Staff Directory

Yuhan Chen is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Zhengzhou University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. With over two years of experience in environmental management, sustainable finance, and climate change economics, Yuhan has made significant contributions to impactful research, including publications in prestigious journals such as Renewable Energy. Their expertise spans data analysis, visualization, and policy evaluation, aimed at enhancing sustainability reporting and driving low-carbon transition strategies. Passionate about sustainable transportation, Yuhan has actively contributed to the sustainable transportation sector, including roles as a Part-time Research Assistant at World Resources Institute, where they analyzed and visualized policies shaping sustainable transport transformation. Yuhan's commitment extends to leveraging advanced analytical tools like Python and R to inform strategic decision-making and promote innovative climate actions. With a strong track record in synthesizing ecological, social, and economic considerations, Yuhan strives to advance sustainable financial practices and drive positive environmental impact.

Yosuke Uchiyama is a researcher at the Transportation Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, with expertise in the gig economy, shared mobility, platform studies, labour sociology, and regulatory policy. He earned a PhD in Social Behavioural Science from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, where he received top honours for his publication achievements and was recognised for delivering the faculty's representative speech. He has been involved with various research projects, including studies on ride-hailing and food delivery gig workers funded by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education, and a contributor to the 'Asian Gig Economy' Special Report in collaboration with Monash University and the Asia Research Centre at the University of Indonesia. His academic work and perspectives have been widely featured in international journals and online media.

Yixuan is a student majoring in Urban and Rural Planning, holding a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University. In 2024, she will pursue a master's degree at HKUST (GZ), where she plans to continue exploring sustainable cities and urban mobility. With a profound interest in shared mobility and transportation resilience, Yixuan has demonstrated her commitment through various academic and professional engagements. She has interned at the Sustainable Transition Center of the World Resources Institute (WRI), where she contributed to projects aimed at promoting sustainable transportation solutions. Additionally, she has participated in several academic programs focused on MaaS and bike-sharing systems, gaining valuable insights and practical experience. Yixuan's academic training has equipped her with a strong foundation in data retrieval, information organization, insightful analysis, and in-depth research. As she continues her studies, Yixuan is eager to further explore innovative solutions for sustainable urban development and enhance her expertise in creating resilient and sustainable urban environments.

Xueru Wang is currently pursuing a master's degree at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences at Peking University. She holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the School of Environment at Nanjing University. Xueru is an intern at the World Resources Institute (WRI) under the Future Mobility project, where she actively engages in research on Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and shared mobility. During her undergraduate studies, Xueru laid a solid foundation in her field by participating in several research projects related to environmental protection and sustainable development. Her research interests include environmental science, transportation sustainability, and the impact assessment of related policies. In the future, Xueru plans to further deepen her research in the intersection of transportation and the environment, exploring innovative solutions to foster greener and more sustainable urban transportation systems. She looks forward to contributing to global sustainable development through continued academic and practical efforts.

Hein is a Senior Transportation Research Associate at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, where he manages projects and conducts research on innovative mobility enterprises, transport electrification, open mobility data and transport mapping, and paratransit systems in the developing world, especially in East Africa and India. Hein also coordinates program management on DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A), which maps, digitizes, and curates informal mass transit systems in African cities.

Hein has extensive international experience working on public transportation projects in Latin America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining WRI, Hein worked for UN-Habitat and UNFPA in Myanmar as an urbanization consultant for the 2014 National Census Thematic Report on Migration and Urbanization. Hein also interned for the Housing, Economic and Infrastructure Planning (HEIP) Division of the New York City Department of Planning, where he mapped the synergies between “Innovative economy” firms.

Hein earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Humanities from Bucknell University. He received his Master of City and Regional Planning from Cornell University, and Master of Science in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology. Hein is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science at Georgia Tech.

Reading is a prerequisite for Hein’s global work. Books that have expanded Hein’s bubble in recent years include India after Gandhi (by Ramchandra Guha), The Hour of the Star (by Clarice Lispector), In My Father’s House (by Kwame Anthony Appiah), and Bernoulli’s Fallacy (by Aubrey Clayton).

Tanisha Agarwal is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Development Administration and Planning at the Development Planning Unit, Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL. With an academic foundation in Political Science and Anthropology, her research interests lie at the intersection of theory and practice. Tanisha’s interdisciplinary approach to urban development synthesizes policy-making and governance with the socio-cultural dimensions of urbanization. Her work focuses on exploring the relationship between development and citizenship, aiming to contribute to the creation of just and equitable planning practices. Through her academic pursuits, Tanisha is actively engaged in various research projects that address issues of social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusive urban evolution. She has previously collaborated with international organizations and local communities on diverse research projects exploring topics such as Pune's food system and the universalization of water and sanitation services in Brazil.

Su is a Research Associate at China’s Sustainable Transition Center of World Resources Institute (WRI). She works on the economics, policy, and environment-related studies of sustainable transport and the shared mobility digitalization in China. Su is also the founder of Transport & Climate Change Center, YCC Inc. Su’s expertise and passion focusing on shared mobility, net-zero transport, impact assessment and carbon appraisal and strategy design. Most of her life career are about the nexus of transport, environment and the health co-benefits. Her recent projects are Future Mobility and MaaS development in China.

