Isha is a policy-practitioner in international development. Raised across India, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, US and the UK, Isha seeks to explore how cities and communities can share knowledge and build on each other’s learnings to achieve the SDGs more efficiently and sustainably. Isha is particularly passionate about youth and women issues. She founded the Art of Living Fellowship Program and is currently the first and youngest South Asian woman to sit on the Council of the London School of Economics.
Jaimin Parikh
New Delhi, India
Diplomatic Researcher, European Institute of Policy Research and Human Rights; Student, University of Delhi
Jaimin Parikh is a young change-maker from India. In 2019 he received the National Youth Icon Award by International Youth Committee for his work towards implementation of the SDGs at grass-root level. Along with being a student of the University of Delhi, he is also engaged with the European Institute of Policy Research and Human Rights as well as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.