Speakers and presenters

Lord Nigel Crisp is an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords where he co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. He also co-chairs Nursing Now, the global campaign on nursing. He was previously Chief Executive of the English NHS and Permanent Secretary of the UK Department of Health – the largest health organisation in the world with 1.3 million employees – where he led major reforms between 2000 and 2006. Lord Crisp is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, an Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Medicine. He was formerly a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health and Regent’s Lecturer at Berkeley. His publications on global health include Turning the world upside down – the search for global health in the 21st Century; Global Health Partnerships; One World Health – an overview of global health after Global Health Partnerships; and, edited with Francis Omaswa, African Health Leaders – making change and claiming the future. He described his time as Chief Executive of the NHS in 24 Hours to Save the NHS – the Chief Executive’s account of reform 2000 – 2006. A Cambridge philosophy graduate, he worked in community development and industry before joining the NHS in 1986. He has worked in mental health as well as acute services and from 1993 to 1997 was Chief Executive of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, one of the UK’s leading academic medical centres.

Abdul Azad is a Senior Public Health Manager , Health Equity & Health in All Policies Lead at Luton Borough Council, with over 15 years’ experience in public health and local government. He specializes in translating strategy into delivery across complex systems, working at the intersection of health, planning, and policy. Abdul leads system-wide approaches to reducing health inequalities, aligned to Marmot principles and the Luton 2040 vision. His work focuses on embedding health equity into core governance, developing measurable frameworks, and enabling cross-sector collaboration to drive real-world impact.

Abigail Oppong is a young, distinguished professional who is celebrated for advancing AI ethics, particularly in addressing biases in NLP and health systems. She was honored as one of the 100 women in AI ethics by Women in AI Ethics in 2023. Her passion for science, technology, and nature drives her to explore how new developments can advance humanity. Abigail’s work includes evaluating biases in NLP and health systems and enhancing fairness in AI technologies, especially for underserved communities. She has contributed significantly to projects through collaborations, focusing on creating responsible AI systems that meet local and regional ethical standards. Abigail’s professional journey includes a stint as a Research Consultant working with Academia, Industry, and NGOs. She has spoken at international conferences published in prestigious forums like CHI and EMNLP and spoken as a panelist at the Royal Society, where she advocates for the need to build more inclusive health technologies. She has been part of an engagement with an expert group on quantum science at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, where she champions the need for more inclusion in the discovery of science. community-based solutions. Her data science, machine learning, and AI ethics skills make her pivotal in shaping AI governance and ethical standards, particularly in Africa. Abigail’s interdisciplinary approach and previous experience in the nonprofit sector enrich her contributions to AI ethics, emphasizing the importance of localization, trust, culture, and representation in technological development. During her leisure time, she likes giving back to the community. She has co-founded several initiatives to promote Unity, good health, and community development. Her passion for community development influenced her research journey to investigate how local organizations can be empowered in the age of emerging technologies.

Dr Ahmadreza Faghih Imani is the Teaching Fellow in Urban Sustainability and the co-convenor of the Urban Sustainable Environments (USE) option of the MSc in Environmental Technology at the Centre for Environmental Policy. He has more than ten years of academic experience, has published more than 30 articles in top-tier journals, has successfully collaborated with a number of different research groups, has made significant impacts and contributions to the field working on industry and government projects, and have volunteered within the research community (as an active member of TRB Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation, and as a reviewer for several academic journals).

Alex Solk is a Partner at Sheppard Robson with extensive expertise in healthcare and masterplanning, particularly within the life sciences and NHS sectors. He leads the £1.5bn North Manchester General Hospital campus regeneration as masterplanner and lead designer, overseeing a £150m enabling works programme alongside a £25m new outpatients building. His wider healthcare portfolio spans NHS and private sector clients, including Spire Healthcare, Manchester University Hospitals and Northampton General Hospital. His masterplanning experience includes the Airport City North life sciences campus, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, Manchester University Hospitals Oxford Road Campus, and Hull Health Campus, demonstrating a strong specialism in healthcare-related and life sciences masterplanning that bridges clinical, research and educational environments. Alex leads a range of public sector projects from the Manchester office, with expertise in significant university, science and healthcare projects. Alongside project work, Alex designed the practice’s project process, QA reporting and approach to stakeholder engagement for healthcare and higher education projects.

Brief CV: engineering degree from Cambridge; a decade in the construction industry working on civils infrastructure and later structural building projects; researcher in the Earthquake Engineering Research Centre at Bristol University; EPSRC-funded PhD at the School of Environmental Sciences at UEA; research post and then lectureship at the University of Cambridge as part of the Centre for Sustainable Development; Director and Deputy Director of masters programme ‘Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment’ (IDBE) run jointly by Depts of Engineering and Architecture at Cambridge; Director of Studies for Engineering, and Fellow of Newnham College; on moving to the Open University, created the OU's first Built Environment research cluster; first University Lead for Sustainability for the Open Societal Challenges research programme; now Professor of Sustainable Construction and co-Director of CABER at UWE.

Alice is the Research Assistant for the Devolution and Health Equity Knowledge Exchange (DeHEx) collaboration. Alice leads project coordination and research activities, facilitating a series of knowledge exchange events to develop evidence-based resources that will embed health equity into local government. Joining the team in May 2025, she also coordinates the SDG Reactor Innovation Network, connecting UK businesses with Higher Education Institutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Alice previously worked as a Research Fellow at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), where she investigated food systems transformation in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. She holds an MPA in Innovation, Public Purpose and Public Value from UCL IIPP and a BA in History and Criminology from the University of Melbourne.

Alice works at the interface of acadmia and policy in UCL Public Policy. She leads on UCL Policy’s fellowship programme, supporting the mobliity of people, knowledge, and expertise between academia and policy. She works across disciplines and policy areas including public health, housing, sociel inequalities, urban innovation. She has a broad experience of building partnerships for successful collaboration between policy organisations and universities, integral to this is embedding evaluation from the outset to understand the outcomes and impact for the various group and communities involved and affected.

Alvaro Valera Sosa is Director and R&D Lead at Building Health Lab (BHL), a Berlin-based practice advancing evidence-based approaches to urban health and sustainable city design. His work integrates spatial analysis, public health, and climate-responsive strategies to address walkability constraints, stormwater management, urban heat, and biodiversity loss. He is the creator and lead developer of the UrbanCare framework and its digital applications, a practical workflow for assessing and designing healthier urban environments, currently implemented across multiple European contexts through the Erasmus+-funded U-CARE project. His work focuses on translating research into actionable planning and design solutions, with particular attention to vulnerable urban populations. Alvaro is Senior Editor at Cities & Health and teaches in the Urban Management Program at TU Berlin, contributing to academic research, education, and international knowledge exchange on healthy city development.

Dr. Amanda Gummer, PhD, is a leading authority on play and child development. She is CEO of Fundamentally Children, home of the Good Play Guide, and Independent Chair of the Association of Play Industries. Amanda has advised government, presented her Balanced Play Model at the European Parliament, and developed accreditation frameworks now adopted internationally, including the Toy Association’s STEAM Toy Accreditation. A Fellow of the RSA and an ambassador for Genius of Play, Amanda is passionate about aligning innovation with child wellbeing, ensuring toys, games and play experiences deliver both commercial success and developmental value.

Dr Andrew Charlesworth May is the MHCLG Economic Appraisal lead. He is responsible for writing the MHCLG Appraisal Guide, making sure it is applied properly and developing appraisal capability and capacity within MHCLG and externally. His key area of focus is on developing better ways of appraising the impacts of early intervention initiatives, particularly urban design impacts on health and policies to tackle homelessness.

Angus is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant, having been awarded a Distinction for his Master’s project at Oxford Brookes University, which explored the role of architects as storytellers. He is particularly interested in the impact that collaborative design and participatory architecture can have on developing communities, and how the design and making process can bring together people who might not otherwise meet. He has also developed a passion for making, particularly with timber, and continues to hone his craft through personal projects and teaching. Angus has a strong appreciation for local knowledge, traditional skills, and craftsmanship, and enjoys connecting site to place by making use of locally sourced materials. He enjoys spending time in nature and has cultivated a love for greenwood carving, drawn both to the carving community and the sense of peace it offers.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland Oregon, USA, and a Master of Science in Space Syntax: Architecture & Cities from The Bartlett School of Architecture in London, UK. She has expertise in spatial modelling and analysis at the urban scale, as well as in qualitative data coding and data visualization. Her master’s thesis assessed the success, failure and impact of grade separated systems as an urban design solution to downtown centres in America fractured by interstate highways, for which she received a distinction. Before joining Space Syntax, Anna worked as a consultant on healthcare and corporate design projects in the United States. Anna also has worked in the non-profit sector, in support of urban social equity projects aimed at improving transportation accessibility and policy for minority communities in Portland, Oregon.

Anna Gibbs is a senior regeneration leader at Be First, the urban regeneration arm of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. She leads infrastructure-led development and place strategy across one of London’s fastest-growing boroughs. Her work focuses on aligning housing growth with long-term civic infrastructure, community wellbeing and economic resilience. Through the River Roding Health Corridor, she is supporting the integration of preventive health principles into regeneration delivery, ensuring that growth strengthens rather than strains local systems.

I am a Research Fellow in the Health Inequalities Policy Research (HIP-R) Group within the Department of Public Health, Policy, and Systems. I currently work on the Healthy Urban Places programme, as part of Population Health Improvement UK (PHI-UK). Previously, I worked in the NCD prevention and food policy research group on a collaborative project with The Health Foundation REAL Centre, exploring projections in major ill health and multimorbidity. My PhD, conducted at the University of Liverpool within the NCD research group, was an epidemiological and microsimulation study exploring socioeconomic inequalities in multimorbidity within England, and the potential for population-level prevention approaches to reduce the future burden of multimorbidity.

Anna Johnson is a data and research analyst at Placemaking, where she contributes to the development of the organisation’s Wellness Framework. This evidence-based tool appraises how the built environment influences mental and physical wellness, and Anna has overseen its research, design, and methodology development. She holds a degree in Sports and Exercise Science with a focus on public health, grounding her work in a strong understanding of population wellbeing. Alongside her role at Placemaking, Anna founded a charity dedicated to improving mental and physical health through inclusive and accessible sport. Her professional interests centre on health equity, community wellbeing, and the intersections between place, behaviour, and public health.

Anna is an experienced Creative Producer at Feilden Clegg Bradley who is responsible for the in-house production of our films. Alongside this she designs and curates exhibitions both for our London exhibition space and at external venues. She works closely with the rest of the communications team but also with project teams, clients and external stakeholders to deliver creative projects which help communicate key messages in an engaging and accessible way. Anna is also a key member of the EDI forum, working on initiatives to increase equity both within the practice and in the sector as a whole.

The WHO European Healthy Cities Network was founded in 1988 as a political, cross-cutting, and intersectoral initiative implemented through direct collaboration with cities. The network operates in five-year phases, each focusing on different priority areas. Currently, in Phase VIII (2026-2030), prioritising themes of People, Place, Planet, Peace, Prosperity, Participation and Prepare, delivering at local lelve the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and WHO’s General Programme of Work. This represents the network’s significant alignment with global and regional strategies, positioning cities and towns to put health on political and social agendas. The UK Healthy Cities and Towns Network brings together cities and towns across the UK working collectively on Health in All Policies, Commercial Determinants of Health, Climate Place and Health and Prepare for health, civil and climate emergencies. Together their collective objective is to engage governments at the local level in promoting equity, participatory governance, and intersectoral collaboration to address the determinants of health. The successful implementation of this approach hinges on three key pillars: technical excellence, community participation, and political commitment at the local level. To find out more or become a member visit https://www.belfasthealthycities.com/uk-healthy-cities-network/

Antonia is a strategic convener, facilitator and partnerships broker with 15+ years building cross-sector collaborations for social impact. She is Director of Partnerships at Urban Health 360 and freelance advisor to non-profits on partnership strategy, programme development and stakeholder engagement. At Impact on Urban Health (Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Foundation), she led partnerships with local authorities, funders and academic institutions, designing learning exchanges that translate community insights into policy and practice. Former CEO of Coalition for Efficiency, she built national networks supporting small charities with strategy and impact measurement. Antonia champions partnerships that centre community voices and advance equitable development.

Ashley is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. As Head of Sustainability at Hoare Lea, he leads technical excellence in the sustainability consultancy service. Ashley has specific expertise in resource efficiency, resilience, decarbonisation, and how design impacts health and wellbeing. Ashley is a past Vice President of CIBSE and is active in the CIBSE Sustainability Group and sustainable cooling working group. He chairs the Buildings Services Engineers Declaration of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. He has contributed to publications, conferences and industry guidance for RIBA and the UK Green Building Council. Ashley is a registered industry specialist advisor for the UK Ministry for Housing and Local Government (MHCLG).

Audrey de Nazelle is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre of Environmental Policy. She is co-chair of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Policy Committee, and outgoing chair and founder of Imperial's Network of Excellence on Air Quality (NExAir). She is an expert in risk assessment and exposure science. Her research is at the intersection of environmental sciences, health behaviour, transportation, and urban planning. Her work aims at guiding decision makers towards health-promoting built environments and policies. It involves novel and holistic approaches to assessing behavioural, environmental and health impacts of urban plans and policies. Dr de Nazelle leads studies on transport and health and on societal engagement through digital technology. She is also a collaborator on the EPSRC-funded project Managing Air for Green Inner Cities (MAGIC), and on MRC-funded projects on active travel (METAHIT and TIGTHAT).

Barbara Kaucky is an Austrian architect who studied in Vienna and Berlin before moving to London, where she co-founded Root And Erect (originally Erect Architecture) in 2003. Root And Erect is a feminist, RIBA Chartered architecture and landscape design practice. Guided by a belief in the common good the practice shapes shared spaces to engage, connect and empower communities, working at varying scales - from single buildings and play spaces to streetscapes and neighbourhoods. Root And Erect’s holistic, living- systems approach prioritises sustainability and enriches the fabric of city life. Barbara serves on multiple design review panels and for several years chaired the RIBA Small Practice Group. She is passionately invested in regenerative, living systems design and trains with Regenesis Group, a forerunner in the field of regenerative development. Outside her professional life Barbara volunteers with Core Landscape, a mental health and gardening charity.

Beatrice Ferrarini is a Human Experience Designer at Voice Italia focusing on social innovation and participatory design. Her work explores how collaborative methodologies can support inclusive service systems, with particular attention to community engagement and the co-creation of sustainable, user-centred solutions.

Becca Kelly is an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. She works predominantly across the New Towns programme, building the analysis for where and how the government should designate New Towns in England. Her role as part of this work is to develop understanding within the department of how the HAUS tool can be used in practice and aid the development of ensuring it is user friendly to meet the needs of the department. She is also building a programme level internal tool for ease of use within appraisal alongside guidance for efficient and effective application within housing development policies, such as New Towns.

I am a Professor in Applied Public Health. My research focuses on using natural experiments to evaluate the health inequalities impact of local and national social, welfare, economic and health policies. I have a particular interest in research that enables local government to promote health equity by addressing the social determinants of health. My recent research has included assessing the health inequalities impact of NHS resource allocation policy and the English health inequalities strategy, demonstrating the link between welfare reforms and adverse mental health outcomes and evaluating the impact of multiple local authority, NHS and community initiatives that aim to reduce health inequalities.

Ben Wall has experience in healthcare architecture with strength in clinical fit-out and interior design within live hospital environments. His portfolio includes the £18m Canary Wharf Private Diagnostics Centre, the £4.5m Chelsea Women's Health Centre, and multiple department reconfigurations at Guy's and St Thomas' and London Bridge Hospital. His sensitive approach to interior environments is further evidenced by his dementia-friendly ward project at Cambridge University Hospital, which prioritised patient wellbeing through considered design. Ben also contributes to the £1.5bn North Manchester General Hospital campus regeneration and has delivered new-build schemes including a £60m modular surge centre at Cambridge University Hospital. Ben joined Sheppard Robson in 2024 as an Associate. He has worked on a range of Health + Care projects from inception to completion, with over 15 years’ experience in acute and private healthcare. He has a track record of working with live hospital environments to create people-centred spaces that place the patient first and enable clinical flows and complex technical requirements to be achieved, a proponent of designing with empathy, Ben has authored a research paper on design and early pregnancy miscarriage and has spoken at IHEEM and Design in Mental Health on dementia design and acute environments.

Blaise Aboh is director of AI at City Business (CBLabs), with nearly two decades of experience embedding data and AI into public and private sector decision-making. His expertise is in building AI adoption and assurance layers across industries. A recognised leader in the UK proptech and innovation landscape, Blaise was a 2025 nominee for the UK Proptech Association Award for Innovation in Housing Delivery. He co-designed the 'Healthy AI' Mozilla Festival London, and has been honoured as a CFA Innovation Fellow, Leap SIPA Fellow, Obama Foundation Leader, and Quartz Atlas Award winner. His published works include AI Redline, Policing by Consent in the AI Era, the Agentic Planning Playbook and the seminal white paper Agentic AI and the Future of Urban Regeneration. He publishes a high-signal LinkedIn newsletter ‘AI Redline Weekly’, bridging regulatory theory with ground-level engineering and business realities for practitioners across the world's largest enterprises and policy hubs.

Camilla Borghi is a User Experience researcher at Voice Italia and a service designer at Fondazione Ravasi Garzanti, working at the intersection of systemic service design and longevity innovation. Her research focuses on participatory approaches to designing longevity-ready, inclusive services for resilient urban systems.

Dr Carl Walker is a chartered community psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in academia, community engagement, community coproduction of wellbeing services, community food infrastructure, local authority strategic development and industry. Carl is a community psychologist, a member of the British Psychological Society National Community Psychology Section committee and a visiting lecturer at the University of Brighton. His work has involved leading action research projects on community wellbeing and coproducing community initiatives to address mental health and wellbeing needs. He has used a range of social science methodologies to engage in collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiatives in the fields of health, mental health and wellbeing, disability, care and community food infrastructure. He has published widely in the field of mental health and community activism with 9 books and over 70 peer reviewed publications. Carl has also been a Borough Councillor for several years and in recent years has been the Deputy Leader of Worthing Borough Council where he has been the strategic lead for communities and young people portfolio on the council, including covering participatory democracy, community coproduction of services, cost of living, community-led food infrastructure development and community wealth building. Carl has also run a number of local community food organisations over the last 20 years and his recent research on hunger trauma and moral injury in community food staff and workers led to his co-founding the Alliance for Dignified Food Support,a national coalition of community food organisers, local food partnerships, academics, and activists interested in promoting dignified food support. He has drawn on this broad experience to develop innovative approaches to social sustainability in the built environment that use genuine cocreation with communities to maximise the social, economic, environmental and public health impacts that the built environment can deliver. His current work is focused on advising on community engagement, co-production, social impact and providing empirically supported theoretical insights in relation to the human and social aspects of sustainability. He is working on a range of active projects which cover Masterplanning, assets, datacentres and portfolios and is leading the implementation of a new social impact framework that puts public health, social inequalities and cocreation with communities at the heart of the built environment.

Carrie Wood is a senior public health specialist whose career has centred on creating healthier, more equitable places and integrating health considerations into the heart of local decision‑making. She began her career in environmental health across several London authorities, gaining hands‑on experience in food safety, licensing, housing standards and health and safety. This frontline regulatory grounding gave her a practical understanding of how local environments shape wellbeing and contribute to health inequalities. Carrie went on to hold a senior position at Surrey County Council, where she led the development of countywide Health Impact Assessment policy and planning frameworks. This work strengthened the role of public health within spatial planning and ensured that major developments considered the wider determinants of health from the outset. She now works at the London Borough of Merton, where she integrates public health expertise into planning, regeneration and policy development, with a strong focus on healthy placemaking, active environments and evidence‑based decision‑making. Carrie has contributed to national regulatory work and has supported health protection responses in partnership with NHS and UKHSA colleagues. Passionate about reducing inequalities, she champions cross‑sector collaboration and is particularly interested in the complex and often competing health challenges faced by both urban and rural communities.

Charlotte is a Lecturer in Coastal Dynamics in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on how people can safely and confidently use coastal and estuarine environments, ensuring these spaces remain accessible, resilient, and supportive of community wellbeing. Her work examines the physical processes that create hazards in these settings, such as storm surges, extreme river flows, compound flooding, and shoreline instability, and develops evidence to improve hazard awareness and management. She also investigates the health and wellbeing benefits of coastal, estuarine, and urban blue grey spaces, focusing on how infrastructure and access shape people’s ability to engage with being in, on, or near water safely and year round. Charlotte uses process based hydrodynamic modelling and data driven analyses to understand how these environments function and how climate change will alter their behaviour and risks in the future. Her research supports policymakers, practitioners, and regulators in designing safer and more resilient coastal and estuarine places.

Cheryl Williams is a Principal Public Health Practitioner (Policy and Impact Assessment) in the Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU), Public Health Wales. She focuses on maximising the connections between spatial planning and health, including the use of Health Impact Assessments. Prior to her current role Cheryl worked in the public health team in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, where her role included supporting Cardiff and Vale local authorities to embed health within planning policy in local development plans. Early in her career, having initially qualified in town planning, Cheryl worked as a Planning Officer in Coventry City Council and then Cardiff Council, before having a change of direction, initially going to manage a healthy living project in Cardiff which then led to a career in public health. She holds Masters in both Town Planning and Public Health from the University of the West of England.

Chi-Liang Yen serves as the Director-General of the Department of Environmental Protection for the Taoyuan City Government. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from National Central University. His work primarily focuses on promoting net-zero carbon reduction and resource recycling policies. Additionally, he is dedicated to enhancing noise control, implementing AI-based environmental pollution identification, advancing environmental education, and pursuing other initiatives that directly benefit citizens, thereby making Taoyuan City's environment more sustainable and livable.

Chris is a Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley with extensive experience working for public sector clients with an expertise in mixed-use regeneration, learning environments and arts & cultural institutions. Chris leads the Camley Street Regeneration Project, commissioned by the London Borough of Camden, managing a talented multi-disciplinary design team in developing a holistic mixed-use masterplan for the co-location of new homes and life sciences focussed employment. Chris co-leads Feilden Clegg Bradley's responsibility on social value following a long-term interest in supporting wider participation in architecture & making the built environment inclusive and accessible. He has led several of the practice's small project initiatives that focus on educational, social, and environmental outcomes, including the RIBA competition-winning Pea Soup House.

Chris is a Professor in the department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London (ICL), UK. He is also head of the Applied Computation and Modelling Group (AMCG), which is the largest department research group at ICL and comprises of about 70 research active scientists. AMCG specialises in the development and application of innovative and world leading modelling techniques for earth, engineering and biomedical sciences. The group has core research interests in numerical methods for ocean, atmosphere and climate systems, engineering fluids including multiphase flows, neutral particle radiation transport, coupled fluids-solids modelling with discrete element methods, turbulence modelling, inversion methods, imaging, and impact cratering.

Chulwoong Park is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Birmingham City University, UK, supported by the International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF). Dr Park’s research examines how digital technologies are reshaping urban spaces. His work particularly focuses on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in advancing smarter and healthier cities.

Claire joined Imperial as a Programme Manager at Imperial College London in 2019 and is currently managing the AI4URBAN-HEALTH Network. She has managed a series of major interdisciplinary grants including AI-Respire which used AI to develop predictions of personal health response, INHALE which investigated the impact of air pollution on health response through a clinical study, air sampling campaigns and modelling, and COVAIR on airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Claire’s research interests span several areas including:(1) reduced-order modelling; (2) machine-learning for scientific applications; (3) urban and environmental flows. She is currently working as an AI in Science Research Fellow jointly at Imperial-X and the Department of Earth Science and Engineering, where she investigates the use of green infrastructure to combat air pollution.

Clare is global practice leader for cities at Mott MacDonald. She is passionate about using cross-disciplinary synergy and integrated systems thinking to enable more people to be accommodated in urban areas for less cost, consuming less energy, materials and water, emitting less CO2, and cutting waste, while achieving an enhanced quality of life. She brings a practical understanding of sustainable development drivers and processes at both macro and micro level, gained through nearly 30 years as a low-energy engineer in the built environment. Combining this with engagement at policy level, she is able to bring insight into the technical, political, financial and behavioural aspects of sustainable development, particularly in areas of energy efficiency and thermal masterplanning in the built environment. Her role is often to lead stakeholders through a process of objective setting and risk assessment, where her ability to apply clarity and sensitivity in the fast-moving cities area allows decisions to be taken in an informed manner despite a lack of precedent or future certainty. In particular, working for both private-sector developers and city municipalities has given her a valuable understanding of how to align objectives and optimise outcomes.

Coen van den Wijngaart is Manager of Real Estate Development at Anculus and a member of its management committee. He specialises in overseeing the development, redevelopment, and renovation of public sector real estate projects, primarily serving educational institutions through delegated client management. Anculus provides strategic portfolio management with a focus on sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Coen van den Wijngaart holds a degree in Architectural Engineering from Delft University of Technology and an Executive MBA from Vlerick Business School, Brussels. With over 25 years of experience as an architect, entrepreneur, and strategic real estate developer, his expertise lies at the intersection of innovative architectural design, health and well-being in the built environment, and sustainable development. His research and professional interests include the translation of architectural and strategic concepts into healthy, inclusive, and future-proof environments for living, learning, working, and care. His career is marked by a commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in healthy and sustainable public real estate development.

Colin Hockley is an experienced healthcare architect with a broad international portfolio spanning NHS, private and overseas clients. As Healthcare Lead at Sheppard Robson, he is currently directing the £1.5bn North Manchester General Hospital campus regeneration. His extensive career encompasses complex masterplanning and Estate Strategies, major acute hospitals, oncology centres, community hospitals, private clinics and secure healthcare facilities across the UK, Bahrain, Poland and Australia. Notable projects include the £460m Jersey Future Hospital, £860m Glasgow Southern General Hospital, £150m Baharain Oncology Centre and the University Hospital of Wales redevelopment. Other experience includes urban masterplanning and commercial workplace design for international companies. Colin joined Sheppard Robson in 2022 and was appointed to Partner in recognition of his specialist expertise and experience. Colin uses his 25+ years of experience in healthcare to help drive the sector forward at Sheppard Robson. After studying to be an architect, Colin joined the NHS’s design team. In this role, he explored the impact of space and natural light on recovery across mental health, community and acute hospitals. It was the beginning of his long-standing interest in how evidence-based design can benefit all healthcare building users, clinicians and hospital staff, as well as patients.