Solomon Dzikunu-Quarshie received his first degree in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana. His thesis topic was Ghana's Risk Factors of Road Accidents: A Case Study of Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.

Solomon was a student leader, having served as an executive member of Geography and Resource Development Students and Associates (GREDSA).

Presently, he has enrolled in the MSc Geoinformation Science degree programme for the 2023–2024 academic year at the University of Ghana. Solomon has actively participated in a number of important national and international research projects as a principal field research assistant. These projects include public transport and COVID-19 in Accra, Ghana (funded by the Wellcome Trust, UK); Cycling in Accra (funded by U. of Chicago and the Wellcome Trust, UK); as well as Transport and accessibility in Accra and Kumasi (funded by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The rest are a Market feasibility study for e-Bus adoption in Accra and Kumasi as well as the E-Mobility policy framework and a roadmap for Ghana (all funded by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Solomon was quite instrumental in the recent (June 2021) Ghana Population and Housing Census (PHC), organized by the Ghana Statistical Service in his capacity as a Field Enumerator. Prior to this, he assisted as a Name Reference List Officer for the Electoral Commission of Ghana during the 2020 General Elections in Ghana.

Solomon has excellent working skills in data collection and management toolkits like Kobo Collect Toolbox and scientific analysis tools such as ArcGIS, SPSS and NVivo.

Shreya Baoni is an accomplished Architect and a Graduate Urban Planner. She has earned her B.Arch from SJB School of Architecture and Planning, followed by M.Plan in Town and Country Planning, Specializing in Smart City planning. She has always tried to explore interdisciplinary methods to achieve clarity in her field of work by collaborating with artists in various installation projects, working and freelancing in the architecture field, and interning with companies that deal with large urban projects. She believes that all built structures as well as towns/cities have a personality that she strives to recognize, her relentless pursuit of recognizing the essence of these spaces, from the people inhabiting them to the vibrant cultures they encapsulate, enables me to provide meaningful and thoughtful solutions that resonate with the needs of the community.

Sheela Patel is the founder Director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), an NGO that has been working since 1984 to support community organizations of the urban poor in their efforts to access secure housing and basic amenities and seek their right to the city. She is widely recognized – nationally and internationally – for seeking urgent attention to the issues of urban poverty, housing and infrastructure onto the radar of governments, bilateral and international agencies, foundations and other organizations. She is a founder member of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI), an international network of poor people’s organizations and the NGOs that support them in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and is currently its Chairperson.

Shahan Ahmed Khattak is a PhD student at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. He holds a B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Peshawar, an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, and a master’s in city and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. His undergraduate research delved into mass transit systems and strategies to mitigate motorization, with a focus on congestion pricing, filtered permeability, and parking dynamics. At NUST, his master’s thesis offered a comprehensive analysis of the operational characteristics of Peshawar's informal transit system, enriched by user perception studies. Professionally, Shahan has amassed considerable experience with various consulting firms in Pakistan, contributing to projects in the housing and development sector, land information systems, master/comprehensive planning, zoning and land use planning, and transportation planning. Shahan's doctoral research centers on the multifaceted relationship between informal and formal transit sectors in Peshawar, Pakistan, emphasizing the inclusion of the informal workforce in integration and formalization processes. His work lies at the intersection of sustainable public transit planning/policy, social inclusion, and equity.

Sebastián Reyes Tarazona is a Civil Engineer from Universidad de los Andes, currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering and a Master's degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on Transportation at the same university. He is also a member of the SUR group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Sebastián has supported research projects on habitability and the characterization of commercial establishments, and is currently involved in the Urban Living Lab research project in Bogotá. His research and study interests include land-use, mobility, road safety, and the intersections between transportation, urban planning, and public policy. Sebastián is particularly interested in exploring how transportation and urban planning can enhance the quality of life in cities and boost their productivity, and how these insights can inform and improve public policy, for which he has undertaken complementary studies in public policy.

Saloni Tambe is an undergraduate architecture student at the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai. She is currently interning at SPARC, where she is engaged in two key community-based projects: Closing the Loop, which focuses on designing decentralized, nature-based wastewater and sewage treatment systems for villages in the peri-urban areas of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), and Mapping Informal Shared Mobility, which takes a bottom-up approach to improving livelihoods and infrastructure related to informal shared mobility in the MMR's peripheral zones. Her academic exposure to urban design has sparked a strong interest in these areas, particularly in how architecture can address critical issues surrounding infrastructure and the public realm in informal mobility systems. Saloni believes that an architect's primary responsibility is to contribute meaningfully to society, and she is dedicated to exploring how architectural solutions can support sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Saksith Chalermpong is Associate Professor in Civil Engineering and Associate Director of Transportation Institute at Chulalongkorn University. His research interests include sustainable urban mobility, transport policy, and informal transportation. He co-authored numerous publications on topics related to informal transport, focusing on both supply and demand side of passenger vans, motorcycle taxis, and ride-hailing applications in Thailand and Southeast Asia. He has also provided expert advice on important public issues to several government agencies in Thailand, including the Department of Land Transport, Office of Transport Planning and Policy, and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. Dr. Chalermpong received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Chulalongkorn University, his master’s degree from MIT, and his doctoral degree from UC Irvine, both in the field of transportation.

