Afroditi Mathioudaki is a Senior Advisor at CDP. Through advocacy and engagement with local and regional governments, and European and international institutions and organizations, she is supporting cities and regions in creating smart, sustainable and resilient urban ecosystems.

Aitziber Egusquiza is a Senior Researcher at TECNALIA, architect and urbanist, with extensive experience in coordinating international research projects and multidisciplinary teams. She is the coordinator of RescueME (Horizon Europe) and SHELTER (H2020), leading work on resilience in complex socio-ecological systems.

Her research focuses on community-based and data-driven approaches, developing methodologies and tools to advance just resilience and sustainability, particularly in contexts with high cultural and natural heritage value. Her work also addresses implementation models, including governance, business, and financing, with a focus on participatory, digital, and nature-based strategies. She led the project that established the sustainability standard for the Galapagos Islands.

Alfons Domínguez Gento is the Mayor-President of Alzira, in the Valencia Region, Spain. He is an environmental scientist and agricultural technical engineer, with a long professional background in ecological agriculture, agroecology, biodiversity and climate transition. Before becoming Mayor, he worked for the Generalitat Valenciana in the field of organic production and innovation, where he coordinated the First Valencian Plan for Organic Production and contributed to the development of the Second Valencian Plan for Agroecological Transition. His career combines public administration, applied research, training and environmental policy, with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation and local environmental governance. As Mayor of Alzira, he promotes local policies focused on climate resilience, ecological transition and effective public communication.

Aline Machado Da Matta is a Senior Program Management Officer and the Head of UN-habitat's Liaison office in Geneva, Head of UNITAC and Head of Data and Innovation Section. 

She has extensive experience in sustainable development, urban innovation, and regional transformation, with a solid track record in international and governmental organizations. Throughout her career, she has led high level projects that have supported cities and regions in implementing smart city initiatives focused on inclusive growth. 

Her work stands out for adopting a territorial approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening the role of regional strategies in advancing the global urban agenda.

Daniela is an Environmental Engineer and climate action expert with 15+ years of experience across energy, ICT, and urban sustainability. With master’s degrees in Sustainable Energy and City Sciences, she bridges digital innovation and real-world sustainability impact.

She is Head of Green Digital Transformation at ICLEI Europe, supporting cities in aligning digital, green, and climate agendas. She leads smart city initiatives, promotes data- and AI-driven solutions, and advises key EU programmes such as the EU Smart Cities Marketplace and the Urban Development Technical Facility.

Previously, she worked for the ITU and spent nearly a decade at Telefónica, where she established its Climate Change Office across 26 countries.

She has also advised Ecuador’s Ministry of Energy and Mines and OLADE. Daniela is a tutor at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (Climate Adaptation Finance programme) and contributes to global efforts advancing low-carbon, smart and resilient cities.

Ana is a climate finance innovation specialist at Climate KIC, focusing on driving innovation that facilitates access to capital for the adaptation and CDR markets. She is leading the Adaptation Finance Innovation Lab, the first dedicated facility in Europe to developing innovative adaptation finance instruments and business models and an initiative launched as part of the Pathways2Resilience programme. She is also co-developing a debt facility dedicated to reducing the cost of debt for high-permanence nature-based carbon removal solutions, in partnership with the EIF and HSBC. She is also currently exploring innovations at the intersection of participatory finance and Web3.

Andreea Szanto is a Climate Resilience Expert at the European Environment Agency (EEA), where she supports the European Climate and Health Observatory—a partnership dedicated to protecting Europe from the health impacts of climate change. Andreea coordinates knowledge production, stakeholder engagement, and data management to translate complex climate risks into actionable insights for decision-makers. With a background in urban planning, she brings extensive experience in international water and climate resilience masterplanning, with a specialized focus on nature-based solutions, blue-green infrastructure, and climate vulnerability assessments.

She has been working for the City of Aveiro for the past twenty years. As an architect, she has contributed at different scales, ranging from public buildings and public spaces to urban planning projects. Since 2014, she has been part of the Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Division, where she supports urban development strategies and assists in the management of funded projects and programmes. She was a member of the team responsible for developing the Strategic Plan for Urban Development of the City of Aveiro, which will guide the city’s main urban rehabilitation interventions in the coming years. Among her different roles, participation in European projects stands out as an important opportunity to learn from other realities and promote knowledge exchange at a European level. At present, she is involved in the NBSINFRA project, contributing to the development and implementation of nature-based solutions and resilient urban strategies.

Angèle works for Climate KIC, Europe's leading climate innovation agency and community, where she coordinates projects on NbS and regional climate resilience. With a double background in biology and public policy, she previously worked across international organisations, city networks and the private sector on international projects and policies, with a focus on sustainable food systems. Angèle is passionate about the power of subnational governments in accelerating climate action.

Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA since 1999, has extensive experience in promoting local democracy, civil society empowerment and participation, as well as good governance across Europe, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean region. She is a senior European consultant in local development, specialised in the implementation of participatory processes for urban regeneration. She manages a network of more than 300 members, mainly composed of local authorities and civil society organisations, across more than 45 countries in Europe and beyond.

Armando currently works as a Team Leader at INOVA+, where he supports organisations such as public authorities and research organizations in the development of project proposals to European funding programs on a wide range of topics, including climate change adaptation, resilience, and territorial cooperation. His work also encompasses funding opportunities monitoring, project management, implementation and the development of interregional knowledge transfer activities amongst territories across Europe.

Armando holds a degree and a master's in Environmental Sciences and Technologies from the University of Porto, with a specialisation in Ecology and Natural Resource Management, and a post-graduation in Environmental Economics and Management Studies. He is currently a PhD candidate in Public Policy, focusing on environmental public policies and decision-making processes.

Prof. Athanasia Alonistioti is faculty in the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her Research Activity focuses on: Next-Generation Networks (5G/6G), AI, IoT,  Digital Twins. She has over 250 publications in scientific journals and conferences, and 50 lectures as an invited speaker. More than 3500 citations. She is co-author in four Global patents and one European patent. She has been Scientific Supervisor/Coordinator in more than 45 European and National Projects and 15 projects with industry. Chair of the One6G Association (one6G.org). Honorary distinction in the category "Forest Digitization" at the SMART FOREST INNOVATION CHALLENGE by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Honorary distinction: Listed among the 100 most influential women in 6G research globally for 2024. Member of the Working Group of the Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT) for Sustainable and Smart Cities.

Member of ETSI AFI Group.

Mr. Ali Cem Deniz graduated from the Department of Environmental Engineering at Middle East Technical University and received his MSc. in Climate Change, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex. He has worked in climate change projects as a Climate Change Expert, GIS Expert and Project Manager. Between 2020 and 2023, he worked at UNDP Türkiye under the “Enhancing Adaptation Action in Türkiye Project (CCA)”. During 2020-2022, he also worked as a Project Manager at Aqwadem Consulting, contributing to feasibility studies under the FRIT Programme and infrastructure and solid waste projects under the IPA II Programme. He worked as an Environmental Engineer at the Directorate of Climate Change between 2023 and 2025, focusing on climate projections and risk assessments. Since July 2025, he has been working as a Project Manager in the EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye Project (LCA) at UNDP Türkiye.

Dr. Athanasios Sfetsos, received a B.Sc. in Physics from University of Patras in 1995 and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, University of London (1999). He is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences, Technology Energy and Safety at NCSR Demokritos and research collaborator with the Centre for Security Studies. His research interests are related to the impacts of climate change and Critical Infrastructure protection. He has co-authored more than 300 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings. He has participated in more than 40 EU and nationally funded projects and currently is the coordinator of Med-IREN project.

Bernd Decker, Head of Sector, LIFE Climate Action, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), is affiliated with the LIFE Programme for more than 10 years, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation, both in urban and rural areas. In the past, he worked on environmental health with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, on urban environmental planning and management with UN-HABITAT, and on sustainable transport and mobility with local authorities and the European Commission.

