Having 32 years of experience, I was selected as an Urbact III Lead Expert (May 2015) and Urbact IV (April 2023).

After working as supporting expert with some municipalities in the URBACT calls up to 2018, I was finally selected by the City of Rome as Lead Expert to support twice in the 2 Waves Transfer Networks called RU:RBAN, since the 1st Wave was considered as very successful and JS gave the network a 2nd fund to work on a 2nd Transfer Wave of 4 more cities. 

I followed the Urbact Method guiding the 11 participating cities and their ULGs to transfer the policy topic of the project since April 2018. https://urbact.eu/networks/rurban.  I was also the core Technical Advisor for the city of Trikala in the VILAWATT UTM project: Innovative local public-private-citizen partnership for energy governance, among the only 5 projects approved for this special call that succesfully compined UIA and URBACT programs https://urbact.eu/networks/vilawatt.  

In addition to my strong involvement in URBACT III i took part in many other activitiies for the URBACT III JS, with direct contracts like:

1. Transfer Network Campus moderation, being evaluated as the best moderators in all countries Campuses 

2. URBACT City Festivals (Lisbon and Paris),

3. Moderating capacity building online workshops for cities representatives        and also 

4. The official evaluation of the EU National URBACT Points for their performance during URBACT III period (in high program level).

5. The adaptation of the new URBACT IV TOOLBOX AND TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE TRANSFER, along with 6 other very experienced Lead Experts.

I am a business expert in sustainable integrated urban development (from 1992). Mine specialties are in urban & regional development, integrated and participatory policies, EU Structural Funds programs support, Multilevel governance, Integrated approach for urban regeneration and Regional RIS3. The last 2 years i worked as project manager and fascilitator in 2 massive exchange programs by EU, having prepared the proposals and the exchange framework: 

A. The International City Partnerships: Acting for Green and Inclusive Recovery is a project of the European Union and managed by DG REGIO of the EU -      City pairings with Gwangu & Athens Metropolitan Areas  https://c.ramboll.com/international-city-cooperation     Themes of Cooperation: Air Quality & Climate change  

B. International Urban Cooperation programme (IUC) (2016-2020), IURC aims to lead and develop a form of decentralised international urban and regional cooperation in the fields of sustainable urban development and innovation. Region pairings with Attica, Greece & Colima,Mexico.  https://www.iurc.eu/about/

Regarding URBACT IV i will mostly focus on supporting cities looking to grow knowledge-based digital and tech ecosystems, to involve young people on enterpreneual policy issues (just - digital and green transition), and to focus on climate change and green solutions .

Having an extended network of cities and regional level organisations, i always inform and support them in any interesting new challenges of urban and periurban cooperations.

more can be found:  https://kkc.gr/

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Despina Dimelli is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the School of Architecture of the Technical University of Crete. She is experienced in research and education in urban and regional projects. She has participated in national and international research programmes in the fields of urban and regional planning. She is also experienced in large audiences and worked with stakeholders due to her participation in local, national and international committees for urban and regional planning. She has  been a president or a member of national councils (as the Greek Metropolitan Council or the Greek National Regional Committee) and local committees (in several municipalities of Crete). As the Director of the Urban and Regional Planning Laboratory during her  Research projects she is experienced in  coordinating people from different scientific fields and stakeholders.

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The EU recognizes the importance of local economies in achieving sustainable development and economic growth. The local economy represents the backbone of regional and national economies, providing citizens with jobs, income, and opportunities. The EU's cohesion policy and regional development strategies aim to support local economies and help them realize their full potential by investing in infrastructure, innovation, and human capital. Through various funding programs such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF), the EU aims to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, reduce regional disparities, and enhance the competitiveness of local economies. Additionally, the EU has launched initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Single Market to help local economies transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, and digital future, creating new opportunities for businesses and citizens alike. By supporting local economies, the EU aims to create more resilient, prosperous, and inclusive societies, contributing to a better quality of life for all citizens.

As an economist with expertise in the local economy and sustainable tourism, I am dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive regional development while advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a solid academic background in Regional and Sustainable Development and a Ph.D. in Maritime Spatial Planning underway, I have gained extensive experience in EU project management and implementation.

My journey began as a volunteer researcher in the Greek NCP of the EU Program ESPON 2007-2013, where I discovered my passion for EU Regional policy. Over the years, I have worked towards achieving several SDGs, including promoting sustainable communities, reducing inequalities, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

In my current role, I am responsible for pilot actions, knowledge exchange, and transfer in the South Aegean Region island municipalities, focusing on sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In addition, I work closely with local stakeholders to design and implement strategies that promote the development of sustainable and resilient economies that benefit all community members.