Roger Behrens is a Professor in the University of Cape Town’s Department of Civil Engineering. He is Director of the Centre for Transport Studies. He graduated with a Master Degree in City and Regional Planning from UCT in 1991, and with a PhD degree in 2002. His current research activities relate to: the regulation and improvement of informal public transport services; analysis of the dynamics of changing travel behaviour; and the identification of urban form preconditions for effective and viable public transport networks.

Ransford A. Acheampong is Senior Lecturer in Transport and Urban Future at the University of Manchester, UK. A key strand of his research addresses questions around the future of transport and cities in the context of new and emerging transport technologies and associated mobility services. A related strand of my research also focuses on the longstanding practical question of land use- transport systems integration for equitable accessibility and sustainable mobility outcomes.

Randolf Wilson (official) but affectionately called Randy Wilson is a Development Planner who has worked in the Local Government Service in Ghana for over 20 years. He was involved in Mining resettlement with Newmont Ghana on the Ahafo and Akyem resettlements and have had stints with Non- Governmental Organization services in community water and sanitation alongside other developmental programs. Randy was part of the Urban Transport Project which sought to introduce regulatory reforms in Ghana’s informal public transport services as Head of the Planning section from 2009 to 2014. Currently, he is the Head of the Transport Department of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. He serves as the Urban Mobility Coordinator for Kumasi coordinating projects such as the World Bank-sponsored BRT Projects; MobilizeYourCity (SUMP) African Smart Towns Network (ASToN) and Digital Transport for African (DT4A) under AFD sponsorship. He is also the City Technical Lead for Bloomberg’s BIGRS and PHC and e-bus operations in Kumasi. He holds two Masters Degrees – one from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Development Policy and Planning and from IHS Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Urban Management and Development. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Transportation Engineering under the TRECK Program of KNUST. Striving to achieve perfection is his hallmark and he always wants to get things done in the simplest but best way possible.

Piyaphat "Park" Chaemchuen

Piyaphat Chaemchuen is a Research Assistant at Chulalongkorn University Transportation Institute, specializing in transportation, urban planning, and public transit optimization for the Bangkok metropolitan area using machine learning and statistical modeling. He holds a Master's degree in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor's degree from Chulalongkorn University. His professional experience spans ecological infrastructure development and water resources management with the Royal Irrigation Department,as well as collaborative international research in hydrology and sustainable development with organizations such as IUCN, MRC, the Stimson Center, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USGS, and the United Nations. Piyaphat’s expertise includes data-driven modeling, deep learning, and GIS applications. His research has been published in international journals and conferences.

Paula is a research associate in the School of Engineering at Universidad de Los Andes. Paula is a sociologist Magister in Interdisciplinary Development Studies and Magister in Gender Studies. She has experience designing, implementing, systematizing, and analyzing participatory methodology investigations, as well as in research project management from an interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach.  Her research background includes urban development alternatives, mobility of care, feminist urbanism, and urban health, emphasizing her interest in addressing social inequalities in Latin America. Paula also has experience in the public sector promoting the gender approach in urban planning, currently working as a gender expert in the mobility sector. Her overall purpose is to contribute to thinking and re-think context-based alternatives that enhance people's lives in cities.

Ornicha Anuchitchanchai is a scholar and researcher at the Chulalongkorn University Transportation Institute (CUTI) since 2019. Born and raised in Thailand, she has dedicated her academic and professional career to advancing the field of informal transport, urban mobility, and electric vehicles, contributing to sustainable urban transportation solutions. Prior to her research role, Ornicha served as a Lecturer at the Department of Industrial and Logistics Engineering for more than ten years. During this time, they imparted valuable knowledge to students, contributing to the next generation of professionals in the field. She has With consulting and advocacy experiences with government agencies, she has been granted variuos domestic and international grants, including The Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund, the National Research Council of Thailand *NRCT), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. As a passionate advocate for sustainable urban mobility, Ornicha continues to conduct research aimed at understanding and addressing the challenges of transportation in urban areas. Through her research and commitment to positive change, contributing to the betterment of urban communities.

Obiora is a civil engineer and transportation specialist. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cape Town (UCT), specialising in transportation planning and engineering and previously worked as a highway design engineer in road design and infrastructure provision. He now works as a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at UCT. His research interests are in public transport network design and optimisation, transport justice, agent-based transport modelling, and big data applications in transport. He teaches courses in transportation engineering, urban transportation planning and transportation modelling at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has also been involved in many projects focused on improving transportation systems.

Obed is a civil engineer and BIM consultant with experience in various infrastructure projects. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering focused on Transportation Engineering from the University of Namibia and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Kenyatta University. He also holds an MBA from the University of Diponegoro, Indonesia and worked as an Assistant Manager at ADCC International, supporting digitization and technology adoption. He has served as an Associate Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the University of Namibia's Transport Engineering Lab. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Centre for Transport Studies, University of Cape Town; he focuses on urban mobility and the application of AI and Big Data in sustainable public transportation. His research focuses on leveraging micro-simulation techniques to develop equitable and sustainable urban transport systems that improve city liveability.

