Mireia Lozano Carbassé

I work to advance more just, resilient and democratic cities by driving social innovation at the intersection of policy, research and practice, and by enabling collaborative processes across institutions, communities and disciplines.

My expertise:
I am an urban sociologist and planner with over ten years of international experience at the intersection of urban governance, climate adaptation and urban diplomacy. I bring a strong background in programme and project management, policy advocacy and strategic partnerships, combined with a systems-thinking approach and a deep commitment to social justice, ecological transition and inclusive urban development. My expertise lies in translating complex challenges into collective, place-based solutions, combining programme and project management, policy advocacy and strategic partnerships with a strong systems-thinking approach. I am deeply committed to social justice, ecological transition and inclusive urban development, and my work is grounded in research-based action, horizontal collaboration and capacity-building with public institutions, civil society and international networks.

Results:
Across my career, I have contributed to and led complex multi-stakeholder programmes at European and global levels, supporting cities and institutions to design, implement and scale innovative urban policies. I have coordinated European projects and global initiatives, developed executive education and training programmes for public officials, and supported policy transfer and learning among cities through networks such as URBACT and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). My work has strengthened institutional capacity, improved policy coherence, and helped embed principles of resilience, inclusion and territorial justice into urban strategies.

Examples of my work:
My experience includes serving as Head of Cabinet and Communication Manager at UCLG, where I coordinated global advocacy efforts with local and regional governments and partners such as UN-Habitat, C40 and ICLEI; working as Project Manager for the Analysis and Evaluation of Good Practices URBACT IV, supporting cities in identifying and transferring good practices on housing and inclusive urban development; and co-founding aquí cooperative, where I design and manage European research and action projects on urban resilience and climate adaptation. Most recently, at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), I lead strategic partnerships and executive programmes and I am currently Consultant in Nature and Urban Ecosystems at Anthesis Group.

Recognitions and roles:
I am a trusted programme manager and social innovation practitioner within European and international urban policy ecosystems, contributing to executive education, applied research and city-to-city learning processes. Through my work with Anthesis, URBACT, IAAC and international city networks, I am thrilled to continue to serve and advise public authorities, helping translate complex research and policy agendas into actionable strategies on the ground for more just, inclusive and climate resilient cities and territories.