Craig plays a lead role in Urban Strategies' transit-supportive design, regeneration, and community design practice. He is an expert in station area design, transit-oriented planning, strategic regeneration frameworks, and community design plans. Craig has completed numerous studies for municipal and regional clients to develop more accessible, complete, and sustainable communities built around transit. His work aligns investments in transit, mobility, placemaking, and community infrastructure to achieve healthier and more sustainable communities.He co-led the East Eglinton LRT Planning Study, exploring how transit investments could be leveraged to serve diverse communities along the corridor. He also co-led the Community Building Strategy for Waterloo Region's 36 km Central Transit Corridor, which aimed to foster a healthy, livable region focused on sustainable travel and strong access to community services. Craig is currently leading the development of a Secondary Plan to guide growth and investment along a new subway extension in Markham, Ontario, and the urban design components of Tewin, a new zero-carbon community for 40,000 people developed in partnership with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Dan has worked for over twenty years in public realm, placemaking and sustainable transport. Dan has developed a specialism in placemaking, sustainability, healthy and active travel. Dan is advising clients on pathways to a zero-carbon future and leading the transformation of the West End's public spaces, including Knightsbridge, King's Road, Charing Cross Road, St Martin's Lane and the creation of a new Cultural Quarter.  Dan was the Director of Placemaking at the New West End Company, representing over 600 leading businesses, transforming the public realm, air quality and experience in the West End. Dan was the West End business community's lead representative on the £150m Oxford Street place-shaping project. Previously working for City of York Council, JMP Consulting and Transport for London. At TfL Dan managed a multi-million pound annual programme, leading on public realm, air quality, safety, cycling and pedestrian programmes across central and inner London. This included delivering concepts, strategies and on the ground schemes in places such as Soho, Strand-Aldwych, Bond Street, Vauxhall, Clapham Old Town, Baker Street and Bank junction. Dan was successful in building the case for and introducing London's first 20mph speed limits on the TLRN in the City of London and leading TfL's role in making Bank junction a cycle and bus only scheme. Dan is a Design Expert for New London Architecture.

David Baldwin is an Associate Partner with broad experience spanning healthcare, masterplanning and higher education. His healthcare work is centred on the £1.5bn North Manchester General Hospital campus regeneration, where he contributes to the masterplan, enabling works programme and the £25m new outpatients building, applying a collaborative approach across complex clinical and non-clinical stakeholder groups. His masterplanning experience includes the Copperas Hill Masterplan for Liverpool John Moores University and The University of Manchester's Biology, Medicine and Health campus masterplan refresh. His education portfolio encompasses major projects at Staffordshire, Leeds, Liverpool and Salford universities, delivering teaching, student life and library facilities across multiple campuses. David joined Sheppard Robson in 2007 and was promoted to Associate Partner in 2022. He leads a wide range of projects across multiple architectural typologies including university, masterplanning and healthcare. David has a collaborative design approach with a focus on stakeholder engagement and promoting the wider opportunities for developments in a Masterplanning context. This is evidenced in his role on the LJMU Copperas Hill Project which linked two city centre LJMU campuses and created a new gateway route to university from the city centre.

Dawn is an experienced Consultant in Public Health, and a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health. She leads the central team of the Mayoral Regions Programme, which supports English Mayoral Regions to improve health and reduce inequalities through regional level action on many of the wider determinants of health, such as employment opportunities, transport and planning. Dawn has a special interest in addressing structural inequalities through effective place making approaches that intentionally build health through home, neighbourhood and high street. She has led the development of a spatial planning and health framework for Nottinghamshire, which has been used to support local planning policy and practice. She has also pioneered use of creative narratives centred on the building blocks of health, to gain system wide buy in to action on place-based health determinants.

Diego Grinberg is an architect and masterplanner at Hawkins\Brown. Diego spent over a decade working across all stages of residential design before specialising in urban design. For the past 15 years, he has led some of the UK’s most high‑profile masterplans. In his role as one of the lead urban designers behind the future phases of Eddington, North West Cambridge, his particular interest has been in the intersection of neighbourhood health and urban design strategies.

Dinah Bornat is Co-founder and Director of ZCD Architects, an award-winning practice with a specialism in housing and community-centred design. She is Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast and a Mayor’s Design Advocate for 2025–2028. She is the author of All to Play For: How to Design Child-Friendly Housing and is a leading voice on how the built environment can be designed to support children’s health, play and independence in urban neighbourhoods.

Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska is a professor at the Centre for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies, Faculty of Philosophy. She received her master’s degree in quantitative methods (2003), her doctoral degree in economics (2008) and post-doctoral degree (habilitation) in sociology (2016). Her research interests are in methodology including impact assessment and evaluation as well as psychometrics, composite scales, and indicators. Her recent focus is on positive health and human flourishing. From 2017 to 2021 she was a research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 2011 to 2017 she worked for the European Commission Joint Research Centre (in Italy) as a post-doctoral researcher and a research fellow. Between 2010 and 2012 she was appointed an assistant professor at the Educational Research Institute (in Poland). Between 2003 and 2015 she held an academic appointment at the Warsaw School of Economics, as an assistant professor as well as research and teaching assistant. In her career, she has had an opportunity to work with policy makers, international organizations (UN, OECD, WIPO), European Commission agencies (four European Commission Directorates General), foundations (European Cultural Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), and non-profit international organizations (ENCATC; Sustainable Society Foundation) on multiple interdisciplinary projects. She also served as a scientific advisor for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) in ‘the Quality of life in major European cities’ project. To date, she published more than 90 papers in peer reviewed journals, 15 book chapters, and 2 books.

Dr Eli Hatleskog is a social impact researcher at Stride Treglown and visiting research fellow at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. Her work connects urban research, architectural design, and systems thinking, with a focus on collaborative creative practice. She is particularly interested in how research and design can bridge disciplinary silos and make the intangible dimensions of place more visible in decision-making. She co-edited 'Social value in architecture', contributed to the RIBA Social Value Toolkit, and received the 2020 RIBA President's Medal for Research.

Eike leads Arup’s global food and agriculture systems business. With over 20 years’ experience, he is committed to advancing a just transition to resilient, equitable food systems that nourish people and protect the planet. His work spans spatial, social, economic and environmental dimensions, developed through close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and global partners. Eike has worked on urban food systems since 2005 and was a seconded advisor to Qatar’s National Food Security Programme. He now leads Arup’s strategic initiatives in the sector, partnering with developers, governments, agri-food companies and designers worldwide. Recent projects include advising the Singapore Food Agency on the country's first agri-tech hub, collaborating with UNEP and the city of Mexico on scaling investment in urban food growing, and supporting a major US tech company on its food strategy. He also worked with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to scaling positive agriculture. In recognition of his leadership, Eike was appointed to the Council of Advisors for the Ban Ki-moon Centre’s initiative on elevating the voice of women in agriculture – an effort aligned with his commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.

Dr Eleanor Eaton is an environmental economist at the University of Bath. Her work advances robust health‑driven metrics and tools for better urban decision‑making. With a detailed understanding of how homes and neighbourhoods shape health, her research helps unlock capacity for policy makers to assess impacts early and describe how impacts and costs fall across communities, supporting more equitable, evidence‑led planning.

I am a health geographer and data scientist with a PhD in human geography from Newcastle University, awarded in 2021. My doctoral research was funded through the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Research Excellence Academy Studentship and the Newcastle University Overseas Research Studentship (NUORS). Prior to this, I completed a distinction-level MSc in Geographical Information Systems at the University of Leeds. These academic milestones have equipped me with advanced skills in spatial analysis, statistical modelling, and computational health geography, all of which underpin my evolving academic career. My substantive research interest is determinants of and inequalities in health. This includes considerations of need for, access to and utilisation of healthcare services.

Elisabeth Montgomerie is Director of Sustainability at Introba, with over 20 years’ experience delivering sustainability strategy across the built environment. Her work spans the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on integrating environmental, social and health outcomes into infrastructure and building design. A Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist, Elisabeth specialises in translating complex sustainability challenges into practical, measurable interventions at both project and organisational scale. She has led multidisciplinary teams on major programmes including NEOM, Nairobi Central Station and the UK Government Property Agency portfolio, embedding approaches to decarbonisation, wellbeing, social value and climate resilience. Elisabeth’s current work explores the intersection between sustainability and public health, with particular interest in how design can support healthier, more equitable urban environments. She is committed to advancing evidence-based approaches that align policy, design and delivery to create places that enable both people and planet to thrive.

Elliott has been working with Root And Erect since 2020 when he completed his practice placement at the London School of Architecture. Trained in architecture but naturally focused on the outdoors, he works mostly on landscapes, play and place-shaping. He is passionate about health, well-being and using design to bring awareness to our senses and selves. At Root And Erect, Elliott has hosted workshops and engagement events with different user groups across the city, welcoming diverse voices into the design process. Outside of the studio, you will find Elliott making clothes, painting walls yellow, exploring nature, doing yoga or at a festival near you.

Emily is the Research Programme Coordinator for Healthy Urban Places, which brings together communities, researchers, and decision-makers to make urban places in Bradford and Liverpool healthier and happier. Emily comes to Born in Bradford with over 10 years of experience in research and practice at the intersection of the built environment, specifically housing, and health. Emily has led participatory programmes and driven efforts to embed community engagement and involvement within all research. Emily holds a PhD from University College London and has held positions in various research and community organisations. Emily worked extensively in low-income urban settings in the Global South, especially in Delhi’s informal settlements co-creating and evaluating inclusive housing solutions for health and on issues of indoor air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, Emily’s previous work focused on developing and evaluating people-centred services to support UK households in implementing energy-efficiency retrofits. Emily has contributed to international consortia and organizations, including the World Health Organization, on matters related to housing and health.

Emma Bird is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at UWE Bristol, where she is the Healthy and Sustainable Places research theme lead within the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing. Emma has broad research interests in health and place, conducting projects which examine health promoting interventions and strategies in a range of neighbourhood and community settings. She has successfully secured more than £500k in funding as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator and authored more than 50 publications.

Emma is a Research Fellow in Public Health based at the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on environmental and social influences on health. Emma’s interests include work to evaluate public health interventions, understand the determinants of health and health-related behaviours, and understand the impact of access to health services.

Emma Hankins Law is a Senior Consultant at Oxford Insights, focusing on business analysis and economic evaluation. Her work takes a human-centred approach to improving legacy systems and helping government and charitable organisations understand the economic value of their work, including her most recent project assessing the value of the Liverpool Civic Data Cooperative. Emma holds a BA in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government from American University and an MSc in Public Policy from the University of Strathclyde.

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Ewan Oliver is a chartered landscape architect and senior public realm development manager with over 25 years’ experience shaping liveable, regenerative places where people and nature thrive. Working across the property and construction industries, he brings a rare combination of creative place strategy, technical expertise and delivery-focused leadership. Ewan is currently Public Realm & Landscape Lead at the Earls Court Development Company, overseeing the 40-acre, £10bn landscape-led Earls Court Masterplan in West London. He is also supervising the delivery of public realm for Thames Tideway Tunnel, a £3.5bn infrastructure project helping to reduce pollution entering the river and reconnecting the city to its river. Previously he led the design and delivery of the public realm at Elephant Park for Lendlease. In a previous role at Arup, Ewan was involved in the delivery of the 2012 London Olympic Park amongst other major infrastructure projects and has worked across local authority and private practice as a landscape architect. Ewan is passionate about the role of plants, nature and ecology in supporting healthier places—enhancing biodiversity while improving wellbeing and everyday experience. Known for his collaborative approach, he builds strong partnerships to deliver places that respond to environmental challenges and support social connection

Faye Lawrence is a practitioner in creative health and community engagement, working at the intersection of culture, storytelling, and public health through Planting Stories. Her work explores how arts- and culture-led approaches can support community health programmes, strengthen local identity, and improve wellbeing outcomes. With a background spanning both the NHS and the community sector, Faye brings experience in health engagement, co-production, and working with diverse communities. She is particularly interested in how creative practice can amplify lived experience, foster inclusion, and contribute to more holistic, people-centred models of health and care.

Femke Feenstra is an (interior) architect-director and one of the three partners at Gortemaker Algra Feenstra architects. The firm bridges the gap between innovation and tradition, combining decades of expertise with fresh ideas. It is also specialised in conducting research and development. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague and the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture. She believes it is important as a designer to look beyond her own discipline. How can a designer contribute to the future of healthcare, wellbeing, and the built environment? What makes a house a home? Remaining part of society is essential. Femke is currently working on various research projects, including the Reactivating Hospital and MAYA. Her design projects include Rijnstate Hospital in Elst, Residential care centre Allévo in Zierikzee, Marijke Hiem in Heerenveen, and Health Hub Ipse de Bruggen, Youth Care Institution Campus de Hutten and OCMW Halle.

Ffion Carney is a Senior Data Scientist in AtkinsRéalis’ Research & Innovation team, specialising in urban analytics, geospatial data and social research. Her work focuses on using data‑driven methods to understand inequalities, mobility patterns and environmental factors shaping everyday urban life, with the aim of supporting more equitable and resilient cities. She holds a PhD in Geographic Information Science from UCL, where her research explored how big data can reveal transport disadvantage, mobility behaviours and social exclusion among older adults.

MSc Architecture at PoliMi, and UTL Lisbon, RBA, LEED GA Francesco is a landscape masterplanning and placemaking specialist with over 13 years of experience across the EU and MENA regions. Fran specialises in placemaking for entertainment, public realm, and eventscapes, crafting tailored project visions and immersive user journeys.

Gary Leeming is the Deputy Director for the Civic Health Innovation Labs, based at the University of Liverpool. His work focusses on three main areas of design-led approaches to health data engineering, machine learning and digital avatars for personal and population health, and civic / life sciences data governance and ethics. He leads technical development on projects including the Civic Data Cooperative, the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre, Children GrowingUp In Liverpool (CGULL), the NHS Data Into Action programme, the Office for Life Sciences-funded Data Action Accelerator and the Civic Health-tech Innovation Zone, with an overall portfolio of over £30 million. Formerly he was the Chief Technology Officer at the Connected Health Cities programme, developing technology and infrastructure for Learning Health Systems and Trustworthy Research Environments, as well as investigating distributed ledger technologies for management of health data. Previously he was the Director of Informatics at the Manchester Academic Health Science Network working on digital innovation and health information exchanges, and CTO at NWEH where he led the design and use of routinely collected health data in clinical trials on the GSK Salford Lung Study and other projects. LinkedIn Profile: Gary Leeming - University of Liverpool

Gemma Hyde is a projects and policy manager at the Town and Country Planning Association, where she leads work on healthy placemaking. Working at the intersection of planning, public health and children’s rights, she supports councils and national partners to embed health and wellbeing in planning policy and practice. Her work has a particular focus on championing the rights, needs and voices of children and young people in the built environment and enabling them to help shape the places where they live, learn and play.

Gemma is a qualified Adult Play and Family Systems Therapist.

Dr Geoff Bates is a Lecturer in Public Health Policy at the University of Bath. His research focuses on how to improve public health and reduce inequalities through tackling the wider determinants of health, such as the social, political and economic factors that shape the conditions we live in. He is interested in the effective use of different types of evidence to inform policy-making, and the design and evaluation of interventions and policies to improve health and wellbeing.

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Dr Guddi Singh is a specialist in neurodevelopmental and social paediatrics, researcher and broadcaster whose work sits at the intersection of child health, systems change and social justice. She is completing a PhD at King’s College London exploring how the role of the doctor might be reimagined to address the wider social, economic and political determinants of children’s health. With training spanning medicine, public health, psychology and philosophy, she brings a critical and holistic approach to understanding how the systems around children shape the adults they become. She has worked with the World Health Organization and brings a global perspective from experience across multiple countries. She serves as a Board member for the National Centre for Creative Health, Advocacy Lead for the British Association for Child and Adolescent Health, and Trustee of the Centre for Health and the Public Interest. She is also a TV broadcaster, appearing regularly on the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.

Harry Dodd is a strategic built environment leader specialising in healthcare estate strategy, capital programme delivery, and town planning. He has worked across the public and private sectors, including senior roles at NHS England, Community Health Partnerships (CHP), and Archus, leading complex, large-scale transformation programmes. At CHP, Harry is London Region Strategic Estates Productivity Lead, where he is driving initiatives to reduce £25m in annual void costs across 59 assets, improving utilisation and unlocking value from the NHS estate. CHP is currently leading the delivery of 12 Wave 1 Neighbourhood Health Centres nationally, with Harry directly leading on four of these schemes, shaping their strategic direction, delivery models and integration within wider systems. Previously at Archus, Harry advised on system-wide estate strategies and capital prioritisation, delivering investment plans of over £140m and contributing to Ireland’s national Capital Strategy Programme. He is also the founder of NUKO Planning, bringing entrepreneurial insight and hands-on development experience to his work. Harry is passionate about aligning infrastructure, service models and commissioning to create flexible, sustainable health estates that support prevention, improve outcomes, and strengthen community resilience.

Heather Macey is a Principal and Trustee at Makower Architects, where she leads the practice’s strategic focus on health, housing and regeneration. With over 20 years’ experience in urban masterplanning, supported housing and mixed-use development, her work explores how the built environment can actively contribute to population health and social equity. She is currently leading the River Roding Health Corridor, a cross-sector initiative integrating public realm, preventative healthcare and community infrastructure in partnership with NHS North East London, Be First, Care City, Arup and Connected Places Catapult. Heather is also Trustee and Co-Lead of Homestead, an innovative therapeutic supported-housing model for individuals with psychosis, combining design, creative practice and place-based care. She regularly contributes to policy and design discourse on preventative urban health, social justice and systemic change.

Helen is an architect with a career spanning the public, private and third sectors. The urban design lead at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, she also chairs the Yorkshire and Humber Place Advocates Network. Helen has expertise in the impacts of housing development on health and physical activity, particularly in children and older people. Her research for Playing Out CIC explored the link between residential layouts and children’s freedom to play and roam safely. Helen worked with the University of Leeds to research women and girls’ perceptions and experience of safety in parks, and brought partners together to create Safer Parks guidance as a result. She also led the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Dementia-ready Housing Taskforce, exploring the personal experience of those with dementia in West Yorkshire and developing a set of criteria for dementia-ready homes which has been adopted by the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

I currently hold a postdoctoral position in Public Health at the University of Liverpool, where my research focuses on how welfare reforms impact health outcomes. I am also part of the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) PHIRST (Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams) team. Prior to joining Liverpool, I completed my doctoral studies in Economics at the University of Glasgow (2020-2023).

Isabella Bhoan is a chartered landscape architect and the Lead of Landscape Europe & APAC at WW+P, London. Her work operates at the intersection of ecology, technology, and social equity, reimagining landscape architecture as a tool for environmental justice and urban rewilding. With a global portfolio spanning diverse climate zones and urban conditions, Isabella brings a systems-based approach to sustainable design that is both data-driven and deeply contextual. She is the developer of Landscape Information Modelling (LIM) Arboris, a digitally enabled planning tool that quantifies ecological benefits and integrates them into digital design workflows. LIM enables more responsive, regenerative, and inclusive landscape strategies, particularly in resource-constrained or ecologically sensitive contexts. Isabella’s practice foregrounds collaborative, nature-positive futures, advocating for technological innovation that enhances biodiversity, supports public health, and empowers communities through landscape-led development.

Jasmine is a consultant at Oxford Insights, a UK-based consultancy that works with governments and international organisations to harness technology for the public good. She has advised governments in the UK and internationally on designing data-driven public services and evaluating the impact of public sector interventions. Jasmine has a particular interest in the value of data, having led the mid-term evaluation of Administrative Data Research UK, including work to assess the value of linked administrative data. More recently, in partnership with Lateral Economics, she conducted an independent economic evaluation of the Liverpool Civic Data Cooperative's health data linkage programme, exploring its wider social and economic impact.

Jesse Whitehead is a Senior Research Fellow working across health geography, demography, and health equity. His research focuses on rural health, geospatial methods and service accessibility, and population data, with an emphasis on generating evidence that supports policy, service planning, and community aspirations.

Jing Zhi Tan is a healthcare architect with a strong focus on therapeutic interior environments and evidence-based design that promotes mental, physical and social wellbeing. Her portfolio spans mental health facilities, acute hospitals and specialist clinical settings, including the £150m Tolworth Hospital mental health redevelopment, the £450m West Suffolk Hospital New Hospital Programme scheme, and the Sowenna CAMHS inpatient unit in Cornwall. Jing's considered approach to interior finishes and spatial design within clinical environments is further demonstrated through refurbishment projects at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the Grade I listed St Bartholomew's Hospital. She is currently contributing to the North Manchester General Hospital campus regeneration and has worked on the specialist cancer treatment clinic at the £1.1bn Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford. Jing joined Sheppard Robson in 2024. She has worked on a range of projects in the UK from medium to large scale buildings, mainly for public sector clients. She has previously worked on large commercial and residential projects in Abu Dhabi and refurbishments of commercial and workplaces in Beijing. Jing’s primary focus lies in the integration of mental, physical, and social wellbeing within the healthcare sector.

Joanna Hayes is a Research Associate at the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool. Her work focuses on how urban environments shape human wellbeing, with particular interests in blue and blue-grey space, environmental quality and the everyday practices of caring for the public realm. Drawing on experience across academic and applied settings, she specialises in qualitative research integrating diverse perspectives to address complex policy challenges.

MSc Space Syntax Cities & Architecture at UCL, B.A Architecture at AUD, Minor Interior Design, LEED GA As an urban designer specialising in spatial data analytics, Joe brings four years of experience working on architecture and large-scale masterplanning projects, offering expertise in data-driven design and urban analytics across the MENA region and the European Union.

Johan Wijsinghe is an architectural designer and researcher working at the intersection of architecture, technology, and product development. His work focuses on the development of scalable building systems, with particular emphasis on mass timber, prefabrication, and the integration of AI and automation within design processes. With a strong interest in innovation, Johan brings a forward-thinking approach to contemporary architectural challenges. He has spent the past year at Waugh Thistleton Architects as a research and development architect, where he contributed to advancing sustainable construction methodologies. During this time, he co-authored research as part of the Timberhaus Horizon project, exploring the potential of engineered timber systems and their application at scale. His work reflects a commitment to low-carbon design and the future of industrialised construction. Johan has also been engaged in both academic and professional research environments internationally. He taught for a year at ETH Zurich, contributing to architectural education at one of Europe’s leading institutions, and previously worked as a researcher at LEVER Architecture in the United States. With a specialism in parametric design, Johan combines computational expertise with material innovation, enabling the delivery of efficient, adaptable, and high-performance architectural solutions.

John (Jack) Spengler, the Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, has over 50 years’ experience in environmental health and exposure science, characterizing the exposure to and effects of contaminants in outdoor and indoor environments. In that time, he has mentored hundreds of students who have gone on to become world-renowned experts and leaders in environmental health, sustainability, and public policy. Jack arranged for a series of conferences that led to the founding of the Internationals Society for Indoor Air Quality. As President of the prestigious International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences (IAIAS) he led its merger with ISIAQ and changed into the Academy of Fellows in 2005. His research contributed to the 1986 airline smoking ban and, decades later, to our understanding of airborne transmission of SARS CoV 2. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, his team examined the transmission and mitigation of airborne viruses in schools, airplanes, airports, and buses, helping to shape practical guidance for safer indoor environments. For the past two decades, Jack’s teaching and research have increasingly focused on climate change, sustainability, and healthy buildings. In the early 1990s, he launched a master’s program in Environmental Management at Harvard Extension School, later expanded to include sustainability. This program offered Harvard’s first sustainability degree. After a World Bank project in Russia, he turned his attention to local challenges, helping to found the Healthy Public Housing Initiative (HPHI) with colleagues at Boston University, Tufts, the Boston Housing Authority, and resident groups. This multi-year pediatric asthma intervention demonstrated that integrated pest management could effectively control pests while reducing pesticide exposures, and that improved housing operations and indoor air quality could substantially reduce asthma symptoms and emergency room visits. From 2012–2017 he served as director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, where he helped launch initiatives on sustainable tourism, sustainable seafood, healthy buildings, and executive education in sustainability leadership. Over the past 12 years, he has directed the JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program, mentoring junior faculty across the U.S. and senior scientists in federal agencies in a shared effort to design research and policy that responds to the health challenges in under-resourced communities.

Jonathan joined Ryder in 2003 and has a wealth of experience across masterplanning, sport, civic, residential and office sectors. He has been instrumental in growing Ryder’s portfolio across the UK and was part of the team that established Ryder’s Hong Kong office. Jonathan led on our portfolio of buildings at Newcastle Helix, an exemplar of sustainable urban development which combines prestigious commercial and residential space with first class research and education facilities in the heart of Newcastle. Jonathan has extensive experience of working internationally and is board member for Okana, our pioneering global built environment consultancy, placing visionary thinking alongside economic viability. Jonathan is part of the British Council for Offices (BCO) northern committee and mentors for the BCO in the North and London. He has been a RIBA awards panel member and is a graduate of the Common Purpose Meridian senior leadership programme, the CBI executive education programme and sits on the CBI infrastructure committee. Jonathan also sits on the CBI Outside of work, he enjoys travel, time with his family and friends and is a keen sports fan.

Dr José Derraik is a Senior Health Researcher whose work spans public health, paediatrics, epidemiology, and developmental origins of health and disease. His research examines how early life exposures shape later health outcomes, drawing on experience across a wide range of clinical and epidemiological studies. He has developed strong international collaborations, and his current work includes long-term birth cohort research and exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance research quality, efficiency, and equity.

Josh Dickerson is Director of Place and Urban Market Lead at BWB Consulting and Co-Founder of Deetu. He pioneered Deetu’s digitally-led engagement approach, helping organisations make better decisions about regeneration and development using community insight and data. Josh’s background spans healthy placemaking consultancy, digital innovation and stakeholder engagement. He is known for championing evidence-led placemaking, embedding data into business cases, de-risking projects and ensuring interventions such as active travel and public realm investment deliver measurable outcomes. Josh is Chartered Geographer, a Board Director of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire and a member of the Institute of Place Management. He previously served on the inaugural National Infrastructure Commission Young Professionals Panel and was recognised as East Midlands Emerging Property Person of the Year.