Nupur is a graduate student pursuing an MPA in Development Practice at SIPA. She grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, and has spent the last 7 years in Washington, DC. She has a B.A. in International Affairs and Development from the George Washington University, and has most recently worked at the Development Impact Department at the World Bank as a Knowledge Management Coordinator.

My obtained her master’s degree in Urban Development, Development Planning Unit, University College London in 2024. Throughout her study, she has been focusing on the dynamics of accessibility in transportation systems, particularly the intersection of socio-demographic factors, time-space compression, and perceived accessibility. Aside from her academic endeavors, My has gained practical expertise in sustainability and urban mobility design, working on carbon neutrality efforts at Coty and building creative mobility solutions for Solar Decathlon Europe. My scholarly work is motivated by a desire to bridge the theoretical and practical gaps in urban transportation systems, with the goal of improving equity and sustainability.

Maria Lobo has extensive experience in working with communities in rural and urban areas in India. She has worked with SPARC for over 15 years as a coordinator and professional consultant on issues of urban housing and infrastructure in partnership with the National Slum Dwellers Federation and Mahila Milan.

Luis A. Guzman is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering at Universidad de los Andes in the Civil and Environment Department in Bogotá, Colombia. He holds an M.Sc from the Universidad de los Andes and a Ph.D. cum laude in Systems of Civil Engineering at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2011). Luis’ research interests are extensive, including transport and land-use interaction, policy evaluation, economic evaluation of transport systems, and social, economic, and spatial analysis of inequalities related to urban transport. He is currently a researcher of national studies including the development models and tools regarding land occupation and land-use changes and their implications on urban planning, social equity, and well-being. He has been also a consultant and adviser in different urban transport projects in Colombia, a consultant to the World Bank, and an adviser to the Urban Development Institute of Bogotá on issues of value capture instruments for financing transport infrastructure. Adviser of the Bogotá Urban Planning Office in the reform of the Land-Use Planning Master Plan in transport planning. He is an associate editor of npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport and also an editorial board member of Research in Transportation Business & Management Journal and Journal of Public Transportation. Author of several articles published in international journals related to the evaluation of transport policies, public transport, poverty, equity, and urban structure.

Kshitija Akre, an accomplished architect, holds a degree from the SEA - School of Environment and Architecture Mumbai. Her recent projects inolves participating in climate change mitigation initiative, "Closing the Loop"; This initiative centers around planning nature-based decentralized systems for wastewater, sewage, and solid waste in villages within the peri-urban Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the Dharavi neighborhood. Through these projects, Kshitija has honed her skills, gaining insights into crafting environments that elevate urban living. Her dedication to sustainable practices and innovative solutions underscores her commitment to creating a positive impact on both communities and the environment.

Karla is an Environmental Engineer from the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). She has a diploma in Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University for Peace (UPEACE). Recently completed a course in Social Urbanism at the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies (Urbam) at EAFIT University, Medellin, Colombia. She has participated in congresses on issues of urban sustainability and climate change and was a facilitator of groups related to urban mobility. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Urban and Environmental Processes at EAFIT University. Her main interests include: public space management, sustainable mobility and transportation, and city planning

Kanokwan Kerdmeesap holds a Master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Chulalongkorn University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kasetsart University. Her Master’s research focused on the impact of flooding in urban areas of Southern Thailand. She is currently working as a Research Assistant at the Transportation Institute, Chulalongkorn University.

Juan Esteban is a research associate in the School of Engineering at Universidad de Los Andes. He is a Civil engineer and Environmental engineer with additional studies in urban and regional development. He holds a M.Sc in Civil engineering focused in Transportation Engineering from the Universidad de Los Andes. Juan has been deeply immersed in research endeavors examining the impacts of urban interventions on mobility, health, perceptions, land-use, and overall quality of life. These investigations have primarily centered on studying the ramifications of transportation and urban interventions within populations, particularly in the Global South. Juan's research interests span across transport evaluation, urban planning, governmental policies, urban and transport intervention´s impacts, socially-oriented project evaluation and transport and land-use modelling. Juan is committed to advancing research efforts within the Global South, aiming to generate transformative insights capable of enhancing the living conditions of citizens experiencing substandard quality of life. His overarching goal is to promote social and urban development through rigorous investigation and informed policymaking.

Josephine had recieved Licentiate in Architecture from the Veritas University in Costa Rica and Bachelor in Architecture from the National Superior Paris Val de Seine University in Paris, France. She developed her licentiate thesis on urban culture and identity in the Metropolitan Area of San Jose, Costa Rica for processes regarding urban planning. She has participated in international fairs, such as Costa Rica's International Biennale (2014, Honor mention in the Restoration and Heritage category) and the Golden Cubes biennale from the UIA (2014, First Prize for Costa Rica). Currently working as an architecture consultant in urban projects (master plans, research, participatory processes, urban sensitization for children) and in transport and mobility projects for the Centro para la Sostenibilidad Urbana.

Jae Hyun (Jae) Kim is a doctoral student at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where he studies urban planning and real estate with a focus on sustainable future mobility innovations. His research emphasizes data-driven analysis and its application to enhance inclusivity and sustainable urban mobility, particularly through the lens of mobility technology and public transit. Jae aims to explore how these elements can create age-friendly and sustainable urban environments. Throughout his academic journey, Jae has been involved in a multitude of research projects concerning sustainability and mobility, with his work spanning cities like Barcelona, Honolulu, New York, and Seoul.

