I am an academic teacher and researcher, an urbanist and planner, with a background in political science but eyes focused on sustainable futures of cities and regions.  In my work I act as a ‘boundary spanner’  creating bridges across disciplines, academic ‘tribes’ and societal groups. 

My interests span across the disciplines of spatial planning and regional and urban studies, focusing on governance across a range of urban sustainability and urban development issues. 

I am currently based at the Delft University of Technology.  I graduated from Sciences Po in Paris and completed my PhD at the University of the West of Scotland.  Before coming to Delft, I worked as a researcher at the European Policies Research Centre (University of Strathclyde) and at the University of Vienna.

I have published extensively on the nexus between spatial planning and flood risk management in the context of climate change, on spatial planning systems, EU Cohesion Policy, international policy transfer and, more recently, on the territorial and governance dimensions of circular economy.

I  have a track record of prestigious research funding and awards (Urban Studies Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, RSA Early Career Grant, Urban Knowledge Network Asia grant, RSA Early Career Excellence Award) and have been involved in a number of EU-funded research projects (H2020 COHESIFY, H2020 REPAiR, ESPON COMPASS, Interreg Europe WaVE, ESPON Financial Instruments and Territorial Cohesion, HE DUST, HE UP2030, etc.), as a researcher, co-ordinator and co-author of funding bids, research team leader.

Interests & expertise

  • spatial planning systems and tools
  • citizen participation in spatial planning
  • spatial justice
  • climate adaptation and flood resilience 
  • circular economy
  • energy transition
  • (multi-level) governance of urban sustainability
  • regional and urban development policies (incl. EU Cohesion Policy)
  • policy transfer
  • urban sustainability transitions

Organisation & networks

I work at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology, a world-class research and education institution in urban design and planning. I am an Assistant Professor at the Section of Spatial Planning & Strategy at the Department of Urbanism. I am the PhD Mentor for our Department and the Research Leader of the said Section. Beyond TU Delft, I am actively involved in the activities of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) as a member of its board. I also am a board member of the EPRC Delft Stichting.