Maria Vassilakou served 2010-2019 as Viennas Vice Mayor for Urban Planning, Traffic & Transport, Climate Protection, Energy and Public Participation. She is an experienced urban leader, devoted to open, inclusive and green cities, with a passion for urban transformation processes leading to sustainable change. Having founded Vassilakou Urban Consulting GmbH – Vienna Solutions, Maria Vassilakou now works as an expert strategist and global advisor on urban transformation and transition management, sharing her experience and know-how from the worlds most livable city Vienna with cities, NGOs, organizations and corporations worldwide.

Michael Glotz-Richter (Dipl.-Ing. SRL) is an internationally recognised mobility consultant and transport engineer.

His career  includes almost 40 years in various local and provincial German authorities (Berlin, Cologne, Bremen) and as freelance consultant. Michael initiated and conducted many internationally recognised projects on sustainable mobility. A key area is liveable street space in urban neighbourhoods – promoting sustainable modes and  integrating shared mobility services.

Within the European Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM), he chairs its working group on street space.

With some 25 translations to date, the book “Soft City” has established David Sim as a thought-leader in urban livability and sustainable planning.

A well-respected practitioner, David Sim has an impressive portfolio, personally leading master plans, urban strategies and design work across the globe, from the Highlands of Scotland to the lakes of Patagonia, from suburban Melbourne to downtown Tokyo, from finding new ways to build IKEA stores to rebuilding Christchurch after the devastating 2011 earthquake.

After 17 years At Gehl in Copenhagen, David Sim is now based in Sweden, creative director at Think Softer Planning.

Agustina Martire is a reader in architecture specialised in the study of everyday streets, their fabric, histories and experiences, through the StreetSpace project. She is especially interested in the way people experience the built environment, and how design can enable a more inclusive and just urban space.  She collaborates with a range of government and nongovernment organisations to explore ways in which housing, mixed use and mobility can provide better cities for all.

Demetrio Scopelliti is a father and an architect who loves cities and believes in urban design as a tool for innovation and change. Currently, he is Director of Urban Planning and Public Space at the City of Milan’s Agency for Mobility, Environment and Territory (AMAT). Since 2016, he has been Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, coordinating projects and programs, such as the Milano 2030 City Plan, the Railway Yards Masterplan, the C40’s Reinventing Cities competition, the Strade Aperte and Piazze Aperte tactical urbanism programs with Bloomberg Associates and GDCI. At the beginning of his career, Demetrio worked for five years as an Urban Designer at Arup. He is the co-author of the report Cities Alive, Towards a Walking World.

Éric Alonzo is an architect and full professor at the École d’architecture de la ville & des territoires Paris-Est, Université Gustave Eiffel. He is the director of the research laboratory OCS/AUSser and co-directs the postgraduate programme in urban design and landscape architecture.  He founded the periodical publication Marnes, document d’architecture (with Sébastien Marot), and has published two books : Du rond-point au giratoire (Parenthèses, 2005) and L’Architecture de la voie. Histoire et theories (Parenthèses, 2018), based on his thesis awarded the First Manuel de Solà-Morales European Prize. Since 2020, he has also served as an associate member of the Environmental Authority of  Île-de-France (Paris Region).

Margarida Marques graduated in Architecture from the University of Lisbon (2009) and co-founded Rés do Chão (R/C) in 2014. R/C is a studio specialized in architecture, urbanism and participation. We design innovative solutions that support public entities to create more inclusive, democratic, resilient and sustainable cities. We develop projects for urban regeneration and qualification of public and community spaces, through inclusive processes of participation that promote social cohesion and improve trust in institutions. We work closely and collaboratively with institutions and users, adapting solutions to their needs. We develop strategies adjusted to the specifics of the context of each project, in order to enhance the networks of agents and local resources.

Giacomo (1988) is an architect and urban designer, founder of NEW ENVIRONMENTS, an urban design agency from Amsterdam. He works internationally on urban assignments connecting different disciplines and scales. Climate-positive design and wellbeing act as core pillars for his projects.

Giacomo is committed to education: the driving force for critical thinking and activism. He is design critic and guest lecturer at the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Academies of Architecture, where he pursues learning through urban practice.

He gained experience at UNStudio, KCAP, and MUST, working on complex international and Dutch urban design projects involving multiple stakeholders.

Juan Luis Rivas (Seville, 1975) is an architect by the ETSAG of the University of Granada (UGR). He is an associate professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the UGR. He combines his teaching, research, and professional activity through the Research Cluster on Territorial Synergies ‘and the office RB Arquitecturas Urbanas, together with the professor and architect Belén Bravo Rodríguez. Awarded in several national and international competitions of urbanism as the Special Mention in Europan 15, ‘Productive Cities 2’ (2019). Coordinator of the 6AUOT Granada 2025, Meeting of Professors of Urbanism at national level in Spain, and of the Exhibition Four Geographies Granada, on the Vega of Granada and the metropolitan peri-urban space. Invited by numerous European universities, his research on urbanism, landscape, sustainable mobility and urban design has been published in books and journals of international impact.

