People

Our network of contributors

Mariela Alfonzo

Oct 29, 2018

Dr. Mariela Alfonzo is the Founder of State of Place, an urban data analytics platform that helps placemakers identify and economically justify optimal urban design, planning, and development projects that create thriving places people love.

Heather Keleher

Oct 26, 2018

Writer, world traveler, art lover, and food enthusiast: Heather Keleher is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina who brings her experiences from travel to fifty-five countries on five continents to life through her articles. Author of the novel, Waiting for Sunrise, Heather conveys her passion for travel in her writing, bringing together interesting characters and…

Andy Burton

Oct 25, 2018

I love my work at Hull City Council and I am very proud of my colleagues who try hard to deliver front line and professional technical services to the residents, businesses and visitors of Hull. My role is to lead the Council’s Streetscene Services to deliver Member led, customer driven, value for money services through…

Zeynep Bodur Okyay

Oct 25, 2018

Zeynep Bodur Okyay was born in İstanbul in 1964. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management engineering from Istanbul Technical University and has completed graduate degree in management at Harvard University. She has held various executive positions at Kale Group of Companies. She currently serves as the President of Board of Directors and CEO of…

Marwan Zeidan

Oct 15, 2018

Seasoned executive with years of consulting and complex solution selling experience in multiple industry verticals. Specific focus over the last 10+ years on Internet of Things, Smart Cities and Analytics advising government officials and enterprise executives on the role and value of advanced technologies in enhancing quality of services, increasing operational efficiency and optimizing costs.…

Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana

Oct 03, 2018

Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana was appointed by the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) in 2018 as Interim Director. She lead the development of the GSB’s strategy and resulting initiatives for UCT GSB hub in Philippi Village. Makalima-Ngewana is a town planner with extensive experience in both managing and coordinating public-private partnerships for…

Jeff Risom

Oct 03, 2018

As Chief Innovation Officer, Jeff leads the Strategic Development and Innovation team at Gehl. Working across the Gehl teams, Jeff leverages existing talent and expertise into new knowledge creation to improve ways of working internally. Externally, Jeff works with existing and new partners to improve Gehl’s core services in addressing the most pressing challenges facing…

Vatsal Bhatt

Oct 03, 2018

Dr. Vatsal Bhatt consults with the U.S. Green Building Council as the Vice President for Communities, where he helped conceptualize and make operational the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities rating systems. He co-leads the Application Frameworks working group on the National Institute for Standards and Technology led efforts for developing “IoT Enabled Smart…

Anna Hessle

Oct 01, 2018

Anna Hessle is Senior Chief Architect and International Director at Europe’s leading architecture and engineering consultancy firm Sweco. She specialises in green architecture, sustainable and smart city development and is the Lead Designer for international multidisciplinary urban development projects.