This is a report co-authored by the Institute for Public Knowledge (IPK) and Gehl, with IPK acting as the project lead. The IPK has a core administrative unit comprised of Director Eric Klinenberg and Associate Director Michael Koncewicz. The Institute for Public Knowledge (IPK) brings theoretically serious scholarship to bear on major public issues. Located at NYU, it nurtures collaboration among social researchers in New York and around the world. It builds bridges between university-based researchers and organizations pursuing practical action. It supports communication between researchers and broader publics. And it examines transformations in the public sphere, social science, and the university as a social institution as these change the conditions for public knowledge. Gehl is an urban strategy and design consultancy focused on creating cities for people. Rooted in decades of research on public life, Gehl works globally with cities, developers, and organizations to design healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable urban environments. Their social impact work centers on improving quality of life—prioritizing walkability, equity, public space, and community well-being—ensuring that cities are shaped to support everyday human needs and foster thriving, resilient communities. Julia D Day and Eamon O'Connor led this social infrastructure work for Gehl. About the team IPK Eric Klinenberg Project Lead Eric Klinenberg is the Helen Gould Shepard Professor in the Social Sciences and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. His most recent book is 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed, and his other books include Heat Wave, Fighting for Air, Going Solo, and Palaces for the People. Michael Koncewicz Associate Director Michael Koncewicz is the Associate Director at the Institute for Public Knowledge, where he develops, implements, and manages programmatic and administrative operations for IPK in collaboration with the Director. Koncewicz’s scholarship focuses on the culture and politics of the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. His first book, They Said ‘No’ to Nixon: Republicans Who Stood Up to the President’s Abuses of Power was published by the University of California Press in 2018. He is currently working on an authorized biography of longtime progressive activist Tom Hayden. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Jacobin, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, and The Washington Post. Nan Feng Postdoctoral Researcher, Cities, Communities, and Social Infrastructure Nan Feng is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. She received her PhD in Sociology from Cornell University in 2024. She studies how inequality shapes and is shaped by social networks. She pursues this inquiry through three interrelated lines of research. The first line of research addresses inequality in social capital and social integration within large social collectivities. The second line of research investigates how social networks reinforce socio-economic disadvantage and the resulting impact on health. The third line of research explores the role of geographic proximity in high-stakes business relationships within America’s venture capital market. Matt Wolfe Postdoctoral Researcher, Cities, Communities, and Social Infrastructure Matthew Wolfe is a National Fellow at New America, where he is currently writing a narrative nonfiction book, for Viking Press, on the Earth Liberation Front and radical environmentalism in the context of the current climate crisis. In 2023, he received a PhD in sociology from New York University, where he researched the social patterning of and societal reaction to missing persons. His academic research has appeared in Theory and Society, BMJ Global Health, and Social Research. His journalism has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Harper’s, and The New Republic. Gehl Julia D Day Project lead for Gehl Julia is a Partner & Director at Gehl and co-opened the Gehl NY office. Julia is skilled at developing multi-sector partnerships that highlight the power of place to impact health equity and community development. With 20 years of experience working with mayors, commissioners, civic leaders, and philanthropies, she has led planning, design, strategy, and engagement projects to support civic leaders in ensuring people are visible and heard in the city-making process. Julia works across design, strategy, and research to demonstrate the integral role streets play as connective, vibrant public spaces. She has worked on public realm strategies city leaders have used to fund pilot and capital projects. Findings from her research on NYC ‘Play Streets’ led the program to be adopted in PlaNYC and first lady Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America. She teaches Design for Cities at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Interaction Design masters program. Eamon O'Connor Associate Director and Project Manager Eamon believes cities are at their best when they bring people together. As an urban planner, designer, and strategist at Gehl, he brings expertise in people-first planning and design and multi-method research projects that span geographies, scales, and disciplines: from downtown public realm plans to global research on social infrastructure, from urban park design to an impact assessment of 90+ play spaces and skateparks.

Julika Niehaus is a strategic leader with 20 years of experience in social justice and systems change, specialising in education transformation and strategic philanthropy. She has led strategy and investment at Impact on Urban Health with a focus on early intervention and mental health, and served as an Expert Play Commissioner for the Centre for Young Lives, influencing government investment in play. She is an Associate Governor in Hackney and brings a deep commitment to schools as equitable, community-facing spaces that prioritise connection, play and children’s wellbeing.

Katherine is an Assistant Director in the Healthy Lives team leading work to support local and regional government take action to tackle the wider determinants of health and reduce health inequalities. Prior to joining The Health Foundation Katherine had a twenty year career in the Civil Service working on a range of social policy issues. She led the drug and alcohol unit at the Home Office, worked on social housing policy, health and work and supporting the third sector. She has a background as a social researcher.

Kathryn Firth is an architect and urban designer with over 30 years of international experience. Most recently, she was a director in cities planning and design at Arup. Previously, Kathryn was urban design director at several practices in the UK and the US. As chief of design at the London Legacy Development Corporation, she directed design teams to realise the Olympic legacy. She leads masterplanning and regeneration projects, including intensifying industrial sites, transit-oriented communities, and projects enabling the creation of high-quality public realm. Kathryn has led projects evaluating and challenging policy and how it could positively impact the physical context. Kathryn is committed to a productive exchange between the practice of urban design and research and is a proponent of a multidisciplinary approach that ensures collaboration across design, development and socio-economic disciplines. Kathryn is chair of the Ealing Design Review Panel, a Design Council expert, trustee of the London Society, co-chair of the Urban Land Institute Urban Development and Infrastructure Council, a London Mayor design advocate alum, and active in Architects Declare. She teaches simultaneous to practice – she taught at Harvard Graduate School of Design, the Architectural Association, and is teaching at the Bartlett, UCL and Central Saint Martin’s.

Kerry Harding is a highly experienced project director specialising in strategic healthcare planning and complex estates programmes. With a long career across the NHS, Kerry brings deep expertise in system‑wide transformation, Green Book business cases, and the delivery of sustainable, future‑focused health infrastructure. At Mott MacDonald, Kerry leads major programmes for community trusts, ICBs and primary care networks. This work spans strategic estates reviews, community diagnostic centres, new models of care, and integrated health hub developments. Kerry also champions the role of neighbourhood health delivery plans, practical, place‑based frameworks that turn strategy into action and embed health into everyday life.

Khashayar Kazemzadeh is a lecturer in transport planning at the School of Environment, Education and Development at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on active mobility, electric micromobility, and the human experience of transport systems, with particular attention to how people perceive safety and comfort in urban environments. Previously, he was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Future Roads fellow at the University of Cambridge, where he developed digital-twin-based video experiments to assess cycling experience, behaviour, and equity across different urban contexts. He has also held research positions at the University of Leeds and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. His work combines transport engineering, behavioural science, and human-centred design to support safer, more inclusive, and healthier urban mobility systems.

Kirsten Haggart is a Director and the Research lead at Waugh Thistleton Architects, the world’s leading architects in the field of mass timber who were shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2018 and won the Architects’ Journal Practice of the Year award for 2023. With over 20 years of design experience working across sectors, Kirsten’s strength lies in designing site sensitive developments through the management of stakeholders and engagement with collaborators, successfully navigating public consultation and statutory authorities to pilot proposals through the planning process. Throughout her career Kirsten has developed projects and concepts that push boundaries and change mindsets. From the pioneering Murray Grove, which altered the global perception of how CLT should be used, to MultiPly, a carbon neutral timber pavilion for the V&A Museum which demonstrates how engineered timber structures can contribute to the circular economy, her work challenges the status quo. Most recently Kirsten has developed the visionary concept of Trenezia a zero carbon community of 1,600 homes and a cultural hub built over the lake in Bergen.

Kris Mackay is commercial director at 360 Degree Society, bringing over 20 years’ experience across general practice management, health and social care, public health, housing, regeneration and the voluntary and community sector. Her work focuses on tackling social inequality through place-based, collaborative and community-led approaches that connect health, housing, enterprise and community infrastructure. Kris combines frontline operational experience in primary care with strategic system leadership, supporting NHS organisations, local authorities and cross-sector partnerships to design and deliver integrated neighbourhood health models. She played a senior leadership role in the £20m Well North Programme and has contributed to long-term system innovation work in Surrey, Yorkshire and other ICS areas, helping rethink the role of hospitals, primary care and community assets within wider transformation programmes. She is a fellow of the Institute of Place Management and holds an MSc in Leadership and Innovation.

Kyounghee Cho, a research fellow from Birmingham City University, is a scholar of digital governance, specialising in the role of emerging technologies in shaping public policy, urban systems, and democratic processes. She received her PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, where her research examined the impact of digital transformation on democratic development in South Korea. Her current research focuses on the governance of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructures, with particular attention to their implications for urban policy, public service delivery, and societal wellbeing. She explores how AI-driven systems are increasingly embedded in city governance, influencing decision-making processes, risk management, and the provision of public goods in areas such as transport, smart cities, and urban innovation.

As a major regeneration project, built to Garden City principles, it will cost many billions of pounds to design and build the new homes, shops, workplaces, schools and community facilities to create Ebbsfleet Garden City. This is being invested collaboratively by the Government-backed Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) and a variety of housebuilders, construction companies and other suppliers from the private sector. As inclusive growth manager at EDC, Lara works with local stakeholders, residents, education institutes and employers to ensure that the opportunities arising through Ebbsfleet Garden City are realised by local people. Lara is responsible for capturing and measuring the ‘place-based’ social value being created, with the ambition to maximise the positive impact of Ebbsfleet’s development for local people. EDC has developed programmes specifically to address inequalities in the local area, to create economic benefits through skills development, education outreach and jobs, apprenticeships and work experience. To ensure local skills meet employer demand, programmes have focused on the built environment sector, from opportunities for entry-level roles to trades personnel and site professionals; to designers, engineers and planners. Since January 2022 Ebbsfleet’s regeneration has created over £52m of social value for local people through economic, community and environmental activity, with the employment of residents from Dartford and Gravesham Boroughs, accounting for the majority of that social impact.

Lauren Decent is a Senior Sustainability Consultant focused on the relationship between people, place and sustainability within the built environment. She supports client, design and delivery teams on multidisciplinary projects across public, commercial, residential and healthcare sectors, embedding sustainability from early design through to in-use performance. Lauren is a qualified BREEAM Assessor and AP, BREEAM Residential Assessor, WELL AP, SKA HE Assessor and Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnv). Her work includes leading sustainability assessments and certifications, developing sustainability strategies, and advising design teams to embed environmental performance and wellbeing outcomes. Lauren has experience in post-occupancy evaluations, using insights to assess the relationship between design intent and lived experience. Her work is informed by academic and practice-based research into health, sustainability and the built environment, alongside experience evaluating how buildings perform in use and support occupants. She recently contributed to the Design in Mental Health Network's Dignity by Design publication as part of the Design with People in Mind series. Her approach focuses on designing for people, bringing together environmental performance, design intent and lived experience to support more informed and practical outcomes within buildings and urban environments.

Lea Heise, an urban resilience strategy manager at ASITIS, excels in urban greenery analytics and GIS for climate-resilient cities. Pioneering UpGreen, she assesses tree health, cooling, and vitality via satellite data. Advocating the 3-30-300 rule, she drives data-driven sustainability across Europe.

Dr. Linda Powers Tomasso brings deep disciplinary expertise and a passion to promote nature access, biodiversity conservation, and human health promotion at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. Her professional roles have spanned policymaker, practitioner, university instructor, published researcher, and consultant. She has spent a dozen years at Harvard, as a project manager at Harvard School of Public Health’s Center for Health and the Global Environment; as an independent consultant for environmental and non-profit clients; and is subcommittee head of the national Nature and Health Alliance, advancing nature and human health. Most recently, she has worked across Harvard schools to co-created tools that offer nature-based solutions for climate mitigation in communities impacted by urban heat islands and change equity of nature access. Her mixed-methods approach to exposure assessment brings qualitative insights into a discipline typically determined by quantitative factors to learn what motivates nature-seeking behavior, what barriers exist to nature engagement, and how these factors affect equity of nature access and climate adaptation. An MS from Georgetown, MA from Harvard in Environmental Management, and an early career with the U.S. State Dept shaped Linda’s research lens toward policy translation. Her favorite places to be in nature are the snowy woods and deep under water.

Dr. Lindsay Sansom is the Co-Director of the Together for a Better Tomorrow Program, a Faculty Fellow in the Center for Health and Nature, and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University School of Public Health. Her research examines how environmental conditions, public spaces, and community systems shape health, resilience, and social connection. Grounded in community-engaged and practice-based methods, her work has focused on water security, environmental health, rural park access, and the role of greenspace in supporting community cohesion. She has led and contributed to interdisciplinary projects with communities across Texas, including colonias along the U.S.–Mexico border and historically under-invested urban neighborhoods. Her current work explores urban parks as social infrastructure and examines how community spaces can strengthen well-being, belonging, and collective capacity.

Liz Towns-Andrews is 3M Professor of Innovation at the University of Huddersfield, where she leads work at the interface of academia, industry and place-based innovation. She is currently leading the development of the University’s National Health Innovation Campus, a major strategic initiative bringing together health, research, skills and enterprise to drive innovation in healthcare and support regional growth. Since joining the University in 2009, Liz has been instrumental in shaping its innovation ecosystem, including securing European funding for the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre—a flagship hub supporting spin-in and spin-out companies and enabling collaboration between business and higher education. The Centre provides access to markets, finance, skills and technology, acting as a catalyst for business growth and cross-sector partnerships. A trained chemist, Liz holds a PhD in X-ray crystallography, an MBA, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. She began her career at the UK’s first synchrotron radiation source at Daresbury before becoming Director of Knowledge Exchange at the Science and Technology Facilities Council, where she led national strategy for economic impact and helped establish the Harwell and Daresbury Science and Innovation Campuses. Liz was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for her contribution to entrepreneurship and innovation.

Louise Ciotti is Programme Lead for Architecture M-Arch at the University of the West of England, (UWE Bristol). An experienced academic and practitioner, she aims to equip students with the skills, attributes and knowledge to create sustainable, inclusive futures and the agency to make positive change in the natural and built environments. She is a Fellow of the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable systems and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is an advocate for an inclusive and diverse curriculum that reflects the individual backgrounds, experiences and interests of learners, working as co-leader of the UWE School of Architecture and Environment ‘Athena Swan’ team. She is part of a team delivering ‘live’ project based teaching, involving students in a series of meaningful, collaborative activities with practitioners and the wider community. Her research work has predominantly responded to prevailing industry needs in the advancement of sustainable design and construction. As in-house practice Researcher she delivered UK and European funded research projects into innovative materiality, embodied carbon profiling and climate change adaptation. She is completing a D Phil that brings together a series of publications on retrofit drivers and decision making, the health impacts of retrofit, and the role of agency in implementing retrofit in low income communities. She combines research and teaching with professional architectural practice, with 20 years practice experience in southwest UK. As a Registered Conservation Architect with the AABC, and a PAS 2035 Retrofit Designer, she currently co-runs a specialist retrofit-focused practice with expertise in low carbon adaptive reuse, historic building repair and retrofit; and community resilience.

Louise Phillips works within NHS North East London’s Integrated Care Board focusing on improving population health through strategic planning, service integration, and infrastructure development. She is experienced in leading initiatives that strengthen community-based care by aligning estates, facilities, and local partnerships with health and wellbeing priorities. She works collaboratively with NHS organisations, local authorities, and community stakeholders to modernise infrastructure, support prevention-focused services, and enable integrated care delivery closer to home. She is skilled in programme co-ordination, stakeholder engagement, and translating health strategies into practical regeneration projects that enhance accessibility, resilience, and long-term community health outcomes, while ensuring infrastructure effectively supports evolving service models.

Having worked in local council culture teams, in-house for major property developers, and with individual artists and cultural organisations, Lucy Bawden brings a practical, creative approach to embedding culture into urban spaces. Passionate about nature, environment, and storytelling through culture - in all its senses - she sees carefully designed, future-proofed infrastructure as the foundation for welcoming, creatively distinctive, and community-owned spaces. Her work bridges creative vision and operational delivery, shaping strategies and programmes that promote creativity, social connection, and long-term value while celebrating the identity and lived experience of local communities. Recent projects include cultural and placemaking initiatives across London, the UK, and France where she integrated arts and nature into regeneration programmes, supporting creative infrastructure and economic development for public realm projects that combine wellbeing, heritage, and community participation. Lucy is particularly interested in the intersection of culture, nature, and wellbeing, helping ensure that everyday places—streets, parks, and shared spaces—are designed for engagement, creativity, and connection.

Lucy Bullivant is a place and culture strategist, curator and award-winning author dedicated to just transitions enabled through bespoke and engaged adaptive planning. In 2010 she was elected an Honorary Fellow by RIBA for her contribution to sustainable architectural culture globally. Through her consultancy firm, Lucy Bullivant & Associates, she has delivered place, cultural and community engagement strategies for the London BIDs Central District Alliance and Team London Bridge, and local authorities including Enfield Council, Westminster City Council and Bydel Bjerke, Oslo. Lucy’s advisory roles also include Chair, Lambeth Design Review Panel; Trustee, Temple Bar Trust, and guest critic and author, School of Architecture, ETH Zurich. She has curated groundbreaking exhibitions including ‘Phoenix Rising: Visions for Rebuilding Ukraine’ (Building Centre, 2025-26); ‘Retrofit 23: Towards Deep Retrofit of Homes at Scale’ (Building Centre, London, 2023); ‘Dugnad Days’, Oslo Architecture Triennale, 2019 and 2022; ‘Urbanistas’ (Roca London Gallery, 2014); ‘Space Invaders’ (the British Council); ‘The near and the far, fixed and in flux’ (Milan Triennale); and ‘Kid size: the material world of childhood’ (Vitra Design Museum). Lucy’s published books include Masterplanning Futures (Routledge, 2012), winner of the Urban Design Group Book of the Year, 2014. Her follow up, Masterplanning Futures: Agents of Change, is published by Routledge, Sept 2026. She has given many keynotes globally, lectured extensively in the UK and chaired panels on all aspects of adaptive planning and resilient urbanism. In 2013 she founded her webzine for liveable urbanism, Urbanista.org. She has a PhD in adaptive planning, School of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University, and an MA(RCA) in Cultural History, Royal College of Art. https://lucybullivantandassociates.net/ https://www.urbanista.org/

Luke is an Associate and Architect at Feilden Clegg Bradley with experience working across a wide range of sectors, with a focus on cultural, arts and educational buildings. Since joining the practice in 2011, Luke’s work has demonstrated his passion for sustainable design, centred around community, craft and material qualities. Working on the refurbishment of the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery, Luke was responsible for the renovation of the concert halls, public foyers and artists’ facilities.The project was completed in 2018, winning the Architects' Journal ‘Refurbishment of the Year’ Award, and RIBA Regional and National Awards the following year. Luke was Project Architect for Rotherhithe Primary School in the London Borough of Southwark, which opened in 2022 to great acclaim winning RIBA, Civic Trust, and Education Estates Awards. Luke previously worked on the RIBA Award-winning William Perkin Church of England High School. He has also worked extensively in the Higher Education Sector, from campus masterplans such as the University of Sussex West Slope, to specialist science and technology buildings. Most recently, he was Project Architect leading The Docking Station - a new Digital Arts facility for the University of Kent housed within a Listed Building and Scheduled Monument at Chatham’s Historic Dockyards. Luke is currently Project Architect leading the design of a new Herbarium for Kew Gardens. The project will house Kew’s collection of around seven million preserved plant specimens and provide laboratory, library and research facilities to support critical conservation work, helping in the fight against the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

BA(hons), MSc(res), PhD, FHEA, FRAI Luke is an Associate Professor in Anthropology at Brunel University, specialising in providing unique and bespoke research into the changing nature of urban social life and human engagement with the built world. His work incorporates cutting-edge research in phenomenology and material culture with methods from urban anthropology and archaeology.

MSc Urban Design & City Planning at UCL, BSc Urban Planning, Design and Management at UCL, LEED GA Magdalena is an urban design and city planning specialist with over seven years of experience in strategic design and urban planning. She specialises in masterplan visioning and project positioning for high-profile developments across the MENA region.

Malak Mehta is a Real Estate Advisor at Anculus, where she contributes to the development of both renovations and new school buildings. Her work emphasizes an integrative approach to creating healthy learning environments, alongside supporting project management processes. She also serves as an advisor for the WELL for the Mind concept and is a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), specializing in holistic strategies for healthy buildings. With a background in architecture and urban design engineering, Malak is driven by a passion for creating spaces that support physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. She has a strong interest in placemaking and place attachment, and is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental psychology and the built environment.

Marcell T. Kurbucz is a Research Fellow at UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity, where he applies advanced quantitative and computational methods to study economic and social phenomena. He contributes to the statistical modelling and estimation of prosperity indicators using large-scale longitudinal data, including small-area estimation methods. His research focuses on advanced statistical modelling, high-dimensional data processing, and computational social science, with an emphasis on reproducible quantitative pipelines for longitudinal and spatial data. Before joining UCL, he held positions at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics and Corvinus University of Budapest, and also worked as a consultant for the World Bank’s Development Data Group.

Marcus is Managing Partner of JTP, a multi award-winning practice of architects and placemakers. He is an architect and urban designer, comfortable across all scales with substantial experience of working with private and public sectors to lead the design and delivery of major new mixed-use neighbourhoods, new towns and garden communities, large-scale regeneration, and strategic placemaking projects around the UK and internationally. He is driven by a commitment to creating healthy, sustainable new communities and through his work on new neighbourhoods and settlements Marcus has pioneered JTP’s Design Code methodology and spearheaded JTP as leaders in the field of masterplanning and placemaking at strategic scale. In celebration of JTP’s 30th anniversary, Marcus led the production of the "Future of Place" publication, showcasing JTP's research and findings on what the next generation want from their future places and communities and the planning and policy implications.

Marie-Louise is Sustainability Director at Hilson Moran and a member of the Operations Board. An experienced design consultant and industry leader, Marie-Louise specialises in drivers and systems for bringing about meaningful environmental and social change in real estate and construction. She brings over 25 years of industry experience championing sustainable design, from building-level and urban development across the world, to the ground-breaking authoring of London's Carbon Options Guidance (CoL) and other key policy documents. She founded Hilson Moran’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum and runs a funded Social Value R&I project. Marie-Louise is DRP panellist for Camden, a BCO London judge, and has formed part of judging panels for the CVU (previously CTBUH), MASP and NLA; as well as being a frequent speaker and contributor to publications including Architects' Journal, CIBSE Journal and Building Magazine.

Mark is an experienced practitioner and researcher with 25 years’ experience. He works across the fields of public health, urbanism, planning, and architecture. Mark founded Urban Habitats in 2018, putting research into action in local places. Alongside practice work he is a healthy places specialist at South Cambridgeshire District Council. He is a member of the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing at UWE Bristol where he completed his doctoral research, Healthy Streetlife. He is a board member at Green Squirrel, a social enterprise with a vision for caring communities which runs Railway Gardens, a community resilience hub. Happiest whilst on a bicycle, Mark is an optimistic allotmenteer and lives in Cardiff.

Mark Warren is an urban designer and placemaking specialist whose work focuses on creating healthier, more equitable and socially connected town centres. He is the Mitcham Town Centre Manager at the London Borough of Merton, where he leads place‑based regeneration that strengthens community wellbeing, civic identity and everyday public‑realm experience. His role centres on working directly with residents, traders and young people to co‑design inclusive, health‑supporting environments and public spaces that encourage active participation and social cohesion. Before taking on this role, Mark worked as an Urban Design and Development Officer at Merton, contributing to major regeneration programmes across the borough, including high‑street improvements, estate regeneration and design policy work that embedded wellbeing, walkability and high‑quality public realm into local planning frameworks. His experience includes shaping character studies, small‑sites housing strategies and public‑realm enhancements that support healthier neighbourhoods. Mark also contributes to London‑wide design quality and equity‑focused urban development as an NLA High Streets Expert Panel Member and Croydon Design Review Panel Member. His earlier career included leading meanwhile activation and regeneration projects that foreground community use, stewardship and social value. He holds a Master of Architecture (Distinction) from the Royal Danish Academy and a BA (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Brighton.

Marsha Ramroop is a global award-winning organisational inclusion strategist, Founder Director of Unheard Voice Consultancy Ltd and author of Building Inclusion – A Practical Guide to EDI in the Built Environment, which won accolades at Business Book Awards. She has been named in the Top 100 Inspirational D&I Leaders of 2025 and in The Built List of Top 100 influencers in the Built Environment. She has formulated a culture and behaviour change methodology which has been recognised as successful with international prizes, from the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations, and with two Brandon Hall HRD Gold Medals. As well as running Unheard Voice, which was shortlisted for D&I Consultancy of the Year 2024, Marsha works part-time as the Executive Director of EDI for Building People CIC, a hub that’s pulling together EDI resources and insight, as well as career pathways for underrepresented groups in the built environment. Marsha originally had a 30-year career in broadcasting including 20 years at the BBC. Whilst working at the BBC, she led inclusion efforts across the Midlands and developed a pioneering inclusive recruitment pilot for presenting staff, and an inclusive reporter scheme. She was the inaugural Director of Inclusion and Diversity at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) where she ran RIBA Radio, a live week of radio programming about inclusion for the profession reaching 10-thousand listeners worldwide. Building Inclusion: A Practical Guide to EDI for Architecture and the Built Environment, came out in Autumn 2024, published by Routledge, the first book of its kind for the sector, and has been awarded Highly Commended in the Business Book Awards 2025, and a Finalist award at the Goody Business Book Awards 2025. She wrote and was lead facilitator behind the Diversity & Inclusion Charter for the motorsport, Formula 1, delivered through the Royal Academy of Engineering. She works with the Cultural Intelligence Center, the global headquarters of cultural intelligence (CQ) as one of their published and highlighted thought-leaders on impactful organisational change, as well as a worldwide trainer and facilitator. Marsha is a Chartered Member of the CIPD (Chartered MCIPD). She holds the Ministerial Public Appointments of Non-Executive Director at both the Joint Nature Conservation Committee - which seeks to protect the biodiversity of the UK, and the Marine Management Organisation - which protects the UKs seas. She was also the Vice Chair and is a Fellow of the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals (FIEDP), an institute which strives to verify and set standards for the growing vocation of EDI practitioners. She also sits on the International Advisory Council of the Institute of Business Ethics, and is also a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).