Marta García Chico is an agricultural engineer, landscape architect, and expert in green infrastructure. In 1999, she co-founded Grupo Aranea, a multidisciplinary team focused on landscape, urban planning, and environmental projects. She has led key urban renaturalization strategies, including the Green and Biodiversity Plan for Valencia (2021-2022), promoting nature-based solutions. She has directed citizen participation projects such as pH_paisajes Habitados and Alacant AfterSun. Her work has received awards like the European Prize for Urban Public Space (2014) and the FAD Award for City and Landscape (2014). She has also participated in international forums such as the Seoul Architecture Festival (2019) and the BIA Urban Regeneration Forum (2018).

Architect, PhD in Urbanism, Post-doc scholarship at The University of Tokyo and Associate Professor at Lisbon School of Architecture, Universidade de Lisboa. His interests include urban and territorial design with a focus on the relationship of infrastructure with public space, especially in the scope of metropolitan territories. Awarded with Metrópoles Ciência Prize in 2016, for his research on Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Coordinator of the ‘URBinLAB – Urbanism & Territorial Dynamics’ research group and of the FCT research project ‘MetroPublicNet – Building the foundations of a Metropolitan Public Space Network’.

Mário J. Alves is a transport and mobility specialist. He has worked as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Transport Studies, University of London, and the Centre for Urban and Regional Systems, University of Lisbon.

As a transport and mobility consultant, he has coordinated mobility plans, advised several European institutions, and served as the National Coordinator for the COST Action Pedestrian Quality Needs. He was also invited by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne to join the expert panel Spacewatch, providing guidance to Swiss authorities.

He is currently the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Pedestrians.

Sara Sucena is an architect (1994, FAUP, Porto), holds a Master degree in Project and Planning of the Urban Environment (FEUP, 1998, Porto) and a PhD in Urbanism (2011, ETSAB, Barcelona). She is Associate Professor at Universidade Fernando Pessoa (Porto), Research Associate at CEAU-FAUP, within the research group “Territory Dynamics and Morphologies”, and a regular editor of the journal “A Obra Nasce” (UFP). Sara has practiced architecture/planning until 2005, particularly within the Municipal Planning context. Her interests focus mainly on Urbanism, i.e., on the evolution and morphology(s) of the contemporary city, as well as on urban design, public space and landscape structure.

Nuno Lavrador is a specialist in pedestrian and bicycle data, serving as Founder & CEO of UpNorth, a Portugal-based consultancy deploying automatic counters powered by Eco‑Counter technology in natural, urban, and indoor settings. Eco‑Counter collaborates with municipalities, parks, and tourism agencies to implement data-driven solutions that support sustainable transport and infrastructure planning.

Rosário Salema is a landscape architect. Her work spans municipal and metropolitan master plans, green infrastructure and urban agriculture plans, as well as public space and street furniture design. She was Director of Magazine AP (Landscape Architects) and represented Portugal and Spain at the 49^th IFLA World Congress (Cape Town, 2012). In 2000, she served as President and Commissioner of the Horticultural Gardens in Lisbon by Culturgest. She led landscape plans for the metropolitan areas of Algiers (2010) and Praia, Cape Verde (2011), and contributed to Lisbon’s Municipal Master Plan (2009). She works in Lisbon City Council’s Public Space Department, coordinating interdisciplinary projects for sustainable urban transformation.

Olga Pereira is a Portuguese jurist and municipal leader serving as an Alderwoman in the Braga City Council. With a law degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a master’s in Public Administration and Policy from IST-ISCTE, she has held various legal and administrative roles in public health and local government. Since 2019, she has overseen key portfolios in Braga including mobility, municipal works, public space, and higher education. A long-time collaborator of Mayor Ricardo Rio and active in the PSD, she is recognized for her leadership.

Maria João Matos is the National URBACT Point for Portugal, serving since 2019 at Portugal’s Directorate General for Territory. She coordinates and promotes sustainable urban development programmes nationally and across Europe .
Previously, she was a scientific officer at the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for three years, and before that, from 2004, she taught and researched in urban design, planning, landscape, and architecture at university level. Additionally, she practised architecture and planning and served as a rapporteur with the Portuguese Chamber of Architects (urbact.eu).
She holds a Degree in Architecture, a Master’s in City, Territory & Regeneration, and a PhD in Architecture & Landscape. She has published research, organised national/international events, and actively participated in sustainable urban development projects under European programmes (urbact.eu).

Paul Lecroart is a senior urbanist at L’Institut Paris Region, the regional planning agency for the Paris metropolitan area. He advises metropolitan and city governments on strategic spatial planning, urban transformation, and infrastructure redevelopment, including preparations for major events such as the Paris Olympic Games. As a leading expert in rethinking urban mobility and infrastructure, he coordinates the METREX Expert Group “From Roads to Streets,” which explores the conversion of car-dominated highways into inclusive urban boulevards.
Internationally recognised, Paul Lecroart has contributed to planning processes in cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. He serves on the advisory board of the New York Regional Plan and collaborates with global networks such as Metropolis. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and has taught urban strategy and planning at the Sciences Po Urban School and the École d’Urbanisme de Paris. His written work includes contributions to major studies and publications such as Cities Change the World, focusing on metropolitan transitions and sustainable urban futures.