Bettina Tratz-Ryan is Vice President, Research, responsible for intelligent urban ecosystem research, including digitalization strategies of smart city and industry stakeholders. She focuses on digital disruption technologies that influence the sovereignty exposure,  sustainability and digital equity of industry, community and society. In her AI research, Bettina advises organizations and governments on transitioning internal data practices and strategies to drive sustainable productivity, service delivery, energy resilience. She has won multiple industry awards and was named in 2021 by German Handelsblatt TOP 50 Women in Tech Influencers. As of January 2025, she is volunteering as an EU Climate Pact Ambassador.

Boryana Stancheva, PhD, is Policy, Projects & Communications Lead and Senior Researcher at the Association of Danube River Municipalities “Danube”, the first regional association of local authorities in Bulgaria, representing 36 municipalities along the Bulgarian Danube region. With more than 10 years of experience in public policy, communications, and regional development, she leads the organization’s project portfolio, stakeholder engagement, and transnational cooperation initiatives.

Her work focuses on collaborative approaches to resilience, sustainability, and regional development, with a particular interest in strengthening local capacities and cross-sector partnerships. Boryana combines academic expertise in Political Science and European Studies with extensive experience managing European projects that support innovation and long-term regional impact.

Carlos Silveira has a Master's in Economics and works in the Promotion, Innovation and Regional Competitiveness Division of the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of Central Portugal (CCDR Centro). Since 2017, he has been involved in a number of European interregional cooperation projects. In the context of RESIST, he integrates the team of CCDR Centro that assures the coordination of the Large Scale Demonstrator 4, which is focused on the promotion of wildfire resilience to through community engagement, innovative forest management practices, and technology.

As an architect specialized in Urban Planning and Design, with a PhD focusing on "Effective local adaptation of sustainable city solutions to different contexts around the world", I have 25 years of experience in national and international R&D projects where I have collaborated with partners from all over the world. My current research focuses on nature-based solutions (NBS), systemic decision support tools for sustainable cities and communities, and climate-resilient communities. Through my involvement in EU projects, I have often collaborated with cities and regions, contributing to relevant demonstration and pilot cases that bring theoretical concepts to life. Having also completed Executive MBA studies, I am deeply interested in linking business and innovation for sustainable development.

Experienced professional with a 20 years demonstrated history of working in the water management field. 

Skilled in water resource management, environmental awareness, teamwork and project management. Pragmatic yet passionate about his field of work.

Charles is an applied economist with over 9 years of professional experience in economic research and analysis, commercial modelling, climate finance, and infrastructure development. He joined Ricardo’s London office in early 2025 as an Associate Director (Economics) in Ricardo’s Policy, Strategy, and Economics practice. At Ricardo, Charles also leads climate finance for the Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation (MIP4Adapt) for the European Commission. Prior to Ricardo, Charles led economic, regulatory, and infrastructure engagements at a leading boutique advisory and investment firm. 

Charles brings specialty academic and industry expertise in private sector financing for climate adaptation projects, renewables and carbon project development, and net zero policy. He is often called upon to advise boards and management teams on strategy and investment decisions across the energy, agricultural, and technology sectors.

Cathi is an enthusiastic geographer who specialises in coastal geomorphology. She has many years of experience working in coastal management, coastal vulnerability and climate change risk assessment. While living in Australia, she taught coastal geomorphology and management at various Australian universities, as well as working for the Victorian state government's Central Coastal Board on different projects and in the coastal protection team. Previously, she was employed by the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Administration to manage the Interreg project PROWAD LINK, after which she moved to the National Park Authority of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park to work on the Horizon Europe project RescueME. She is currently also involved in the trilateral Strategic Environmental Assessment for the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage Site.

Chiara Farinea is an Italian architect and urban planner. She holds a PhD in Urban Planning from IUAV (Venice), a Master in Advanced Architecture from IAAC (Barcelona), and an architecture degree from Politecnico di Milano. She also studied at ETSAB (Barcelona) through the Erasmus Programme and has been a member of the Association of Architects of Genova for over ten years.

Chiara’s research focuses on environmental planning and design. She is currently Head of European Projects at IAAC’s Advanced Architecture Group, coordinating several EU-funded projects related to education, research, and sustainable development. She also serves as faculty in IAAC’s educational programs.

Previously, she was a professor of Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture of Genoa.

Dr Christian Zammit is a Maltese law graduate, public administrator and former Mayor of Xagħra, a town of around five thousand inhabitants on the Maltese island of Gozo. Active in politics and local governance for many years, he was first elected as a Xagħra Local Councillor in 2007 and later served as Mayor from 2019 until 2023.

During his tenure as Mayor, Dr Zammit became known for his advocacy on environmental protection, sustainable development and the preservation of Gozo’s cultural heritage. He frequently spoke out on issues related to overdevelopment and infrastructure pressures affecting the island.

Professionally, Dr Zammit has also held the role of Senior Manager for EU and International Affairs at the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) since 2022, where he has contributed to regional policy development, European affairs and international cooperation initiatives concerning Gozo’s socio-economic development.

Dr. Cristina Monteiro is currently working as a Project Manager at the Municipal Division of Environmental Management for the Porto Municipality, specifically the EU Horizon-funded NBRACER project.Prior to her tenure in public administration, Dr. Monteiro accumulated 12 years of post-doctoral research at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, focusing on green infrastructures for sustainable water management, publishing widely on green roof dynamics and urban hydric efficiency. An expert in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and urban resilience, she contributes to the wide dissemination and implementation of transformative green solutions designed to accelerate environmental resilience and for a regional climate-adapted urban future. She leverages her deep academic expertise to help environmental public policies for the city of Porto.

Originally from Ukraine and based in Spain for the past decade, he is a fifth-year student of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Valencia. He has completed an internship and currently collaborates with the news outlet elDiario.es, having published numerous articles across diverse topics such as the environment, politics, culture, history, health, and transport.

His journalistic work stands out for its focus on data journalism, including notable reports analyzing the declared assets of Valencian politicians. He has recently been admitted to the Complutense University of Madrid to pursue a Master's degree in Social Sciences Research Methodology: Innovations and Applications. His primary areas of interest and analysis include international relations and geopolitics.

Daria Kaliuzhna is a project manager of the urban innovation division at the Municipal Enterprise “Institute for Urban Development” (ME IUD) of the Vinnytsia City Council (Ukraine).

On a local level, she coordinates city and international multistakeholder projects, including Vinnytsia's action in the FairFuture, that contribute to the community’s resilience and adaptation to climate change. Daria operates within the city framework documents – Vinnytsia Green Deal and Vinnytsia Small Rivers Development Concept 2035, meaningfully contributing to their implementation through development, identification and piloting of innovative tools, approaches and solutions.

On a personal level, Daria is highly attentive to nuance and treats every new experience as a learning curve. She actively seeks out cutting-edge methodologies, e.g. nature-based solutions, and participatory engagement tools, resulting from her commitment to pursuing new knowledge and expanding her professional understanding.

Diana is the City Finance Specialist for Portugal, representing the NZC Capital Hub with support to the cities of Guimarães, Porto and Lisbon in structuring and mobilising private capital for the cities' Climate Investment Plan. She has over 15 years experience in project finance and structured finance, at a commercial bank in Angola and 7 years experience in impact finance and sustainability consulting.

Diana holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town and an Economics degree from Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Environmental Engineer (NOVA FCT) with a Master’s in Human Ecology and Contemporary Social Issues (NOVA FCSH), she has developed her career at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and public policy. She has collaborated with organisations such as YDreams, FCT-UNL’s Environmental Systems Analysis Group, the Portuguese Geographic Institute, international partners in the Netherlands, and the environmental NGO GEOTA.

At Lisboa E-Nova, the Energy and Environment Agency of Lisbon, she managed and coordinated projects in Sustainable Development Education, Biodiversity, Circular Economy, and EU-funded programmes, including Interreg Sudoe Projects - CEMOWAS2 and H2020 - HUB-IN as WP leader.

Since 2025, she has been working as Project Manager at Almada Municipality, contributing to the CCOLIFEALMADA project, focused on adaptation to climate change in urban environments.