Jae holds a M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, where he concentrated in urban analytics and the built environment. He also earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, with minors in City and Regional Planning and Data Science. Jae has worked as a research associate on the Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM) at Center for Sustainable Urban Development (CSUD) and remains a student affiliate while working on his doctoral studies. 

Jacqueline Klopp is the Director of CSUD. She is a Research Scholar who explores the intersection of sustainable transport, land use, accountability, data and technology. Klopp is the author of numerous academic and popular articles on land and the politics of infrastructure with a focus on Africa and is increasingly exploring the potential of new technologies to impact transportation and land-use in the 21^st Century. Recently, she has been experimenting with creative urban mapping projects for both analysis and advocacy and is a founding member of the award winning DigitalMatatus consortium which has produced the first open transit data and public transit map for Nairobi’s quasi-formal minibus (matatu) transit system. She also helped found “Digital Cairo” a consortium of  Transport4Cairo, Takween Integrated Community Development and DigitalMatatus to create open transport data for Cairo. With the French Development Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Resource Institute among other partners, she helped found and continues to support new collaborative platforms on open transit data for Africa: DigitalTransport4Africa and Latin America DATUM to foster better research, planning and accountability. She is also a core member of the Clean Air Toolbox for Cities an interdisciplinary network centered at Columbia University that aims to support cities primarily in Africa and Asia with emissions, source (transport is a major source) and health impact data to address air pollution and climate change. She was honored to be selected by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as one of the “Remarkable Women in Transport” in 2021. She is currently writing a book on the politics of planning in Nairobi.

Klopp received her B.A. from Harvard University where she studied Physics and her Ph.D. in Political Science is from McGill University. Prior to joining CSUD Jacqueline Klopp was an Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Director of the Economic and Political Development Concentration where she taught the politics of international development and oversaw student workshops across the globe. She currently teaches in the Sustainable Development undergraduate program at Columbia University.

Husen Kharodawala is a second-year MS Urban Planning student at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP). Specializing in Built Environment, Community and Economic Development, and International Planning, his academic and professional pursuits center on climate adaptation strategies and resilient infrastructure. By emphasizing the integration of technological advancements with policy frameworks, he aims to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life for all city dwellers, especially vulnerable communities, through inclusive and sustainable practices. Throughout his academic journey, Husen has been involved in diverse research projects on integrated public transit and micromobility, as well as climate resilience, across cities such as Ahmedabad, Brussels, Berlin, Manchester, Amsterdam, and New York. Before his time at Columbia, Husen earned a Master’s degree in Architecture with a major in Urban Design and a minor in Urban Conservation from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) in Ahmedabad, India. At CSUD, Husen works as a research affiliate, where he is part of a global consortium project focusing on Popular Transport and Shared Mobility.

Haniefa Gaibe is a professionally registered engineer who holds a Master's degree in Engineering, specialising in Transportation Engineering. With two decades of experience in the field of traffic and transportation planning, she has worked in both the private and public sectors at local government and national government level. Haniefa has a proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams in various capacities, including managing public transport operations, developing integrated transport strategies, implementing and overseeing public transport management systems. Haniefa's unwavering passion lies in strengthening the capabilities and capacity of governmental departments to facilitate the delivery of sustainable and integrated transportation solutions that benefit all users. Currently, she serves as the project lead for the public transport component within South Africa’s National Treasury's Cities Support Programme (CSP). In this role, she acts as a catalyst for change and a facilitator of collaboration and integration, with the CSP’s ultimate goal of establishing an enabling intergovernmental fiscal system and policy environment that supports metropolitan cities in South Africa. In 2022, Haniefa was named as one of the Top 50 Inspiring Women in STEM through her work in the transport and mobility industry.

Festival Godwin Boateng is a Senior Research Associate at the Transport Studies Unit of the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford, UK. His research interests are diverse, focused on engaged scholarship at the intersection of transport, housing, land use, pollution, climate, technology, urban governance, and policy. Festival is an Associate Editor of Nature: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, formerly Palgrave Communications and a Board Member of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization.

Dr. Ernest Agyemang is presently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana. Dr. Agyemang’s main area of research is the geography of transportation systems with a particular focus on transport and the organisation of human space/land use, mobilities, emerging technology-driven transport network services, and road safety. Through innovative and cutting-edge scientific approaches, his research has shed light on the emergence and ensuing conflicts involving transportation network companies and local taxi operators in Accra; seatbelts and crash helmets use among Ghanaian motorists, and motorcyclists/pillion riders respectively. In addition, he has highlighted on mobility patterns in metropolitan Accra with an interest in mode choice determinants for both long distance and short distance trips, as well as the demand-supply dynamics in the commercial use of motor-taxis, locally referred to as ‘Okada’. He has published in a number of reputable international peer reviewed journals. He has also engaged the media on a number of important national issues on transportation.

