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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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Since 2020, I am working at Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband, Germany's largest water board, as Project Director of Emscherland, of the International Garden Exposition 2027 and of Emscher 2020. Professional experiences range from integral project coordination to the development of climate change adaptation strategies, the designing of public participation processes and the organization of (international) events. 

I am specialised in working on large scale green infrastructure programs, regional master planning and climate change adaptation in the city. As a lecturer at the Department of Spatial Planning, Technical University of Dortmund and at the Department of Geosciences, Ruhr University Bochum, I enjoy teaching a new generation of (international) city planners the possibilities of large scale green megaprojects. I further work as a counselor for international cooperations in both European and non-European countries with the focus on integral water management solutions and on transformative governance within public administration.

I hold a Master's Degree in Geography, French, Spanish and Portuguese and a PhD in Social Science. With more than 9 years experience in teaching at the university, I have a proven track record in research and development related to social inequalities, urban planning, strategic masterplan designing, public space and landscape creation across Germany and abroad.

My mission is to engage in a deeper dialogue with highly engaged program partners from different regions and countries in Europe in order to discuss sustainable solutions to city planning under the scope of climate change. I am fully devoted to capacity building and I love to bring together different cultures, perspectives and planning approaches within the overall process of project management.  

 

I am a PhD.  Engineer with Doctorate in Engineering Sciences and Economist in Marketing and International Business with expertise in Project Management, Marketing, Business Plans and evaluation of National and European Projects.

Throughout my career, I have been actively involved as Evaluator and Rapporteur in collaborative projects within EU state-of-the-art initiatives such as FP7, H2020, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Education Programme and Citizenship for Europe-EACEA Agency Brussels, Eureka, Brussels, ICT, COST Programme.

I worked in 2019 with European Council as an Expert for creating the Branding Strategy for the Alpine Region. I am senior consultant for Engineering, Education Domain with experience of over 14 years. As a Lead Expert, I can bring knowledge and experience on topics of URBACT activities. I also have skills in network management, knowledge transfer activities, and facilitation.

I work professionally with computers, especially: MS DOS; WIN 9X, 2000, XP; MS OFFICE: Word, Excel, Access, Power, Point, Outlook; COREL; Internet and also most of the communication platforms - Skype, MS Teams, Webex, Google Meet, Zoom.

I have training courses:

2000 - EU Phare-Progress - Business Center Course - FP 5 – Polytechnic University of Bucharest

 2006- Communication Course organizes by Administration

2007- Participation to exhibitions in Italy, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, USA .

2007- Auditor for Management System ( SR EN ISO 19011:2003),(SR EN ISO 14001:2005), 14-18.05.2007 2007- Management of European projects, Bucharest, Commerce and Industry Chamber ,8-15.10.2007 2009-International Knowledge Management Course- 8-9.05 2009

2010- Audit for European Projects Computer skills Good computer skills – Word, Excel, Corel Draw, Autocad, Internet 1995- AUTOCAD Course to Dynatek Rom – America 1996- French Language Course carried on Polytechnic University in cooperation with National Institute from Grenoble and French Embassy

  2011-Training EACEA Brussels

2018-Training in Rome, ENI CBC MED Programme, Italy 2020

-Erasmus+, Malta 2021, 2022, Erasmus + Training Portugal

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I hold a master’s degree in transport and sustainable development, a PhD in urban design and urban ecology, and I am an environmental engineer. My professional experience spans different fields, such as urban mobility, energy, urban planning, waste management, water, and biodiversity.

With more than 10 years of experience in sustainable urban design, regenerative design, urban mobility, public policies, environmental studies, and urban ecology, I have developed a deep understanding of the complex interplay between environmental sustainability and urban development. These experiences allows me to bring a unique and valuable perspective to projects.

Whether it's desiging sustainable urban projects, facilitating workgroups, defining strategies, or developing forward-thinking public policies, I have the knowledge, skills, and passion necessary to deliver the desired results.

 

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Games that make the difference

Through game-based planning processes, we can foster participation and collaboration. Citizens, stakeholders, and experts can play in a safe environment, testing ideas and decision-making. This way, we can engage all participants and achieve better solutions for urban problems, addressing even those more complex and demanding cases. Using analogue games delivers versatile and powerful approaches. Adding and combining them with digital technologies can enhance the experience. We can adapt the process to the users and project goals, saving resources. This way, we achieve positive environments where collaboration emerges, fuelled by imagination and innovation. Let's play!

Biographic summary

PhD in spatial planning by the University of Coimbra and University of Porto (Portugal). Two graduations, one in civil engineering and the other in History. Two master’s degrees, one in energy and environment and the other in heritage studies. Researcher at CITTA (University of Coimbra). Post-doctoral research fellow at the Spatial Dynamics Lab, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy of the University College Dublin: about applied games, planning support tools for decision-making and civic engagement.