Eduardo Fernandes is a Portuguese professional with experience in banking, real estate, housing development, and strategic project management. Throughout his career, he has worked on investment analysis, financing solutions, and business development initiatives, supporting both private and institutional stakeholders in projects related to urban regeneration, housing accessibility, and regional development. His professional background combines expertise in financial services with a strong commitment to sustainable housing policies and socially driven urban transformation. Eduardo is particularly interested in fostering collaborative and innovative approaches to affordable housing, territorial cohesion, and inclusive urban growth, bringing together public, private, and community stakeholders to create long-term impact.

Ela supports cities across Poland in strengthening climate resilience and advancing towards more sustainable urban future through an advisory programme designed for local governments. With a background as an architect–urban designer and experience spanning both the private sector and municipal structures, she brings a spatial and implementation-oriented perspective to climate adaptation. This enables her to effectively bridge the gap between strategy and design, supporting cities in translating resilience goals into concrete interventions that address local urban challenges.

Her previous work spans multiple scales, from neighbourhood transformation and public space design to local planning frameworks, participatory processes, and mixed-use developments, with a focus on human-scale design and environmental challenges.

Rivera has a degree in Environmental Sciences and a Master's degree in Energy Law, and belongs to the High Level Civil Administrators of the State. 

She worked for the European Commission as a leading national expert at the European Environment Agency and as an advisor in the Cabinet of the Minister for the Ecological Transition. She has also been a member of the Management Board of the EEA and coordinator of the User Forum of Copernicus. Prior to joining the General State Administration, she worked at the Council of Europe.

Dr. Emmy Papazoglou is the Head of the Division of Strategic Planning, Resilience, Innovation, and Documentation for the City of Athens. She works as charge for the green transition of the City and has led several European-funded projects.

She is responsible for developing and implementing actions related to innovation, resilience, and sustainability. She was also a key team member in preparing the Climate Action Plan for the City of Athens. Her background is in International Relations Affairs, holds a PhD in Local Development, University of Panteion. She worked for four years in the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), managing EU Programs and taking part in training on issues for civil protection and management of natural and urban disasters. She lectured the course "Local Regional Development" of the Department of Local and Regional Development of Panteion University.

Ema Gonçalves is a Project Manager in the Climate Innovation Department at Cascais Ambiente, where she leads municipal initiatives and European-funded projects.

Postdoctoral Researcher and Advisor on Local and Regional Climate Emergency Policies at BC3 – Basque Centre for Climate Change. She holds a degree in Law, specialized in Urban Planning and Policy Design, and has more than 25 years of experience advising local and regional governments on urban regeneration, climate governance, and climate emergency policies. Her work focuses on supporting and coordinating regional, national, and European projects that promote urban climate action through integrated approaches linking resilience, public health, social equity, and sustainable urban development. She has extensive expertise in local and regional climate governance, climate resilience, participatory urban regeneration processes, and the integration of health, equity, and climate justice into public policies and urban strategies.

Federico Aili is an urban planner and currently serves as Manager for Programs and Grants at the Resilient Cities Network. He holds a degree in Geography and a master’s degree in urban planning from the Politecnico di Milano, as well as a master’s degree in urban management and development from Erasmus University of Rotterdam, where he specialized in urban environment, sustainability, and climate change. In 2018, Federico started his career at the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) and later joined the ISOCARP Institute, working mainly on EU-funded projects focused on nature-based solutions. Since 2021, he has been part of the Resilient Cities Network, where he works on a range of climate resilience and adaptation projects in Europe. Federico is passionate about advancing sustainable urban development and supporting cities in becoming more resilient and inclusive.

Francesca Poggi is an architect and Principal Investigator at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, where she is also an Invited Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography and Regional Planning (NOVA FCSH). Her work focuses on urban resilience, climate adaptation, spatial planning, and regenerative urbanism. Her current research addresses climate change in cities and rural areas through three ongoing Horizon Europe projects, MOSAIC and SMARTER, the GREENEXUS Marie Curie, and the COST Action GO2CHANGE. Her research emphasises systemic planning, sustainable land use, nature-based solutions, digital tools and participatory approaches to support decision-making. She is the author of more than 50 scientific publications, including books, book chapters, and indexed journal articles dedicated to these topics.

Currently General, Research and Innovation Coordinator at the Landscape Laboratory and Guest Lecturer at the University of Minho. Environmental and molecular biologist with a PhD in Molecular and Environmental Biology from the University of Minho and a Fulbright alumnus at the University of Washington. Combines strong expertise in applied research and innovative, science-based solutions for territorial management and urban sustainability. Works at the interface between science and policy, supporting European missions on climate neutrality, adaptation, and ecosystem restoration. Active contributor to international networks, including leadership roles in Eurocities working groups on biodiversity, climate resilience, and circular economy. Author of multiple peer-reviewed publications and experienced in science communication, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Currently at the head of the Dutch city region and ICLEI member Groene Metropoolregio Arnhem-Nijmegen, Harriët Tiemens puts her extensive experience in the fields of climate adaptation, circularity and biodiversity to use, to develop the region as a prime national and international example in sustainable and green urban development.  

In the past years Harriët Tiemens has built an excellent European track record. For example, by heading the campaign for the City of Nijmegen to become European Green Capital 2018 but also by being a recognized contributor to European and international conferences like COP, EURESFO, POLIS, Velo-city, the Austrian World Summit, GlobeEU, Ecoprocura and meetings with the European Parliament and European Commission, both through her current position with the ICLEI RexCom and other national and international networks. 

Tiemens studied Environmental Science at Saxion University of Applied Sciences and Public Administration at Leiden University. She was Deputy Mayor for the City of Nijmegen from 2014 to 2021. During that time, she chaired the physical pillar of the G40 network of Dutch cities and was chair of the VNG (Association of Dutch Municipalities) committee for housing, mobility and spatial development. 

Heidi Tuhkanen is a Senior Expert at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Tallinn, working on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, urban and regional resilience, and just sustainability transitions. Her work focuses on how cities and regions can strengthen governance, planning and stakeholder engagement to support more inclusive and effective climate action. Heidi has contributed to several European and international projects on adaptation, resilience and nature-based solutions, including work on local engagement methods, vulnerability, policy analysis and multi-level governance. 

In partnership with the European Environment Agency, Holger founded the European Urban Resilience Forum for mainstreaming resilience in the urban Europe. As a Spatial Planner with more +35 years experience, he is specialised in integrated sustainability management and planning. Holger joined ICLEI in 1997 and was Deputy Regional Director for Europe for over a decade. As Senior Advisor Policy & Advocacy, he continues to support ICLEIs strategies to innovative, systemic solutions for sustainable cities and communities, their climate-resilient, carbon-neutral and nature-positive transformation and their engagement with European policies. Holger represents ICLEI in Europe (incl. the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities, EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change) and internationally (incl. UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNDRR Making Cities Resilient 2030). Since 2020, Holger chairs the European CEN Technical Committee TC 465 ’Sustainable Cities and Communities‘.

Formed in journalism in CENJOR - Centro Protocolar de Formação em Jornalismo, he started his career in the regional newspaper Barlavento, in the Algarve, after an internship at Jornal Público, in Lisbon. In 2011 he co-founded, along with his fellow journalists Elisabete Rodrigues and Nuno Costa, the online newspaper Sul Informação, where he still works as Editor in Chief.

Igor Cvetkovski is international expert on reparations, transitional justice and housing, land and property restitution and Head of the IOM’s Land, Property, Reparations and TJ Unit at the IOM Headquarters in Geneva. Most recently he served as Senior Advisor on Reparations and Transitional Justice and Reparations with the office of the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine. Before that Igor provided consultancy services, expert advice and technical support to various organizations. Until July 2020, Igor was the Head of the Land, Property and Reparations Unit in the IOM Headquarters in Geneva. 

Igor studied philosophy and has more than 20 years of experience in the humanitarian, peace, human rights, transitional justice and development sectors, particularly on issues related to reparations for human rights violations and land and property restitution.

Jack Saadeh has served as Mayor of Ramallah since May 5, 2026, leading the municipality through a new term extending to 2030. A distinguished businessman and community leader, he brings extensive experience in leadership, administration, and institutional development.