As an expert in regional development and EU values, I am committed to advancing the EU's territorial cohesion and sustainable development values while contributing to the SDGs. I aspire to further develop my skills by learning URBACT tools, sharing knowledge with the URBACT network, and applying it to specific cases. My expertise lies in local economic development, EU policy, project management, and knowledge transfer. I am dedicated to creating sustainable and inclusive local economic development strategies that contribute to achieving the SDGs and enhancing social well-being while promoting the EU's territorial cohesion and sustainable development values.

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Expert in Transport and Urban Mobility ,  Electromobility (E-mobility) and Smart Transport Systems for decarbonization 

I provide scientific expertise to EIT Mobility , the European Parliament’s Committee for Transport and to the European Commission’s DG Regional and Urban Policy (Smart and Sustainable Growth, Southern Europe), developing tools and projects for knowledge management, and ability to present, share and capture knowledge, track-record of writing policy reports, case studies, publications and presentation and communication of my scientific thematic content to a wider audience including editorial and digital abilities.

Scientific expert of "The United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) UN initiative"  coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat, and supported by CBD, ECLAC, FAO, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNEP, UNEP-FI, UNFCCC, UNIDO, UNOP, UNU-EGOV, UN-Women and WMO to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11: "Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

I have experience in management of European cooperation and territorial projects (Europe Aid , EIB , Interreg  ADRION , INTERREG IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes , Horizon 2020  , ENI CBC Med Programme) and understanding of EU institutions and funding instruments.

I have studied Mechanical Engineering in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki  and I hold two postgraduate Master degrees. A Master in Business Administration (MBA) and MSc in Environmental Engineering. I'm always open for a conversation about ideas and happy to share my insights and knowledge.

 

 

 

Globalization combined with high urbanization trends affects the traditional pillars of sustainability (environment, society, and economy), but also the local identity of cities (reflecting the spatial dimension), or of groups of cities with common characteristics that form a macro-region. Holistic assessment of all pillars based on an integrated approach for sustainable development and policy planning based monitoring of goals, is key to our cities. Towards this direction, capacity and competence building, awareness raising and transnational exchange is fundamental.

I am involved in the URBACT Programme since 2019. My involvement lays on the following:

1. Lead expert of the URGE: Circular building cities Action Planning Network of 9 cities, led by Utrecht (September 2019 - August 2022)

2. Ad hoc expert of the Global Goals for Cities Network of 19 cities, led by Tallinn (2022)

3. Trainer of the Greek-Cypriot Transfer Networks in the frame of the Train the Trainers event in Piraeus (June 2019)

Success of projects lays on early identification of potential risks and building of good relations between partners. My managerial skills, starting from the certification I have received as a Project Manager (PMBOK) together with my inherit communication skills and experience are key components to secure sound project implementation, while enjoying the journey. Overall, through my 20 years professional career I have been responsible for drafting, facilitating, leading, implementing and transferring the results of more than 40 transnational EU projects, most of them dealing with the topic of sustainable development and monitoring of goals. Apart from my thematic expertise gained through my participation in projects and particularly through my active involvement in URBACT III, I have developed considerable experience in designing and delivering transnational exchange and learning activities and in designing and delivering integrated urban policies. I have published and announced in Conferences and European events project scientific and project results related to urban sustainability, Mediterranean identity, circularity, SDGs, Agenda 2030, circular economy with focus on the construction sector and biomass, design of innovative business models, climate adaptation and mitigation through Nature Based Solutions, energy efficiency, policy making.

Currently, I am activated as project manager and ad hoc expert providing technical assistance to small and medium municipalities that are receiving support from DG Regio to better root their projects to the New European Bauhaus principles: togetherness, sustainability and aesthetics. I am also involved in the URBANOME Horizon project as post-doc researcher, part of the team of the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. URBANOME  is a 4-year H2020 project focusing on research areas related to the climate and the environment and their interactions with health and wellbeing in urban settings aiming at building a common EU framework for evaluating comprehensively multi-sector policies in urban settings supporting the “Health in all Policies” approach of WHO. Moreover I am involved in two transnational cross-border projects, providing support to the Association of ICT enterprises of Northern Greece to promote and build capacities of SMEs on 4th Industrial Revolution tools (Enabling SMEs for the 4th Industrial Revolution) and to organize and implement Hackathons on Fin-Tech and boost the concept of digital nomads through design of platforms and infrastructure (Inno-Ecosystem). I am also a member of the Green Assist Rooster of experts.

Success of projects lays on early identification of potential risks and building of good relations between partners. My managerial skills, starting from the certification I have received as a Project Manager (PMBOK) together with my inherit communication skills and the experience has offered the capacity to deal and resolve problems, deriving for example from withdrawal of partners or from lack of interest or confidence

I have studied Chemical Engineering in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1994-1999) and I hold two Master degrees and a PhD in the field of sustainable development and strategic design using indicators and goals.

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