I have been a validated Lead Expert during URBACT III and I have been involved as Expert in very interesting projects all around Europe. During these years my committment as Expert in Urban Sustainable development for Municipalities has grown a lot and I have been working as project manager for the Swedish and Italian Governements and for several cities in Italy, Turin, Rome, Bologna, Forlì  and Verona in tight collaboration with Deputies and Mayors.

To became an Urbact Validated Expert for me means, influencing and inspiring the work of municipalities on issues of strong change that often need a less conservative push with a creative vision of real change and less politicisation on pressing European issues. As Urbact Expert I can bring my wide expertise in assisting Municipalities in this innovative big change. I have a double role as project manager but also as project evaluator expert because since 2021 I am and Evaluator Expert for the European Commission. Moreover my communication skills thanks to my collaborations at TV, radio and magazines and my work as adjunct professor for the University Tor Vergata In Rome in the Winter/Summer School for  Urban Sustanable Development and for Venice International University in the Master of EU Project Design & Management can be useful for an integrate work with cities.

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Ph.D. in Social and Psychological Sciences, Simone's efforts in recent years have focused on connecting local economic, social and administrative stakeholders in transnational networks, with the goal of creating sustainable tourism ecosystems.

Training and exchange meetings, including those organized online with the use of creative approaches and collaborative tools, can greatly facilitate the transfer of knowledge among all actors in local economies and the sharing of best practices. Participation in the Genoa ULG's activities for the URBACT III "Tourism-Friendly Cities" project, for example, enabled Simone to identify sustainability criteria later adopted for the area by the international short-rental platform Fairbnb.coop: dozens of tourism service SMEs gained direct access to the market in innovative ways that generate a positive impact for the whole territory.

Simone's expertise in the fields of digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and sustainable tourism has been recognized by various chambers of commerce and local governments, within the framework of several European projects:
- Smart Tourism (Interreg - Marittimo-IT FR-Maritime)
- European Tourism Going Green - ETGG 2030
- I- STARS (Insuleur)

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Sustainable City Expert, with a focus on mobility and transport. Creator of a EU-wide project about railway stations and sustainable cities, the "Sustainable City Promoter".

Wide experience in urban planning and mobility, first working in french railways (SNCF) and then at the EIT Urban Mobility, always helping cities in implementing sustainable transport projects, tests and pilots of innovative solutions, and addressing the policy and governance gaps. 

Strong business development skills combined with an entrepreneurial attitude and strategic thinking for developing and managing innovation, and create impact. Self-starter, able to link stakeholders to create added value and new projects. Successful in leading new ideas and activities between R&D and business.

C-Level access, able to develop and maintain relationships with clients, and deeply understanding clients’ needs. Excellent operational leadership facilitating fact-based decision-making and guiding communication. 

PhD candidate on the topic of urbanism and railway stations for more sustainable cities at TUM Munich, already published a paper focussed on mobility issues: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667091723000031

 

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Architect /urban planner. European Master degree in the Town Regional and Urban Design in 1994-1995 at the INEAA, European Institute of Urban planning, Rouen University, France

I have more than twenty years experience as project coordinator in EU funded projects, involving EU and non-EU countries in the world, in  Strategic urban planning, Mobility, Climate adaptation and Multi-level governance, New urban economies, Green economy, Urban resilience, Social Inclusion. 

I am particularly proficient in the thematic area of Urban innovation, with in-depth knowledge of urban trends and challenges in a wide range of countries. Since 2001, I have coordinated multidisciplinary teams as head of European Unit within Risorse per Roma, in-house company of the City of Rome. In 2017, I submitted to the URBACT Secretariat the case of Rome, RESILIENT URBAN & PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE.

http://remakingthecity.urbact.eu/resilient-urban-and-peri-urban-agriculture-rome-italy--78.case

As a result, Rome was awarded the URBACT Good Practice label for its participatory urban gardening project. Then, I have coordinated RU:RBAN Network project on behalf of the City of Rome from 2018 to 2022 (RU:RBAN first wave and second wave).

I have been promoting innovative workshops to develop integrated and participatory policies in the field of urban sustainable development in all countries I worked with under European Programs focused on territorial cooperation, by involving local authorities , civil society and stakeholders (Interreg, Asia-Urbs, Urb-Al, TACIS, CIUDAD, ENPI CBC MED): 2003-2005 in Beijing, China, 2004-2005 in Lʼviv, Ukraine, 2004-2009 in many cities of Latin America, 2008-2012 in Kiev and Moscow.

