Validated Expert info
Expert can perform Ad hoc expertise missions at network and programme level in relation to:
1. The design and delivery of (transnational) exchange and learning activities
2. Thematic expertise:
[Strategic urban planning, Participative governance, Mobility]
3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
> Integrated and participatory design of strategies
> Sustaining stakeholder engagement and translating strategies into actions
Summary
Geographer | Urban Development Expert | URBACT Lead & Ad Hoc Expert
I am, first and foremost, a geographer with a deep commitment to integrated urban development. With over 20 years of experience in EU-funded projects, I have successfully led the submission, management, and implementation of urban initiatives, both as a freelance consultant and as a trusted advisor to the Mayor of Kavala, Greece for 19 years.I hold an MSc in Cities, Space & Society from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography from the University of the Aegean, Greece. My expertise lies in civic participation, strategic urban planning, and participatory governance, with a strong focus on co-designing complex strategic documents and piloting innovative urban solutions.
Professional Experience & URBACT Engagement
My current responsibilities as Kavala's Mayor's advisor in EU-funded projects (cross border, interregional projects) allowed me to successfully address questions on urban challenges, civic participation, public ethics, management of conflicts and mainstreaming of bottom-up processes in decision-making as an urban practitioner. My current duties include organizing stakeholder workshops, co-designing urban agendas, and coordinating transnational exchange of experience events. Furthermore, working with the UNESCO Chair Con-E-Ect allowed me to gain valuable skills in developing multidisciplinary projects, including their results in integrated urban agendas.
My involvement with the URBACT programme has further reinforced my expertise in participatory urban governance. As an Ad Hoc Expert and co-trainer for the URBACT National Campus, I have supported cities in developing strategic urban plans, facilitating stakeholder engagement workshops, and strengthening transnational cooperation. Through participation in URBACT networks such as LUMASEC, TOGETHER, Making Spend Matter, and URGE, I have contributed to the exchange of best practices and the implementation of innovative urban policies across Europe.
In my work on EU programmes, I focus on creating clear and practical outputs that capture key lessons from exchange and learning activities. These include Integrated Action Plans, Transfer Policies, and Good Practice Reports that are designed to be useful for city practitioners, stakeholders, and wider audiences. In URGE Integrated Action Plan, I supported Kavala in addressing circularity in the construction sector, providing actionable strategies for urban sustainability, while at the Making Spend Matter Transfer Project,I facilitated the transfer strategy towards an Integrated Sustainable Procurement Stratefy for Kavala, engaging SMEs and incorporating social and environmental criteria at the city''s tendering procedures.
I believe in rethinking urban development through collaboration, innovation, and civic empowerment. As Buckminster Fuller once said:“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”This philosophy drives my approach to urban transformation—helping cities evolve, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future.
