Tamara Espiñeira-Guirao
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France
- Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese
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:
[Communication; Finance and resources; Local economy]
3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
> Securing funding and resourcing
Summary
Dr. Tamara Espiñeira-Guirao is an expert in spatial planning and international urban cooperation. She holds a PhD in Geography - Urbanism from the University of Rennes 2 (La diplomatie urbaine européenne : une approche par les instruments), supervised by Jean Monnet Chair Guy Baudelle, and a DES in European Studies from the Institute for European Studies, Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her doctoral research received the “Strategic Perspectives” International Prize of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie in 2023.
Her international career began in Namibia, before becoming Secretary General of the Atlantic Cities network (2009–2021). In this role, she coordinated governance, advocacy and cooperation among member cities including Lisbon, A Coruña, Rennes, and La Rochelle. She also designed and oversaw more than 100 EU initiatives, notably the €4M Atlantic Youth Creative Hubs (INTERREG) and Atlantic Futures, winner of the 2020 European Enterprise Promotion Award.
Her connection to URBACT combines doctoral research, shadow support to Atlantic Cities’ members in projects like LC-FACIL and PREVENT, and work as trainer for Local Action Groups of Spanish partners. Moreover, she contributed to European Commission territorial expert groups such as the INTERREG Atlantic Area Monitoring Committee, the European Atlantic Maritime Strategy Group and the Structured Dialogue on Partnership in Structural Funds. She is also a Team Europe Direct speaker.
Currently Senior lecturer at Sciences Po Rennes, she teaches International Urban Sociology and Enlarging the International Authority of Cities. She developed the concept of “new urban diplomacy,” defined as a strategy giving cities the possibility to use active subsidiarity to fulfil their political mandate by using international mechanisms.
Selected writings include:
Measuring the impact of international tools in local governance: The new urban diplomacy (2022)
Strategies for Enhancing EU City Diplomacy (Palgrave, 2020)
Cardiff: la responsabilidad social de las autoridades locales ante el cambio climático (2011)
L'enjeu de l'économie de proximité pour les villes de l'Arc Atlantique (2013)