I have 15 years of experience in working on various urban issues, both in Bulgaria, as well as abroad. In terms of sector expertise I feel strongest in the fields of urban and strategic planning, though I have gone in depth on many environmental, social, infrastructural, mobility and many other urban issues. I also have a substantial experience with pursuing resilience, sustainability and the involvement of interest groups. In the last 10 years I have often had a leading role in the projects and initiatives I have worked on - be it a project or a team leader, or a director. This has allowed me to develop strong organisational and communication skills. Moreover I have more than a decade-long experience of forming, motivating and leading teams of experts of different ages, ethnicities, types of expertise and/or position.

 

1️⃣ My current role as a leader of the Team Sofia initiative has given me opportunities to engage with more than 70 experts from various fields, looking for adequate solutions to Sofia’s challenges. Starting in spring 2022, we keep involving various interest groups, have an active contact with the media, as well as with politicians from different political parties. The solutions that we have proposed cover variety of topics - from energy communities and the heat-island effect, through public space management and mobility, to the management of water resources and housing policy. 

 

2️⃣ Between 2017 and 2021, aided by a 30+ strong team of different experts I founded and developed Sofiaplan - Sofia’s municipal spatial and strategic body. I gathered and led this multidisciplinary team, creating a number of municipal strategies, conducting a great number of analysis on a variety of subjects and producing Sofia’s Integrated Development Strategy for the 2021-2027 EU planning period. We consciously dedicated time, effort and resources to making difficult subjects more easily comprehendible by non-specialists and we kept an active public appearance. At that same time Sofiaplan took part in a transfer network, supported by URBACT - Com.Unity.Lab. My role was to coordinate the work that was produced in Sofia and represent the city within the network.

 

3️⃣ Almost parallel to this I led the Vision Sofia 2050 initiative - a proposal made by a group of activists, led by me, and adopted by Sofia’s Municipality. By focusing on the process of an informed dialogue we came to define the long-term goals for Sofia, as well as the steps needed to be taken to reach them. We managed to gather and publish large amounts of data, but also to involve in different ways more than 10 000 people in this process.

 

My previous experience includes leading the ONE ARCHITECTURE WEEK festival, working for architecture offices in different parts of the world and being involved in a variety of activities in the public domain.

 

In the course of the years I developed skills for creating systems - teams, processes, projects, plans. I believe in flexible, ever-evolving systems that take into account as many factors as necessary to work properly. And I believe that the future can be bright as long as we invest in it.

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I have a very solid experience on the EU and local and regional authorities as I have worked for 22 years at the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the oldest and largest European organisation of local governments. I was the CEMR Director of international cooperation and citizenship. I have worked with elected representives and civil servants from many different countries, coordinated their contribution to European networking, designed and managed transnational projects, lead advocacy actions and facilitated exchanges and meetings.

I have coordinated and faciliated for years the European programme and network of Town Twinning which is the first form of cooperation between European cities; I am sure this experience is an added value for the success of any European and international project.  I was also the Coordinator of the European contribution to the world organisation of local governments (UCLG) and the Director of Platforma (the platform of local governments involved in development cooperation). I will be happy to bring this wide international cooperation experience as an expert in the design and delivery of transnational exchanges and learning activities within URBACT. 

In CEMR I started the European network of women elected representatives at local level. I am at the origin of the European Charter for Equality of women and men at local level launched in 2006, which has been signed by nearly 2000 municipalities, cities and regions in Europe today and translated in 27 languages. I have already had the pleasure to participate in URBACT activities to speak about the Charter and the experience on gender equality I have gained in CEMR and for which I have received a special recognition.   

I have written several publications on gender equality and drafted strategies and tools to support gender equality at local level. 

I have also helped European cities and networks to design  projects concerning migrants' inclusion at local level and worked as an evaluator in the frame of  the EU programme AMIF (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund).  

I will be happy to bring in URBACT also my expertise on equality, diversity and inclusion.