All this experience enriched me greatly in terms of methods and tools of citizens participation, adapting and adjusting them in accordance to the local situations and cultural realities. In addition, this experience allowed me to increase my capacities and ability in the field of territorial cooperation activities and transnational meetings.

Other relevant experience  can be found in my coordination in 2020-2021 of videoconferences and calls sessions for the Innopolis Initiative to support the Inter-American Development Bank in the cooperation among teams of City administrations from Latin America and Europe in the field of urban agriculture, in particular, involving the cities of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Tuxtla Gutierrez (Mexico), Lima (Peru), Loures/Lisbon (Portugal), A Coruna (Spain), Rome (Italy). During Covid time in 2020-2021 I also ensured my technical assistance to the City of Barranquilla (Colombia) & stakeholders involved in the implementation of the urban garden pilot in the disadvantaged peri-urban area of Villas de San Pablo: backstopping provided to the pilot project through videoconferences and calls on behalf of GIZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

 

 

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Dr. Bernard GINDROZ is, since 2014, an independent consultant on Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Smart Cities and Communities and Transport, with a special focus on innovation, policies, standardization and digitalization.

Dr. Bernard GINDROZ is very active in standardization, as Chairman of several Technical Committees and bodies, including in the energy sector (CEN/CENELEC SFEM), smart cities (ISO TC 268 and CEN/CENELEC/ETSI SF SSCC), hydrogen (CEN/CENELEC JTC6), blockchain.

Among its smart and sustainable cities and communities related activities, he is chairing an international club of cities (ISSCC), contributing to UN SDGs and towards carbon neutrality.

He is also active in the Coordination Groups for, respectively, Circular Economy, Eco Design and resources efficiency.

He coordinated an international consortium of stakeholders towards developing battery swappable systems for urban e-mobility (Light cat of vehicles).

Bernard is an EU expert in Adaptation to Climate Change, hydrogen technologies and infrastructures, as well as in circular economy and smart & Sustainable Development of Cities and Communities (with several mandates, including in support of setting national circular economy strategies and framework programs), a projects’ evaluator of several EU research and innovation programs, and initiative leader in the Smart Cities Market Place, former EIP SCC (European Innovative Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities), on Integrated Planning, Management, KPIs and benchmarking (Best practices towards replication and scaling-up). He has been the EU representative of EEA – European Energy Award – for 10 years.

Dr. Bernard GINDROZ has been involved in Innovation, policy and competitiveness issues for more than 30 years. He has been working for the French Navy, then the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) as Regional Director, Head of Industry and innovative technologies Department, Deputy Director Sustainable Cities and Territories and Director Energy, Air and Noise.

Dr. Bernard GINDROZ is a Mechanical Engineer (EPFL). He got a master in applied/industrial mathematics and a PhD in the field of energy at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).

Dr. Bernard GINDROZ has been teaching and leading research programs as Professor in several technology Institutes, engineering schools and at the French Naval Academy.

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As an architect and international projects consultant, I have been active for over 30 years in architectural design and urban planning as well as in programme and project management within European territorial and development cooperation. I have led international teams of experts and practitioners in planning and implementing complex cross-sector cooperation projects involving stakeholders from academia, the public sector, the civil society and the private sector.

Italian / French citizen, based in Vienna, I provide advisory services to urban and regional authorities, national institutions and international organizations carrying out long and short-term missions in several European countries and beyond. I deliver expertise in project planning and design as well as in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) in multistakeholder partnership programmes. My field of expertise focuses amongst other on integrated urban regeneration with emphasis on heritage, culture & development and sustainable tourism.

Implementing and monitoring stimulating activities in the field of urban societal dynamics within interregional territorial cooperation and urban development networks, I came across effective sharing of experience and good practices in integrated urban sustainable policies and promoted innovative instruments for territorial cooperation. Continuous exchange, learning and networking in an international context have always been my bug, especially in relation to joint capitalization activities on urban-related projects funded through relevant EU programmes.

Having worked within interreg programmes for several years, I gained a good understanding of the ERDF, the EU cohesion policy and the actual challenges of territorial cooperation, and could provide a contribution to promoting territorial development and cohesion trough striving more efficient cooperation management. I was involved in developing exchange and learning activities in the urban sector within all strands of ETC, sharing experience with practitioners, participating to advisory and working groups on capitalization, partnership and knowledge exchange. As such, I cooperated with URBACT since 2009, sharing experience on projects showing concrete evidence of innovative and transferable good practice in different fields of urban and regional development and I supported the development of a project network focusing on sustainable and cultural use of recovered historic real estate.