Elena had received Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from the Costa Rica Institute of Technology. Elena has experience in sustainable mobility projects, electric public transportation, public space assesment, climate action, sustainable and resilient tourism, migration, as well as international cooperation. She has collaborated with national and international organizations such as UN Migration, GIZ, ALIARSE and the Sustainability Blue Flag Program. She has also worked in environmental awareness processes in communities on the subject of water resources and urban rivers. Among her main interests are the design of resilient, inclusive cities and the climate migration topic

Dominic Edem Hotor is a PhD candidate at the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana. His research interests range from urban transportation, urban mobility, accessibility among persons with disability and governance in Ghana. His doctoral research, which is ready for submission, is titled “Accessibility and Use of Public Transport Services by Persons with Disabilities in Ghana.” This research is part of a three-year (2020-2023) research project on “Life Course Transitions and Trajectories of Persons with Disabilities in West African Societies” (LICOT-WASO). The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and implemented by the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Social Services (ZPE), University of Siegen (Germany) & Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana. Before this, Dominic researched on “The use of public transport services by residents of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area” for his Mphil degree and subsequently obtained a Certificate in Logistics and Transport from the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT-UK). He was a student leader, acting as the Vice President of the Graduate Students Association at the University of Ghana.

Currently, Dominic is employed as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Geography & Resource Development at the University of Ghana where he teaches and assesses undergraduate students. He had previously worked as a Senior Operations Officer at Intercity STC Coaches Limited.

Since 2012, he has been an active researcher, assisting with field data collection and data analysis, as well as coordinating and executing medium to large-scale research projects, including Cycling in Accra (funded by U. of Chicago and the Wellcome Trust, UK); Transport and accessibility in Accra and Kumasi (funded by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the emergent of world-class transport infrastructures: urban visions and infrastructural spaces in African cities (funded by Stockholm University). The rest are the E-Mobility policy framework and a roadmap for Ghana (funded by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Innovative transport services in Africa (funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s seed grant to the University of Ghana). Dominic is versatile in the use of data collection and management toolkits like Kobo Collect Toolbox and scientific analysis tools such as ArcGIS, SPSS and NVivo.

Daniel Oviedo Hernandez is an Associate Professor in Urban Transport and Development Planning at the Development Planning Unit of University College London. He is a Civil engineer by training with a masters on Transport Planning and PhD in Development Planning. He has over 14 years of experience as researcher and lecturer in transport and development both in the UK and overseas. His experience in research and consultancy in projects related to urban and interurban transport focus mainly on Global South Cities, having worked in projects across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the UK. He specializes on the social, economic, and spatial analysis of inequalities related to urban transport and policy evaluation in developing countries. He has been advisor for various national governments including Colombia, Peru, Panama, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank on issues related to transport planning, social equity and sustainability. He is founder of the international network for Transport and Accessibility in Low-Income Communities (INTALInC) in Latin America and the Caribbean (intalinc-lac.com), the UCL-Osaka Walking Cities Lab (https://www.walkingcitieslab.com/) and the UCL Inclusive Mobility Innovations Platform (https://www.ime-ucl.io/). Currently, He is the principal investigator for the On the Way to School project (https://www.onthewaytoschoolproject.org/)

Carla Quesada Alluin is a Psychology graduate from the University of Costa Rica with extensive professional experience focused on improving people’s quality of life through participatory processes with a human rights and gender perspective. Her work has mainly focused on issues such as climate change, mobility, population aging, and public space. Carla has been involved in projects aimed at creating more inclusive, just, and sustainable cities. Her experience includes developing innovative methodologies for collecting qualitative and quantitative data, coordinating participatory processes with diverse communities, and mainstreaming gender perspectives across various projects.

Benjie is the CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center; he chairs the Global Network for Popular Transportation; is the founder of Agile City Partners; and writes and curates Makeshift Mobility, a fortnightly newsletter covering innovations in informal transportation. He also convenes the Shared Mobility 2030 Action Agenda and edits and produces Pop Transport.

Benjie serves on the board of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the US Advisory Committee of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, the UITP Informal Transportation Working Group, the Digital Transport for Africa Partners Committee, the MobiliseYourCity Steering Committee, and is a Senior Fellow for Mobility for the Canadian Urban Institute.

He served as the first-ever Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the Seattle Department of Transportation. He and his team drafted the city’s Transportation Information Infrastructure Plan. He also led the development of Seattle’s New Mobility Playbook.

He served on the advisory committees for L.A.’s Transportation Technology Strategy, the Mobiprize, and Cooper Hewitt Museum’s The Road Ahead: Reimagining Mobility and Design with the Other 90%: Cities.

Ben Welle is a Director of Integrated Transport & Innovation at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

Ben’s work includes leading global research and projects, particularly in the areas of public transport, minibus services, mobility planning, access to opportunities, new mobility and innovation, traffic safety, walking & cycling, and public space. Prior to this role, Ben was Senior Associate for Urban Mobility at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, working on many of the same issues. Prior to working at WRI, he was assistant director of the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land in Washington, D.C., researching and consulting on city parks, public space, green infrastructure, transport planning, and related economic impact.

He has additional background in finance and positions in state government in the State of Minnesota, USA. Ben has a Master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree from Hamline University, St. Paul, USA.

Augustina Amponsah is currently a doctoral student at the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana, Legon. While currently undertaking taught courses in Advanced Qualitative Research, GIS Applications to Spatial Analysis, Rural Development Theories and Practice as well as in Historical & Contemporary Dynamics of the City, her research focus seeks to explore urban mobility issues.

