Andrada-Ioana Lupulescu

I am an urban planner and governance expert passionate about helping cities transform ambitious ideas into practical, locally owned solutions. Throughout my work in Horizon Europe, Interreg, DUT and other European cooperation projects, I have collaborated with municipalities across Europe to design integrated strategies, facilitate participatory processes and create learning environments where cities exchange knowledge and co-develop solutions to shared urban challenges.

What motivates me most is working at the intersection of people, policy and place. I enjoy translating complex policy frameworks into practical tools, interactive workshops and visual methods that enable local authorities and stakeholders to move confidently from strategy to implementation. My work combines research, facilitation and strategic planning with a strong belief that the best urban solutions emerge through collaboration and shared learning.

My expertise spans strategic integrated planning, participative governance, sustainable and inclusive mobility, and culture and cultural heritage.

• I support municipalities in developing integrated, place-based strategies that connect spatial planning, climate resilience, mobility, heritage and social inclusion. My experience ranges from neighbourhood-scale urban planning and local strategy development to climate adaptation projects, always with a focus on translating strategic visions into realistic and implementable actions. One example is the development of project fiches for Nature-based Solutions that helped translate local priorities into concrete interventions.
  Example: Interactive Urban Plan for Zenica (ProGIreg)

• Participation is at the core of my work. I design and facilitate stakeholder engagement and co-creation processes that strengthen collaboration between public authorities, academia, civil society and the private sector. My approach helps cities build ownership, improve decision-making and ensure that local strategies reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities. I particularly enjoy designing interactive workshops and peer-learning activities that encourage dialogue, experimentation and mutual learning.

• My work on sustainable mobility focuses on creating more inclusive, accessible and people-centred urban environments. By combining policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and communication, I support municipalities in understanding the diverse mobility needs of their communities and translating these into practical actions that improve everyday life.
  Example: Documentary on inclusive mobility

• I also see culture and cultural heritage as powerful drivers of sustainable urban development. I support participatory approaches that connect local stakeholders around cultural assets and strengthen the relationship between heritage, identity and place. Beyond my professional work, my activity as an artist in Bucharest keeps me closely connected to local creative networks, exhibitions and cultural initiatives, enriching my understanding of cultural ecosystems and the role of culture in shaping vibrant, inclusive cities.

Alongside my thematic expertise, I regularly design and facilitate transnational learning activities, peer exchanges and capacity-building programmes for municipalities and project partners. My facilitation style is interactive, practical and people-centred, combining storytelling, visual communication and participatory methods to create engaging learning experiences that inspire cities to move from ideas to action.

Although I am new to the URBACT community, I am excited to contribute my experience in European cooperation, integrated planning and collaborative governance to support URBACT Networks in delivering meaningful and lasting urban change.