Prior to assuming office, Mr. Saadeh served as President of the Ramallah Federation, where he played a key role in strengthening ties between the Ramallah diaspora, particularly in the United States, and their hometown in Palestine. He also fostered collaboration between expatriate communities and local institutions, supporting initiatives that contributed to the city’s development.

As Mayor, Mr. Saadeh is committed to advancing sustainable urban development, improving municipal services, strengthening good governance, and enhancing citizen engagement. His vision is to further position Ramallah as a leading Palestinian city recognized for innovation, resilience, and high-quality public services.

Jen Heemann explores how group dynamics and relationships shape creativity, collaboration, and learning for climate resilience. Leading EU-funded projects and engagement activities, she designs and facilitates inclusive discussions that foster diverse perspectives and open, honest exchange. Her work focuses on innovative conversational approaches that enable transformative learning and effective collaboration.

Jen is the Project Coordinator of REGILIENCE+ Adaptation Solutions for Regional Climate Resilience, a flagship initiative of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. She also leads peer learning and collaboration efforts in the AdaptationHubs and FairFuture projects. Jen holds an MSc in Urban Management and Development from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

As Senior Programme Manager at Samsø Kommune, Jeppe Hermann leads transformative initiatives in Climate Adaptation, Green Transition, and Circular Economy. He collaborates with cross-sectoral stakeholders, managing a portfolio of high-impact projects funded by national and EU programs like Innovation Fund Denmark, HORIZON, LIFE, and INTERREG. His work focuses on sustainability, promoting systemic change through strategic management and innovative partnerships. Key initiatives, such as Samsø’s Climate Action Plan 2030-2040-2050, empower communities and organizations to adopt sustainable practices, enhancing environmental and economic resilience. Jeppe is a purpose-driven social innovation facilitator, adept at uniting people, knowledge, and resources to drive meaningful change across private, public, and non-profit sectors. Committed to lifelong learning, he continually enhances his skills to inspire and motivate organizations.

Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Planning and a postgraduate qualification in Urban Engineering.

Project Manager for Structural Funds with 20 years’ experience – QCA III, QREN, PT 2020, PT 2030 and PRR.

Head of a multidisciplinary team in the field of Planning & Enhacement of the Territory. Extensive experience in project management in the fields of Tourism, Culture, the Environment and Civil Protection.

João Dinis has been developing climate change action and sustainable development strategies through innovative approaches on spatial planning, technology and governance models for the last 15 years. By managing local strategies for climate change, partnerships and stakeholders are brought in a multi-specialist and multi-institutional approach to develop a roadmap towards a resilient future. This resulted in a frontrunning experience which led to the implementation of over 40 climate actions in the last 5 years for the city of Cascais, the development of monitoring and digital tools which help both citizens and risk related stakeholders, nature-based solutions which significantly contributed to the quality of life of citizens and also for smooth mobility solutions, governance models with established processes and a comprehensive set of communication tools aiming towards environmental awareness for all socio-demographic target audiences.

Architect, holds a Master's degree in Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture from the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, since 2001.

From 2006 to 2018 he held leadership positions in the area of Spatial Planning, Environment and Mobility at the municipal level. He developed his activity in the area of Territorial Planning, Environment and Mobility.

He has coordinated several projects within the scope of European and national programs, in the areas of Mobility, Spatial Planning and Climate Change.

Since 2021 he is Head of the Division of Spatial Planning, Environment and Urbanism, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. He develop her work in the areas of Regional Development, Climate Action, Housing, Smart Territories, Food, Waste, Urban Infrastructure. Integrates two Thematic Partnerships on multilevel governance of the European urban agenda.

Bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Évora.

Has worked and provided services in the field of Water Resources and Geographic Information Systems. Senior Technician at CIMAC since August 2011 in the Environment and Development Unit (development of projects in the area of sanitation and water supply systems; supporting municipalities in developing GIS applications; maintenance of CIMAC’s Spatial Data Infrastructure; preparation of the Intermunicipal and Municipal Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change in Alentejo Central; management of intermunicipal applications and projects in the areas of the environment, climate action, civil protection). Head of the multidisciplinary team at the Environment and Development Unit since July 2023.

Member of the governing bodies of the Southern Regional Branch of the Portuguese Water Resources Association for the 2016–2018 term.

Johannes Klein works as Senior Researcher at the globally operating, non-profit and independent think tank Demos Helsinki. He works on climate change adaptation with a focus on the governance of adaptation in an urban and regional context. 

With his work he contributes to just, transformative, and inclusive adaptation action. 

Being trained as an environmental engineer and with a PhD in Land Use Planning and Urban Studies, he feels at home in academic research, interdisciplinary work, and hands-on activities.

He is currently actively involved in the EU Adaptation Mission projects Regions4Climate and FairFuture.

Jonas Lundgreen Dall is executive consultant to the Board of Directors of Vejle Municipality. He has background in political science with a specialty in public leadership, focusing on visionary leadership, strategy execution and organizational development. One of Jonas’ main tasks is to support the politicians and senior executives at Vejle Municipality in driving the long term focus on our vision, values and resilience by facilitating discussions on strategy, organizational development, and leadership. Back in 2022, Jonas was part of the team that designed the process leading to the current vision of the City Council, including the integration of our resilience strategy.

Júlia Camps Farrés is a Project Manager in the Air Quality Department of the Barcelona City Council and has been working in public administration for more than eighteen years.

During her early years, she specialized in noise pollution, developing a real-time noise monitoring network using sound sensors and designing a specific training program for municipal engineers on conducting sound measurements.

In recent years, she has focused on improving air quality in the city by leading projects such as the development of a low-emission zone monitoring system and studying its effects on the most vulnerable groups. Her short-term objective is to continue working towards achieving a city with a higher standard of living and better quality of life.

She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences and an MSc in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability from the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation assessment, with a particular emphasis on urban heat risk and indicator-based approaches. Her current work explores the monitoring of nature-based solutions in cities, the conceptualization of adaptation outcomes within urban digital twins, and the operationalization of adaptation effectiveness through dynamic adaptation policy pathways.

Karen Naciph Mora is an Expert in the Nature-based Solutions and Biodiversity team at ICLEI European Secretariat, where she focuses on topics related to pollution, environmental quality, and water management. Karen has a background in environmental engineering and a MSc. Degree in Water Resources and Environmental Management. She is supporting the implementation of several EU level initiatives and projects like NBRACER, Urban ReLeaf, Soils for Europe (SOLO), NICE, among others.

Kerrie is a Research Fellow in HPG, focusing on displacement. Her research interests include climate change and conflict, urban displacement, displaced livelihoods, public attitudes towards refugees and migrants and more intangible aspects of displacement, such as social cohesion, gender norms and dignity. Her most recent research centres on climate adaptation in urban displacement.

Before joining LGI, Khadija worked in Leveraged Finance and Debt Capital Markets, advising corporates bond issuers and private equity clients on financing structures and sustainable bonds. She also held positions in private debt and equity. She brings over a decade of experience spanning investment banking and impact finance, with a focus on capital mobilisation. She now serves as City Finance Specialist within the Capital Hub of NetZeroCities, the European Commission's mission platform supporting 100 cities across Europe in becoming climate-neutral and smart by 2030

Konstantina Karydi is currently Managing Director and co-founding member of Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC). In this capacity she leads the organisation's EMEA strategic development and programmes and regularly contributes in global and European urban policy initiatives as an advisor. She is co-founder of Climate Change Hub (CCHuB) Greece and member of the leadership team of the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP), a national and a global partnership spearheaded by RCC. In the past 15 years she has held leadership positions at the global and national level, as Advisor for Resilience and Social Security to the Greek Minister of State, Special Advisor on Diplomacy and Public Administration Special Initiatives for the Mayor of Athens and Deputy Director and Head of Climate Transformation programs, EME for 100 Resilient Cities -  Rockefeller Foundation. She is co-founder of the awarded NGO Balkans Beyond Borders. She lives in Athens, Greece and is a graduate of EPFL and UCL.