Prior to this, she had obtained an MPhil degree in Sociology, after successfully defending her thesis entitled “Goal Setting as a Motivation to Teachers’ Behavior: A Qualitative Study of Teachers in the New Juaben Municipality in Koforidua.”

Over the past decade, Augustina has worked tirelessly as a Geography Teacher, an Administrator, and a Mentor to several young spatial thinkers at a prestigious second-cycle institution in the national capital. She has gained practical experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research. She has excellent application skills in data collection and management toolkits such as Kobo Collect toolbox and scientific analysis tools like SPSS and NVivo.

Arturo Steinvorth Álvarez is the Sustainable Mobility Coordinator at the Fundación Centro para la Sostenibilidad Urbana CPSU. He is an environmental engineer with a specialization in transport planning and environmental policies. He has focused on working with public entities and transport organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, on topics regarding vehicle fuel efficiency, transport planning, sustainable mobility plans, electric vehicles and buses, as well as urban planning, walkability, urban cycling and public transport studies. Steinvorth Álvarez has led research teams for organizations such as UNEP, C40 Cities, JICA, GIZ and AFD to develop research associated with the decarbonization of transport through electrification. He has also worked as a consultant for UNEP and the CRUSA Foundation and as an analyst for the Partnership for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport SLOCAT.

Steinvorth Álvarez received his Licentiate degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica where he studied Environmental engineering and his MSc. in Transport Planning and the Environment is from Newcastle University.

Ariana Salas Castillo obtained her PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2024. She holds an M.A. on Sustainable Territorial Development from a joint program between the University of Padova, KU Leuven, and Paris-Sorbonne 1, as well as a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Costa Rica. She has carried out research on climate change matters in urban and rural areas in Latin America, mainly focusing on transportation and biodiversity. Now, as a postdoctoral researcher at PRISM, Ariana is working on the political economy of popular transportation and supporting the San José Living Lab, her native city.

Apiwat Ratanawaraha holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and serves as the Associate Director at the Center for Science, Technology, and Society, both located at Chulalongkorn University. His ongoing research concentrates on urban transitions within Thailand, encompassing themes such as the future scenarios of Thai urbanism, urban mobility and justice, globalization of land, urban platformization, and citizen science. He holds a full membership status within the Club of Rome.

Anjana has a foundation rooted in engineering and a fervent commitment to sustainability, thriving on crafting innovative solutions to address society's most pressing challenges. At Deloitte, Anjana harnessed expertise to aid clients in navigating the complex landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks, providing strategic insights to safeguard their organizational integrity.

Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Sustainability Management at Columbia University, Anjana is delving deep into diverse sustainability realms, from energy and sustainable development to circularity principles and sustainable urbanization. This academic journey fuels the drive to create meaningful change and foster a more sustainable future.

Beyond professional pursuits, Anjana is deeply invested in forging meaningful connections and engaging with individuals across various industries. As a co-founder of The Intentional Community, a volunteer organization dedicated to sustainability and wellness in the vibrant backdrop of New York City, Anjana spearheads initiatives to spread awareness about critical sustainability topics, including food waste reduction, recycling/composting guidelines, and circular economy principles.

At CSUD, Anjana works as a project associate on research for shared mobility and urban transportation. If you share a passion for sustainability and are interested in collaboration or connecting on shared initiatives, Anjana would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out via email at [email protected].

Aneerudha Paul is an accomplished architect and urban planner with a rich academic and professional background. He earned his B.Arch from Bengal Engineering College, Calcutta (1990), followed by an M.Arch from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (1993). Additionally, he holds a post-graduate diploma in urban management from the Institute of Housing Studies, Rotterdam. Currently serving as a Professor at the Kamala Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture (KRVIA), Mumbai, Aneerudha has played pivotal roles, having served as Director from 2004 to 2021, Deputy Director from 2000 to 2002, and Coordinator of the Design Cell from 1995 to 2000. Simultaneously, Aneerudha is pursuing doctoral studies at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), specializing in Urban Science and Engineering through the Center of Urban Science and Engineering (CUSE). His commitment to academia is complemented by a thriving collaborative design practice called CODES, initiated in 2021. As a technical consultant to SPARC, an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of the urban and rural poor, Aneerudha actively contributes to meaningful projects. Presently, he is engaged in a climate change mitigation initiative, "Closing the loop," focused on planning nature-based decentralized wastewater, sewage, and solid waste systems for villages in the peri-urban Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Funded by the UNDP and the European Union, this project underscores Aneerudha's dedication to sustainable urban futures and community-centric design solutions.

Andrés is a research assistant in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the Universidad de los Andes, where he obtained the status of Civil and Environmental Engineer. During his studies he has been deeply involved in all transportation matters, being a teacher’s assistant for the department’s only two undergraduate transportation subjects: Systems of Transportation, and Road Design. He also developed an undergraduate thesis degree project titled: Análisis con estudios previos e indicadores de TOD de la implementación y funcionamiento del Transmicable, para entender el rol de este sistema como generador de desarrollo (Analysis using previous studies and TOD indicators of the implementation and operation of the Transmicable system, to understand this system’s role as a development generator.) This project analyzed the functioning of Bogotá’s public cable car system, and the impacts it has had on land use, land value, walkability, and use of sustainable modes of transportation. Andrés’ research interests consist of transportation planning, public transportation policies and planning, demand modelling and projections, transport analysis, and study of transportation impacts, relating all these to social and environmental components. His main goal is to help make transportation systems safer, more efficient, and more sustainable, by maximizing its social, environmental, and technical standards and their development, using thorough research on all of the urban environment’s components.

