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The exchange of city practices and knowledge is fundamental to advancing sustainable urban development and inclusion in Europe. Strengthening city-to-city connections through networks is vital to increasing Europe's social and economic resilience and strengthening our cities.

I believe I can provide vital support for these exchange and knowledge-creation processes.  I bring 25 years of professional experience in housing, inclusion, urban governance, just transition and strategic urban planning gained in public and private sectors in over 30 cities in France, Serbia, Spain, the UK and Hungary, in support of 56 countries at the UN and 27 EU member states (EU Commission). I bring extensive experience in urban development practice, including action planning, research policy and foresight, and evaluation and impact assessment at the project, city, regional, national and international levels, as well as demonstrated success in advancing learning and promoting improved policy for EU institutions (eg. EC, EIB), EU programmes (eg. Urban Agenda for the EU, European Urban Initiative, Urban Innovative Actions.). As an executive-level university lecturer in France and the UK I bring practical tools and methods for integrated and participatory approaches and translating ambitions and strategies into action.

Most recently, I have been appointed a team leader of the New European Bauhaus Investment Guidelines expert team operationalising the NEB values for cities. Since 2016, I have been supporting the EU Urban Agenda as an expert for the establishment of the Cities of Equalities Partnership, advising the coordinators of the Partnership on Housing, and leading the assessment of the 14 EU Urban Agenda Partnerships contribution to the implementation of the UN New Urban Agenda and SDGs in Europe. I have also served as the expert for the Urban Innovative Actions and the European Urban Initiative, among other European and international initiatives focused on cities and concrete urban projects.  

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I am a Ph.D. architect and urban planner, with over 25 years of experience in various topics related to Urban Planning and Integrated Sustainable Urban Development. These topics include public housing, residential and industrial regeneration interventions, urban renewal, waste management, energy efficiency, transition and renewable energies, the circular economy, economic viability and sustainability, urban legal frameworks, participation processes and Public-Private Partnerships.

In the last 10 years, I have actively participated in collaborative projects within EU programs such as URBACT II and III, Interreg, Lifelong Learning and FP7 and have also been involved in urban knowledge transfer programs for the World Bank in LATAM. I have coordinated working groups and conducted academic research to contribute to the advancement of urban sustainability and public housing developments.

As a professional and public officer, I have been involved in various urban processes that have resulted in inner-city urban developments including public affordable housing, urban regeneration and planning, building energy retrofitting, nature-based solutions and social inclusion. I have also taken part in the implementation of different urban policies, particularly on public regulations and procurements. I can adapt my experiences and knowledge to any European city framework to address the challenges of urban integrated regeneration.

As a professor and EU project expert, I have the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to audiences with different levels of knowledge and understanding. I have delivered lectures at universities, professional board courses, undergraduate formation and advisory meetings. I have also participated in conferences with administration officers, neighbour associations, citizens´ juries and urban participatory processes. Additionally, I have taught summer and extension courses and participated in international meetings, such as URBACT III Implementation Networks, Focus groups and international workshops.

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I have a beating heart for sustainable tourism and collaboration. I believe that with my working with values of emphaty, mutual respect, trust and encourgement I can support your city in reaching your desired destination. I am dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive local and regional tourism development while advancing the United Nations` Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In my current role, beside the CEO responsibilities in my own firm, I am responsible for knowledge exchange working closely with local stakeholders to design strategies that promote the development of sustainable tourism and various tourism products such as: cultural and urban tourism, sun and beach tourism and health and wellness tourism. I can help you design higher quality in your destination and make your destination smart.
I am Montenegrin, but European at heart, and I truly admire EU values and positive impact it makes in my country. I am proud to be an URBACT Expert.
I was born to be a pioneer: I was first Montenegrin student studyng on a master's in Planning and Management in Tourist Destination at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in Spain, gaining great knowledge and experience I became a pioneer in strategic planning and management in tourism in Montenegro, including UNESCO sites. I started the first consulting firm dedicated to sustainable tourism development in Montenegro. A pioneer in creating workshops about sustainable tourism and cultural tourism. A pioneer as an expert from Montenegro in URBACT IV Pool of Experts ...

Success isn`t created alone. Together we can make history.

Feel free to drop me a line at marija@marixperience.com ! Cheers!

Related activities in URBACT IV: URBACT Local Group Coordinator in Budva Partner city https://urbact.eu/networks/cities-after-dark.

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My name is Branislav Antonić (Бранислав Антонић). I am an urban planner and designer from Serbia, working on the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Architecture. My expertise includes scientific, professional and pedagogic references in the field of urbanism, with a focus on the topics of the development of small cities, towns and communities and the urban dimension of housing. As the coordinator or member of a working team, I have been involved in the creation of 35 urban plans, urban design projects and spatial plans. I am active in international and national research projects and conferences, being the author of more than 100 scientific contributions: monographs, article journals, conference papers, and research studies. Additionally, I have participated in several international and national research projects and networks (UNDP, Erasmus+ KA2, INTERREG, COST Action, CEEPUS, and bilateral projects). I am also awarded several times in international and national competitions in my field. 

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I have accumulated more than 15-year experience in the heritage and planning sector working on preservation and sustainable development in historic cities and cultural landscapes. Throughout these years I have had the opportunity to collaborate with small and medium-sized historic cities in the frame of the Council of Europe regional programs; work with UNESCO, World Bank, and various international bodies, including ICOMOS. I have also gathered substantial experience working with national and local governments in Georgia.  In recent years, I have pursued my PhD at Newcastle University, conducting research on heritage and landscape governance within a transnational project funded by the EU. I am excited to contribute my skills, expertise and experience to URBACT networks and look forward to embarking on a new professional journey as a URBACT ad hoc expert.