Mary Rouse is a highly accomplished and passionate community development professional with over 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning health, education, housing, and social care. Currently serving as Community Development Manager at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC), Mary is the principal link between residents, community stakeholders, and the EDC, ensuring community voices actively shape the future of Ebbsfleet Garden City. Her work is deeply embedded in the principles of co-design and inclusive placemaking. She leads on major initiatives including a network of 14 community gardens, a successful behavioural change app with almost 4,000 users, and is currently developing a local volunteer network and community development training programme for residents. Mary also manages strategic planning and evaluation, overseeing key performance indicators and impact frameworks, helping ensure that projects align with Levelling Up goals and deliver real, measurable outcomes for local communities. Prior to her current role, Mary led the development of the design of a pioneering Health and Wellbeing Hub, coordinating with NHS Trusts, ICBs, and community stakeholders to develop integrated service models for a rapidly growing population. Her ability to translate complex stakeholder needs into practical, community-facing outcomes is a hallmark of her leadership style. She holds an MSc in Healthcare Management and Leadership, a BA in Philosophy from Cambridge, and a Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce. She is PRINCE2 certified and has completed a wide range of Civil Service and specialist training in inclusion, safeguarding, and community-led approaches. Alongside her professional work, Mary is an active charity trustee, a former CIC founder, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to equity, empowerment, and civic engagement. Her leadership is driven by a belief in the power of communities to overcome complex challenges when given the tools, trust, and opportunities to lead.

Prof Ashton was appointed director of public health for Liverpool City Council in April 2020 in a joint appointment with the University of Liverpool, where he is an honorary professor in the Department of Public Health and Policy. He leads a team of over 30 people in the local authority, covering a range of public health activities including the commissioning of public health services, health protection, health improvement, health care public health, embedding health in all policies approaches, public health research and development, and addressing the wider and commercial determinants of health. Matt is passionate about bringing together the best people and partnerships in the region to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities in the communities we serve. Matt grew up and went to school in Liverpool, and also studied for his Masters of Public Health at the University of Liverpool.

Matthew is an architect, technologist and Principal at BVN, acknowledged for his cross-sector expertise and his ability to apply current and novel technologies and future of work knowledge to redefine spaces across industries such as health, education, and science. With a career spanning Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, North America, and the UK, Matthew now leads BVN’s UK Studio, bringing a global perspective to his work. Passionate about driving change, Matthew also steers many of BVN’s transformational and innovation initiatives, collaborating with universities, start-ups, and other architectural practices to expand the boundaries of what architecture can achieve. His work reflects a deep understanding of how insights from workplace design can inform and enhance other sectors, from healthcare to life sciences, creating environments that foster collaboration, adaptability, and human connection.

Dr Matthew Jones is Dean and Head of School of Architecture and Environment at the University of the West of England (UWE). An experienced academic and practitioner, he aims to equip students with the skills, attributes and knowledge to create sustainable, inclusive futures and the agency to make positive change in the natural and built environments. He is a Design Council Expert, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Matthew has expertise in Education for Sustainable Development; civic agency and the civic university; and interdisciplinary university-community live projects. Matthew’s research focuses creating thriving and resilient towns and high streets, a theme he has explored through artist residencies, co-design workshops, teaching collaborations, architectural projects, community-led planning and academic research. He led the development of the community-led planning toolkit Shape My Town for Design Commission for Wales, is a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Town Centre Task Force and has collaborated with community organisations and local authorities to explore the future of smaller places.

Maysa is an Urban Designer with extensive experience working on large-scale, mixed-use developments in the UK and internationally. Her work focuses on shaping places that support health, wellbeing, and long-term resilience, translating complex urban challenges into clear, strategic narratives. Since joining Studio Egret West in 2018, Maysa has played a key role in leading regeneration schemes and regional visions. She contributes to the studio’s place advocacy and thought leadership, with a particular interest in how design can foster healthier, more inclusive communities.

Megan Wright is a Labour councillor representing Town Centre & The Parks in Bracknell Forest and serves as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Health. She also chairs the local Health and Wellbeing Board, leading partnership work to improve population health and tackle place-based inequalities. A former registered nurse with over a decade of experience, Megan has also founded and led a community charity supporting vulnerable children and families. Elected in 2023, she brings expertise in health, social care and community development to her work locally and nationally, including through the Local Government Association.

Professor Melody Smith is a leading public health researcher whose work examines how built, social, and natural environments shape wellbeing across the lifespan, particularly through active travel, mobility, physical activity, connection with nature, and social connectedness. She uses ecological and systems approaches and mixed methods, combining objective and participatory methodologies to investigate complex environment–health relationships and generate evidence that informs research, policy, and practice.

Mike Morgan is a Principal Consultant specialising in place‑based approaches that integrate health, social value and community impact into urban planning and design. He works with authorities to translate policy ambitions around wellbeing, equity and climate into practical, deliverable projects. Mike’s expertise spans co‑design, placemaking and active travel, with a particular focus on how street environments can support healthier everyday behaviours, improved air quality and stronger social connection. He has experience delivering projects in constrained and historic settings, where conventional transport or public realm solutions are often ineffective. His work brings together evidence from air quality, health and lived experience to reframe streets as social and health infrastructure. Recent projects include health‑led street improvements in Caerleon, Wales, developed with Newport City Council. Mike is particularly interested in empowering communities - especially children, young adults and under‑represented groups - to shape their environments, and in creating delivery frameworks that balance ambition with technical, spatial and political realities.

Dr Mike Wragg is Senior Lecturer in Playwork and a leading academic in the field of children’s play and outdoor environments. He is Chair of Play Bradford and a Child Friendly Leeds Ambassador, and holds an Outdoor Operational Playground Inspector qualification. His work bridges academic research and community practice, exploring how playwork principles and child-friendly city approaches can be embedded into neighbourhood design and local governance to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Miloslav Kaláb is a Climate Resilience Consultant at ASITIS, working at the intersection of urban greenery, climate adaptation and data-driven planning. With a background in horticulture and experience in green infrastructure projects, he focuses on helping cities better understand how trees and green spaces contribute to climate resilience, liveability and long-term urban health. His work combines practical knowledge of vegetation with GIS, satellite data and climate analytics, translating complex environmental information into clear outputs that support strategic decision-making by municipalities. Miloslav is particularly interested in how urban greenery can be planned, monitored and managed as critical infrastructure for healthier and more resilient cities.

Dr Mohammad Mayouf is an Associate Professor in Digital Construction at Birmingham City University, specialising in the Digital Built Environment. His work sits at the intersection of digital innovation, information management, and socio-technical transformation in construction, with particular expertise in Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, artificial intelligence, and lifecycle asset information management.

Dr Mubasshir Ajaz is the Head of Health at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), where he leads efforts to place health and wellbeing at the centre of regional policy. As executive health lead and advisor to the Mayor, he champions a health in all policies approach—making the case that better housing, skills, transport, and economic growth are essential to improving population health and tackling inequalities. He has led negotiations with government on health devolution and worked with NHS, local government, business, and community partners to design more integrated models linking health, work, and productivity. Dr Ajaz is also a regular speaker at national forums on health devolution, prevention, and health technology—bringing together perspectives on digital transformation, inclusive growth, and the future of public health systems. He currently leads a national collaboration funded by The Health Foundation demonstrating how Strategic Mayoral Authorities can use their levers to improve health and reduce inequalities and is leading work on Public Service Reform for health prevention within the WMCA. A passionate advocate for prevention, integration, and local leadership, Dr Ajaz continues to shape both regional delivery and national debate on the future of population health, prevention and the role of technology in driving healthier, fairer growth.

An experienced professional with the FHEA recognition. Holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, awarded the "Excellence Thesis Award" for outstanding research. Published research findings in over 100 top-tier journals, patents, books, and conferences with a cumulative impact factor of over 150. Taught highly rated courses in computing, big data management and analytics, data mining, data science, statistics, AI, and mathematics. Received "Merit Scholarship Awards" throughout their tertiary education and have played an active role in student recruiting and admission for universities. Invited speaker and presenter of research in different countries such as the USA, the UK, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Italy, Portugal, and Australia.

Dr Nadia Inglis is the Director of Public Health at Walsall Council. In this statutory role, she acts as principal adviser on public health to elected members and senior officers, and leads the development of evidence based strategies to improve and protect population health and wellbeing across the borough. Nadia is a qualified medical doctor and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, She has held senior public health leadership roles across local government and has extensive experience spanning health protection, inequalities, mental wellbeing, substance misuse and the wider determinants of health. Her work focuses on using policy, place based approaches and partnership working to tackle the root causes of ill health and improve outcomes across the life course. Alongside her local authority role, Nadia is Chair of the West Midlands ADPH, West Midland Tobacco Control lead and also chairs the Health Sub group for the West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). In the latter capacity, she facilitates cross sector collaboration between public health, planning and regional partners to ensure health and health equity are embedded as core outcomes of strategic spatial planning.

Natalie Raben is a doctoral researcher exploring how public spaces support intergenerational social interaction and neighbourhood health. Based in Barcelona, her work uses ethnographic methods to examine how design, temporal rhythms, and everyday governance shape inclusive public life. She previously worked in place management in New York and London, delivering public realm programmes, events, and urban public art initiatives.

Dr Niamh Donnellan is a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand. Her research examines how neighbourhoods, public spaces, and wider urban environments shape child health and wellbeing, particularly through opportunities for play, physical activity, active travel, and healthy eating. With a background in health geography, she has worked across academia, local government, and applied public health research to generate evidence that informs planning, policy, and practice. Her work is focused on creating healthier, more inclusive environments for children and families, and on ensuring child health is more clearly reflected in the planning and design of neighbourhoods and public spaces.

Professor Nic Palmarini leads the UK's National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), co-founded the Edelman Longevity Lab, serves as CEO of Voice® Italia, and is affiliated with the Harvard Meta Lab. His extensive experience includes roles at MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and as Head of AI for Healthy Aging at IBM Research in Cambridge, USA. He previously directed the Human Centric Innovation Centre in Paris and served as IBM Smart City Subject Matter Expert. With expertise in social and political studies, he specializes in bridging academic and industrial research to advance healthy longevity initiatives. His pioneering programs include "Living Safer" for caregivers, the Internet of Caring Things, and the City of Longevity who’s been awarded with the first Dubai Future Foundation’s Foresight award. As co-founder of Talent Garden's Innovation School, he established Europe's largest innovation hub. Currently a Professor of Practice at Newcastle University, he authored five books, including the 2019 bestseller "Immortals, economy for longevity." A TEDx speaker and co-curator of Milano Triennale's Exhibition on Healthy Longevity, he serves on multiple boards including MIRA, GIMI, and the Humane Technology Lab.

Nicola Noble is Deputy CEO of Big Education Trust, an innovative multi-academy trust committed to reimagining what schools can be. She is co-founder of the Old Kent Road Family Zone at Surrey Square Primary School in Southwark, a community-led initiative that uses the school as a hub for neighbourhood health, family support and community partnership, and a nationally recognised model for place-based approaches to tackling health inequalities.

Nicole leads research at the nexus of air pollution, technology and policy. She joined the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial in 2023, initially as a Hoffmann Fellow in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. She has expertise in air pollution monitoring and policy, having designed, deployed and evaluated a network of commercial and D-I-Y Internet-of-Things sensors and has collaborated on monitoring projects with local authorities, NHS trusts and the Department for Transport. Most recently, her work focuses on policy analysis, taking systems thinking approaches to understanding the barriers and opportunities to urban sustainability and how we can maximise co-benefits of action.

Nicole is the Technical Lead for the One Planet Living programme at Bioregional. She works with partners who use the One Planet Living framework to turn their sustainability goals into practical action plans—whether that’s for a business, a community, or a new development. She doesn’t just review these plans at the start; she stays involved over the years, helping to track progress and celebrating successes along the way. Nicole gets a lot of joy from recommending truly inspiring, transformational projects for leadership recognition. This year Nicole celebrates 29 years at Bioregional. Based at their Oxfordshire office in the NW Bicester Eco Town, she has also had the privilege of serving on the Board of the Oxfutures II programme, which invested millions to grow Oxfordshire’s low-carbon economy. Nicole played key roles in delivering the NW Bicester Eco Town and BedZED. Nicole was listed among Building Magazine’s Top 50 rising stars of sustainability (2012) and was a finalist in the Outstanding Women in Construction Awards (2014).

Nigel is an architect and Partner at JTP who is passionate about design and its critique. His skills lie in an understanding of place; creating sustainable residential-led, mixed-use neighbourhoods with spaces and streets where people can positively lead their lives. Nigel gives particular emphasis to how buildings engage with the landscape and public realm and the generous enlivenment of their ground levels. He works across scales and brings a design perspective and thinking to a wide range of projects, from complex mixed-use town centre regeneration with reimagined offers and revitalised public realm, to innovative Purpose Built Student Accommodation designs, placing community interaction to the fore, underpinned by first-hand research. His work has driven him to address issues our towns and cities face today. He has led research into urban densities and mid-rise residential typologies, as well as the opportunities for our built environment with the introduction of connected Autonomous Vehicles. Nigel also has a particular interest in the communication of design narratives through presentation and drawn storytelling, and he is a strong advocate of JTP’s unique Community Planning processes, opening doors to design for all. He actively enjoys understanding and debating design and is currently a member of a number of Design Review Panels, including Wandsworth and as occasional chair for Hammersmith & Fulham.

Dr Nikolaos Tzivanakis is Senior Research Fellow and Head of Data at UCL's Institute for Global Prosperity. He leads the statistical development of IGP's Citizen Prosperity Index, including the London pilot that maps the CPI framework to Understanding Society panel data and uses multilevel regression with poststratification to produce LAD-level prosperity estimates across the capital. He designed the diagnostic framework for evaluating composite indicator compression and geographic signal preservation in the MRP pipeline. He is Co-Investigator on the €3m BENEFITS Horizon Europe project and leads IGP's Productivity Programme.

Dr Olivia Stevenson is responsible for leading UCL’s Public Policy programme. Focused on generating collaborative opportunities, Olivia develops strategic initiatives to improve the quality of engagement between academic research and public policy. She is the co-lead for practice on the UPEN Programmes project, funded by Research England, the ESRC, and UKRI. Olivia is a co-founder of the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), was UCL's co-lead on the £10m Capabilities in Academic-Policy Engagement (CAPE) project, and has delivered a range of internationally recognised high-impact research projects, published widely, most recently on knowledge mobilisation. Olivia has a PhD in Social Geography from the University of Leeds and a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship.

Patrick is the Founder and CEO of Square Mile Farms, a pioneering urban farming company that works with leading employers and property managers to create healthier, happier and more sustainable places to live and work. Under his leadership, Square Mile Farms has grown rapidly, won multiple industry awards and helped redefine occupier experience in commercial buildings. Patrick is a regular speaker on workplace design, wellbeing and sustainability and his work has been featured by the BBC, the Times, the Telegraph and the FT. Previously, Patrick was a Partner at EY, advising executives and governments on business strategy and implementation. His experience includes COO of EY Global Ventures and delivering major international transformation programmes, developing commercial strategies for advanced technology platforms and overseeing large consulting sales and delivery functions.

Patrick joined P+HS in 2003 and qualified as an Architect the following year. As an Associate Architect within the healthcare team, Patrick plays a key role as lead designer and brings considerable experience to the design and delivery of complex healthcare schemes. Healthcare experience ranges from new build acute care and primary care to refurbishment schemes. Key projects include the new replacement hospital for Nuffield Health in Cambridge and Church View Medical Centre, along with the Radiotherapy Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Centre for Nottingham University Hospitals. More recently Patrick was the project Architect for the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle. Patrick strives to ensure the highest design standards are inherent across the practice. He is an invaluable member of the team bringing a full engagement in all aspects of architecture; an enthusiasm and talent for design; attention to detail alongside sound technical knowledge. With over 15 years experience within the healthcare sector, Patrick is now one of a handful of DQI for Health facilitators on behalf of the Construction Industry Council

Paul is a Strategy Director at London Councils, leading work on borough financial resilience and growth. He oversees policy and strategy relating to local government finance, the economy, skills, and infrastructure. He has been a member of the Corporate Management Team since 2020, having held a range of roles since joining London Councils in 2012. His work has included developing the London business rates pool, which piloted greater retention of growth and generated £600m of additional funding between 2018 and 2020. He coordinated London Councils’ response to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, helping ensure councils were compensated for the £3bn impact. In 2025, he led London Councils response to the Fair Funding Review, successfully lobbying for housing costs to be fully recognised within the Index of Multiple Deprivation. He oversaw London Councils work to co-produce the 2025 London Growth Plan and the 2026 London Infrastructure Framework with the GLA. Paul sits on the London Growth Mission Delivery Group and is a member of the Data for London Board. Prior to joining London Councils, Paul spent four years at the Audit Commission delivering national value-for-money studies. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management.

Philip Clifford is a Principal Policy Adviser at the Local Government Association and leads the LGA’s policy work on devolution, place-based growth and public sector reform. For much of his professional career, Philip has worked on issues of local leadership, regeneration, and public service transformation. Prior to joining the LGA he was part of the Government’s London Thames Gateway Initiative and worked with partners across London local government on a range of issues including housing investment, migration, welfare reform and devolution. Recently, his work at the LGA has focused on influencing the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, making the case for local councils as a Force for Growth and kick-starting new work on building a sector-led vision for local public service reform.

Philip has led HLM’s design culture as chair since April 2024, championing the practice’s ‘Thoughtful Design’ ethos and belief that great design can positively impact people and society. With extensive experience spanning education, workplace, residential and masterplanning sectors, he is recognised for creating people-centred, sustainable environments. Philip is a respected industry speaker and contributor, regularly sharing insights on wellbeing, social value, client engagement, modern methods of construction (MMC) and sustainability. A visiting professor at the University of Leeds and fellow of the RIBA, he also serves on the University Design Forum Research Group and Design Yorkshire Review Panel.

I am a PhD researcher at TU Delft’s Department of Urbanism, specializing in the intersection of architecture, the built environment, and sustainable transitions. My work focuses on developing multilevel spatial and governance strategies, with a particular emphasis on the resilience and integration of Urban Food Systems. With a global academic background, I hold an MRes in Interdisciplinary Urban Design from the Bartlett School of Planning (UCL) and an MA in International Heritage from the University of Birmingham. I began my professional journey with a Bachelor of Architecture from Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, India. My expertise bridges the gap between physical design and the complex actor-led governance required for sustainable urban futures.

Raymonde is an architect and senior urban designer with professional experience in the UK, Canada, and Sweden. Since joining White Arkitekter, she has contributed to a wide range of projects, from large-scale residential developments in the UK to innovative, landscape-led urban and masterplanning schemes. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to creating healthy, inclusive, and climate-resilient environments. Most recently, Raymonde led the design of healthcare campus masterplans in Dublin and the UK, with a focus on integrating campuses into the town fabric and greening existing estates. She applies evidence-based methodologies, emphasising environmental resilience through strategies such as integrated water management and microclimate analysis. Raymonde brings a sensitive, people-centred approach to design, placing everyday experience and social inclusion at the heart of public space development to support community cohesion.

Rebecca Sawcer is an Associate at Waugh Thistleton Architects and an experienced project leader specialising in sustainable timber design, technical coordination and project delivery. She leads WTA’s research on Timberhaus, a four-year EU Horizon project exploring how timber construction can support regenerative design, circularity, health and wellbeing. Rebecca combines research insight with practical delivery experience across commercial, residential and education projects and the EU-funded Build in Wood programme. At the Healthy Buildings conference, she will present WTA’s Timberhaus research into the role of timber in supporting health, wellbeing and flourishing communities.

Rebecca is the Grand Challenges Coordinator for Health Inequalities. In this role, she facilitates across Grand Challenges and the Institute of Health Equity to integrate activity across UCL and drive impact of research. Rebecca joined the team in November 2024. She previously worked in the civil service on health and social care and rough sleeping and homelessness policy. Prior to this, she worked in the select committee office at Parliament. Rebecca has an MSc in Government, Policy and Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London.

Rich is a landscape architect and associate director who brings creative energy and innovative thinking to all his projects. He has experience working across urban design and landscape disciplines and specialises in bringing the two together. He has been involved in numerous urban regeneration projects and works closely with local authorities, developers, and key stakeholders on projects of all scales to drive understanding alongside testing and evidencing the value generated in green and blue infrastructure. Rich was integral in driving the quality discussions for the development of the Greenkeeper online tool, which helps value urban green space. Today, he uses the tool and his experience to inform site understanding and craft targeted design responses. His recent projects include Barking Riverside, Peterborough Embankment, The Chocolate Factory (Wood Green), and Coventry’s Underpark. Outside of work Rich enjoys music and multiple sports including paragliding (or parawaiting)!

Early Careers Research at Ealing HDRC

“I’ve always believed that, just like individuals, businesses have a real opportunity and responsibility to make a positive difference in people’s lives and for our environment. So much of that comes down to the choices we make, and being true to our values” Rob has worked in the events and experiential industry for over 30 years and joined Therme Group in 2021 to lead the operational planning for our new UK resorts. He now leads social value and partnerships for Therme in the UK, focused on the delivery of the opportunities that will positively impact individual, community, and environmental wellbeing. A career focused on the planning, delivery and operation of major events, within roles at owner organisers, venues and suppliers, Rob was part of the team that planned, opened and operated ExCeL London, which transformed the area around the Royal Docks. The next step was a role in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee, joining very early in the planning phase for the Games. Working in the venue development team, he was responsible for managing teams to plan, deliver and operate a cluster of Olympic and Paralympic competition venues. Since the Games, he has worked across major events in the b2b and b2c sector, in addition to working for central government on the events re-start programme during the Covid response.

Rob is an architect and sustainability lead at Stride Treglown. Rob is interested in pro-activism – how we collaboratively instigate action on climate, biodiversity and health. He was the winner of the RIBA competition ‘Tomorrow's Garden City' and was behind 'Bath Wellbeing City', an initiative to reposition Bath as the UK's leading centre for wellbeing. He also co-produced a design guide, 'Health and wellbeing designed-in', in partnership with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust.

Romy is a Chartered Landscape Architect (Fellow) with 30 years’ experience across the built environment. Her career began in design practice and evolved into commercial strategy; throughout this time Romy has contributed to the delivery of numerous high-profile public realm projects in the UK, working alongside design teams to create lasting and impactful environments. Originally trained in horticulture, Romy retains a lifelong belief in the value of the external environment and an absolute conviction that landscape is no longer optional, but essential infrastructure in today’s world. Romy is deeply committed to advocating for equity and inclusion within the sector and firmly believes that high quality landscape design and delivery can significantly enhance societal wellbeing. Now working as a freelance consultant, she works at the intersection of design thinking, commercial strategy, placemaking, and sustainable innovation, helping built-environment organisations (including play equipment manufacturers) communicate complex ideas. A regular speaker and writer, Romy is passionate about advancing sustainable practices and raising awareness of the importance of responsible design in the built environment.

Rosie McEachan is the Director of Born in Bradford and a proud (Scottish) Bradfordian. She is an experienced applied health researcher with particular interests in cohort studies, development and evaluation of complex interventions, environmental determinants of health, green space, air quality, and co-production. She leads the UKRI Population Health Improvement Healthy Urban Places consortium. Rosie holds visiting professor positions at University College London, the University of York and the University of Bradford.

Sahar is a transdisciplinary researcher, specialist, designer, and educator in holistic sustainability. Sahar teaches on the MEng Engineering and Architectural Design programme at the Bartlett, UCL as environmental design tutor. Sahar also holds a position as Learning and Impact Research Fellow for Grand Challenges at UCL. Sahar's research spans holistic approaches towards understanding sustainability, addressing the interconnection of environmental, socioeconomic, health, wellbeing, and behavioural impacts and co-benefits in the built environment. Their research focus has been on participatory and mixed-methods approaches to reduce inequalities and improve environmental and socioeconomic benefits particularly for assessing and analysing the lifecycle impacts of housing regeneration projects. Sahar has a wide range of experience in qualitative and mixed-methods research, and in implementing co-design, co-creation, and co-production into research.

Professor Sarah Ayres is Professor of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Bristol. Working at the intersection between political science and regional studies, her research has examined how diverse actors solve complex problems through collaboration and local leadership. She specialises in Whitehall decision making, collaborative governance and English devolution.

I'm a Professor of Health Informatics with expertise in evaluating natural experiments and non-randomised intervention studies using anonymised linked administrative and health datasets. My research focuses on using safe haven data that have been linked across health, social and environmental domains to explore the impact of exposures such as decent housing conditions, alcohol outlets, pollution, and natural outdoor spaces, on health and wellbeing. I am co-Director of a UK Prevention Research Partnership, GroundsWell. This Consortium aims to reduce health inequities of non communicable diseases through the provision of appropriate urban green and blue spaces. We work across the Liverpool, Belfast, and Edinburgh city regions.

Sejal is an Associate Interior Designer at Sheppard Robson with a wealth of experience and a passion for creating inspiring and functional workplaces. Since joining the practice in 2018, she has made significant contributions across numerous typologies with a specialism in offices, healthcare, and higher education. Sejal has transformed workplaces into dynamic and collaborative environments highly regarded for blending functionality with aesthetic appeal, fostering productivity and wellbeing. Her notable projects include the new 20,000m2 Clatterbridge Cancer Care Hospital, Liverpool, 90,000m2 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Pall Mall Court in Manchester, and the innovative office spaces at Wellington Place, Leeds.

Sem Lee is an urban strategist, systems thinker, and designer working across public, private and third sector to deliver healthy places. Drawing on their lived experience in poor social housing when first arriving to the country, Sem founded OURI Labs, a health innovation research lab dedicated to shaping healthy, equitable cities that benefit communities and the planet. The practice specialises in participatory research, evaluation, and design, effectively bridging public health and urban planning policy.

Shahid is Senior Research Fellow in the ActEarly Collaboratory with a special interest in citizen science and co-production. Prior to joining BIHR he held several posts in both the voluntary and statutory sector to drive forward the engagement and involvement agenda. In 2015 Shahid was the winner of Bradford’s Community Star Award for outstanding services to the voluntary sector and in 2021 he won the Chief Scientific Officer’s Excellence in Healthcare Science Research and Innovation Award. He has led on the ‘co-production’ of the ‘co-production strategy’ which has been implemented across the health sector and he describes his role as community activism through applied research.