I coordinated and supervised activities related to the management of cultural heritage assets and conservation districts in the Mediterranean region, aimed at fostering sustainable urban development and regeneration for promoting the local economy through cultural tourism and for improving the quality of life in deprived residential areas. Supervising and implementing inspiring projects focusing on cultural and creative industries or cultural expressions made me aware about the great relevance of culture and intangible heritage in promoting employment and job creation, as potential powerful vectors of economic development and social inclusion.

To date, as a free-lance consultant I am engaged in the preparation, management and evaluation of international cooperation projects commissioned by private and public clients, promoting best practices as well as innovative partnership-based approaches in diverse thematic areas, including territorial cooperation and local development, city-to-city cooperation, urban regeneration and historic urban landscape, participatory governance in cultural heritage, culture in external relations, innovation and creativity.

Besides performing final reviews for Horizon 2020 coordination and support action projects or project evaluations for the Council of Europe, my recent assignments with governmental development agencies and consulting firms include supporting projects proposals promoting reforms and capacity building in sustainable tourism development in Greece or addressing efficiency in ESI funds absorption and urban municipalities in Slovenia.

In 2022 I was appointed by the Italian Region Emilia-Romagna as expert for built heritage management, building construction and urban planning, and joined the multidisciplinary experts’ Task Force that was set up to provide advisory services and capacity building to municipal, supra-municipal and provincial authorities within the Next Generation Italy National Recovery & Resilience Plan (PNRR).

I look forward to sharing expertise and experience with project networks within the URBACT IV programme!

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I am an urban facilitator, passionate about community planning and social innovation to foster positive changes in cities, taking care that none is left behind. In my 19 years in the profession I have worked on several international and national projects, developing sound skills in applying innovative participatory methods for engaging with multi-level stakeholders and supporting the learning and experimenting processes for urban environments at local and transnational level.

My profound interest in inclusive urban planning and my experience in this sector led me in 2006 to be a founding member of Kallipolis, a non-profit organisation based in Trieste (Italy), dealing with sustainable urban development, inspired by the principles of the United Nations Habitat Agenda. As Kallipolis’ boarding team member (and president from 2006 to February 2020) I have designed, monitored and coordinated several cooperation projects, funded through international, cross-border or transnational cooperation on urban sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, France, Vietnam, Argentina, Albania, Lebanon, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. In the implementation of these projects, which all had an urban development focus, I worked with Local Authorities, NGOs and civil society organisations.

In addition to my work at Kallipolis, I have been engaged as a urban expert in several international projects, carried out by Municipalities, non-governmental and governmental organisations and Universities in Ecuador, Algeria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and several EU Countries. Among others I have had the opportunity to work for UN-Habitat in Cambodia, Urban Innovative Actions, in Almeria (Spain), the Council of Europe in Bosnia and Herzegovina and URBACT in several EU cities.

From 2018 to 2022 I worked as a lead expert for the Transfer Network, Playful Paradigm (URBACT III), where I experimented with the huge potential of the URBACT method for supporting cities in boosting innovation and integrated urban development by involving citizens and local stakeholders. I am keen to continue the collaboration with URBACT for supporting European cities in co-designing and co-realising urban interventions to ensure equal opportunities and the inclusion of vulnerable people to improve cities livability. 

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Graduated in Architecture, I hold a PhD in Architecture, Urban Design, Conservation of Housing and Landscape. I have extensive expertise in Housing (social, collaborative and affordable housing) both as an advisor or scholar. I teach Architectural Planning and Urban Design at the Polytechnic of Milan and I am the Italian member of the International Union of Architects in the Social Habitat Work Group. I have long experience as an educator and disseminator, author of essays and publications.

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Jose Costero is a sustainable urban policies management professional with 17 years of experience in Pamplona City Council, a medium-sized Spanish city. For the last 7 years, he has held the position of Director of the Strategic Office where he has driven the design and elaboration process of the Pamplona 2030 Urban Agenda, using strategic planning methodologies. One of his main tasks has been the coordination and leadership of the co-design and co-creation process through the governance model of the Urban Agenda, which has enabled the participation of more than 1,000 people and 100 key stakeholders in its design, facilitating co-responsibility and consensus around the strategic framework and the 57 projects identified. This has enabled the Pamplona 2030 Urban Agenda to be unanimously approved by all the local political parties, a pact for its development to be signed with 26 key agents, and the Spanish Government to recognise it as a good practice. The Pamplona 2030 Urban Agenda is a strategic plan that seeks to improve the quality of life of citizens through the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, in line with the New Urban Agenda, the European Urban Agenda and the Spanish Urban Agenda.

