
Validated Expert info
Expert can perform the Lead expert role and 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:
[Digital transformation; Energy transition; Finance and resources; Mobility; Urban design]
3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
> Monitoring and evaluation for effective implementation
Summary
Hello! I'm an independent expert in urban innovation that can help you launch and manage transfer networks, run capacity building programmes, and data-driven measurement of successful implementation.
Launching and managing transfer networks
As an independent expert for the Urban Agenda for the EU, I designed and launched the Thematic Partnership on Building Decarbonisation (2025–27), a network of eight cities, seven umbrella organisations, and three regions transferring best practice in policy, finance, and data on district renovation programmes and local heating and cooling plans required for all cities with a population over 45,000. URBACT sat on the steering group with Eurocities, CEMR, and CoR. I've also led C40 Cities' European Global Green New Deal group to transfer best practice in formal and soft powers in the energy transition (see a good practice example from Barcelona below) in Delivering a just energy transition in European cities through relief, retrofits and renewables: a resource pack for cities (2024).
Running capacity building programmes
I've co-led moderation of capacity building events as an expert for the European Urban Initiative (EUI). The three-day access to funding event (2025) followed an URBACT Policy Lab (2024) sharing good practice in blending public and private funds for sustainable urban development. I've also moderated a two-day green transition event for EUI (2023) to mainstream good practice in local authority skills, finance, and internal culture.

As a policy officer working with the €25 million Horizon-funded Sharing Cities project management office (2015-19), I led capacity building events transferring good practice in public realm, dynamic energy pricing, and data trusts from London, Lisbon, and Milan in partnership with the European Investment Bank and the Smart Cities Marketplace. In the same role, I launched London's first citizen-led consultation day, an unconference, as part of the city's listening exercise for Smarter London Together (2018-19), its new strategy for digital public services and data.
Monitoring and evaluating implementation
As an expert for the European Urban Initiative (EUI), I assessed applications to Innovative Actions grants (2022-25) that awarded over €150 million in three calls against criteria in durability and transferability to other EU cities. Each of the applicant was required to have at least three partner cities to test transfer of the innovation, from topics ranging from the energy transition and mobility to sustainable tourism and urban greening. Many EUI-funded projects, like their forerunners, the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA)-funded projects, will become URBACT good practices over the coming years. As an expert for NetZeroCities, I have assessed applications to Pilot Cities grants (2022-23) that awarded over €50m to calculate co-benefits of Climate City Contracts.
As the Smart London officer for the mayor of London (2015-19), I assessed the potential of innovations to improve sustainable urban development, including piloting tactical urbanism in 130 projects funded by £4 million of grants in Crowdfund London, evaluating their future potential in Adaptive Strategies for High Streets and Town Centres, and the potential for startups to build business models from these challenges in the Civic Innovation Challenge.
Languages
I'm an American descended from an Italian-Ukrainian immigrant family who attended high school in Senlis, France, and learnt Spanish to a competent level.
English (native), French (B2), Spanish (A2), Italian (A2), Ukrainian (A2)