Shaun Andrews is a highly regarded urban planner and Director at Prior + Partners, where he leads the firm’s Applied Healthy Placeshaping capability and co leads the Strategic Planning Group (SPG). Shaun draws on extensive experience across both the private and public sectors, having held senior roles in local authorities, central government departments, development corporations, and leading consultancies. His expertise spans complex regeneration projects and the planning of new communities, including the preparation of strategic planning frameworks, Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs), and masterplans that help shape the future of neighbourhoods and urban centres. Through the Strategic Planning Group, Shaun has played a central role in shaping national thinking on the next era of strategic planning. The SPG’s landmark report, Planning Positively for the Future, sets out clear recommendations for embedding SDSs at the heart of a reformed, plan led system. Shaun and colleagues are now advising councils across England on how to develop highly strategic, digitally enabled strategies focused on delivering homes, jobs, infrastructure, and health equality. https://www.priorandpartners.com/spg-recommendations-published Shaun is passionate about championing built environment principles and practices that prioritise healthy, inclusive, and equitable places.

Shreshth Nagpal is Senior Principal and Head of Design Analytics at Introba. For the past twenty-five years, Shreshth's professional focus has been to understand and model building performance that results from the interaction between envelope configuration, climatic context, functional requirements, conditioning systems, and occupant behaviour. His doctoral research focused on developing automated workflows to construct large-building-stock energy models that are designed to systematically explore future energy scenarios and identify areas of maximum potential savings. Shreshth enjoys applying analytics and AI to facilitate the decarbonisation of the built environment at scale, translating complex energy analysis for diverse audiences and operates at the intersection of machine learning, environmental design, and building physics.

Shreya Aneja is an environmental designer and sustainability researcher at White Arkitekter, specialising in building physics, circular design, net zero pathways, whole life carbon, and regenerative design. Her work spans the full project lifecycle — from early-stage sustainability strategy through to delivery — translating climate ambitions into practical, evidence-based design decisions, with a particular focus on the relationship between circular material strategies and occupant health outcomes across office and healthcare environments. Her practice spans office, healthcare and urban design, including active involvement in the new Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff — one of the most ambitious sustainable healthcare projects in the UK — where her work encompasses holistic sustainability measurement, clinical design integration, and pilot testing as part of the current UKNZCBS. Beyond practice, Shreya contributes to the wider industry as a researcher, speaker, and co-author of sector frameworks, with presentations at international conferences including PLEA 2024 and CATE 2023 and being an active member of the white research lab at White Arkitekter.

Siobhan Morris is Assistant Director, Grand Challenges at UCL. Responsible for a broad portfolio working with academics and external partners to facilitate impactful research, interdisciplinary innovations, and cross-sector collaborations, Siobhan is an experienced knowledge broker. Cultivating and managing strategic high-level relationships and leading award-winning research projects, she specialises in equalities and structural inequities and has published extensively on intersectional inequalities in the UK.

Stefan Harris is an accomplished architect, with experience working across all levels of projects in multiple sectors. Passionate about creating inclusive spaces that enhance the health and wellbeing of occupants, he has recently co-authored a trauma-informed design white paper with the University of Salford. This outlines the practical steps to integrating this approach into our design process through all stages, regardless of sector, scale or budget. A Certified Passivhaus designer, Stefan takes a keen interest in the challenges faced tackling climate change and champions sustainable design throughout his all his work. His environmentally mindful solutions blend aesthetics with ecological responsibility.

Steve has over 25 years’ experience in sustainable real estate development. As a long-time member of the Urban Equation team, Steve has overseen sustainability on many of Ottawa's most exciting redevelopment and master plan projects. He led the development of Canada’s first two One Planet Living communities, Zibi and Guelph’s Baker District, exemplifying his commitment to addressing sustainability across a project's lifecycle. His pioneering use of ecological footprinting to drive education, engagement and impact is helping developers make evidence-based decisions to create impact. Steve oversees the sustainability team at Windmill Developments, North America’s leading sustainable real estate developer. Prior to moving back to Canada, Steve led the development and delivery sustainable business programs at Surrey County Council. He has a BSc. Environmental Studies from Kingston University (UK), and he is a LEED-accredited professional.

Steve Edge is a senior sustainability and decarbonisation advisor specialising in strategic, portfolio-scale decision-making with 13 years’ experience supporting large, complex organisations to translate sustainability ambition into credible, investable and deliverable programmes. He combines board- and executive-facing advisory capability with deep technical expertise in energy systems, heat decarbonisation, electrical infrastructure, climate risk and estate-wide carbon management. This enables him to provide advice that is strategic, proportionate and grounded in delivery reality, rather than theoretical or compliance-led. Before joining Introba, Steve held a client-side Head of Sustainability role at a UK university, where he was accountable for strategy, governance, budgets and delivery across a diverse, operational estate. This experience gives him a strong understanding of how sustainability decisions are actually taken within accountable organisations, and how to support those decisions under scrutiny. He now advises clients across higher education, public sector and commercial real estate on moving from targets to sequenced, funded and risk-managed sustainability and decarbonisation programmes.

Steve Manning is a consummate environmental protection professional who has worked in this space for nearly 40 years. His commitment to demystifying the science and regulation behind local government activities for the benefit of communities has enabled community led projects to become a normal activity within Newport City Council where he currently works. His understanding of the needs and drivers of communities and providers of professional services enables a balanced approach towards achieving outcomes which are technically and socially acceptable whilst embedding the principles of health protection whether it be from air, land or water based stressors. Steve’s ability to bring together the essential elements of community projects in terms of local participants, funding and professional services is what sets him apart in his field.

Steve is a research and data science (MSc) professional, who leads research and insight for Intelligent Health. Previously, he headed up insight-led transformation for West Midlands Police, the Gambling Commission, and was head of insight and research for Birmingham City Council. Steve also co-founded the Active Wellbeing Society and the Community Data Cooperative.

Sue has championed zero-carbon, sustainable homes and communities for over 25 years. She co-founded purpose-led sustainability consultancy Bioregional in 1994 and initiated the iconic BedZED eco-village in London in 1997. Bioregional drew on this experience to develop their One Planet Living® sustainability framework, used in over $30bn of real-estate development to create gold standard sustainable communities.  In 2013 Sue received an OBE for services to sustainable business and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Today, Sue and the team support homebuilders, construction companies, asset owners and local authorities to realise their zero carbon and sustainability ambitions. With the quality of their work recognised with over thirty awards, including the Resi Award for professional services team of the year in 2023 and Green Business sustainability consultancy of the year in 2024. Sue was appointed to the board of the Future Homes Hub in 2023, an independent organisation bringing together UK homebuilders with the wider sector, where Sue is currently contributing to a process with stakeholders to develop a more unified set of simplified higher voluntary standards for the sector, to speed up delivery of better quality homes.

Susanne is a founding director of Root And Erect. She trained as an architect in Germany, Vienna and at UCL in London where she has been working ever since. During a further Masters in Architectural History from University College London she explored creative practice and inter-disciplinary collaboration in the regeneration of cities. Passionate about health and fitness and keen to combine design and research, she has been leading various wellbeing projects for Root And Erect centred around active lifestyle, child-friendly and intergenerational cities. Susanne is also a member of five Inner and Outer London Design Quality Review Panels.

Tayo Isa-Daniel is a Part 3 RIAI Architect and Design Consultant working as a Senior Design Researcher within the AtkinsRéalis Building Design Research & Innovation team. Tayo holds an Architecture degree and a MSc in City Design and Social Science from the LSE where she conducted urban advisory research for mayors. Tayo’s work focusses on gender-focused planning and urban participatory design methods.

Tom is a Clinical Lecturer and Ear Nose and Throat registrar currently working in the Royal Manchester Children's hospital. Tom's research interests include any interdisciplinary work allied to ENT including hearing, speech, communication, education, human factors and noise. He welcomes contact from any collaborators seeking to explore health impacts through the lifecourse, inequity in treatment outcomes and research into socioeconomic deprivation and urban health.

Tudor Jones is a dual-qualified urban designer (MRTPI and recognised practitioner in urban design) with over 15 years’ experience, specialising in urban regeneration and complex mixed-use projects for both the private and public sector. His work on Newport Placemaking Plan, a long-term framework for the regeneration of Newport city centre to 2040, recently won a Pineapple Award for Strategy.

Valeria Leonardi is Head of Strategy at the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, with over 20 years of experience in innovation and commercial strategy. She focuses on scaling impact-driven solutions at the intersection of technology, longevity and systemic transformation. At NICA, she leads the strategic development of the City of Longevity framework, working with cities across Europe to translate longevity science into actionable urban policy.

To be confirmed

Victoria has over 20 years of planning consultancy experience, providing advice to of clients on a variety of projects including mixed-use, residential, commercial, and major regeneration schemes across London and the south of England. She leads large multidisciplinary teams for strategic developments including complex sites with multiple land ownerships and public-private ventures. Victoria provides site appraisals and promotion, encourages community involvement, and works on the preparation, submission, and negotiation of planning applications. She also serves as an expert witness at informal hearings and public Inquiries and appears at local plan examinations. Outside of work, Victoria spends most of her time as a taxi service for her two sons and enjoys running, baking cakes, and catching up with friends.

I’m passionate about participatory processes – working alongside users and practitioners to build meaningful knowledge. I hold a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Bristol, and I’m also a qualified social worker. My academic and professional background includes work in community development, social participation and decolonial approaches to research. IMPACT’s values align with my own, and I’m excited to contribute to a collaborative effort to transform social care through engagement and learning.

Vivian Fosseprez is an early-career researcher with interdisciplinary interests spanning environmental policy, migration governance, and science communication. Born in France and now based in the United Kingdom, he holds an MSci in Chemistry from Imperial College London and a Master's in Southeast European Studies from the University of Athens, where his thesis examined EU border policy and Frontex's role in border violence in Bulgaria. He currently works as a Research Assistant at Imperial's Centre for Environmental Policy, supporting Dr. Audrey de Nazelle's research on sustainable urban transitions and active mobility, focusing on developing and testing a novel method for evaluating misinformation about green policies in news media. He is also involved in research with NGOs on refugee rights and migration governance.

Wei is an Urban Designer at Studio Egret West. He has contributed to a diverse portfolio of projects, including mixed-use framework plans in London, life sciences campuses across the UK, and international design competitions. Working with an urbanist perspective, Wei focuses on integrating living, working, research, and industry to support cohesive, high-density environments. His work is driven by a commitment to delivering sustainable and well-connected urban places that respond to the evolving demands of contemporary cities.

Will is a Senior Associate Director at place and economy consultancy, PRD and specialises in supporting the public sector to respond to social and economic changes. Will has worked on a range of high-profile strategies, visions, and plans focused on making places more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive. Will’s approach brings together robust evidence insights, with a deep understanding of local government to develop deliverable and impactful strategies. At the heart of this approach is ensuring that evidence more accurately captures lived experience, whilst being grounded in client's ability to act. Will is experienced at using theory of change to create better policies and strategies. He has recently used theory of change approaches to produce an outcomes framework Hackney Council’s Economy Regeneration and New Homes service division, and develop the council’s new Economic Plan. Last year, Will led research to support the work of Waltham Forest’s independent Affordable Housing Commission. This combined new quantitative data with resident insight to inform a root and branch review of the council’s approach to housing and developmentm and was subsequently retained to deliver the Council’s housing strategy. Responding to the reccomendations of the Commission, the strategy positioned a good home being the a foundation for a happy and healthy life. Centred on a set of long-term outcomes, the strategy sought to take bold action to address both the supply-side root causes of housing unaffordability, as well as the secondary health-related impacts of the housing crisis.

Dr William Bird is CEO of Intelligent Health.

Yasmin is an urban planner and writer who is interested in where and how we live, and how this influences our identity and wellbeing. Working at the nexus of urban planning, community design, and engagement, she has a deep appreciation for the impact that connection and belonging can have on our lives, and the importance of histories and lived experiences to place and space. Yasmin has contributed to over 30 studies and initiatives for a range of public and private sector clients. Her areas of focus include equitable growth and revitalization, large-scale master planning, and community-centred and inclusive planning and design processes. She recently completed a visioning, master planning and approvals process for the long-term evolution of the Jane Finch Mall, which was guided by community-led engagement and awarded by OPPI, CIP, and IAP2 for excellence. Prior to this, she completed a neighbourhood framework plan for equitable reinvestment and neighborhood stabilization in east Detroit, co-crafted with the community. Yasmin has written about loneliness, affordability, grief, and human-centred planning and design for publications such as This Magazine, Spacing Magazine, The Possible, Alternatives Magazine, and elsewhere. She is currently writing a book about loneliness and belonging across geographies.

MSc Urban Regeneration at UCL, MSc Development Studies at LSE, BSc Economics and History at University of Bristol Yasmine is Head of Economics at Dar Al-Handasah, leading a multidisciplinary team of urban economists and financial analysts. With extensive experience across large-scale developments in the MENA region and beyond, she specialises in aligning economic strategy with spatial planning - shaping masterplans through rigorous market analysis, financial modelling, and viability testing. Her work ensures that design-led visions are grounded in robust economic frameworks, unlocking value while guiding investment decisions and long-term development performance.

Yeunsoo Park is a postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in Management from the University of Birmingham. His research interests span business analytics, GIS, geospatial analysis, artificial intelligence, and explainable AI, with a particular focus on developing data-driven solutions to address business and urban challenges. His current postdoctoral research centres on the development of a postcode-level Environmental Justice Index that integrates environmental, health, safety, transport, and food access indicators at postcode and property level to support smarter, fairer, healthier, and more evidence-based urban decision-making.

Dr. Thomas is the founder and CEO of UrbanHealth360, an INGO focused on bridging the divide between the science of urbanization, health, and wellbeing and the involvement and activities of local communities. In addition to leading UrbanHealth360, Dr. Thomas is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Strategic Transitions LLC, an organization established to provide professional development and strategic leadership training to professionals and academics at every level. She is currently a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at the Rutgers University School of Public Health. She was a Dean’s Senior Scholar at the University of Memphis School of Public Health. She was a founding board member and inaugural executive director of the International Society for Urban Health, science advisor for urban health to the New York Academy of Medicine, vice president for research compliance at Howard University, and the chief of Epidemiology at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health. She held academic positions in the Department of Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences and the School of Pharmacy at Howard University. She is a member of the boards of US-based Women’s Economic Imperative (WEI) and the Kenya-based LVCT Health. Her scholarly publications range in focus from the social epidemiology of drug abuse to urbanization and health and the intersection of environment, social context, and health dynamics.

Professor Yvonne Anderson is Associate Dean, Head of Medicine, and Professor of Community Child Health across Child and Adolescent Health Services, Curtin University, and The Kids Research Institute in Perth, Western Australia. She is a clinician academic and leader in child health whose work spans translational research, medical education, professional leadership, and advocacy. Her work focuses on equitable healthy lifestyle programmes for children and young people, health professional wellbeing, and workforce capability. She works across research, education, and health systems to improve child health and wellbeing outcomes.

Zanna Buckland is a researcher in sustainable transport policies and urban planning, with a master's degree in environmental policy from Imperial College London. She has presented a poster on barriers and challenges in implementing pedestrianisation projects at the 2024 Urban Transitions conference, and is currently working on continuing this research, with a focus on public health co-benefits.

Dr A K Kasthurba is a professor, architect, researcher and conservation specialist at the Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology Calicut, in Kerala, India. With over three decades of experience in architectural education, she has been dedicated to teaching architecture since 1990, continuously updating her expertise to align with evolving trends in urban renewal, tourism planning, heritage conservation, earth-based construction, and environmentally sustainable design. Throughout her career, she has received multiple international awards and recognitions for her contributions to the field. She has established academic collaborations with esteemed universities in the United States and actively participated in various professional bodies. Her commitment to community development is reflected in numerous outreach initiatives and consultancy projects aimed at fostering sustainable architectural practices.

Student

Adam Scott leads the Southwest Acoustic Team at Hoare Lea, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy focused on balancing the needs of people and planet. For over 15 years he has delivered practical acoustic advice to support wellbeing for a wide range of projects, including road and rail infrastructure, airports, hospitals and clinical spaces, schools, universities, offices, residential developments, community hubs, data centres, renewable energy schemes and large masterplans. Adam works across the whole project lifecycle, from concept and design, through construction, to in‑use monitoring. This broad perspective has shown him that, in practice, acoustic outcomes are personal and contextual. Consequently, Adam is an avid advocate for inclusive engagement with the right people, so that designs reflect the needs of those they serve.

Dr Ahmadreza Faghih Imani is the Teaching Fellow in Urban Sustainability and the co-convenor of the Urban Sustainable Environments (USE) option of the MSc in Environmental Technology at the Centre for Environmental Policy. He has more than ten years of academic experience, has published more than 30 articles in top-tier journals, has successfully collaborated with a number of different research groups, has made significant impacts and contributions to the field working on industry and government projects, and have volunteered within the research community (as an active member of TRB Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation, and as a reviewer for several academic journals).

Ajinkya Kanitkar is an Assistant Professor at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur and Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal. His research interests include urban studies, climate change and sustainable development. His work experience in the field of architecture and urban planning across various domains includes consultancy projects and research work with various organisations. Apart from his academic engagements, he is actively involved in research development at academic and professional forums in sustainable development, net zero energy building, community resilience and creative cultural economy.

Alanis Burgess is an Architectural Designer at P+HS Architects in Newcastle and a Research Assistant to Dr Jiayi Jin within the Gender Inclusive Cities research team at Northumbria University. At P+HS, her portfolio spans social housing, children’s homes, and large-scale residential masterplanning, with a focus on creating inclusive and supportive environments. Alongside practice, her research explores feminist and inclusive approaches to design, with particular attention to the relationship between architecture, health, and social equity. Alanis is a key contributor to the Maternal Spaces project at Northumbria, investigating how the built environment shapes maternal health outcomes across domestic, clinical, and civic contexts. Her work has been presented at multiple conferences and events, with peer-reviewed publications in the RIBA Journal and Town Planning Review. Alanis is Chair of the RIBA Young Architectural Practitioner's Forum (YAPF) and represents early career architects on RIBA North East’s Regional Council. She is a committed advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, contributing to national EDI initiatives across the profession. Her transdisciplinary approach to practice seeks to advance healthier, more equitable built environments that centre care and lived experience.

Hello, my name is Ale, a designer from Mexico with a strong interest in Human-Centered Design and Social Design. I am motivated by a desire to contribute to meaningful projects that create positive social impact. I view design as a powerful tool for change, especially when rooted in collaboration with communities. My work is grounded in care, both physical and mental health, and in exploring how design can support more compassionate, inclusive systems. Currently, I am part of the Response_Able Futures Master’s program, where I am deepening my understanding of health cultures and learning to design with care and responsibility for others. Beyond my professional practice, I value connecting with people, engaging in reflection, and finding joy in everyday moments.

Alejandro Quinto is head of innovation at Communityai, where he helps translate the company’s social value economics vision into practical product concepts, AI-powered geospatial tools and compelling client-facing narratives. His work sits at the intersection of product design, urban analytics, social value, spatial intelligence and storytelling, with a focus on helping organisations understand communities, identify areas of need, and design more targeted social impact strategies. With a background in architecture, urbanism, spatial data and data visualisation, Alejandro brings together design thinking and geospatial intelligence to turn complex community, health, economic and environmental indicators into practical tools for better decision-making in cities and communities. At Communityai, he helps shape the products, prototypes and narratives that connect public and private capital with local need, supporting the company’s mission to make social value more measurable, place-based and actionable for healthier, more equitable cities.

Alessio Russo is an Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the School of Architecture and Built Environment. He has over 20 years of international academic and professional experience across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the United States, and Australia. Dr Russo is a recognised expert in urban ecosystem services and green infrastructure. His research focuses on the intersection of landscape architecture, human health, and climate change, with particular emphasis on improving wellbeing in cities through access to high-quality, biodiverse green spaces and strengthening the relationship between people and nature. He has authored more than 100 scholarly publications and serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, contributing to global discourse on landscape architecture, urban ecology, and nature-based design.

Amber Nyoni is a dedicated public health professional who champions equitable health outcomes for all. She holds a Masters in Population Health from University College London, with a focus on health and wellbeing in the built environment, and an undergraduate degree in Environmental and Public Health from Middlesex University. Amber's professional journey has contributed to her passion for the intersection of health and the built environment. She has worked in roles supporting a Health in All Policies approach across various disciplines, including Town Planning which led to the development of the Essex Livewell Development Accreditation for Housebuilders. Currently, as a Strategic Planning and Public Health Lead at Essex County Council, Amber supports the integration of public health and town planning to address and embed the wider determinants of health into planning processes. Her role involves providing public health expertise on health impact assessments for strategic planning applications and building capabilities and capacity within Essex. Amber's commitment to creating healthy and sustainable communities has been a driving force in both her professional and academic pursuits.

Amrin Fatma is a public health professional and researcher with experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale health programs. Her work focuses on strengthening health systems through data-driven, context-specific solutions, particularly in maternal and child health, nutrition, anemia, and immunization. Over 3 years, she has expertise in epidemiological analysis, large-scale data management, and monitoring and evaluation, along with experience in capacity building, digital health interventions, and stakeholder engagement with government systems. She has worked across multiple states in India on community-based health programs and contributes to health systems research aimed at improving program effectiveness and sustainability. Amrin is conditioned about bridging research and practice and advancing localized, bottom-up approaches to improve health outcomes in underserved populations.

Orthoptist, graduated from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in 1984. Specialist in Public Health from the University of São Paulo (1988). Master’s degree (1995) and PhD (2001) in Public Health from the University of São Paulo. Postdoctoral degree in Public Health from the State University of Campinas/UNICAMP (2006). Research Associate at the Urban Research Laboratory (LABINUR/FEC/UNICAMP) and Tenured Lecturer on the Postgraduate Programme in Architecture, Technology and the City at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism (FECFAU) at UNICAMP. Principal Investigator of the Research Group on Urban Planning Methodologies and Healthy Cities at FECFAU/UNICAMP and Researcher at the CEUCI Centres - Centre for Studies on Urbanisation for Knowledge and Innovation Areas of knowledge in urban fringes: Guidelines for sustainable implementation supported by information modelling and the CPTEn - São Paulo Centre for Energy Transition Studies. Coordinator of the Urban Planning and Healthy Cities Study Group (GEPUCS - LABINUR/FEC/UNICAMP). Member of the International Geographical Union Commission on Health and the Environment (IGU CHE), Member of the Urban Management and Health Unit at DSSA/FIOCRUZ, Member of the Network of Health-Promoting Universities. She was a Visiting Researcher at the School of Population & Public Health/SPPH (2011–2012) and at the Centre for Geography and Spatial Planning Studies affiliated with the University of Coimbra, Portugal (from 2016 to 2019 and in 2021). She is a member of the Working Group on Health Promotion and Sustainable Development of the Brazilian Association of Public Health. At UniEduk University Centres, she is an Academic Advisor and Editor-in-Chief of Intellectus – Digital Academic Journal. Her research focuses primarily on Healthy Urban Planning and Health Promotion, with an emphasis on: urban planning methods for healthy cities; implementation of health promotion strategies; formation of social and collaborative networks; and healthy public policies.

Andrew J Baillie is an experienced Construction and Project Manager with over 20 years in the industry. Currently serving as the Assistant Director of Infrastructure Planning and Delivery at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Andrew brings a wealth of expertise in managing large-scale capital projects across acute, primary, community, and mental health planning programs. His role involves ensuring projects align with the Strategic Capital Plan and meet the requirements set by various governing committees.

Andrew trained in medicine but in the late eighties was diverted into work as a campaigner for better mental health services as a director of Mind the mental health charity. This led to his work in planning improved services for the NHS and thus to a wider role in urban planning. Andrew focusses on the importance of well-being and sustainability in urban planning. As Director of Estates and Regeneration for South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, he secured planning permission with a delivery model for the largest regeneration scheme on an NHS site in England at Springfield Hospital, based on a vision of integrated health and social care provision at the heart of a new community. Springfield Village is now substantially complete, representing the largest new neighbourhood in London since the Olympic Village as well as the largest new mental health facility built in the capital in recent times. Since then, Andrew has been engaged on a number of regeneration projects, aimed at creating new communities that respond to the housing, climate and ecological emergencies and are great places to live, work and play. He was a founder director of Lewes Phoenix Rising, a community development company that successfully promoted the genuinely sustainable regeneration of the last large industrial site in the centre of Lewes, East Sussex. This project is now being taken forward by Lewes District Council. Andrew lives and works in Lewes, East Sussex

Andrew Tempany FLI FRSA, Technical Director of Landscape Design at Stephenson Halliday, an RSK Company, is a specialist in strategic landscape thinking and nature-based and regenerative design approaches. In a career which has spanned twenty four years, he has worked on landscape projects at every scale. This ranges from landscape led planning and design for some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, to research projects, award winning landscape scale green and blue infrastructure strategies, tourism and visitor experience projects in outstanding designated landscapes and conservation design for nationally significant historic parks and designed landscapes. More recently he has developed interests in evaluation of the benefits of nature-based solutions to incentivise investment in them for resilient futures that deliver on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and in thought leadership to promote the regenerative design agenda for healthier, more equitable futures and in healthcare settings

Andy Roberts is an Urban Designer with over 25 years’ experience. He is the Director of Urban Design at Planit, an interdisciplinary place design practice with 5 studios across the UK. Andy has deep experience working with Councils and developers across the UK and his work includes: developing city-wide growth strategies as part of large-scale planning-related documents; devising design guidance and development briefs for town centre regenerations; masterplanning large-scale mixed-use developments, including sensitive landscape settings; the creation of concepts and design codes; and ensuring the overall framework of design principles is realised. Andy is a passionate advocate and practitioner of a regenerative future and has dedicated the last 3 years to creating a Regenerative Practice - to transform the built environment from being degenerative by default to being regenerative by design. You can find his thought leadership ‘Regenerative Urbanism’ series here He is also a Built Environment Expert (BEE) for the Design Council CABE and a High Street Task Force Expert sitting on the Places Matter Design Review Panel.