Another of Jose Costero's functions in Pamplona City Council has been to coordinate and manage international cooperation projects with partners from other countries in Europe, Latin America and China. In this sense, Jose Costero has participated in a multitude of international projects highlighting the URBACT Making Spend Matter Transfer Network, about responsible public procurement, the Horizon 2020 Stardust project, about smart cities innovative solutions, the Horizon 2020 oPEN Lab project, about generation of positive energy neighbourhoods with living lab methodologies, or the IEE ENGAGE project, about climate change and citizen participation.

In addition, Jose Costero has been responsible for attracting and managing external funding for projects of the Pamplona 2030 Urban Agenda, having managed to attract more than €30 million of Next Generation EU funds in the last 2 years, as well as promoting public-private cooperation projects.

Previously, Jose Costero has worked for 10 years as responsible for local sustainability policies managing projects and plans in areas such as: Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development Strategy, Sustainable Mobility, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors, Energy Transition and Renewable Energies, Urban Food and Agriculture, Biodiversity, Circular Economy, Gender Equality, Public Policy Evaluation, Environmental Education, Citizen Participation, and Digital Transition and New Technologies.

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Mar Santamaria-Varas is an urban planner and architect. She combines experience in strategic and integrated urban planning, participatory processes and data analytics for public policies, with a common goal of responding to the need for a green transition, fuelled by digitisation and leaving no one behind.

She has solid experience advising various urban agents, including public administrations (national and local bodies), international organisations, scientific institutions, non-profits and citizens’ groups.

She is the co-founder of the think-tank 300.000 Km/s (www.300000kms.net). Her pioneering work in the field of urbanism has been recognized for its innovative quality and its impact on social transformation by the European Commission (S+T+ARTS Prize 2019), the Premio de Urbanismo Español 2019, the Premi Catalunya d’Urbanisme 2020 and an Honourable Mention of the UIA's Patrick Abercrombie Prize (2023), among others. Her work has been exhibited at international cultural institutions, including the Festival Ars Electronica (2021 and 2019), BOZAR Bruxelles (2020), the Chicago Arts Institute (2015) or the Centre for Contemporary Culture in Barcelona. She has also created specific content for the Venice Architecture Biennale in the Catalan (Air/Aire/Aria 2021) and Ukrainian Pavilions.

Mar has lectured at several international faculties (visiting lecturer at EPFL Lausanne, Welsh School of Architecture, TU Braunschweig, School of Architecture of Barcelona, IAAC, among others), public institutions, debates and conferences of significance in the sector (like the Smart City World Expo, the Inter American Development Bank Annual Planning Conference or ISOCARP). She has written several scientific publications and other articles for a broad public in relevant national and international reviews and media.

How can I support URBACT Networks?

Strategic urban planning

As an expert in strategic urban planning, I played a significant role in developing comprehensive plans that promote sustainable development and enhance the quality of life for residents. Through my involvement in drafting one of the first pilot projects of the Urban Agenda Action Plan in Spain (within the Next Generation Programme), several proposals for urban regeneration and conducting other urban diagnoses at the local level (2016-2023), I have gained the expertise to articulate public policies around local communities needs and perspectives through an evidence-based and data-driven approach. Urban planning is a global mechanism that allows us to solve complex problems through informed data diagnosis, scenario formulation, proposal drafting, and result evaluation.

Digital Urban disruptions

Digitisation in cities has altered social pacts and generated unprecedented challenges in formulating urban regulations and plans (on-demand mobility, e-commerce, or tourist apartments). For instance, in this expertise area, I have carried out several projects that focus on gentrification caused by the visitor economy, such as Touristification (2017) and Morphologies of Tourism (2017). I have also developed pioneering policies to regulate the implementation of first-mile delivery (ghost kitchens and dark stores Master Plan, Barcelona, 2023) as well as cutting-edge research to characterize the implementation patterns of innovative activities (Geographies of Innovation) as a result of teleworking and the knowledge economy -both generating new attraction logics for cities on a global level.

Digital transformation

I have experience in empowering local administrations in the digitisation process, generating strategies for informing public policies and providing consultancy in bridging the information gap. For example, I have collaborated on the digital divide report of Barcelona (2016, 2021), which measures the level of digitization of citizens. I have also worked in contexts with a lack of spatial and territorial/urban information.

Participatory governance

The contact with local and international bodies has enabled me to develop targeted interventions that promote liveable, healthier and greener cities. I have designed policies and urban master plans based on technical and citizen decision-making processes and public participation as the Ciutat Vella land-use plan or the Superblocks land-use plan (2023), among others.

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