Andrea San Gil León is the executive director of the Global Network for Popular Transportation and is responsible for defining GNPT’s strategy and planning and managing, and implementing the network’s critical projects.

Andrea was one of the original movers of the Global Partnership for Informal Transportation, the precursor of GNPT. She was named one of Costa Rica's 40 Top Leaders Under 40 by the El Financiero Newspaper in 2011, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in 2012, one of LATAM's Important Female Figures in Transport by the Inter-American Development Bank in 2021, and one of the Remarkable Feminist Voices in Transportation in 2023 by Women Mobilize Women and the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative.

Andrea led the development of Costa Rica's Carbon Neutrality Program for the Corporate Sector. The project used technical standards to orient sustainability and climate policy in the country. She then founded and chaired Centro para la Sostenibilidad Urbana (the Center for Urban Sustainability), a non-governmental organization working to accelerate a transition towards more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities in the Global South.

Andrea served as a presidential advisor to the Costa Rican government, working with the country's first lady to transform and decarbonize transport and urban development in partnership with local governments and ministries. She was also an advisor to the Ministry of the Environment, supporting the Climate Change Office by coordinating the implementation of climate-related policy across 10 different national agencies.

Andrea has also worked on international projects as a consultant to global organizations such as C40 Cities, ICLEI, The Nature Conservancy, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).

More recently, she authored the chapter on informal transportation in the 2023 Transportation Climate Change Global Status Report, led the development of the Enciclopedia del Transporte Informal en América Central, and co-authored a report on three-wheelers for CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Alex Mohan, an urban researcher driven by a profound passion for unraveling the intricacies of collective practices within communities. With a postgraduate degree in urban design, he embarks on an interdisciplinary journey, employing diverse mediums—text, video, field research, and documentation—to delve into pressing urban issues. An engagement with community-based organizations have equipped me with a versatile skill set and diverse methodologies. His work seeks to uncover the spatial politics affecting public resource access, delving into the intersectionality of land, caste, and gender within the fabric of urban life. His academic focus centers on documenting and analyzing public space politics, blending theoretical frameworks with hands-on research and community-based methodologies. At the core of my urban inquiry is the understanding of how these collective practices shape cities and influence broader urban systems in accessing public resources.

Alex Johnson is head of Transport Planning at the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE). Until recently, he worked for the city administration of Accra as head of Metropolitan Department of Transport. Alex has background in urban planning and transportation engineering. He is a member of the Core Advisory Group for the development of the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) by the World Health Organisation and has led several data collection campaigns on sustainable transport relating to economic and health issues in Accra. He also represents the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on the Steering Committee for e-Mobility Policy and Implementation Framework by the Ministry of Transport. Alex played an active role in the implementation of the Ghana Urban Mobility Accessibility Project supported by the Swiss Development Agency. He has been involved in previous published works supported by the French Development Agency and the World Health Organisation in Accra on digital transport, air quality and active mobility. Alex is an ardent advocate for sustainable development of public spaces and has passion for urban projects that promote climate and community health as well as social cohesion.

Akkanut Wantanasombut leads the Innovation for Social Solidarity and Inclusive Economy research group at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Asia. He serves as a National Consultant on Social and Solidarity Economy for the International Labor Organization (ILO). His research primarily explores the socioeconomic impacts of digital transformation in transportation and grassroots economies, particularly from a labor perspective. In addition to his research, Akkanut has launched a ride-hailing platform specifically for motorcycle taxis. His latest advocacy focuses on promoting the adoption of electric motorcycles among motorcycle taxi drivers to mitigate air pollution and enhance urban living standards in Bangkok

Abdirashid Dahir is a PhD Candidate studying the equity and justice implications of energy transition in transportation for underserved communities in the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University. His dissertation project conceptualizes, measures and models just transition to electric vehicles through transportation, energy, and climate justice lenses. His research specifically looks into how inequities in the electric vehicle transition intersect with pervasive transportation, energy, and climate injustices. Abdirashid is a community-engaged and applied researcher who uses qualitative interviews, quantitative social science surveys, and complexity science to study equitable transition to electric vehicles. Prior to joining The Ohio State University, Abdirashid worked on sustainable transportation projects at the University of Seoul, South Korea. His research in sustainable transportation and urban development has spanned 6 years starting in South Korea. In South Korea, he studied how Asian cities are different from North American and European contexts in an era of knowledge-based innovation and services in post-industrial cities.  He also worked with research scholars developing a database with over 500 transit projects from more than 40 countries to understand the drivers of transit infrastructure costs on a global scale at the Marron Institute of Urban Management at New York University.  In the US context, he has studied the impacts of bicycle facilities on residential property values and the impacts of bicycle networks on bicycling.