Kristen is Head of Strategy, Prevention, and Community Resilience at the Greater London Authority. Her role involves integration of resilience across policy and programmes and ensuring that resilience practice in London centres people and communities. Before that, she spent more than 15 years coordinating climate change adaptation partnerships, as Manager of the London Climate Change Partnership, Director of Climate South East, and Chair of Climate UK.

Kristen has been a contributor to three UK Climate Change Risk Assessments, the London Climate Resilience Review, and numerous articles about climate risk and resilience communication, adaptation, and systems thinking for resilience. She has a background in human rights, and remains interested in the social justice issues raised by climate change and other crises, and the need to incorporate equity in resilience policy and planning.

Laia d’Armengol is an environmental scientist and project manager specialising in EU‑funded research and innovation on water resilience, climate adaptation, and the blue economy. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science and Technology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an MSc in Social‑Ecological Resilience from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. With over 15 years of experience across academia, public administration, and applied research, she currently manages projects such as GENESIS, TRIDENT, CO‑WATERS, and Impact4Mar at the La Palma Research Centre. Her work focuses on nature‑based solutions, marine governance, and community‑centred adaptation, with publications in Global Environmental Change, Ecology & Society, and Conservation.

Laura is an Urban Resilience and Adaptation Expert at ICLEI Europe. She is an environmental engineer with a double Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management and Development from the Technische Hochschule Köln (TH Köln) in Germany and the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP) in Mexico. Laura has experience in environmental consulting in Colombia and has also contributed to academia as an external tutor at TH Köln, developing project ideas related to nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction. Currently, she is actively involved in EU-funded projects focusing on climate change adaptation, NbS, urban resilience, water management, cultural heritage, and climate finance for adaptation.

Lenka Kristofová works as a project manager at the Agency for the Support of Regional Development Košice (ARR), where she focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. She is actively involved in international initiatives such as Land4Climate, supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions on private land. Alongside project management, she develops and delivers educational activities for primary and secondary school students, raising awareness on environmental protection, climate change, circular economy, and sustainability. Her work connects practical implementation with education, helping to build climate resilience and environmental responsibility across different target groups.

A hydrologist by training, Dr Leon Kapetas is Lead for Climate Resilience at Resilient Cities Network. He works with cities to support the development of climate-resilient pathways, with a particular focus on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a means of adapting to climate change, protecting natural capital, and advancing social development objectives.

Leon has experience across research, consulting, and policy-support environments. He previously worked as a climate resilience consultant for the World Bank, focusing on African cities, and has supported water resources development in South America. He has also served as an expert for the European Urban Initiative of the ERDF, supporting the mainstreaming of blue-green infrastructure programmes. As a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, Leon developed methods for valuing NbS in adaptation planning. Over the years, he has contributed to numerous capacity-building initiatives on climate resilience and the mainstreaming of NbS.

Lilia Magdoud is a Climate Finance and Policy Specialist at CMCC, focusing on climate adaptation financing, resilience investment planning, and policy-oriented applied research. With over twelve years of experience in international finance and development, and academic backgrounds in finance and sociology, she works at the intersection of climate risk, governance, investment, and resilience.

Liane Girier-Dufournier is a water resilience and climate change adaptation expert at ICLEI European Secretariat. She works on EU-funded projects that support cities in strengthening water security and planning for climate extremes. Her background is in geography, with a focus on hydrosystems and development, and she has contributed to water management and policy initiatives at national, regional, and global scales. Before joining ICLEI, she worked at UNEP and at the French Ministry of Ecological Transition on EU water policy, drought and pollution management, and international water governance. She holds an MSc in Climate Change Adaptation and an LL.M in Environmental and Urban Planning Law.

Lluna Bartual is an audiovisual journalist at elDiario.es and a contributor to El Salto País Valencià, where she covers social issues and human rights. Her work is grounded in ethical journalism, with a strong focus on telling the stories of communities and grassroots collectives. Committed to fostering responsible and high-quality communication, she was selected as a fellow of the Climate Frontline programme, a space where journalists exchange perspectives, share knowledge, and develop collaborative approaches to the ethical coverage of local environmental crises.

Louis’s work is driven by a commitment to strengthening societal resilience and advancing transformative responses to climate and environmental challenges. In his current role at IEEP, he leads work on climate resilience and risk governance, shaping research agendas, guiding project delivery, and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders. His expertise spans climate change, governance, ecology, resilience, sustainability, disaster risk management, and land use planning. He specialises in qualitative research, facilitating expert discussions, workshops, and interviews, and designing robust questionnaires to explore complex issues. Louis is particularly focused on strengthening the links between research, policy, and practice to ensure his work delivers meaningful and lasting impact.

Louise Heebøll is an architect and strategic urban planner. She founded the initiative DelHus (Danish for “share” or “split house”) that supports municipalities and individuals in the process of subdividing exiting houses.

With a long career in the housing sector working with especially cohousing, she recognized that extensive new construction cannot solve either the climate crisis or the housing crisis. This led her to explore more sustainable and affordable housing solutions. 

Louise found that sharing and subdividing existing single-family homes can help meet diverse housing needs. In collaboration with EFFEKT Architects, creators of the Reduction Roadmap, she developed DelHus - a concept that combines densification with the renovation of energy-inefficient homes. 

Together with the Municipality of Lejre, the DelHus team has created a municipal guide outlining legal frameworks and planning approaches for supporting local house sharing and subdivision.

Luca Arbau is an architect and climate change adaptation practitioner, currently working as an Expert in Climate Risks and Resilience at the European Environment Agency. He co-leads policy analysis for the upcoming European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA-2). Before joining the Agency, Luca worked with ICLEI Europe, supporting cities and regions in implementing the EU Mission on Adaptation and the Covenant of Mayors - Europe’s work on climate adaptation.

He holds a Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Emergency Architecture from the International University of Catalonia (Spain) and a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Ferrara (Italy).

Luísa Barateiro is a consultant and project manager at the Interregional Unit of the EU HUB at INOVA+. She holds a degree in Biology and a Master's in Public Health from the University of Porto, and is currently a PhD candidate in Climate Change and Policies for Sustainable Development at the University of Lisbon. Her work focuses on interregional cooperation and European-funded projects at the intersection of sustainability, policy and territorial development.

Maëlle Marchand is a Designer and Producer in Climate-KIC’s Climate Neutral and Resilient Regions cluster. Her work spans two Horizon Europe projects: leading UNDERPIN’s pan-EU and regional testing to monitor adaptation progress, and identifying governance solutions for just resilience in FairFuture. With a background in environmental epidemiology, she works with institutions, regions and communities to address policy and systemic challenges through co-developed, place-based approaches that are tested, implemented and sustained. Her practice is shaped by six years at Healthcare Excellence Canada, where she worked on participatory, equity-focused innovation across regional and national health and social systems. Maëlle is a DrPH candidate at LSHTM, researching planetary health, climate equity and anticipatory governance.

Magnus Qvant is co-founder of the Nordic Urban Resilience Institute (NURI), an institute specializing in how compounding stressors, conflict, climate change, and rapid technological shifts affect municipalities. He has over two decades of experience in urban resilience, civil preparedness, and crisis management across local, national, and European levels.

Magnus has led resilience and risk analysis processes with Ukrainian cities under the UNDRR MCR2030 framework and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, supported climate adaptation implementation through the EU Covenant of Mayors Policy Support Facility, and served as a strategist for the City of Malmö on resilience. He is a member of the MCR2030 Europe and Central Asia Coordinating Committee and an adjunct lecturer in civil preparedness and crisis management.

This year, Magnus presents in the session on strategic foresight at the local level, drawing on NURI's ongoing work with Baltic Sea Region cities.

Maria Manuela de Carvalho Álvares is a civil engineer with extensive experience in public administration, regulation, sustainability, and local government. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the School of Economics and Management at the University of Minho, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Regulation and Competition from the Center for Public Law Studies and Regulation. She is currently a PhD candidate in Bioethics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

Throughout her career, Maria Manuela de Carvalho Álvares has held a number of leadership positions in both the public and municipal sectors. She serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Health Regulatory Entity and of Domus Social EM. She has also served as Councillor for Environment, Energy Transition, Public Space, Social Housing, and Municipal Works for the Municipality of Matosinhos.