⚙️ With a solid academic background on mechanical and energy engineering, especially during my master education in Energy for Smart Cities, I bring together several years of experience in the energy transitions sphere, tackling it at different and broader levels.

🇪🇺 Thanks to work experiences in Italy, France, Spain and, now, Belgium, I was first Project manager and LCA/LCC evaluators in multiple EU projects, under Horizon 2020, related to sustainable energy and mobility and, secondly, as Energy consultant, I accompanied trade association, research centres and NGOs in achieving sustainability assessment and energy analyses.

🌱 Currently, I am in an environmental NGO - ECOS - leading the work on heating decarbonization in buildings, a key challenge in EU cities, focusing not only on the electrification rollout but also on bioenergy and hydrogen topics, liaising with many national and European partners, thanks to coalitions I steer, such as Coolproducts and The Cool Heating Coalition.

💪🏾 My strength is my motivation. Doing my best is natural to me in anything at which I am truly believing. I am challenge-seeker, which brought me to looking forward to such a new adventure, by assisting and supporting cities to embrace transitions needed in many aspects in a just, efficient and resilient manner.

➡️ Don't hesitate to look for further details, available on my CV or portfolio.

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Paola Pasino is a change maker, with a background in architecture and urban design, dedicated to human centric design and the transformation of cities into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments. With over 15 years of experience in local government in the United Kingdom, Paola has been at the forefront of developing and implementing evidence-based strategies for urban regeneration, economic revitalization, and the pursuit of resilient and sustainable urban futures.

Paola has been a driving force behind the revitalization of city centres, particularly focusing on their recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and their transition towards net-zero emissions.

Paola's academic pursuits centre on the relationship between urban form and the quality of life. Her investigations delve deep into the nexus of health data and placemaking, shedding light on the pivotal role of urban design in shaping the well-being of communities. Her scholarly work is a testament to her commitment to creating cities that prioritize the physical and mental health of their inhabitants.
 

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Elisa is a project manager and consultant of international and European projects in the field of territorial development, knowledge economy and innovation eco-systems.

Elisa supports public administrations and regional stakeholders in the design and implementation of innovation-related policies.

She worked for the European Commission in the field of Smart Specialisation, Cohesion Policy and structural funds. She collaborated especially with regional administrations and national institutions of Italy, Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, and the Western Balkans.  

She was part of the Secretariat of the Joint Programming Initiative for Cultural Heritage under the leadership in Ministry of Culture in Italy and took part in the project management of Interreg and Eu projects.  

She has a solid experience with regional and local public administrations in strengthening dialogue among territorial stakeholders, promoting territorial excellence and sustainable development. 

As a Civil Engineer specialized in Infrastructure and Transport Planning and over the course of my career, I have demonstrated a deep commitment to sustainable urban development and mobility innovation.

In previous roles, including Project Manager and Mobility Innovator, I have led numerous European Transport Projects and studies, emphasizing sustainable and urban mobility, electromobility, and alternative vehicle technologies. My proficiency extends to logistics, urban freight deliveries, data analysis, and fostering innovation in transport and mobility.

Currently serving as an R&D Manager for Mobility, I am adept at steering innovation and research-driven strategies to address contemporary mobility challenges. My experience with funding mechanisms such as Horizon Europe, H2020, COST, Interreg and EIT Urban Mobility enables me to strategically manage projects that shape the future of transportation.

I am characterized by effective communication skills and a results-oriented approach to project execution. I envision contributing valuable insights and leveraging my expertise to address common challenges faced by cities. The prospect of actively participating in knowledge exchange, fostering innovation, and promoting best practices resonates deeply with my professional philosophy.

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I have more than 25 years of professional experience in Italy and the UK on urban regeneration and development projects, in major consulting firms, as freelance and public manager. My approach is focused on strategic integrated urban planning, with a view to sustainable local economic development, social inclusion and innovation, cultural development. I am a skilled programme manager, communicator and facilitator. I enjoy supporting challenging projects that require effective exchange, learning e innovative cooperation between different stakeholders, locally and internationally.