Angelo Ilersich is a Master of Applied Health Sciences student at Brock University (ON, Canada) who has worked in health statistics and epidemiological research. As an epidemiology student, he recognizes the overlap between municipal design and policy and the social determinants of health. He has experience in health education and advocacy through his work with SickKids and Immunize Canada on the design and video presentations of programs to reduce child vaccine hesitancy. His experience at the Niagara Region Public Health in poverty reduction informs current municipal health equity programs. He has been awarded the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada Graduate Research Scholarship for his ongoing work in improving the linkage of geographic air pollution data with at-risk populations in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Anna Shapiro has extensive masterplanning experience across residential led, and higher education and life science regeneration projects. Her architectural interest is on opportunities to unlock civic and cultural potential of built environments. Notable schemes include Phase one of the Earls Court development in west London, the £280m Project Horlicks in Slough, the £700m Med-City Whitechapel Life Sciences masterplan for Barts NHS Trust, and the £200m Dublin City University multi-campus masterplan. Her education portfolio spans academy schools and mixed-use education-led developments, including the £97m Ark EdCity in White City, which combines primary education, residential and workspace, and the £22.4m Stanground Academy in Peterborough. Anna also serves as a course master and design tutor at the Architectural Association's Housing and Urbanism Graduate programme. Anna joined Sheppard Robson in 2011 and was promoted to Partner in 2021. Anna sits on the Sheppard Robson Design Review Panel, lending her expertise and long-standing fascination with cities to the group that promotes design quality and innovation. Drawing on her academic and professional experience, Anna works alongside clients, stakeholders, and the project team to engage with the wider community. She believes that every project has the potential to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Anna is an architectural designer with a focus on community wellbeing, care infrastructure, and the social dimensions of residential design. Her experience spans residential schemes of varying scales in London and Berlin, with experience in extensive community engagement within council-led masterplans. As part of the academic research at the AA School of Architecture, Anna explored the concept of 'care ecologies', proposing integrated networks of health and care services alongside housing for care workers, families, and multigenerational communities as a means of transforming inner peripheral neighbourhoods in London. Previously, she had worked in Denmark, contributing to the research publication 'The Urban Health Culture of the Future' which produced interdisciplinary tools and recommendations for working holistically with health and health culture in the built environment. Anna comes from a background of architecture and urbanism working closely together and brings this interrelationship into her work across genres.

Annabel is a qualified transport planner and urban designer with a background in architecture. She has over 20 years of practical experience in multidisciplinary consultant teams. She has a keen interest in improving the quality of streets and public spaces and her multi-discipline background allows her to work creatively to deliver high quality and innovative design solutions. Annabel is the lead author of Streets for a Healthy Life the technical companion guide to Building for a Healthy Life.

Anupama Pavithran is an architect, product designer, and academician with over 10 years of experience in architectural design, interior architecture, and research-driven practice. Her work spans residential, hospitality, and large-scale housing projects, with involvement from concept development to detailed design and execution. She has contributed to diverse projects including villa design, apartment planning, resort development, and commercial architecture, along with site planning for multi-acre developments. Her approach integrates functional planning, spatial quality, and contextual sensitivity, supported by strong skills in architectural detailing and visualisation. Alongside professional practice, she has extensive experience in academia, having served as an assistant professor leading architectural design studios and courses in building construction, interior design, and spatial design. She has actively mentored students and contributed to curriculum development, fostering a design-thinking and research-oriented approach. Her interests lie at the intersection of architecture, design innovation, and user-centred solutions, with a focus on creating meaningful and efficient built environments.

Archontia Manolakelli is a UK-registered Architect and Researcher in Behavioural Science. Her work sits at the intersection of design delivery, applied environmental psychology research and complex systems analysis. Working across workplace, education, civic and defence environments, she leads projects and supports design teams with research-led, evidence-based and human-centred approaches from briefing and concept development through to design delivery and post-occupancy evaluation. She studied at the University of Manchester School of Architecture, where she completed her thesis under Dr Ray Lucas, and has undertaken further training in environmental psychology at Cornell University. She holds an MArch and a BA(Hons) in Architecture, as well as an MSc in Psychology. Her academic research interests include psychometric scale development, biometric methods for studying the effects of biophilic design, quasi-experimental approaches using digital technologies, personal space as a function of contextual and interpersonal influences, and neurodiversity requirements for post-pandemic offices.

Arindam Ray is a medical epidemiologist with about 30 years of experience in public health management particularly in urban health care, population studies, disease surveillance and immunization. Following his tenure under Government of West Bengal, he joined World Health Organization in 2000. He was National Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person at WHO country office, India before joining Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014. At the Foundation, India office he looks after new vaccine initiatives, immunization systems, disease surveillance and modelling, Gavi projects and polio legacy work. He represents the Foundation at the global urban immunization workgroup,GAVIAsia-PacificRegionalWorkGroup,WHOSEARRITAG, India Expert Committees on Rota Viral Vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, HPV vaccine, Typhoid conjugate vaccine and Polio & MR India Expert Advisory Groups.

Prof Arpana Verma has been an active member of the Manchester’s Conference Ambassador Programme for many years, having been involved in many meetings and events in Manchester over the years. Prof Verma is Head of the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care at The University of Manchester. She is Director of Manchester Urban Collaboration on Health (MUCH), a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre and Honorary Consultant in Public Health at Public Health England. International Festival of Public Health The International Festival of Public Health takes place in Manchester every year. The festival brings together hundreds of delegates from a wide range of fields and stages of their careers to attend plenary lectures from special guest speakers in the world of public health. The first edition of the festival was held in Manchester in 2012 and the tenth edition took place at The University of Manchester in July 2022. Arpana Verma has acted as Festival Chair since the event’s inception. The festival offers first-rate plenary lectures as well as a wealth of other sessions, including Special Sessions that have been arranged by experts around a particular topic, and parallel and poster sessions where delegates are able to present their own work. 11th International Conference on Urban Health 2014 (ICUH) Prof Verma Chaired the 11th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH), which took place at Manchester Central Convention Complex from 4-7 March 2014. It is the annual conference of the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), a global non-governmental organization solely focused on advancing urban health and health equity by addressing the broader determinants of health. The conference was hosted by the University of Manchester and attracted more than 1,000 participants from across the world to exchange insights, intelligence and knowledge on global urban health issues. Delegates included scientists, practitioners, policy makers and community organisations spanning sectors, disciplines and geographic boundaries. The theme of the conference was “Crossing Boundaries: Partnerships for Global Urban Health”. Prof Verma was the principle investigator (PI) of the European Urban Health Indicator System project (EURO-URHIS 2) and is also the president of the European Public Health Association section on Urban Health. She is also PI on a number of health service research projects, primarily in hepatitis C and blood borne virus prevention, infection control, immunisation including MMR and HPV vaccine. Prof Verma is also an expert for WHO, which has led to several publications. She also holds an honorary consultant post at Public Health England.

Ashley is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. As Head of Sustainability at Hoare Lea, he leads technical excellence in the sustainability consultancy service. Ashley has specific expertise in resource efficiency, resilience, decarbonisation, and how design impacts health and wellbeing. Ashley is a past Vice President of CIBSE and is active in the CIBSE Sustainability Group and sustainable cooling working group. He chairs the Buildings Services Engineers Declaration of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. He has contributed to publications, conferences and industry guidance for RIBA and the UK Green Building Council. Ashley is a registered industry specialist advisor for the UK Ministry for Housing and Local Government (MHCLG).

Audrey de Nazelle is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre of Environmental Policy. She is co-chair of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Policy Committee, and outgoing chair and founder of Imperial's Network of Excellence on Air Quality (NExAir). She is an expert in risk assessment and exposure science. Her research is at the intersection of environmental sciences, health behaviour, transportation, and urban planning. Her work aims at guiding decision makers towards health-promoting built environments and policies. It involves novel and holistic approaches to assessing behavioural, environmental and health impacts of urban plans and policies. Dr de Nazelle leads studies on transport and health and on societal engagement through digital technology. She is also a collaborator on the EPSRC-funded project Managing Air for Green Inner Cities (MAGIC), and on MRC-funded projects on active travel (METAHIT and TIGTHAT).

Dr. Ayushi Agrawal is a medical doctor and public health specialist with over ten years of robust experience in the development sector. Her expertise encompasses the strategizing, implementation, and evaluation of large-scale public health programs, with a dedicated focus on immunization, child health, and urban health systems. Dr. Agrawal offers substantial proficiency in epidemiological analysis, health systems strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, and infectious disease modelling. Currently, at John Snow India (JSI), Dr. Ayushi manages the Urban Immunization& Urban Health portfolio to strengthen immunization systems across urban areas of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. She has been instrumental in driving pilot models to improve health equity in underserved urban areas.

My name is Beenish Sarfaraz, a designer and researcher from Karachi, Pakistan. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Healthcare and Design, where I am developing ways to apply design as a means of making people’s lives softer, warmer and more compassionate. My practice spans multiple mediums, including print and publication design, video, illustration and writing. I am particularly drawn to co-creative environments and have had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals who are deeply committed to creating work that is thoughtful, personally meaningful and transformative. If you would like to learn more about my work, please visit: https://beenishsarfaraz.com/

Ben Cave is a board chair and infrastructure specialist with over 20 years’ experience advising governments, multilateral institutions, financial organisations and the private sector on health, regulatory and environmental risk in major projects. He was elected, and then served as, President of the International Association for Impact Assessment. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Liverpool and is completing a PhD across the faculties of spatial sciences and law at the University of Groningen.

Bethany is a Research Associate and Planning and Development Assistant with experience in management reporting, business intelligence and strategic analysis. Her work bridges data analytics and academic research, focusing on integrating sustainability principles into urban planning and development practices. Passionate about multidisciplinary learning, Bethany’s research explores emerging themes such as climate change and urban resilience, neurourbanism, affordable housing and public–private partnerships. She is deeply interested in how ecological science, urban history, socio-economic dynamics and technology intersect to shape more sustainable and equitable cities. Outside her research, she is an active volunteer advocating for poverty alleviation and environmental awareness. As a freelance graphic designer and writer, Bethany sees creativity and communication as key drivers for social and environmental change. Her pursuit of academia stems from a desire to merge critical thinking, aesthetic sensitivity and data-driven insight - using creative and analytical approaches to advance sustainable urban planning. She holds a BBA in Management (CSR & Sustainability) and Accounting, and an MSc in Environmental Science and Management, both from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Blake Jackson is an architect working at the nexus of sustainability, wellness and resiliency, who serves as the global Director, sustainability for NORR. NORR is a 750-person integrated architecture, interiors, planning and engineering company, headquartered in Toronto, with 14 locations in the US, UK, and Canada. Blake has 25 years’ experience in the AEC industry, holding a Bachelor of Architecture from Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia and a Master of Architecture in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association Graduate School in London. Blake is a prolific author, speaker, and educator on topics affecting the built environment. He currently serves on the advisory board for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Interior Design Program, and he is a former vice-president, advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects. Blake was recognised in 2015 by BD+C Magazine as a top '40 Under 40' AEC professional. He was named a LEED fellow by the USGBC in 2021, and he is a 2024 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award.

Bruce Crook brings over 30 years of dedicated expertise to healthcare architecture, marrying an in-depth understanding of emerging trends with a steadfast commitment to creating safe, healing environments. His career spans Australia, the Asia Pacific, Middle East, India, North America, and beyond, where he has held senior roles across the entire project lifecycle—from business case development and master planning to detailed design, delivery, and commissioning. This breadth of experience allows Bruce to translate complex clinical requirements into architectural solutions that balance form, function, and patient wellbeing. His portfolio features some of the world’s most innovative health facilities. In Canada, he contributed to St. Catharine’s Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital Innovation Project, as well as the Halton Hospital PPP bid. In Singapore, he led design efforts for the Outram Community Hospital at Singapore General Campus and a major nursing home research and construction project. His work in India includes the Gorakhpur All India Institute of Medical Sciences precinct and the Asian Heart Institute Hospital in Mumbai. Across Southeast Asia, Bruce has shaped facilities like Gleneagles Medini in Malaysia and multiple RSPI hospitals in Indonesia. He also guided the transformation of New Zealand’s Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals, demonstrating his adaptability to diverse healthcare systems and cultural contexts. A sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Bruce has shared his insights on topics such as virtual care, hospital “control towers,” sustainable and flexible healthcare environments, and salutogenic design. Highlights include presentations at the Fifth Estate Tomorrowland Conference in Sydney, the Design & Health World Congress in Canada, and design review panels for NSW Health and Copenhagen University. Through these engagements, he champions evidence-based design and innovation to improve patient, family, and staff experiences. Bruce’s approach centres on partnering closely with clients, clinicians, and communities to deliver resilient, adaptive facilities that anticipate future needs. He believes that architecture can be a powerful tool for health promotion—not just treating illness but fostering overall wellness. By integrating technology, biophilic principles, and operational intelligence, Bruce continues to redefine what healing environments can achieve for individuals and the broader community.

Cara is a senior consultant in AECOM’s Streets team, with over 10 years’ experience supporting local and regional authorities to plan and deliver healthier, safer and more inclusive streets and neighbourhoods. Her work spans active travel, school streets, safer routes to school, mobility hubs, public transport operations, liveable neighbourhoods, placemaking, and wider streets and public realm improvements. She brings a collaborative and pragmatic approach to programme delivery, supporting partners to translate policy and evidence into practical, deliverable interventions that respond to local context and community need. Her work focuses on improving everyday environments for walking, wheeling and cycling, particularly for children, older people and disabled users. Within AECOM, Cara leads a working group focused on school streets and safer routes to school, sharing best practice and strengthening approaches to creating healthier environments for children and families. She also co‑leads AECOM’s Inclusive Streets Technical Practice Group, supporting the integration of accessibility, equity and inclusive design principles across projects, disciplines and geographies. Her work is driven by a strong interest in the role that streets and neighbourhoods play in shaping population health, equity and climate outcomes, and in supporting cities to deliver public spaces that improve quality of life for all.

Carolina Cárdenas is a Chilean psychologist and independent researcher working at the intersection of urban environments, mental health, and human development. Her central question is how everyday public spaces can function as accessible, low-threshold infrastructures for collective wellbeing — enabling people to voluntarily adopt wellbeing practices in the course of ordinary life. Drawing on clinical and community psychology, early childhood education, and specialisation in complex trauma, she brings a systemic lens to public health that bridges individual behaviour and urban design. Her interdisciplinary training — spanning positive psychology, compassion-focused approaches, and complexity sciences — informs both her therapeutic practice and her ongoing WHO Healthy Cities training. She has designed and led initiatives connecting art, education, and health, including national academic innovation programmes in Chile and public space interventions across Latin America and North America aimed at democratising access to mental health. She is the creator of the Training Wellbeing in Public Waiting Spaces (TWPWS) model, a research-through-design framework that investigates how urban public space can be intentionally designed to support mental health at population level. Her research has been prototyped across three European cities and tested with participants in seven countries. Currently based in Santiago, she is piloting the model in the city's public spaces.

Catherine Dixon is a senior professional at Landsec with experience in large-scale regeneration and placemaking projects. Based in London, she works across complex urban developments, helping to shape projects that combine commercial, social and environmental value. She is particularly interested in the role of public space, landscape and community in creating successful places.

Catherine leads Impact Reporting’s impact practice and is the Programme Director behind MeasureUp, the ground-breaking social valuation tool helping organisations evidence what really matters. With over a decade of experience in social value strategy, she’s known for championing practical, people-led approaches to valuation. Catherine previously held a senior role at The Institute of Social Value and is currently a trustee at Social Value International. She holds a master’s in International Development and is a certified Social Value Practitioner. Recognised as a WISE100 Changemaker Finalist in 2025, Star of the Future finalist in 2022 and a Better Business Network’s Pioneer of the Year 2025 finalist, Catherine supports clients across procurement, valuation research, and impact strategy - working to make social value more meaningful, measurable and equitable.

Chenxi (Aurora) Wang is a PhD candidate in Architecture at the University of Cambridge and an affiliated research member of the Cambridge Cognitive Architecture Lab and Neurocivitas Lab. Her research focuses on neuroarchitecture and human factors, examining how spatial design influences stress regulation, behavioral health, and team functioning. She has experience in field-based and experimental research and received multiple awards like Bruckmann Fund. She has academic and professional experience across the University of Melbourne, UCL Bartlett, and international design practices, and her work aims to integrate architectural design with behavioral health and performance research.

Chi-Liang Yen serves as the Director-General of the Department of Environmental Protection for the Taoyuan City Government. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from National Central University. His work primarily focuses on promoting net-zero carbon reduction and resource recycling policies. Additionally, he is dedicated to enhancing noise control, implementing AI-based environmental pollution identification, advancing environmental education, and pursuing other initiatives that directly benefit citizens, thereby making Taoyuan City's environment more sustainable and livable.

Christine Greenhalgh has a background in environmental science and environmental policy and regulation. As a Lecturer in Public Health, Christine brings expertise in sustainability and environmental aspects of public health. She focuses her teaching on the climate and biodiversity crises and their impact on health. Christine is an experienced qualitative and mixed methods researcher in a wide variety of subjects including sustainability, decision theory, vaccination uptake, community interventions, and more. She is also an experienced PhD supervisor for students studying a wide variety of public health issues.

Chulwoong Park is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Birmingham City University, UK, supported by the International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF). Dr Park’s research examines how digital technologies are reshaping urban spaces. His work particularly focuses on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in advancing smarter and healthier cities.

Clare is an urban planner and healthcare entrepreneur with 15 years experience investing in PFI hospitals and 15 years running a healthcare company special;ising in medical imaging and mens health. She is also a blogger on local health and planning (Listen to Locals), a campaigner on industry leadership (Build for Health), a trustee of the London Society and candidate for Councillor in Richmond-upon-Thames.

Coen van den Wijngaart is Manager of Real Estate Development at Anculus and a member of its management committee. He specialises in overseeing the development, redevelopment, and renovation of public sector real estate projects, primarily serving educational institutions through delegated client management. Anculus provides strategic portfolio management with a focus on sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Coen van den Wijngaart holds a degree in Architectural Engineering from Delft University of Technology and an Executive MBA from Vlerick Business School, Brussels. With over 25 years of experience as an architect, entrepreneur, and strategic real estate developer, his expertise lies at the intersection of innovative architectural design, health and well-being in the built environment, and sustainable development. His research and professional interests include the translation of architectural and strategic concepts into healthy, inclusive, and future-proof environments for living, learning, working, and care. His career is marked by a commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in healthy and sustainable public real estate development.

Corinna Patetta (1997) is an architect and a teaching assistant at Politecnico di Milano. She is a PhD candidate in the research field of nature-based solutions and human health in cities. Since 2022 she is part of the Forestami project research group exploring the topics of ecosystem services, urban forestry plan and the relation between urban green spaces and people’s health and wellbeing.

Daniel is a landscape architect with over twenty years’ experience leading the design and delivery of major public realm and landscape projects, many of which have received local and international awards. Having lived and worked globally, Daniel has developed extensive expertise across Asia, the Middle East, the UK, and Europe. He specialises in the delivery of complex, large‑scale projects, including one of the world’s largest new parks in the new capital of Cairo. Daniel is highly experienced in leading multidisciplinary consultant teams and is particularly interested in projects that balance robustness, flexibility, and sustainability. Known for fostering strong collaboration, Daniel’s professional approach and ability to build trusted client relationships ensure projects are delivered efficiently, on time, and within budget.

I am a London based architect who has been a design leader working on global projects for 30 years with a focus on design excellence in the healthcare and life science sectors. In the role of Global Design Director for Stantec, I designed many of the firm’s award-winning healthcare, research, and education projects in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and overseas. In addition to leading our UK architectural practice my responsibilities included ensuring design quality over a 5,000 person strong Buildings Practice and prior to that was the Design Director for Anshen Dyer having led the design teams for many significant hospital and academic research projects in the UK. I am particularly interested in design which creates a memorable sense of place while promoting a sense of clarity, optimism, and engagement. I believe the built environment can and should enrich our lives and have led our most significant projects which integrate a multi-disciplinary approach.

Dr. ir. Dena Kasraian is an Irène Curie fellow and a tenured Assistant Professor at Urbanism and Urban Architecture group of the Built Environment Department, Eindhoven University of Technology. She has an established expertise in architecture, urban design and planning, and transportation and a strong interest in conducting interdisciplinary research that bridges these fields. Her work focuses on the interactions between the following areas, using both quantitative and qualitative methods: the built environment (urbanization, land use, public domain, transport infrastructure, and urban green infrastructure) and human behaviour (travel behavior, perception, active lifestyles, and play behavior).

Dr. Dina Mahmoud is the Technical Coorinator For Programmes and Advisory Projects at the Urban Training and Studies Institute. She has been envolved in supervising the review teams of the Institute of mega projects in Egypt. Parks, Mega Malls, gated communities, high rise business districts, the Parliment of Egypt, etc. She is also envolved in the technical committee for the firefighting and preparation of the codes updates. She has been working Assistant Lecturer in Shorouk Academy in Egypt (2007-2011) and joined UTI (2013). She holds Ph.D. (2025) Matariya, Helwan University in Urban Sustainability and quality of life.; Msc. (2015) Mtariya, Helwan University with the focus on Housing; Bsc. Architecture Engineeering (2007) Matariya, Hilwan University.

Ed Kirton-Darling is a solicitor (non-practising) and Senior Lecturer in the University of Bristol Law School. His research is socio-legal, and includes focus on the ways in which law, legal processes and the practice of law interact with housing and social welfare (understood broadly) as well as the law relating to investigations into contentious deaths. He previously practised as a civil liberties solicitor and worked for the Law Commission of England and Wales.

Elizabeth Bennett is an interdisciplinary researcher and lecturer, based in the UK. Her research and teaching areas include music, theatre, performance studies and creative writing. She is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, where she is delivering the The ACHTaxonomies Project as part of a Consortium of academics, policy practitioners and consultants from the arts and humanities, natural sciences and social sciences including economics.

Dr Elizabeth McGill is an Assistant Professor in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her research focuses on complex systems approaches to evaluation, the commercial determinants of health and health inequalities. She also has a particular interest in building research capability and capacity in local government settings.

Ella Kline is a biomedical scientist specialising in climate change, health and environmental epidemiology. She is currently studying MSc Climate Change and Planetary Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, which includes a placement with Ealing Council. She has a BSc in Biochemistry and an MRes Biomedical Research as well as over two years’ experience working in cellular therapeutics.

Emily Wall is a researcher in active transport and urban planning, with an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, where she specialised in urban environments. Her research focuses on the planning, governance, and implementation of active travel interventions, with particular interest in stakeholder engagement and collaboration between local authorities and partner organisations. She currently works as a Graduate Sustainability Consultant at Citisense, supporting research for active travel projects and policy initiatives that enable more sustainable urban mobility.

A senior associate at Pozzoni, Emma specialises in the later living sector. Responsible for delivering care sector projects she has a holistic understanding of all the key design ingredients for a fulfilling experience in later life. A specialist in her field, Emma has undertaken research into care hotels, dementia-friendly design and intergenerational housing and is currently leading the design stages for the health innovation neighbourhood at North Manchester General Hospital. Emma also co-ordinates the Pozzoni Academy, mentoring the next generation of architects.

Ewan Graham is an architect and the Health and Science lead at Hawkins\Brown Architects. His work crosses traditional sector boundaries and regardless of geographic location focuses on developing healthy and sustainable places that concentrate on improving access to health and reducing health inequalities. He has led some of the most ambitious projects in London that combine health, research and education and speaks openly about the potential for good design and architecture to positively influence health outcomes. His aspiration is to raise awareness of and improve the way designers, contractors, building commissioners and policy-makers consider the impacts of the built environment on population health.

Fiona Caulfield is an interior & spatial design researcher, educator, and practitioner dedicated to promoting social and spatial justice within social and affordable housing. Utilising critical theory and participatory design, she collaborates with residents and stakeholders to create adaptable and personalised living spaces. By developing interactive toolkits and policy blueprints, she empowers communities to assert their rights and shape their environments. Fiona advocates for restorative practices that transform interiors into homes that nurture health, identity, and belonging, while amplifying marginalised voices in the built environment.

Flora’s strength is in connecting ideas and people from different backgrounds and fields – the scholarship of integration and application, making connections across disciplines and sectors, contextualising specialisms in the larger context and making sense of them to non-specialists. Her current work focuses on inclusion through planning policy and processes evidenced through digital map making with communities and others, summarised in her most recent book Housing for Hope and Wellbeing (2023). For Flora climate change is a social justice issue. An Architect trained at Cambridge and Princeton Flora has strong opinions on the future of architectural education and the changing role of architects. She taught for 10 years at Cardiff before leading the March at the University of Bath. She was then the first woman Head of the University of Sheffield School of Architecture. She left Sheffield for Reading University to help set up a new School of Architecture to deliver an education for uncertainty. Flora is on the Board of the Taskforce for Planning and currently leads Public Map, a £4.6 million Green Transitions Ecosystem grant based in the Design Museum in London. She has also led on the creation of the Cambridge Room, an inclusive space for planning consultation in the region.

Francesco Aletta was born and raised in Naples, where he obtained his Master’s degree in Architecture in 2010 and his PhD in Environmental Design in 2014 at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. He worked as a chartered architect in Italy for several years; however, during his PhD he developed a strong interest in the relationship between people and everyday sounds, which led him to pursue an academic career in environmental acoustics. In 2013, he joined the Acoustics Group at the School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield as a Research Associate, contributing to the EU-funded SONORUS network on soundscape methods. In 2016, he moved to Belgium to work as a postdoctoral researcher at the WAVES Group, Ghent University, where he collaborated on projects including AcustiCare and C3Places, focusing on soundscapes and public spaces. He also served as a visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University and the Polytechnic University of Turin. In 2018, he joined University College London (IEDE) as a Research Associate, working with Jian Kang on the ERC-funded Soundscape Indices project.

Gaël Vilatarsana is an Associate Director at Hoare Lea (a Tetra Tech Company), based in Oxford. He holds a Master of Science in Environmental and Architectural Acoustics from London South Bank University and a bachelor’s degree in building services engineering from the University of Northumbria. With over 25 years of experience in the built environment, Gaël specialises in acoustic consultancy to support the creation of sustainable, people‑centred buildings and outdoor environments. In recent years, his work focused on noise impact assessments for large residential and mixed‑use developments with healthy living objectives. Gaël also leads on building services noise mitigation strategies for buildings in high-density urban environments. 

Dr. Garett Thomas Sansom, DrPH, MPH, is Director of the Together for a Better Tomorrow Research Program and Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. His work focuses on environmental health, community resilience, environmental justice, and the ways neighborhoods, infrastructure, and exposure burdens shape health outcomes. He also serves as a faculty member in the Texas A&M Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology. Dr. Sansom’s research emphasizes community-engaged approaches to addressing environmental contamination, disaster recovery, water quality, greenspace, and healthy neighborhood development, particularly in historically overburdened communities. He has led and collaborated on projects supported by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. His scholarship includes more than 40 peer-reviewed publications spanning environmental exposure assessment, community health, resilience, and sustainable cities. His work is grounded in building practical, community-informed strategies that connect research, planning, and policy to improve environmental conditions and support healthier, more resilient cities.

Graeme Craig is the Director and Chief Executive of Places for London, the property are of Transport for London. He is an experienced Commercial Development Director with responsibility for advertising, commercial partnerships, licensing & merchandising, property development, property management, asset management, estate management, telecommunications, and international operations & consultancy.