Her governance experience includes serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of MatosinhosHabit EM, Member of the Board of Directors of LIPOR – Intermunicipal Waste Management Service of Greater Porto, Vice-President of the Porto Energy Agency, and Member of the Executive Board of the Corredor do Leça Association. She is currently Chairman of the Board of ENNO – Energy Distribution, where she contributes to advancing sustainable energy solutions and infrastructure development.

Law degree from the University of Turin. Master's degree in Public Administration Law and Master's degree in Management of Public Real Estate. I  have been working for the City of Turin since 2007 in various roles, handling asset management contracts and energy management, and I am a member of the Project Financing technical committee for the energy requalification of the city's assets. I am part of the TIPS4PED project team.

Maike joined the New Economics Foundation in 2025 and works on the macroeconomic policy team, focusing on monetary and fiscal policy change in the European Union. Her research at NEF has concentrated on public and private finance, climate-related fiscal risk, and energy and monetary policy. She has a background in plural macroeconomics and has held multiple research positions focusing on climate policy, the monetary system and public finance.

The Commissioner for European Affairs at Barcelona City Council, leads initiatives that connect local governments with European institutions, the Mayors for Housing coalition and the Mission 100 Climate Neutral Cities. She is also an Op-Ed Contributor for La Vanguardia, offering insights on European affairs and urban policies. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Barcelona, shaping international and green transition strategies. She played a key role in NetZeroCities, being senior coordinator focused on the city suport on behalf of Eurocities. 

With over two decades of experience in government and media, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona and another in Communication from Universitat Ramon Llull. She pursued PhD studies in Economics and further honed her expertise at ESADE and INSEAD. Passionate about European values, she bridges policy-making, media influence, and city leadership for a fairer and more sustainable Europe.

Margaret Gold runs the Citizen Science at Leiden University, which collaborates with local societal initiatives, residents, and the municipality of Leiden in participatory research on issues related to a healthy urban living environment.

Mari Puuram is an accessibility policy officer at the Estonian Forum of People with disabilities. Her work focuses on accessibility advocacy, user involvement and collaborative policy-making, ensuring that people´s lived experience and practical knowledge are meaningfully included in decision-making processes, especially in relation to public space, services and crisis preparedness. 

She coordinates accessibility-related consultations, trainings and expert opinions in cooperation with disability organisations and partners. She has a background in Government and Administration and Modern European Languages and Cultures, and her academic work explores public policy and spatial design as a collaborative process. Also, there is a  particular interest in how accessibility can be understood not only as a technical requirement, but as a practice of inclusive governance and co-creation.

She is an architect, holds a Master's Degree in Sustainable Architecture and Urban Planning, and is an expert in Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Territorial Analysis.

She currently works as a management technician in the Architecture Department of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, where she promotes the sustainable architecture and construction strategy. She combines this role with her work as a professor in the urban planning department at the School of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena. Previously, she was part of the team developing the territorial information system for the Region of Murcia.

Mariam Jahning is a project officer at the Institute for Urban Excellence, where she works on the EU project SPADES (Spatial Planning and Design with Soil), advancing soil-inclusive urban planning across Europe. Funded by Horizon Europe under the Soil Mission, the project promotes the integration of soil health into spatial planning and design, supporting the transition to healthy soils by empowering policymakers, practitioners, and communities across 10 EU countries.

She holds master’s degrees in public policy and governance and in urban and regional planning from the University of Amsterdam. With a research background in implementing no net land take policy in Germany and France, and in strengthening the better regulation pillar of the Urban Agenda for the EU, her work focuses on multilevel governance, EU policy implementation, policy transfer, and the integration of knowledge into planning practice.

A graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques, Marie Caroline Vallon has been working for over 25 years with local governments on all aspects of sustainable regional development, adopting a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and pragmatic approach to urban issues and practices. 

As a project manager in the Energy and Territorial Transition Department of the Region Sud she brings her expertise to integrating climate change issues into urban projects. For 5 years, as part of the Nature For City LIFE project, she developed training initiatives for urban stakeholders and several engagement tools aimed at better managing nature to help cities adapt to climate change.

Currently, she represents the Region in the CARDIMED project (Horizon Europe program), as part of the French team responsible for a demo site where nature-based solutions (NBS) are tested and implemented, as well as the Dialogue4Tourism governance project for the Sustainable Tourism mission under the Interreg EuroMed program.

Marieta is an Innovation Finance Specialist at Climate KIC, where her focus is on investments to improve the adaptation and resilience of European cities. Her background is in investment management and sustainable finance. For the past ten years she has been executing direct and fund investment strategies in real estate, timberland, impact and blended finance in developed and emerging markets, and mobilising large-scale capital for the transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy.

Graduated in Environmental Sciences and earned a Master's Degree in Land Use and Water Management in Developing Countries. After several experiences in international cooperation and emergency response, particularly in the sustainable management of natural resources and Water and Sanitation issues. I have collaborated with various public, private, and third-sector organizations, in Italy and abroad, on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable management of natural and water resources in climate-change context. Between 2012 and 2018, Italian freshwater officer for the WWF European Alpine Programme. In Ambiente Italia, I coordinate the area Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change, working on biodiversity, urban and territorial regeneration, the use of Nature-Based Solutions and ecosystem services for adaptation to climate change.

Marko is an environmental scientist and policy expert with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of EU policy, climate science and programme management. He holds a PhD in Ocean, Atmosphere and Hydrology. His work focuses on water, ocean and climate systems, with strong expertise in the science–policy interface and digital environmental solutions.

He currently works at the European Commission in DG CNECT, contributing to the Destination Earth initiative, including the coordination of climate adaptation and extreme weather digital twins.

Previously, Marko worked at CINEA (the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency), managing Horizon Europe projects within the Mission on Climate Adaptation and the Mission “Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030”, as well as at the Joint Research Centre on water–energy nexus modelling and climate impact assessments.

His expertise and interests include HPC, digital twins and integrated environmental systems analysis.

Marufa Sultana is an urban ecologist with expertise in biodiversity conservation, wildlife biology, and nature-based solutions, with experience spanning both academic and non-academic sectors. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, where her research focuses on co-designing sustainable future cities that support both people and wildlife. Marufa earned her doctorate in natural sciences from the University of Freiburg, Germany. Previously, she contributed to several biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, climate change adaptation initiatives at IUCN Bangladesh. She also worked on different nature-based solution projects, including NBRACER, Land4Climate, and UPSURGE, at ICLEI Europe.

Merlin Mängel is a Development Manager at the Tallinn Municipal Police, representing the City of Tallinn in advancing integrated approaches to urban resilience, public services and crisis preparedness. With more than a decade of experience in public sector innovation, service design and organizational development, she has led initiatives focused on human-centred governance, cross-sector collaboration and future-oriented change management.

Her work combines strategic thinking with practical implementation, helping organizations adapt to rapidly changing societal needs, technological developments and emerging urban risks. Merlin has extensive experience in bringing together different stakeholders — from city departments and public authorities to universities and international partners — to co-create resilient and user-centred solutions.

Miquel Martín Goula is CEO of Bit Genoma Digital Solutions, an engineering and software company focused on digital transformation, industrial applications, IoT, RFID and applied AI. An Industrial Engineer from ETSEIB-UPC, he has over 15 years of experience developing web, mobile and cloud-based solutions for organisations including Henkel, IRTA and public administrations. He is also President of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group at the Association of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia. Miquel led the development of La Meva Energia, a web application created within the Climate Ready Barcelona project to support the management of energy poverty cases, improve communication between energy advisory services and citizens, and help public authorities better understand climate and energy vulnerability.