I was the Director of Associazione Torino Internazionale. I developed two major strategic plans: one for the metropolitan area of Turin and one for the peri-urban area of Eporediese, in Piedmont. I designed, facilitated and implemented the whole process of involving hundreds of local stakeholders and experts through many commissions and working groups.

I was Director of Development of the Urban Regeneration Plan at the City of Milan. I sistematically involved several City Departments, neighbourhood authorities, public institutions, community organisations, foundations and private companies. I designed the Urbact CITIES4CSR project and set up the professional start up Valore Urbano Condiviso, aimed at growing the active role of companies and anchor institutions in community projects.

I am very active in Torino Città per le Donne, NGO dedicated to promoting gender equality at the local level. I have led the production of a research paper on international strategies in this field. I currently coordinate the networking collaboration of approximately 70 community-based organisations.

Recently, I was senior researcher for an Italian government major study on Spazi di Comunità, the new hybrid community hubs up in unused buildings, that are spreading across Europe.

I am currently also part time Head of Business Development at Kalatà, a company dedicated to the promotion of cultural heritage through innovative visits.

I am an architect and urban planner by training, with a degree from the Politecnico of Turin. I have integrated my design and placemaking skills with economic, financial, and public policy expertise through an MSc at the London School of Economics and various professional assignments on social and technological innovation, real estate development, tourism, and retail.

I look forward to supporting Urbact change-makers across the EU, by applying the innovative Urbact method. Please feel free to get in touch!

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I consider myself above all a geographer with experience in integrated urban development. Holder of an MSc in Cities, Space and Society from the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor's Degree in Geography from the University of Aegean, Greece, with a professional experience of over 20 years in EU projects submission, management and implementation as a free-lance consultant, 19 years of which as an advisor to the Mayor of Kavala ( Greece).  

My expertise lies in successfully introducing civic participation and co-designing complex strategic documents. An expert with a particular interest in trying our new, pilot and innovative urban solutions driven by excessive and inclusive civic participation. A professional with strong interpersonal skills, advanced personal motivation, and a proven ability to build and work collaboratively. Thus, my prior experience working at a city level, collaborating, proposing, and experimenting with urban innovations, and concertizing goal setting aiming at sustainable urban development gave me an understanding and appreciation of the importance of a job well done.

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. 

Based on these activities, I have worked as a ULG coordinator in several URBACT networks (LUMASEC, TOGETHER, Making Spend Matter, and URGE), coordinating and animating stakeholder-engaging workshops, organizing and participating at knowledge exchange partner events as well as  supporting and drafting integrated urban plans.

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Richard Buckminster Fuller

 

 

 

 

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Roberto Carella currently provides specialised support at Health Department of Apulia Region focusing on "One Health" as a catalyst for sustainable development according to SDGs. His focus is on critical issues such as health, environment, circular economy, innovation, transport and urban mobility, as well as nature conservation and climate change. 

He is also a project management consultant at MT-Europe where he emphasizes the potential of tourism as a tool for economic diversification, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, and the engagement of local communities in the transition journey especially in the fields of smart cities, smart territories, smart islands, focusing on clean energy and waste-to-energy.

He holds his degree in Economics at University of Bari and an eBusiness PhD at eBMS ISUFI University of Salento, with a focus on Knowledge Management. Furthermore he is a public policy expert and university lecturer in management and sustainability, having collaborated with the University of Bari, (Taranto Campus),University of Malta, European Commission, Ashoka, Regional governments and think tanks.He is involved in creating tailored support programs for entrepreneurs, nurturing start-ups in clean-tech sectors, and collaborating with business incubators. Moreover his consultative role in various institutional bodies has garnered him a reputation for efficacious stakeholder engagement and strategic vision in facilitating a Just Transition to a greener, more equitable economy.

He also supports the preparation of territorial plans, particularly related to capacity-building, empowering local governments, organizations, and communities to actively participate in the Just Transition Process.

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