Worked on several private and public construction projects and was the manager of the building g maintenance system of the Polytechnic of Leiria. Between 2013 and 2017, he was the councillor's advisor for urban planning and environment for Leiria city (i.e., Master plan, Strategic Urban Development Plan, Climate change adaptation plan, and Idea Contest for Urban Regeneration). 

Developed game-based dynamics for participation and collaboration for UrbanWins (Horizon project). Creator of several serious games, including those that supported the UrbSecurity project (Urbact) to foster collaborative planning dynamics with the local community. Member of the Gym2beKing project team about using modern board games to train soft skills for health students at the Polytechnic of Leiria. Team member for science research projects funded by the Portuguese Science Foundations (FCT): Flavour game and Game-in. Game designer for serious games and gamification for Portuguese national institutions: Administrative Modernization Agency (AMA) and PlanAPP. Serious game designer for the collaborative processes of the Municipal Health Plan for the Municipalities of Leiria and Marinha Grande (Portugal), and the Sustainable Mobility Plan of the Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal). Game-based developer and facilitator of activities for the national summer school by the Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos (FFMS). Some of his projects are available at www.msseriousgames.com

Guest teacher at Lusófona University, Polytechnic of Leiria and IADE – Creative University, teaching game design, analogue games, game prototyping and serious game development and applications. Winner of the Portuguese national prize “Trainer of the Year” in 2019. Member of the ISAGA (international association of serious games), SPCV (Portuguese association of videogame science) and Portuguese Order of Engineers. Certificated trainer (general) and and teachers' certified trainer by the Continuous Assessment Committee (University of Minho).

In 2014, he was one of the founders of the Leiria City local board game community group, having done several collective initiatives regarding game usage in local schools, health, and social institutions. In 2018, he created the “Jogos no Tabuleiro” YouTube channel, one of the most active video platforms about modern board games in Portugal and game design/game-based content. Founder of the Asteriscos Association and the “Boardgamers de Leiria” project coordinator. He is a member of the staff of Leiriacon, managing “Leiria Talks” (the academic event of Leiriacon). 

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Alessandro Colombo is a freelance Lisbon-based senior consultant and urban planner specialized in housing policies and socio-territorial intervention in distressed urban areas. Skilled in participatory and strategic urban planning, Alessandro develops consultancy services in the area of territorial development, having 10 years of experience in technical assistance. Alessandro worked as researcher and consultant in several Portuguese universities in the areas of participatory processes, socio-territorial intervention in disadvantaged communities, housing policies and urban regeneration, local development and new forms of multilevel, integrated and collaborative governance. Alessandro was also a consultant in a private sector company in the areas of spatial planning, local development and urban regeneration and managing editor of an urbanism magazine in Italy, and project manager in a public company in the area of sustainable urban mobility in Lisbon. Between 2019 and 2023, he was a consultant for projects financed by Portuguese national and local funds - with a focus on local housing strategies - and manager of projects financed by European funds (e.g H2020; CEF; UIA) in private consultancy companies in Portugal, in the areas of housing policies, urban regeneration and rehabilitation, urban transformation, territorial development, smart cities, adaptation to climate change, nature-based solutions, energy transition, co-creation and social engagement, cultural heritage, farm to fork, sustainable urban mobility, circular economy. In this framework, he also delivered technical assistance for a project financed by URBACT Find Your Greatness network, supporting a Portuguese municipality in developing its integrated action plan. He has also deep expertise in writing grants applications for national and European funds, especially within Horizon Europe and LIFE programs. 

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Freelance policy expert and researcher specialised in heritage, culture and the creative industries sector. 
She has worked extensively from local and regional to European level in the conception, implementation, reporting and evaluation of diverse policies, programmes and organisations. Cristina has also been lecturing, training and participating as speaker and moderator in various universities, public discussions, academic conferences and workshops across Europe, USA, Africa and Middle East.
She is interested in the strengthening of the role of culture and creativity in governance and development; the promotion of international cooperation and mobility; and the building of capacity, advocacy and entrepreneurship among professionals.

For 27 years, Cristina's work has been focusing on how cities and regions may make strategic use of culture, in varied ways:

-Strategic Planning: mapping, diagnosis and development of cultural and cross-sectorial strategies; 

-Urban Regeneration and Development: creative hubs, creative industries, cultural heritage; cultural routes/tourism;

-Governance: consultation and participatory processes; 

-Evaluation and monitoring: impact assessment, criteria and indicators;

-Localisation of SDGs (sustainable development goals/Agenda 2030)

-Events and Festivals: cultural management and leadership; programming; outreach and audience development

-European cooperation and internationalisation: partnerships; networking; mobility; cultural relations

Experience with European programmes, initiatives and projects: European Capitals of Culture; European Urban Initiative; Horizon Europe; Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe; Cultural Heritage in Action; Archipel.eu (outermost regions and overseas countries and territories); EU4Culture (Eastern Partnership)

As for URBACT, I was Member of External Assessment Panel for the URBACT IV Cooperation Programme Action Planning Networks Call in 2023.

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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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