Miljenko Sedlar is a climate resilience expert and Head of the Climate Department at REGEA, specializing in adaptation strategies, risk assessments, and innovative financing for climate action. With a background in ecological engineering, he has extensive experience across industry and public administration, including leading EU-funded projects in the City of Zagreb. Since 2018, he has driven climate initiatives at REGEA. Miljenko actively contributes to EU, national, regional, and local climate policies, serves on European Commission working groups, and is a member of the advisory board of the UK National Adaptation Hub and the coordinator of the Adaptation Hubs project. He promotes a holistic, systemic approach to resilience and transformational adaptation, integrating science, policy, and practice.

Monika is a Professor of Sustainability of Rural-Urban Systems at the University of Twente. Her research centres on spatial inequalities, urban planning and sustainable development, particularly in relation to the SDGs. She employs data-driven, user-centered approaches, integrating bottom-up methods such as citizen science with advanced technologies including remote sensing, AI, GIS, and Big Data. Her work aims to inform evidence-based policymaking on housing, environment, climate change, energy transition, economics, infrastructure, and services. Monika co-chairs the international IDEAMAPS network, dedicated to mapping deprivation, leads and contributes to several research projects on urban deprivation, housing quality, and environment, including IDEAtlas, ONEKANA, Dyneo4slums, CityNext, PurePolis, and SPACE4ALL. She is a Steering Committee Member of JURSE, and serves as the Dutch representative for the European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories (EARSeL).

Nandni Shah is an urban sustainability professional working at the intersection of urban research, climate action, and practical implementation. She works with ICLEI Europe in Freiburg within the Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions team, contributing to various NbS initiatives across cities and regions in Europe. 

Ms. Natalia Alonso Cano is Chief of Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. She joined UNDRR bringing over 25 years of professional experience in international development and partnerships. An agronomic engineer, she has worked 9 years overseas, in India, the Dominican Republic, for the European Union and others. Previously, Ms. Alonso Cano was also Senior Adviser at UNICEF EU Office, Deputy Director at Oxfam International as well as Plan International and Amnesty International.

Natasha is an expert on communication, focussing since 1995 on designing and facilitating complex dialogue processes. She enables effective strategy implementation, sustainable change and smart organisational development all over the world (and online!). She designs and facilitates long-term change and large-scale participation processes and is also a leading moderator of exclusive high-level discussions and workshops with and for corporate boards and governments. Natasha advises decision makers and scientific institutions on civic and stakeholder engagement across the globe. 

She studied English Literature and Modern Languages (German) at Oxford University and at the University of Göttingen. She lives in Heidelberg with her family and dog.

Dr. Nuha Eltinay is a Principal Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation Advisor for ICLEI European Secretariat, an award-winning spatial planner, architect, V60 Sustainability Champion, 2024 Book Author of ‘Urban Resilience and Climate Change in the MENA Region’. With more than 15 years of experience, Nuha holds a PhD degree in Urban Resilience from London South Bank University, and master’s degree in international planning and Sustainable Development from the University of Westminster, London. Passionate in developing innovative solutions and policy recommendations for sustainable urban planning and climate resilience, Nuha acts as the Founder and Director of UK based Climate Resilience Community Interest Company. She also represent Resurgence as MENA Regional Board Advisor for DARAJA City-Community Forecasting and Early Warning systems, and thrives to help advance disaster risk environmental and social impact for just transition.

Oksana Kysil brings 16 years of professional experience in working in/with international project teams in the field of energy, climate and environmental policies  on state, regional and local levels. Moreover, she has  of first-hand experience with the investment attractions and practical implementation of development projects for local infrastructure, energy efficiency, climate and RES.

Oksana Kysil  holds Masters in Management and Economy.

Since 2018, she is Country expert  of the Covenant of Mayors East project  in Ukraine and leading the work on technical assistance to more than 200 municipalities, regional and state institutions.

Patricia is an experienced communicator and creative thinker with a solid background in multimedia storytelling, media relations, and event organisation. She is currently Head of Communications at REVOLVE and leads strategic communication for EU-funded Research and Innovation projects and meaningful partnerships. She holds a Master’s degree in Media, Communications, and Critical Practice from the London College of Communication (2013), with a thesis on communicating climate change in the media. Before joining REVOLVE in 2017, she worked as a content producer at ditto.tv and as communications manager promoting sustainability in the water & energy sectors in London.

Paulo Palha is an Agronomic Engineer, CEO of Neoturf, a leading Portuguese company specializing in nature-based solutions for urban environments, including green roofs, living walls, and sustainable landscapes. With over three decades of experience, he has been involved in hundreds of projects in Portugal and internationally. Paulo is actively engaged in research and innovation, notably leading the Green Urban Living (GUL) project, which developed the first Portuguese green roof system made entirely from cork industry by-products. A frequent speaker at international events such as the Urban Future Conference and the World Green Infrastructure Congress, he is also President of the Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs, contributing to policy, technical guidelines, and the integration of nature-based solutions into cities.

Elected Chairman of Vinnytsia City Council at the 1st sessions of both the 7th and 8th convocations. In the October 25, 2020 elections, was elected deputy of the 8th convocation from the Vinnytsia regional organization of the political party “Groisman’s Ukrainian Strategy.” In the October 25, 2015 elections, was elected deputy of the 7th convocation of the City Council. In the October 31, 2010 elections, was elected deputy of the 6th convocation of Vinnytsia City Council and chaired the Standing Committee on Industry, Entrepreneurship, Transport, Communications, and Services. From 2008 to 2015, worked as Commercial Director of Inter-Trade LLC. From 1999 to 2007, worked as a private entrepreneur. Graduated from Vinnytsia State Technical University in 1998 with a degree in Heat and Gas Supply, Ventilation, and Environmental Protection.

Ricardo Araújo has served as Mayor of Guimarães since 25 October 2025. He holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Minho, an Executive MBA from Porto Business School, and has completed executive programmes in Leadership at IE Business School (Spain) and Strategy and Innovation at Cornell University (United States). With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, he was a member of the senior management team of the EFACEC Group, where he was responsible for Strategic Planning and Electric Mobility. He has also held several national and international leadership positions, including President of Movijovem, Member of the Board of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sport of the CPLP, and Member of the Board of the Ibero-American Youth Organisation (OIJ). Ricardo Araújo served as a Member of the Portuguese Parliament in the 16th and 17th Legislatures.

Ruud Schuthof is Deputy Regional Director at ICLEI Europe. He was among the initiators of the ICLEI Action Fund, a funding mechanism supported by Google.org that supports data-driven climate action and resilience planning in cities across Europe. With more than 18 years of experience in awareness-raising and knowledge transfer on urban sustainable development, Ruud has been responsible for the European Conferences on Sustainable Cities and Towns and has been actively engaged in many urban European initiatives and campaigns, e.g. supported by the European Commission. These include European Mobility Week, the European Green Capital Award, and the Green City Accord.

Sanchita is the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at IIED Europe. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences and has extensive experience assessing impact in areas such as climate adaptation, social justice, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Sander Brinkman is a climatologist, currently working on greening the city. Climate adaptation, rewilding and participation are his strongpoints.

Sara Maestre Andrés is a socio-environmental researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB, Spain). Her research is focused on human-nature relationships and the governance of biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation through the design and evaluation of strategies, policy instruments, and processes that promote resilient, just, and livable territories. She is further interested on transitions and transformative change, with a specific focus on the role of social innovations. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB, 2016), a MSc in Ecological Economics and Environmental Management (ICTA-UAB, 2011), and a BSc in Environmental Sciences (UAB, 2010).

Selene, an architect and urban planner, brings 14 years of experience spanning the private sector and international cooperation. Holding an MSc in Architecture, she began her career as a designer in Italy, also gaining insights into post-disaster recovery. Transitioning to Panama in 2014, she expanded her expertise in overseeing architectural and construction projects holistically.
Driven by a passion for the social aspect of architecture, Selene pursued a postgraduate degree in 'Emergency & Resilience', shaping her focus on urban resilience and climate adaptation in the sub-Saharan African context during her five-year tenure at UN-Habitat. In November 2023, she embarked on a new journey, joining ICLEI Europe as a Senior Expert in Resilience and Climate Adaptation, solidifying her commitment to sustainable development.