Greg Williams is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at The University of Manchester. He is also Vice-President of the Global Health section of the European Public Health Association, Global Lead for Europe for UrbanHealth360, and a Member of the Faculty of Public Health through Distinction. As well as his teaching-focused role, Greg is a keen researcher and has a background in public and urban health research with multiple peer-reviewed publications from local, national and international research projects. He has worked on and managed projects that have ranged from urban health indicator data collection to healthy ageing interventions, through to the evaluation of programmes aimed at reducing health inequalities. Greg is a member of multiple international networks and has also been on the organising/scientific committee of the International Conference of Urban Health, the International Festival of Public Health, the European Conference on Urban Health and the European Public Health Conference.

With 10 years of experience leading mixed-method, human-centric research projects and programs, Dr. Helia Taheri is an award-winning researcher who studies human behavior, experience, sense of belonging, place attachment, and health to inform design. She is leading the Research & Insights in the Experience Design team where she develops inclusive human-centric methods to gather right data in the right time from multiple stakeholders and sources to inform evidence-based design decisions that improve people's lives, benefit business, and support our planet.

Hiranmayi Shankavaram is an Assistant Professor at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru, specializing in urban management, planning, governance, and resilience. She holds an M.Sc. from Erasmus University Rotterdam and contributes to research, academic collaborations, and editorial initiatives, with interests in inclusive, people-centric urban development.

Dr. Hong Chen is an Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (ON, Canada). The goal of his research is to investigate the health effects of exposure to environmental risk factors, particularly ambient air pollution, extreme weather, urban greenness, and environmental noise. He is also interested in evaluating the effectiveness of environmental health policies and programs using causal inference methods. His research is aimed to be policy-relevant and contribute to better decision making and actions to achieve environmental exposure reduction and disease prevention.

Formerly served as the Captain of the Daxi District Brigade and the Taoyuan District Brigade within the Environmental Management Department of the Taoyuan City Government. Recipient of the 2022 National Model Sanitation Brigade Leader Award

Isabella completed her Master's degree with Distinction at Imperial College London in 2025.

Jaime Moreno-Serna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management, Business Administration, and Statistics at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). His academic work focuses on production systems, organizational management, and sustainable development, with a specialized research interest in multi-stakeholder collaborations to accelerate transitions toward climate neutrality and social inclusion. He holds a PhD in Organizational Engineering from UPM. His extensive international experience includes roles as a Visiting Scientist at Harvard University (Center for Climate Change, Health, and the Global Environment) and a postdoctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, where he continues to collaborate on Horizon Europe projects. Formerly the Technical Director of itdUPM, he has over a decade of experience designing and managing complex partnerships between academia, public institutions, and the private sector. His professional background also includes humanitarian logistics in North Africa and a dual degree in Industrial Engineering from UPM and ENSTA Paris. Driven by the role of technology in reducing inequality, he integrates qualitative and quantitative expertise to strengthen the university’s mission as a catalyst for sustainable societal transformation.

A public health professional with over 8 years of experience, including 5 years dedicated to strengthening urban health systems. Has worked extensively on improving service delivery, convergence, and implementation of comprehensive primary healthcare under NUHM. Experienced in program design, implementation, and health systems strengthening across multiple states.

With a broad academic background in psychology, education, communication, international development studies, neuroscience and public health science, I has worked with: the importance of sensory deprivation in extreme environments and how architecture can stimulate the sensory system as a countermeasure, how non-professionals can provide mental health support in disasters and how to integrate gardens, gardening and nature in mental health rehabilitation. Besides this I have a career in psychotherapy and psychiatric treatment and lecturing. For the past few years, I have worked partly with therapeutic garden design, partly with projects that are based on private garden owners as a basis for creating social inclusion and community and counteracting loneliness and social isolation in urban environments. I have been the local chairman of the Royal Danish Horticultural Society and therefore has a good knowledge of the private garden owners, and the opportunities and limitations that a greater involvement in health programs holds.

Dr Jiayi Jin is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Architecture Department, University of Strathclyde, whose research explores digital urban technologies and creative participation to promote equitable and sustainable cities. She leads several British Academy and UKRI-funded projects, including “Gender-Inclusive Cities”, “Participatory Neighbourhood Planning for the ‘Brown to Green’ Transition in Tyneside”, and “Navigating Urban Ecologies”. Her work focuses particularly on how urban design and planning are conceptualised and experienced through a gender lens. Beginning with an investigation of Newcastle’s City Centre Transformation Plan back in 2021, her research has expanded to explore feminist urban environments and gendered dynamics in urban politics. She works closely with external partners including community organisations, architects, urban planners, artists and local government, employing methods such as gender equity walks, interviews, documentaries, counter-mapping, and GIS/PGIS analysis to foster interdisciplinary exploration and promote more inclusive urban futures.

Joel Simpson is a researcher at Social Life and has worked on projects exploring the social impact of a range of housing and neighbourhood development models. He has supported the Southwark Estates Health and Wellbeing project that Social Life led, and helped facilitate the second round of research into public space interventions in the OPDC area along the Grand Union canal. Joel also lectures in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts (UAL), where his work explores how the university can strategically utilise its resources to support housing campaigns in the local area. He has an MSc in Urban Development Planning from UCL and sits on the board at RUSS CLT and in this capacity supported the completion of the mixed-tenure 12 Church Grove scheme in Lewisham.

Josh is an apprentice landscape architect at Stephenson Halliday. He holds a Masters of Research in Landscape Geography and is a former editor of Landscape, the Journal of the Landscape Institute. 

Kala Choyimanikandiyil is an architect and academician with over 28 years of experience in teaching architecture courses and industry practice in architectural and interior design. She has practised on residential and interior projects in South India. Since 2008, she has focused on academia and undertaken extensive research on Indian traditional architecture and sustainable design. Her contributions also include areas on campus design.

Karol Carminatti Baumgärtner is an architect and urban planner with a PhD in Architecture and Urbanism. He is currently a visiting researcher at the Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation (GCHU), University of Oxford. He is also a professor in Brazil and an urban planning consultant, working with municipalities on climate adaptation, spatial planning and territorial development strategies. His research integrates urban form, climate exposure and governance capacity, and he is the developer of the FORMA framework, a multidimensional methodology designed to operationalise urban habitability and resilience in climate-vulnerable, data-scarce contexts, with a particular focus on Southern Brazil.

Kenton Rogers FRGS, MSc For Eco, MICFor, is a chartered urban forester with more than 30 years’ experience working across commercial, urban and community forestry projects in the UK, Europe and North Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in Forest Ecosystem Management and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Kenton is co-founder of Treeconomics, an employee-owned social enterprise headquartered in Exeter that specialises in urban forest assessment, valuation and strategic management across the UK and Europe. He led the first valuation of an urban forest in the UK in Torbay in 2011, helping to demonstrate the economic and societal benefits of urban trees, and later delivered the UK’s first urban forest masterplan in Birmingham, setting out a strategic framework for long-term urban forest planning and investment. Kenton has written widely on the role and benefits of trees and urban forests in creating healthier and more resilient places to live and work. He was a contributing author to the urban chapter of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment and to the Springer Handbook of the Urban Forest, and most recently co-authored the Tree Care Manual, published this year. He has provided expert advice on tree valuation and urban forest planning for organisations including UNESCO, the World Bank, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Forest Research, the Trees and Design Action Group, and House of Commons committees. He has also presented internationally on the social, environmental and economic value of urban trees, including giving a TEDx talk on the benefits of trees.

Khalafalla is an experienced architect and town planner with 20 years' experience in managing architecture designs, building construction, and development proposal planning applications. He holds a BSc in Architecture and Spatial Planning, an MBA in Project Management, and an MSc in Urban Development and Planning. He is a licentiate member of the RTPI and Urban Design Network.

Kyounghee Cho, a research fellow from Birmingham City University, is a scholar of digital governance, specialising in the role of emerging technologies in shaping public policy, urban systems, and democratic processes. She received her PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, where her research examined the impact of digital transformation on democratic development in South Korea. Her current research focuses on the governance of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructures, with particular attention to their implications for urban policy, public service delivery, and societal wellbeing. She explores how AI-driven systems are increasingly embedded in city governance, influencing decision-making processes, risk management, and the provision of public goods in areas such as transport, smart cities, and urban innovation.

Dr Laura MacLean is a Research Associate in the Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management (DMEM) and a Part 2 architect. Her work operates at the intersection of architecture, health and environmental wellbeing. Her research explores the relationships between people and their environments, with a particular focus on how natural and designed landscapes can support health, wellbeing and sustainable futures. Drawing on an interdisciplinary background spanning architecture, design and social science, Laura develops innovative, evidence-informed approaches that translate health policy into actionable design solutions. Laura is a researcher on the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)–funded Design HOPES (Healthy Organisations in a Place-based Ecosystem) programme. As part of this project, she worked on the design and development of Mosaic Landscapes, an evidence-based facilitation tool that supports collaborative NHS estate planning. Mosaic Landscapes enables healthcare staff, patients and communities to co-design inclusive, health-supportive green spaces by linking landscape decisions directly to wellbeing outcomes. The work has generated peer-reviewed publications and has been applied across NHS sites. Laura works closely with NHS Boards, Public Health Scotland, government bodies and third-sector organisations to embed co-design, sustainability and evidence-based design practices within healthcare and public environments. Laura is Prince2 trained in project management, bringing structured management and delivery expertise to complex, multi-stakeholder research and innovation projects.

Dr Linda Monckton is Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion Strategy at Historic England and a heritage professional with an expertise in how heritage can promote and sustain increased wellbeing. She is author of the new Historic England Wellbeing and Heritage Strategy and delivers a programme of pilot projects and strategic development. She works closely with the heritage and health sectors and other Arms Length Bodies and devolved nations along with international colleagues to establish evidence gaps and what works. She also has a publication record on aspects of architectural history and wellbeing and heritage. She sits on a number of advisory and steering boards for research projects, is a peer reviewer for the Arts and Humanities Research Fund, and advises international colleagues on wellbeing and heritage. She has held a fellowship at the Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities; was recently a visiting lecturer at University College London’s Institute of Sustainable Heritage and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we've come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all. This abstract is co-authored by Linda Monckton (Historic England, Head of Wellbeing and Heritage), Desi Gradinarova (Historic England, Senior Policy Adviser - Wellbeing and Heritage) and Elizabeth Bennett (University of Leeds, Research Fellow). It draws on work undertaken by Historic England and The ACHTaxonomies Project, led by Adala Leeson (Historic England, Head of Social and Economic Research).

Dr. Lindsay Sansom is the Co-Director of the Together for a Better Tomorrow Program, a Faculty Fellow in the Center for Health and Nature, and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University School of Public Health. Her research examines how environmental conditions, public spaces, and community systems shape health, resilience, and social connection. Grounded in community-engaged and practice-based methods, her work has focused on water security, environmental health, rural park access, and the role of greenspace in supporting community cohesion. She has led and contributed to interdisciplinary projects with communities across Texas, including colonias along the U.S.–Mexico border and historically under-invested urban neighborhoods. Her current work explores urban parks as social infrastructure and examines how community spaces can strengthen well-being, belonging, and collective capacity.

Luke Engleback CMLI FRSA is a Chartered Landscape Architect and Ecourbanist based in the UK. He founded Studio Engleback in 1999. Since 1984, Luke has taught at the university level and regularly presents on ecourbanism, biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and health, both in the UK and internationally. He sits on the Landscape Institute Policy & Public Affairs Committee and peer review groups including the Cambridge Quality Panel and South Downs National Park Design Review Panel. Formerly with INTEGER Intelligent & Green think tank (1999–2005), and currently ‘Our Green Group’, he stays updated with Nature and Science, integrating insights into planning & design practices.

Lynne Houlbrooke CMLI, Associate Director of Landscape Design at Stephenson Halliday, an RSK Company, is a specialist in landscape led masterplanning, design and delivery, advocating Nature-based approaches. With more than twenty years in the industry, Lynne is highly experienced in co-ordinating work for multifunctional environments to deliver sustainable and high-quality landscapes. She understands the vital role of health and wellbeing, communities and co-design, and the need for a regenerative approach within the current climate. With her creative mindset, she positively develops the strategic direction of projects to deliver landscape led visions for schemes and to integrate and connect humanistic environments with nature to promote and support health and wellbeing

Dr. Mable Kipenda is Director of Clinical Research and Health Programs at Urban Health 360 and CEO and Founder of Kambo Health Initiative. She is a medical doctor and public health specialist with over seven years of experience advancing health systems, research, and policy in Zambia and across Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work focuses on adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, and evidence-informed urban and community health programming. She has contributed to national health strategies, policy documents, and qualitative research in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and has presented at regional and global platforms, including the Medical Women’s International Conference. Dr. Kipenda is a Mandela Washington Fellow and Chevening Scholar, recognised for leadership in public health and health systems strengthening.

Malak Mehta is a Real Estate Advisor at Anculus, where she contributes to the development of both renovations and new school buildings. Her work emphasizes an integrative approach to creating healthy learning environments, alongside supporting project management processes. She also serves as an advisor for the WELL for the Mind concept and is a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), specializing in holistic strategies for healthy buildings. With a background in architecture and urban design engineering, Malak is driven by a passion for creating spaces that support physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. She has a strong interest in placemaking and place attachment, and is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental psychology and the built environment.

Manuel Alméstar holds a PhD in Urbanism from ETSAM–UPM (Spain, 2025). Trained as an architect and urbanist, he also holds a Master’s degree in Strategies and Technologies for Development (UCM–UPM). His work operates at the intersection of culture, territory, and climate action. He currently serves as researcher and coordinator of several European projects at the Center for Innovation in Technology for Human Development (itdUPM) and as Editor-in-Chief of the Bienal Climática: Art, Industry and Territory, where he promotes processes that connect artistic creation, ecological transition, and urban transformation. His work explores how to design collaborative contexts capable of sustaining cultural projects with territorial impact, articulating financing, governance, and civic participation through a long-term perspective. His professional trajectory combines institutional practice, coordination of multi-actor ecosystems, and academic production. He has led and facilitated European initiatives focused on urban experimentation, collaborative governance, and systemic change, promoting models in which art functions as a catalyst for public innovation and territorial transformation. In the academic field, his research focuses on institutional innovation, collaborative planning, and co-creation processes among unlikely actors, with particular attention to ecological and social infrastructures as interconnected nodes. His publications include “(Un)Likely Connections Between (Un)Likely Actors in the Art/NBS Co-Creation Process,” “(Re)designing the Rules: Collaborative Planning and Institutional Innovation,” “The Wild City: Collaborative Practices in Urban Renaturing,” and “Schools as Levers of Change in Urban Transformation.

Maria Chiara Pastore (1980) is a Researcher in Urban Planning at Politecnico di Milano. Pastore’s research interests are mainly focused adaptive planning in relation to Urban Forestry, urban biodiversity. She is scientific director of The Project Forestami and leader of the Italian Project called “Biodiversity”, a national project funded by the Italian Ministry of Research, specifically on Urban Biodiversity.

Mark is an experienced practitioner and researcher with 25 years’ experience. He works across the fields of public health, urbanism, planning, and architecture. Mark founded Urban Habitats in 2018, putting research into action in local places. Alongside practice work he is a healthy places specialist at South Cambridgeshire District Council. He is a member of the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing at UWE Bristol where he completed his doctoral research, Healthy Streetlife. He is a board member at Green Squirrel, a social enterprise with a vision for caring communities which runs Railway Gardens, a community resilience hub. Happiest whilst on a bicycle, Mark is an optimistic allotmenteer and lives in Cardiff.

Mark is a senior MEP director at Stantec. He has worked in construction for 40 years, more than half of which has been dedicated to leadership and design in healthcare engineering. With the industry’s urgent shift towards climate adaptation, he has increasingly concentrated on change management and implementation strategies in pursuit of decarbonisation targets. He has a keen interest in the digital estate for smart operation and maintenance as well as reducing energy and carbon emissions. Mark is a registered authorising engineer for medical gases with the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estates Management (IHEEM) and is the current chair of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineering (CIBSE) specialist healthcare group. In June 2025, he assumed the prestigious role of Vice President of CIBSE. He is a CIBSE board member and a trustee.

Marsha Ramroop is a global award-winning organisational inclusion strategist, Founder Director of Unheard Voice Consultancy Ltd and author of Building Inclusion – A Practical Guide to EDI in the Built Environment, which won accolades at Business Book Awards. She has been named in the Top 100 Inspirational D&I Leaders of 2025 and in The Built List of Top 100 influencers in the Built Environment. She has formulated a culture and behaviour change methodology which has been recognised as successful with international prizes, from the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations, and with two Brandon Hall HRD Gold Medals. As well as running Unheard Voice, which was shortlisted for D&I Consultancy of the Year 2024, Marsha works part-time as the Executive Director of EDI for Building People CIC, a hub that’s pulling together EDI resources and insight, as well as career pathways for underrepresented groups in the built environment. Marsha originally had a 30-year career in broadcasting including 20 years at the BBC. Whilst working at the BBC, she led inclusion efforts across the Midlands and developed a pioneering inclusive recruitment pilot for presenting staff, and an inclusive reporter scheme. She was the inaugural Director of Inclusion and Diversity at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) where she ran RIBA Radio, a live week of radio programming about inclusion for the profession reaching 10-thousand listeners worldwide. Building Inclusion: A Practical Guide to EDI for Architecture and the Built Environment, came out in Autumn 2024, published by Routledge, the first book of its kind for the sector, and has been awarded Highly Commended in the Business Book Awards 2025, and a Finalist award at the Goody Business Book Awards 2025. She wrote and was lead facilitator behind the Diversity & Inclusion Charter for the motorsport, Formula 1, delivered through the Royal Academy of Engineering. She works with the Cultural Intelligence Center, the global headquarters of cultural intelligence (CQ) as one of their published and highlighted thought-leaders on impactful organisational change, as well as a worldwide trainer and facilitator. Marsha is a Chartered Member of the CIPD (Chartered MCIPD). She holds the Ministerial Public Appointments of Non-Executive Director at both the Joint Nature Conservation Committee - which seeks to protect the biodiversity of the UK, and the Marine Management Organisation - which protects the UKs seas. She was also the Vice Chair and is a Fellow of the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals (FIEDP), an institute which strives to verify and set standards for the growing vocation of EDI practitioners. She also sits on the International Advisory Council of the Institute of Business Ethics, and is also a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).

Matthew is an architect, technologist and Principal at BVN, acknowledged for his cross-sector expertise and his ability to apply current and novel technologies and future of work knowledge to redefine spaces across industries such as health, education, and science. With a career spanning Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, North America, and the UK, Matthew now leads BVN’s UK Studio, bringing a global perspective to his work. Passionate about driving change, Matthew also steers many of BVN’s transformational and innovation initiatives, collaborating with universities, start-ups, and other architectural practices to expand the boundaries of what architecture can achieve. His work reflects a deep understanding of how insights from workplace design can inform and enhance other sectors, from healthcare to life sciences, creating environments that foster collaboration, adaptability, and human connection.

I am an architect and researcher specialising in neuroarchitecture, wellbeing, and sustainable design, working at the intersection of the built environment, public health, and urban systems. My work focuses on translating evidence-based research into practical strategies that improve the performance, resilience, and user experience of buildings and cities. I recently worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Cushman & Wakefield in London, advising on climate risk, net-zero strategy, and ESG performance across real estate portfolios, with a focus on enhancing both environmental outcomes and occupant well-being. I hold a Master’s degree in Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings from UCL, where my research examined the impact of air pollution on school attendance in vulnerable communities. My broader research interests focus on school design as critical social infrastructure and on developing healthier, more equitable urban environments.

Michael Cottakis is CEO of 89 Global, an international advisory platform supporting the development and execution of strategic investment projects. He has experience in strategy development, public-private initiatives, and stakeholder engagement in European and international contexts. He combines an academic background in economic history with practical experience in establishing and leading advisory platforms focused on policy, finance and development. 89 Global forms the project management unit responsible for developing a new city project in Ukraine, while the company is supporting Mariupol City Council in the development of housing settlements for Mariupol IDPs across the country. Previously, Michael co-founded and led the 89 Initiative, a pan-European platform that connects policy, academic and financial stakeholders. He has also established a network of experts who support advisory and programme delivery activities. He has a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), which focused on the historical drivers of entrepreneurship in cities.

Dr Michal Gath-Morad is Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture, and Fellow and Director of Studies at Peterhouse. She directs the Cambridge Cognitive Architecture (CCA) group and founded NeuroCīvitās, a cross-disciplinary initiative on mental health and the built environment. She holds a Doctor of Sciences in Cognitive Science from ETH Zürich. Her research integrates architecture, cognitive science, and neuroscience to examine how spatial configuration shapes cognition, stress regulation, and team performance. Her work combines behavioural experiments, psychophysiological measures, and computational modelling to develop evidence-based design strategies. Dr Gath-Morad has published in leading journals including Scientific Reports, Automation in Construction, and Building and Environment, and has secured funding from UKRI/SNSF and Horizon Europe. She will hold an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2026–2028) at the BeMoBIL Lab, TU Berlin. Her current research focuses on high-stress and complex environments, including healthcare and extreme settings.

Michelle leads the social value and stakeholder engagement consultancy service at AtkinsRéalis, providing strategic direction and specialist support to clients and delivery teams. She is experienced in developing and implementing social value strategies, working collaboratively with senior leaders and stakeholders to achieve meaningful outcomes. Michelle is recognised for her inclusive and pragmatic approach, combining confidence in her expertise with respect for the knowledge of others. She has extensive experience delivering social value on complex, high profile projects for major clients. Michelle was selected for the AtkinsRéalis Fellowship Programme in recognition of her professional contribution to social impact.

Student at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru. Exploring the relationship between people, place, and built form through concept-led design. Interested in designing spaces that are functional, immersive, and environmentally responsive.

Mingyu is a Research Associate at the Urban Big Data Centre, University of Glasgow. He is the winner of the Design Research for Healthy Cities, HCD2025. He employs innovative research approaches, including urban big data analysis, participatory social surveys, and multimethod simulation methods. His primary interest lies in cross-disciplinary collaborations that bridge engineering, social sciences, and art & design, with a focus on designing, constructing, and managing urban built environments to enhance sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience.

Adkaich is a designer from Morocco with a strong passion for travel, cultural exploration, and creative practice. His journey into design began at the age of 15, experimenting with Photoshop to create memes—an early interest that quickly evolved into a lasting commitment to the field. Over the past six years, he has developed a multidisciplinary approach, working across various design domains and adapting his skills to diverse project needs. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts and Communication Design from Cyprus, where he built a strong foundation in visual design. Seeking to create more meaningful and impactful work, he continued his studies in Belgium, pursuing a Postgraduate program in Space and Service Design. Through this experience, Adkaich has strengthened his focus on real-world impact. He thrives in international and multidisciplinary environments, contributing to both physical and digital projects that address complex challenges. His practice is driven by a commitment to creating thoughtful, engaging and socially relevant design solutions.

Dr Mohammad Mayouf is an Associate Professor in Digital Construction at Birmingham City University, specialising in the Digital Built Environment. His work sits at the intersection of digital innovation, information management, and socio-technical transformation in construction, with particular expertise in Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, artificial intelligence, and lifecycle asset information management.

An experienced professional with the FHEA recognition. Holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, awarded the "Excellence Thesis Award" for outstanding research. Published research findings in over 100 top-tier journals, patents, books, and conferences with a cumulative impact factor of over 150. Taught highly rated courses in computing, big data management and analytics, data mining, data science, statistics, AI, and mathematics. Received "Merit Scholarship Awards" throughout their tertiary education and have played an active role in student recruiting and admission for universities. Invited speaker and presenter of research in different countries such as the USA, the UK, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Italy, Portugal, and Australia.

Natali Ghawi is the Founder and CEO of NABAD Consulting, an award-winning regenerative strategy and advisory practice advancing people and planetary wellbeing across buildings, communities, cities, and systems. She is a holistic architect, urban planner, and regenerative wellbeing practitioner with experience spanning sustainable cities, healthy buildings, social impact, placemaking, resilience, and experiential learning. Natali’s work bridges strategy, design, and implementation, supporting organisations and communities to translate sustainability, health, equity, and wellbeing ambitions into meaningful, context-sensitive action. She holds a Master’s in Global Development Practice from Harvard University and is accredited as a WELL AP, Living Future Accredited professional, Fitwel Ambassador, EDGE Expert, and Envision Sustainability Professional.

Natasha Reid is founder of MATTER SPACE SOUL, a progressive spatial design studio and lab shaping places for human and social wellbeing. The studio specialises in Human-Centric Design, NeuroArchitecture and Biophilic Design. She works at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, art and the human sciences, such as environmental psychology and neuroscience. Building on her experience at award-winning architecture studios, she then spent over a decade developing and implementing new approaches for humanistic design from 2013. She often speaks at conferences on design innovation to address societal challenges. She was named a “Groundbreaker” by international design authority Wallpaper* magazine in 2021. www.matterspacesoul.com

Director at Pozzoni Architecture, Nigel Saunders, has extensive design expertise within the housing sector across all age groups, with a particularly keen interest in intergenerational living. Nigel is also chair of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s ‘Housing, Planning & Ageing Group’ which aims to address the city region’s housing options for older people, including creating balanced communities within our towns and cities. He is also a contributor to several APPG housing-led inquiries.

Dr Nikos Ntounis is Senior Lecturer and Research at Manchester Metropolitan University, specialising in the organisational, behavioural and governance dynamics that shape the performance and resilience of urban centres. His publications span retail change, high street transformation, place governance, stakeholder coordination and the socio‑spatial dynamics of urban systems. Nikos has played a central role in developing the evidence base for the IPM’s 4Rs framework and the 25 Priority Interventions, and has contributed extensively to national programmes including the High Streets Task Force. His research examines how institutional maturity, partnership structures and local capability influence place outcomes, and he has led multiple studies on centre performance, footfall dynamics and the evolution of town and city centres. His work continues to inform policy, practice and strategic decision‑making across the UK and internationally.

Paul Polizzotto is the Founder and CEO of Communityai. Over a 36-year career as a social entrepreneur, Paul has focused on creating sustainable new funding streams for community organisations and non-profits by harnessing the power of business-to-business and business-to-government transactions. He proved this market-making model, Social Value Economics, through EcoMedia, which he founded in 2001 and sold to CBS in 2010. Under his leadership, CBS EcoMedia directed more than $100 million in new funding and resources to environmental, education, community health and wellness programmes, improving quality of life for more than 60 million people. Paul has since turned his attention to SaaS and AI solutions that integrate social value directly into sales and procurement platforms. His innovations have earned him 16 global patents and multiple awards for social innovation, public-private partnership and community impact.