Sandeep Shingadia FCILT is Director of Strategic Partnerships & Integration at Transport for West Midlands (Greater Birmingham)
Sandeep has over 26 years’ experience in the transport sector and is responsible for leading the development of strategic partnerships at regional, national and international levels to facilitate the development of integrated transport programmes ready for delivery.
Sandeep works strategically with partners to deliver the right transport solutions that benefit a wider investment, economic growth, creating great vibrant places and supporting our residents and business through greater connectivity through sustainable transport options.

José Manuel Ferreira is a Portuguese architect based in Matosinhos, with previous professional experience in Valongo. He is now active at a European scale through his involvement with METREX, contributing to metropolitan-level strategy and programme planning. In 2023, he helped shape the content for the METREX Autumn Conference in Braga alongside leading experts in regional development.
In addition, José Manuel played a key role in the URBACT Ri Connect programme—specifically, the thematic Action Planning Network focused on rethinking and integrating urban mobility infrastructure—representing the Área Metropolitana do Porto in discussions and workshops to advance sustainable metropolitan infrastructure.

General of METREX—the Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas—since July 2016, leading initiatives across 50 plus metropolitan regions in Europe (linkedin.com). Trained as an architect and urban planner at Delft University of Technology, he founded his own practice, UiP urban producers, in 1998, specializing in long-term urban transformation and infrastructure-led development in Europe and Asia (metrosolutions.amb.cat).
Under his leadership, METREX has become a central voice in metropolitan governance and sustainable development, driving expert groups on circular construction, affordable housing, rail-linked urban strategies, and cross-border collaboration—such as the Eurodelta initiative (eurometrex.org). Henk is a regular speaker at major European planning and innovation forums, including events on AI and urban policy, and contributes to knowledge exchange on metropolitan challenges (eurometrex.org).

Daniel is an urbanist – urban designer and planner – with broad experience in urban planning practice and academic activity. He currently works on various urban design projects and planning studies through his office, Urban Dynamics, based in Porto and Amsterdam; as a researcher at MDT/CEAU/FAUP; and as director of the Future Design of Streets association.
Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Urbanism (Amsterdam, NL) and completed his PhD at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, in 2018. As a team leader, he has won several urban design and planning competitions and is a frequent invited speaker at various (international) events, workshops, and debates. He is also Chair of the second international conference the Future Design of Streets.

Daniel is an urbanist – urban designer and planner – with broad experience in urban planning practice and academic activity. He currently works on various urban design projects and planning studies through his office, Urban Dynamics, based in Porto and Amsterdam; as a researcher at MDT/CEAU/FAUP; and as director of the Future Design of Streets association.

Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Urbanism (Amsterdam, NL) and completed his PhD at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, in 2018. As a team leader, he has won several urban design and planning competitions and is a frequent invited speaker at various (international) events, workshops, and debates. He is also Chair of the second international conference the Future Design of Streets.

Architect (FAUP, Porto, 2000) with a Master in Architecture Territory and Memory (FCTUC, Coimbra, 2007) and PHD (EAUM, Guimarães, 2015). Professor at the EAUM since 2004, and since 2015 researcher of LAB2PT at Minho University. Is researcher on topics as road infrastructure and public space in widely urbanized territory. Ivo contributed to different research work as “NO Void – Ruins and vacant land in Portuguese cities: exploring the dark life of abandoned urban spaces and alternative planning proposals for the perforated city” (2015-19) and “The Sea and the Shore, Architecture and Marine Biology: The Impact of Sea Life on the Built Environment” (2018-20). He is director of the Integrated Master in Architecture program and member of UM-Cities board from 2017, a platform that seeks to promote and value exemplary practices in the city and territory, namely how they can contribute to a more sustainable and fair society.

Chair of the second international conference the Future Design of Streets 2025.

Catarina Breia Dias, Cacém (1994). Master’s in architecture at the Lisbon School of Architecture (2018). Catarina has been working as an architect between Lisbon, Ghent and Porto. Currently she holds a fellowship from Lab2PT, at Minho’s University and is part of the Future Design of Streets platform. Catarina advocates for a social, multicultural and age inclusive city, a cohesive territory on the city centre, but also the outskirts, and, for new paradigms that bring out the community involvement within the design process.

Curently, she works on her PhD research Street transformations towards mobility, social and urban nature spaces: concepts and practises.

Carina Gomes, Braga (1990). Master in architecture at the School of Architecture, Arts and Design at University of Minho in Guimarães (2016) and Postgraduate in Spatial Planning and Urban Project at Faculty of Engineering – University of Porto (2023). Carina began her professional career in Vienna and works currently at the office Urban Dynamics in Porto. She is passionate about creating inclusive, equitable, and vibrant urban environments that encourage community involvement and sustainability, with a particular focus on how public spaces can serve as catalysts for social interaction and cultural expression within diverse communities.