Shtilyana Koppe is Regional Director at ICLEI Europe. She has background in Finance with a specialty in strategic management. With several years of experience in financial management she combines strong expertise in financial operations and financial mechanisms.

At ICLEI Europe she focuses on strategies and instruments to mobilise public and private funds to secure local transformation of public infrastructure and services in cities towards resilience and sustainability.

She is actively engaging in funding initiatives such as ICLEI Action Fund, supported by Google.org, that drives climate action on local level and resilience planning in cities across Europe.

Siim Reinla is a Project Manager at Viimsi Municipality, where he develops and manages international and national development projects focused on climate resilience, circular economy, and sustainable urban infrastructure. His work has included projects related to stormwater management in the context of climate change, green infrastructure, and innovative circular economy solutions. He has extensive experience in preparing funding applications and coordinating project implementation with local and international partners. Siim holds a Master’s degree in Geography.

Simone Nardicchia is a project manager at the Urban Resilience Department of the City of Milano, working on European projects that support climate adaptation, urban regeneration and local resilience. He has an academic background in International Cooperation, with a focus on development, human rights and environmental challenges, and has built his professional experience across NGOs, public authorities and private organisations involved in EU-funded programmes. His work combines project coordination, stakeholder engagement and participatory processes, with particular attention to translating strategies into actions at city and neighbourhood level. He currently coordinates Milan’s activities within Commit2Green (C2G), a Horizon Europe project promoting participatory urban greening and renaturing through nature-based solutions and community involvement.

Sophie Berger is a Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. She is part of the Secretariat of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, a joint initiative of DG Climate Action and DG Research & Innovation that supports regions and local authorities in accelerating climate resilience and adaptation efforts across Europe.

Sophie holds a PhD in climate science and previously worked with Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), contributing to scientific assessments of climate change. Her work focuses on bridging climate science, policy and implementation to support effective adaptation action at regional and local levels.

Stella Psarropoulou is a resilience and sustainability expert based in Thessaloniki. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, project management and urban policy development. She has managed European projects related to innovation, climate resilience and sustainable food policies as head of the Resilient Thessaloniki office and is currently an Debelopment Programs officer at Alexandria Innovation Zone S.A. She is an economist with two Master's degrees: in European Integration and Governance from the University of Macedonia and in Spatial Planning for Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development from the Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Mr. Borncamp is an expert in green finance, developing mechanisms such as a “green mortgage” and property tax reductions for green buildings. He is a founder of the Romania Green Building Council and has supported knowledge sharing through Green Building Councils across Europe. He and the RoGBC team are partners in Multi-Care Project;  engaging the finance sector to price climate risk into their products to accelerate the green transition. 

He led the Smarter Finance for Families project and is an advisor to the Smarter Finance for EU – European Centre of Excellence. These initiatives work to grow successful Green Homes & Green Mortgage programs in 19 countries. The partners have certified or signed agreements to certify over 360B EUR of residential projects

Steve holds a Bachelors in Economics from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Sulafa Abushal is Strategic Policy Lead for Whole-of-Society Resilience at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. She works across partners and systems to strengthen how communities, public services and institutions prepare for, respond to and recover from disruption, with a focus on embedding community resilience in practice.

Her work brings together climate risks and emergency preparedness with wider public service priorities, supporting more joined-up policy, partnerships and place-based delivery. She has over 15 years’ experience working with communities and the voluntary and community sector, with a focus on inequality, local capacity and the role of relationships in shaping resilience.

She brings a perspective on the role of communities and local organisations in strengthening climate resilience, and how cities can move from strategy to practical, place-based action.

Tadej Stepisnik Perdih (PhD Mech Eng) is responsible for partnerships and project implementation at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. His career focuses on cross-disciplinary topics around climate adaptation; including Nature-based Solutions, water-energy-food nexus and alternative water sources.

Dr. Tanya Baycheva-Merger is an Expert in Green Digital Transformation at ICLEI Europe, working on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and urban innovation. She leads and coordinates projects and initiatives focused on the responsible development and use of AI-powered tools for climate and resilience action at local level. Among her recent work, Tanya led the development of a GeoAI Toolkit for Urban Planners (in collaboration with UN-Habitat), which provides practical guidance for integrating geospatial AI into urban planning. 

Prior to joining ICLEI, Tanya worked as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Freiburg (Germany), where she focused on the intersection of digitalisation and environmental management, particularly on the adoption and use of digital tools in forest and groundwater management. She holds a PhD in Environmental and Forest Policy, a MSc in Environmental Science, and a BSc in Environmental and Resource Management.

Dr. Theocharis Nazos is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Sanitary Engineering Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens. His research focuses on microalgae applications, bioenergetics, and environmental engineering, with particular emphasis on the use of photosynthetic microorganisms for wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and biomass valorization into high added-value products. His work also explores the use of non-conventional water sources and the integration of microalgae into nature-based treatment systems, contributing to the advancement of sustainable biotechnology and environmental engineering. He is actively involved in several EU-funded projects, including NURISH, SEACURE, CARDIMED, and TASC-RestoreMed.

Mayor of Skiathos Island in Greece since 2019. Born in Skiathos in 1979, he studied agriculture and chemistry at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. He has been volunteering involved since 2009 in local associations of Skiathos, for the protection of the cultural heritage and the protection of the environment, in cooperation with European and Greek organizations. Active member of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe program as he was elected and serves in the Steering Committee of the Governing Board of  the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, covering Greece, Cyprus and Turkey (the European Cemeteries Route, 2015-2023).

Thomas Koetz is an expert in sustainability transitions, climate resilience, biodiversity, and science-policy interfaces, with two decades of experience across the European Commission, the UN system, and leading innovation organisations. He is Senior Advisor for Climate Resilient Regions at Climate-KIC, where he coordinates the €30 million Horizon Europe project Pathways2Resilience, helping 100 regions design adaptation pathways and investment plans. Previously, Thomas played a central role in shaping and implementing the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change at DG Research & Innovation, and earlier served in DG Environment on international biodiversity policy. Before returning to the Commission, he led the first IPBES work programme at UN Environment, overseeing landmark global assessments. Thomas holds a PhD in science-policy interfaces, a Master’s in ecological economics, and a Master’s in landscape ecology, complemented by extensive fieldwork in Latin America and Asia.

Valeria is a researcher in the Seismic and Structural Engineering research group at the University of Camerino. Her work focuses on the development of simplified and scalable methodologies for assessing the seismic vulnerability and risk of the built environment, with particular attention to complex contexts where available information is limited. Her research integrates engineering-based approaches, vulnerability modelling and risk assessment methods to support more effective evaluation and decision-making for existing buildings, urban areas and strategic assets. 

She is involved in several national and international research projects, including the European project MULTICLIMACT, where she contributes to activities related to multi-hazard resilience, building-scale assessment and the Italian demo site in Camerino.

Valeriia Levchyshyna is the Regional Development Manager and Analyst at the City Institute in Lviv, Ukraine. As a specialist in war-context resilience for cities and community building, she works on the development of the municipal Urban Risk Assessment Tool and governance and financial policy models. Her published work includes ""Third Places in Kharkiv as a Tool for Community Resilience"" 

Additionally, she drives the Urban Workshop initiative in Lviv, which is the only participating tool for citizens from the City Council. Valeriia also leads organizing efforts for annual Ukrainian Resilience Week. At the EURESFO26 she will provide an on-site perspective on resilience, recovery, and the vital role of local governments under war.

Vânia Serrão Sousa is Pro-Rector and researcher at the University of Algarve (Portugal), affiliated with CENSE-UALG and CHANGE Associate Laboratory. She has developed applied and collaborative research focused on water resources—from treatment and reuse to sustainable management—and on land–ocean interactions, with emphasis on contamination and its impacts on coastal ecosystems and communities. She combines research with teaching in sustainability, water sciences, marine pollution and blue development. She holds leading roles in EU and national projects, notably as Principal Investigator for UAlg in the MORFeuS consortium, and coordinates Citizen Science initiatives. She is co-responsible for the Castro Marim Marine Station and actively contributes to science–policy–society interfaces, including the European Climate Pact, advancing resilient and water-secure territories.