Pearl is a building and wellbeing specialist focused on delivering practical strategies that improve how people live and feel in built environments. She holds a background in Architecture from UC Berkeley and has completed advanced studies in Health, Wellbeing, and Sustainable Buildings at University College London, combining environmental science with applied design and development insight. Her work translates research into real-world impact. She recently published a peer-reviewed paper on healthy building design. In parallel, she is working with Dubai-based developer Al Mizan, contributing to projects that integrate wellbeing principles into residential and mixed-use developments. Pearl is also the founder of Well Built Healthy Buildings Consultancy, a new practice focused on helping developers and stakeholders implement evidence-based design strategies that enhance occupant health, performance, and long-term value.

Dr Qunshan Zhao is a Professor in Urban Analytics in Urban Studies and Social Policy and a Deputy Director of the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC) at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, UK. Qunshan's research has three main keywords, including Cities, Sensors, and Data. His research interest focuses on creating a sustainable urban future and tackling related social, economic, and environmental problems by using new forms of data and related analytical approaches. Ongoing research efforts include urban infrastructure location optimization (urban green infrastructure; bike sharing station; alternative refuelling stations location modelling), human-environment interactions (human mobility patterns in urban/natural spaces, particularly by mobile phone app data), housing energy efficiency and fuel poverty (fuel poverty and housing environment sensing and evaluation), 3D city modelling, urban slum modeling in Global South, and open source spatial optimization methods development (pysal/spopt).

Arh. Raluca Șoaita is the founder of TESSERACT ARCHITECTURE, the only architecture studio in Romania specialized in the medical sector. Together with her team, she has signed off on over 1,5 million square meters of hospitals and medical clinics, including some of the most significant recent large hospital projects in Romania. Raluca consistently promotes topics such as the humanization of medical spaces, the optimization of healthcare processes, and sustainable hospital design solutions in the public sphere. In fact, the entire approach of TESSERACT ARCHITECTURE is based on innovation, long-term vision, and a multidisciplinary approach throughout the entire hospital design process for the future of healthcare in Romania. Raluca has been part of the technical expert team involved in a large-scale World Bank project in Romania, "Healthcare Sector Reform – Improving the Quality of the Medical System in Romania." In addition to her collaboration with the World Bank, she has also provided consultancy and expertise to other major international institutions, including the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), contributing to the development and modernization of healthcare infrastructure across the region.

Raymonde is an architect and senior urban designer with professional experience in the UK, Canada, and Sweden. Since joining White Arkitekter, she has contributed to a wide range of projects, from large-scale residential developments in the UK to innovative, landscape-led urban and masterplanning schemes. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to creating healthy, inclusive, and climate-resilient environments. Most recently, Raymonde led the design of healthcare campus masterplans in Dublin and the UK, with a focus on integrating campuses into the town fabric and greening existing estates. She applies evidence-based methodologies, emphasising environmental resilience through strategies such as integrated water management and microclimate analysis. Raymonde brings a sensitive, people-centred approach to design, placing everyday experience and social inclusion at the heart of public space development to support community cohesion.

Richard has 25 years experience gained while working for client organisations, contractors and design consultants. During this time he has worked in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, delivering a number of high profile projects across a variety of sectors. He is passionate about good building design. Richard brings the knowledge from the diverse projects he has delivered to ensure process improvement; quality and value driven efficiency in design are at the core of the projects he supports.

Robert joined Eric Parry Architects in 2006 and has over 30 years’ experience delivering high-quality architecture across healthcare, education, life sciences, hospitality, workplace, and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. A strong design leader with in-depth technical expertise, Robert drives clear project vision, builds positive client relationships, and steers teams through every stage of design and delivery. He is currently leading the design team for Warneford Park in Oxford—and led the design development of Granta Park Phase 2, a major life science campus of five flexible workplace/CL2 laboratory buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds in Cambridge. His previous work includes numerous award-winning office and residential projects in London, many involving the retention and extension of historic façades to create contemporary boutique workspace and hotels.

Rosalind Raine is professor of applied health research at UCL and a public health medicine doctor with an honorary appointment at UCLH, UK. She was elected a fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, selected as an NIHR senior investigator (now emeritus) and as one of the country’s ‘leading edge scientists’ by NIHR. She was also selected by the British Medical Association as a national role model in academic medicine. Rosalind is recognised as a world-leading applied researcher with expertise in the examination of major health service / public health change of digital health innovations and of determinants of widespread implementation of evidence-based care. She collaborates across disciplines ranging from architecture to data science and sociology, enabling integration of diverse quantitative and qualitative methods to examine impacts of health / public health interventions on health outcomes, health inequalities, healthcare quality and costs. She has advised on health policy internationally, nationally and regionally. She has sat on international and national boards and panels, including the London School of Health and Tropical Medicine Management Board, the HEFCE Research Excellence Framework Panel (whose recommendations inform the distribution of government funding to UK universities), the Lancet Commission on The Future of the NHS, and Medical Research Council (MRC) and NIHR Research Programme Panels. She is a trustee at Global Health Partnerships (GHP) and The Bloomsbury Festival.

Dr Rosie Rowe is the Research Capacity Lead at Ealing Council. She has a background in public health, with a particular interest in healthy place shaping. She seeks to use research and evaluation to inform the delivery of innovative programmes that have a lasting impact in reducing health inequalities and fostering healthier communities.

Ruchit is a researcher, architect, urban designer, and development practitioner. Ruchit has previously worked on projects ranging from community led regeneration, community led heritage, and community led design. Areas of interest include critical analysis of the current understandings of Heritage, participatory decision-making, tools for participation such as codesign and coproduction, transdisciplinary research in built environment, and urban commons. Ruchit graduated with a PhD in Design Research Planning from the Kingston University London, a Masters degree from the University College London in Development Planning: Building and Urban Design in Development, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Mumbai.

Ryan is an experienced architect who has worked in the education, office and residential sectors. His recent experiences experience includes retrofit and refurbishment projects. He has developed a keen eye for sustainable design and is a Glasgow lead for Sheppard Robson’s Sustainability Group. His skills include creating close rapports with clients with good people and communication skills, project management, experience with co-ordination between the client and consultant teams, experience completing complex planning applications, good design/technical skills and completion of the BREEAM Associate training. He is a competent Revit user and is experienced at working with contactors and sub-contractors in the delivery of projects.

Dr. Samantha Hajna is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University (ON, Canada). Dr. Hajna’s research is focused on understanding how the environments in which people live shape their health behaviours and impact their health – with the overall aim of generating epidemiological evidence that can be used to inform the design and delivery of interventions that promote public health. With expertise in the application of GIS to health research and interests in real-time monitoring of health behaviours (using wearables), physical activity, and the prevention of chronic disease risk, Dr. Hajna’s work spans a range of disciplines, including health geography and physical activity, environmental, and clinical epidemiology.

As the Managing Director of JSI in India, Dr. Sanjay Kapur has been instrumental in establishing JSI as a robust public health organization in India. Since 2014 when he joined, he has spearheaded a five-fold organizational growth in terms of programs and operations including raising $38 million new funding from bilateral, multi-lateral and CSR donors, establishing significant new partnerships and alliances with public and private sector organizations, steering organizational system strengthening and establishing membership of key policy and technical committees of Govt. of India. He has also led the establishment and evolution of JSI India’s not-for-profit entity, JSI R&T India Foundation which today has an earnest size of CSR funding and partnerships. Dr. Sanjay Kapur is a Public Health Specialist with over 25 years of professional experience. Before joining JSI, he was the Team Leader in the Health Office at USAID/India for 14 years managing a team of health professionals and annual budgets in excess of $ 30 Million. His professional career has focused on Reproductive and Child Health, Infectious Diseases including HIV/AIDS, TB, and Primary Health Care. He has participated in the design and review of several National Health Programs, including HIV/AIDS, TB and RCH. He is a member of several Policy and Technical committees of the Govt. of India and is a regular invitee to speak at national and international fora. He is a recipient of the international Michael K. White Memorial award of the US government for his work in the area of ending preventable child and maternal deaths. Dr. Sanjay Kapur is a medical doctor and holds a Post Graduate degree in Public Health.

Sem Lee is an urban strategist, systems thinker, and designer working across public, private and third sector to deliver healthy places. Drawing on their lived experience in poor social housing when first arriving to the country, Sem founded OURI Labs, a health innovation research lab dedicated to shaping healthy, equitable cities that benefit communities and the planet. The practice specialises in participatory research, evaluation, and design, effectively bridging public health and urban planning policy.

Shivani Kalburgi is a student of Architecture at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru. Her academic interests lie in design exploration and iterative processes, with a focus on understanding how design can meaningfully engage with people’s everyday lives. She is interested in research-driven design approaches that bridge creative inquiry with socially responsive and user-centered architectural practice.

Shreya Aneja is an environmental designer and sustainability researcher at White Arkitekter, specialising in building physics, circular design, net zero pathways, whole life carbon, and regenerative design. Her work spans the full project lifecycle — from early-stage sustainability strategy through to delivery — translating climate ambitions into practical, evidence-based design decisions, with a particular focus on the relationship between circular material strategies and occupant health outcomes across office and healthcare environments. Her practice spans office, healthcare and urban design, including active involvement in the new Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff — one of the most ambitious sustainable healthcare projects in the UK — where her work encompasses holistic sustainability measurement, clinical design integration, and pilot testing as part of the current UKNZCBS. Beyond practice, Shreya contributes to the wider industry as a researcher, speaker, and co-author of sector frameworks, with presentations at international conferences including PLEA 2024 and CATE 2023 and being an active member of the white research lab at White Arkitekter.

Sonja Oliveira is Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation and an Associate Dean (REF) in the Faculty of Engineering. She has over 25 years internationally leading design innovation and interdisciplinary research experience in health, energy, technology and design sectors. She combines design, architecture, environmental engineering and behavioural science to understand how complex phenomena interrelate and how society may develop responsive intelligent mechanisms in polycrisis extreme scenarios. She has led diverse multi and interdisciplinary design and research projects funded by EPSRC, ESRC, AHRC, Leverhulme as well as consultancy, ranging in value from £200k-£29mil in the UK and internationally. She has an established international reputation in socio-spatial intelligent communication and governance, nature inspired collective responsiveness and climate action thought leadership. She founded the Radical Architecture Practice for Sustainability network (http://www.rapsresearch.com) in partnership with leading design practitioners and researchers in Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria and France. She is an Advisory Board member to the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in the UK, Thought Leadership Specialist Advisor to the Design Council and a board member of the World Green Building Council (Serbia). Currently, Sonja is leading delivery of multiple research and innovation projects aiming to transform interrelated energy, climate and health systems to account for complex multi-scale interconnected encounters between humans, nonhumans, spatial, socio-technological and environmental dimensions of everyday life. Sonja has worked with climate tech and socially progressive innovation think tanks, UK and EU government institutions, business consultancy, international design firms, research institutions and recently housing associations to examine complex cross-disciplinary problems that emerge in the designed environment.

Sophie is a Chartered Town Planner, and in 2025 she was recognised as one of The Planner Magazine’s Women of Influence for exceptional contributions to health infrastructure planning and estates transformation. Sophie has set up the Health and Place Project to bring together her rare cross-sector expertise spanning the built environment, public health, strategy, sustainability and net zero to continue to shape hospital estates to ensure that they are fit for the future. Sophie recently completed an 18 month programme of work with the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board where she has led strategic initiatives to ensure healthcare infrastructure meets population needs. This has included influencing policy agendas, integrating public health priorities, and aligning projects with the NHS 10-Year Plan. Prior to her work with the NHS, Sophie worked in a range of public and private sector roles in planning and regeneration within Central, North and East London.

Dr. Srikanth Kondreddy is a global health policy researcher, advisor, decisionmaker and educator with a deep knowledge of the global health landscape—issues, initiatives, and actors. He is a mission-oriented (turning knowledge into action) with a strategic vision —advising the UN agencies, multilateral health organizations, federal health agencies, global health think tanks, and not-for-profit organizations. He founded Health Attaché Inc., a health diplomacy consultancy based in Ottawa, Canada, and is also a founding member and director of research and policy at Urban Health360, a not-for-profit global applied research institute based in Maryland, USA. He is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, and a Scientist at Bruyere Health Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. He is also a Senior Fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment in Health Equity, Ottawa, Canada. Earlier, he worked for the World Health Organization, United Nations Office of Project Services, Stop TB Partnership, Global Affairs Canada (Global Health and Nutrition Bureau), Public Health Agency of Canada (Office of International Affairs for Health Portfolio), Indian Council of Medical Research, Public Health Foundation of India, and Population Council, among others. He has research and teaching interests in global health policy, global health governance and global health diplomacy. His global health research program focuses on two pillars: 1) global health governance, and 2) global health diplomacy - built on multidisciplinary research partnerships and collaborations from India, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, the Caribbean region, several countries in Africa, and multilateral health agencies, including the WHO. Currently, researching the political economy of global health, international cooperation in health, global health governance frameworks, pandemic treaty, international health regulations compliance, and global health security, among other areas. He is actively engaged in research-to-action networks to drive policy impact. He is a founding member of the Global One Health Network. This interdisciplinary research-to-action network intends to strengthen Canadian leadership in improving the global governance of infectious diseases and AMR. He is also a member of a working group on Global Health Security and Universal Health Coverage – a collaboration between Georgetown University and the University of Edinburgh that explores the interlinkages and divergences among Global Health Security, Universal Health Coverage, and Health Systems Strengthening. He is a frequent contributor to global health policy discussions and a member of various policy engagement networks, including the Think 20, a G20 policy engagement group. He received over $5M in research grants as a principal investigator/co-investigator from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Swiss Network for International Studies, the Worldwide Universities Network, the Global One Health Network, the Steinberg Foundation, the WHO, and the JN Tata Endowment. He published in high-impact journals such as The Lancet, Health Policy and Planning, Globalization and Health, BMJ Global Health, and Canadian Public Administration, among others. He published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers, policy briefs and reports. He is an Associate Editor for the Annals of Global Health, an Academic Editor for PLOS Global Public Health, and an editorial board member for the BMC Public Health Journals. He is also a peer reviewer for more than a dozen global health journals. He received several awards and honors, including the prestigious "JN Tata Scholar" Award in 2014, the 'Hillman Award' from the Canadian Society for International Health in 2017, and other awards from the International AIDS Society, the Eastern Sociological Society, the J N Tata Endowment, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the University Grants Commission. He holds a PhD in Anthropology (health policy focus) from the University of Pune (National AIDS Research Institute), India, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Global Health Governance from McGill University, Canada, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Global Health Governance and Global Health Diplomacy from the Global Health Centre, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.

Steve Millington is Professor of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and a leading authority on neighbourhood governance, place experience and the institutional conditions that shape healthier urban systems. His publications span vitality and viability, experiential place quality, high street transformation and the governance of collective action. Steve’s work has significantly influenced national practice, contributing to the development of the IPM’s 4Rs framework, the 25 Priority Interventions and national guidance on place‑based policy. He has played a central role in major programmes including the High Streets Task Force, which has informed national approaches to place governance. His recent work advances reframing place as integrative infrastructure and providing strategic tools for policymakers, planners and public health leaders seeking to deliver healthier, fairer and more resilient cities.

Dr. Sujata S. Govada is an award-winning, qualified urban designer, certified urban planner and registered architect in India with over 35 years of experience having worked on a diverse range of projects in Hong Kong, US, Philippines, India and the region. She is the CEO and Managing Director of UDP International, an award winning global boutique practice based in Hong Kong since 1994. UDP International has won 16 major planning and design awards including Central Harbourfront Master Plan, Graham Street Urban Regeneration Alternate Proposal, Harbourfront Connectivity Study in Hong Kong, the Clark Green City Master Plan in the Philippines, Naya Dharavi Master Plan and IT Master Plan in India. UDP International is Innovative by Design leveraging award- winning smart and sustainable design and planning using a collaborative place-making approach with a focus on People, Place and Planet. Some of her recent and current projects include the ADB Metro Rail TOD Project in Bengaluru and Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines for Amaravati in India; Smart Cultural Precinct @ Central, Kai Tak Sports Park and several Planning Projects in Hong Kong; large waterfront master planning, campus planning, tourism and mixed use development projects in the Philippines and a Balanced land use plan for a Marina District in the US. Dr. Govada is the Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Urbanisation (ISU) which she set up in 2014 in Hong Kong. She has undertaken Smart City Research leading to the Hong Kong sections in Springer publications “Smart City Smart Economy” (2016), “E- Democracy” (2017), “Smart Metropolitan Region” (2018), “Smart Environment for Smart Cities” (2019), “Smart Living for Smart Cities (2020) and Smart Mega Cities” (2021). ISU has also undertaken local initiatives such as the Smart Cultural Precinct (SCP) engaging the local community with a vision to develop a walkable Cultural Precinct in Central in Hong Kong. Over the last two years Dr. Govada has been involved with RHEA International Workshops and was instrumental in getting universities in Hong Kong, India and the US to participate as well. She has gained a reputation as a thought leader in shaping smart, sustainable, resilient, liveable and walkable communities and cities around the world. Dr. Govada was an Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Urban Planning and Design, the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong (HKU); the School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK); and the Urban Design & Regional Planning Program at City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Govada taught courses and studios as part of the master’s program in Urban Design at CUHK that she also helped to start. She also taught several Urban Design, Placemaking, Physical and Transport Planning courses, Urban Design studios and Planning workshops including thesis supervision in the Urban Design and Urban Planning Programs at HKU. She is a Global Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the 2015 President of the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Hong Kong). She is the Founding Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD), which she was primarily responsible for setting it up in 2010. Dr. Govada was also a former representative of the Harbourfront Commission in Hong Kong working towards the enhancement the Hong Kong harboufront. Dr. Govada was also an advisor for World Bank on their Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study focused on design, planning, development, implementation and scaling up of TOD based developments around the world.

Student at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru. Focused on exploring innovative architectural design to create dynamic, expressive environments for people. Emphasizes human-centric spaces that encourage interaction and foster a strong sense of belonging, while integrating environmentally responsive, organic design principles.

Prof. Dr. Tarek El-Sheikh Director, The Urban Training and Studies Institute -UTI – National Housing and Building Research Center-HBRC Dr. Tarek El-Sheikh has 33 years of experience in Policies and Strategies of Urban Development formulation, training, advisory services and projects implementation in Various Arab States (Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Libya, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia). Dr. El-Sheikh gained his Ph.D. in Planning in 2004 from Cairo University after research studies in University of Karlsruhe, Germany and master’s degree in development administration and planning with Commendation from University of Bristol in 1996 and master’s degree in architecture engineering from Cairo University in 1994. Dr. El-Sheikh is currently The Director of the Urban Institute for Training and Studies and was before that The United Nations Secretary General Representative Resident Coordinator to the State of Kuwait, before, he was Resident Representative of UNDP and United Nations Resident Coordinator to the State of Kuwait (2018), He was the former Director of Future Saudi Cities Program for two years (2014-2017) in Riyadh KSA. Acting Regional Director for Arab States of UN Habitat (2013-2014), Cairo. The Director of the Sub-Regional Office for Gulf States of UN Habitat in Kuwait (2009-2013). He was the Housing Sector Lead in the UN Country Team of Iraq (2007-2009). He joined the United Nations as Capacity Building Expert at UN Habitat Jordan (2004-2007). Prior to Joining the UN, he worked as Associate Professor at the Housing and Building Research Center in Cairo Egypt.

Dr. Terrance is a Professor of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University (ON, Canada). His research takes a population perspective, focusing on the social and structural determinants of mental and physical health and behaviour across the life course with an emphasis on children. His work is interdisciplinary in nature linking social determinants to physiological development.

Travis has over 30 years of experience, having built world-class data centres as well as managing large scale cloud operations for some of the earliest cloud adopters in the industry. As cofounder and CEO of Thermify, he is committed to providing a clean, green solution to the environmental impact of cloud computing. By using the waste heat generated by mini-data centres, Thermify aims to reduce, if not eliminate, fuel poverty in the UK while reducing the carbon impact of large-scale computing.

Ulysse Dormoy is a highly experienced professional in the lighting industry, boasting over 35 years of expertise. His journey began during the era of analogue systems, and he has been a witness to the transformative shift to today's digital landscape. Recently, his focus has shifted to a personal passion: the profound impact of light on human physiology. With an interest going beyond the well-known circadian rhythm, Ulysse explores how our increasingly indoor lifestyles might be limiting our exposure to the full spectrum of light, potentially affecting our health and wellbeing. Ulysse's quest to uncover the deeper implications of light also extends to its integration within our built environments, exploring how architects, lighting designers, and interior designers can leverage light's full potential. His goal is to enhance daily life through strategic lighting solutions that can optimise routines, improve quality of life, and promote overall wellbeing.

Viktor Riabokin is a systems architect of Ukraine's recovery models, working across project preparation, finance, and the implementation of reconstruction projects. He co-founded the NGO Vid Sertsya Budova, which focuses on designing replicable, self-sustaining, and inclusive residential settlements. Viktor serves as coordinator for international cooperation in social and affordable housing at Mariupol City Council, where he engages international financial institutions and bilateral donors to co-finance housing solutions for internally displaced families and returning veterans. He is also part of the leadership of Harvard's course Advancing the Sustainable Development of Ukraine, which aims to promote sustainable reconstruction processes nationwide. Viktor combines an academic background in political economy with practical experience in cross-sector partnerships spanning government, communities, NGOs, the private sector, and IFIs.

Dr. Pickett is a Professor of Epidemiology and Senior Research Fellow in the Brock University (ON, Canada) Department of Health Sciences. He is co-principal investigator of the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study. He is trained as an epidemiologist, and has longstanding interests in the health of children, rural and agricultural health, violence and injury prevention, and the determinants of health. He has supervised approximately 100 students and trainees to the completion of degree requirements and has taught epidemiological methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Pickett holds grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as primary and co-investigator, as well as a major contract from the Public Health Agency of Canada. He is interested in MSc and PhD candidates who wish to receive training in epidemiology and the population health sciences.

Architect and Urban Planner, graduated from the São Paulo State University (UNESP). Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture, Technology and the City at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Completed his final undergraduate project in the field of Urban Planning and Public Policy, entitled “Orla Ferroviária Urban Plan – Araraquara, SP” He holds a technical qualification in Interior Design from the National Service for Commercial Apprenticeship (SENAC SP). He also has over four years’ practical experience in architectural and interior design practices specialising in residential and commercial projects, with a focus on conceptual design, modelling and detailed design. Her professional and academic interests centre on the fields of urban planning, public policy and healthy cities.

Yating Jiang is a PhD student in Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. Her research focuses on the associations between city planning, active mobility and human health.

Yeunsoo Park is a postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in Management from the University of Birmingham. His research interests span business analytics, GIS, geospatial analysis, artificial intelligence, and explainable AI, with a particular focus on developing data-driven solutions to address business and urban challenges. His current postdoctoral research centres on the development of a postcode-level Environmental Justice Index that integrates environmental, health, safety, transport, and food access indicators at postcode and property level to support smarter, fairer, healthier, and more evidence-based urban decision-making.

Dr. Thomas is the founder and CEO of UrbanHealth360, an INGO focused on bridging the divide between the science of urbanization, health, and wellbeing and the involvement and activities of local communities. In addition to leading UrbanHealth360, Dr. Thomas is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Strategic Transitions LLC, an organization established to provide professional development and strategic leadership training to professionals and academics at every level. She is currently a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at the Rutgers University School of Public Health. She was a Dean’s Senior Scholar at the University of Memphis School of Public Health. She was a founding board member and inaugural executive director of the International Society for Urban Health, science advisor for urban health to the New York Academy of Medicine, vice president for research compliance at Howard University, and the chief of Epidemiology at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health. She held academic positions in the Department of Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences and the School of Pharmacy at Howard University. She is a member of the boards of US-based Women’s Economic Imperative (WEI) and the Kenya-based LVCT Health. Her scholarly publications range in focus from the social epidemiology of drug abuse to urbanization and health and the intersection of environment, social context, and health dynamics.

Dr AlBalawi is a physician and health promotion scholar with over 15 years' experience in public health practice and health system transformation in Saudi Arabia. He holds a PhD in Health Promotion from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and served as research fellow in health communication at its Health Promotion Research Centre. His doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on the application of behavioural theories and salutogenic frameworks to the design of evidence-based health interventions, with published work on health communication, social media diffusion, and community engagement strategies. He currently works in healthcare transformation consultancy with Madinah Health Cluster and the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya), where his practice spans health settings design, behavioural intervention modelling, and health-integrated policy development. Alongside his public health career, Dr AlBalawi is the founder of Tarah, an operational farmhouse in AlUla's Wadi Sadr that has pioneered the conversion of a traditional date palm farm into an immersive living environment – an endeavour that positions him at the intersection of health promotion theory and the practical reimagining of agricultural heritage spaces as health-promoting settings.

Currently serving as the Director of the Air Quality Protection Division of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Taoyuan City Government, I have previously held positions as the Director of the Environmental Inspection Division and the Public Relations Office. My primary responsibilities encompass air quality protection in Taoyuan City, including the management of stationary pollution sources, mobile pollution sources, construction-related pollution sources, and the integration of intelligent monitoring systems.

Zanna Buckland is a researcher in sustainable transport policies and urban planning, with a master's degree in environmental policy from Imperial College London. She has presented a poster on barriers and challenges in implementing pedestrianisation projects at the 2024 Urban Transitions conference, and is currently working on continuing this research, with a focus on public health co-benefits.

As an urban scholar in everyday spatial politics, Zhuozhang Li’s research is established at the intersection of urban studies, visual cultural studies and critical theories. He completed his PhD at CAVA, University of Liverpool in 2022. By highlighting Hong Kong urban cinema as an archive of descriptions of how the city is being lived and practised, his thesis developed a cinematic urban tectonic study to discover the hidden thread fabricated by multiple pieces that all relate to the production of everyday urban space. In 2016, he graduated with an MA (distinction) in Urban Design and the 50th Anniversary Alumni Prize at the University of Sheffield, and completed a BEng in Urban Planning at the Northwest University (China) with a First Class Scholarship in 2014. He is currently a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, working on the Cambridge Room project with local communities and groups.