The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
25 September 2024 - 25 September 2024 , Utrecht, Netherlands
The City of Chengdu, China, was named the Grand Winner of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024 from among the seven category winners who were announced at a dedicated Awards ceremony at the Future Green City World Congress held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on 25th September 2024.
The City of Chengdu, China, was presented the highest accolade of the competition for their inspiring initiative, titled the “Urban Green Heart Programme.”
Additionally, the City of Joondalup, Australia, was announced as the very first AIPH Youth Award winner in recognition of their efforts to engage, collaborate with, and ensure the participation of young people in the implementation of the city’s “Climate Change Strategy.” This award, brought to life by AIPH and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), was selected by a dedicated Youth Jury.
Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President, commented: “Congratulations to the winning cities that are inspiring a global movement for transformative change. Each winner is truly a champion for the power of plants!”
Living Green for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Restoration
This ground-breaking initiative, which covers an area of 1,275 square kilometres, aims to transform the Longquan Mountain, the future heart of Chengdu City, into a world-class green space set to become the largest urban forest park in the world. The goal is not only to provide residents with a more liveable natural environment, but also to better protect plant and animal habitats, enhance biodiversity, and create a thriving urban area in which nature is at the core.
Mandera Municipality’s Afforestation Program represents a remarkable transformation in a semi-arid landscape, where scorching temperatures, minimal rainfall and recurring droughts once defined daily life. It is a testament to the city’s vision, determination and resilience in the face of these challenges. The programme is a holistic response to Mandera’s unique environmental and socio-economic circumstances. It involves systematic tree planting, nurturing, and the establishment of critical water infrastructure to support sustainable forest growth.
To prepare for threats associated with climate change, the city of São Paulo is increasing urban afforestation efforts to protect the population against rising temperatures, mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall, and improve air quality. Urban Conservation Forests, with native shrub and tree species, are being implemented to conserve, preserve, and enrich biodiversity, contribute to rainwater storage, and improve quality of life.
Joondalup’s commitment to building a more liveable and resilient City is reflected in the City’s Climate Change Strategy. The Strategy identifies corporate and community focused initiatives that aim to adapt and mitigate against environmental impacts of climate change, rapid urban growth and increasing heat-island effect. The Strategy covers six key focus areas: infrastructure and assets, parks and reserves, land use planning and development, natural environment, corporate responsibility and good governance, and community wellbeing.
Living Green for Social Cohesion & Inclusive Communities
The main objective of Mexico City’s Huerto Roma Verde initiative is to face the climate emergency through strengthening a sense of community that is inspired by the knowledge of ancestral people and permaculture, in order to be able to move from the Cartesian Paradigm to the GeoBioSystemic Paradigm.
Living Green for Urban Infrastructure & Liveability
Baia Mare’s Smart Post-Industrial Regenerative Ecosystem initiative seeks to apply phytoremediation techniques to contaminated land, generate inclusive land-use participatory management, and create new local bio-based value chains developing new green business models.
Curitiba has a long history of innovation for sustainable development at the municipal level. The city currently has a population of over 1.7 million, and has challenges in ensuring access to food of a sustainable production in the face of intense urbanisation. Over the last decade, the Curitiba City Hall has developed a variety of programmes to ensure access to healthy food for all.
The 28 members of the Technical Panel reviewed and scored each eligible entry against the six judging criteria. This list of 21 Finalists showcases the highest scoring three entries in each of the 7 Awards categories. Each Finalist received a Highly Commended recognition at the Awards Ceremony.
Living Green for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Restoration
EThekwini Municipality’s Community Reforestation Programme – Durban, South Africa
Republic of South Africa City of Tshwane Pretoria East Urban Biosphere Reserve – City of Tshwane, South Africa
Chengdu “Urban Green Heart” Program – Chengdu, China
Living Green for Climate Change
The URBAN GreenUP of Liverpool – Liverpool, United Kingdom
Mandera Municipality’s Greening Program – Mandera County, Kenya
Green Factor Tool – City of Melbourne, Australia
Living Green for Health & Wellbeing
Change in cardiometabolic risk factors in a safety-net plant-based lifestyle medicine program – New York City, United States
Green and Healthy Environments Program (PAVS) – São Paulo, Brazil
Growing Food, Feeding People – City of Denver, United States
Living Green for Water
Treated Irrigation Water Network, Green Riyadh – Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
City of Joondalup Climate Change Strategy – City of Joondalup, Australia
The Green Miracle – Unaizah, Saudi Arabia
Living Green for Social Cohesion & Inclusive Communities
ResiLab BioSocial, Huerto Roma Verde – Mexico City, Mexico
Belo Horizonte Urban Agriculture and Agroecology Support Policy – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Projeto Parque Orla Piratininga – Niterói, Brazil
Living Green for Urban Infrastructure & Liveability
From a mining and polluted city towards a green, innovative and participatory city: SPIRE- Smart Post-Industrial Regenerative Ecosystem – Baia Mare, Romania
Rita Lee Park- Rio Olympic Park Legacy- Rio de Janeiro City City Hall – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Conservation Woods – São Paulo, Brazil
Living Green for Urban Agriculture & Food Systems
Curitiba’s Urban Agriculture – Curitiba, Brazil
Cascais Harvest Haven: The Urban Agriculture Strategy of Terras de Cascais – Cascais, Portugal
Münchner Krautgärten: Garden plots for all – City of Munich, Germany
We invite you to explore the case studies of each initiative selected as a Finalist, which are all available in the AIPH Green City Case Study Collection.
All Finalists in each of the seven categories were eligible for the AIPH Youth Award, held in collaboration with GYBN. From the 21 Finalists, the Youth Jury voted for a shortlist of three entries from which they will select the winner of the AIPH Youth Award: the top entry most likely to inspire the youth and fulfil their needs for a secure, healthy future.
The Winner and Finalists were:
Winner: City of Joondalup Climate Change Strategy – City of Joondalup, Australia
Finalist: Green Factor Tool – City of Melbourne, Australia
Rita Lee Park – Rio Olympic Park Legacy – Rio de Janeiro City Hall, Brazil
Staff for Campaigns & Social Media, Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA), Brazil
Andressa is a dynamic and passionate individual with a deep commitment to sustainable urban planning, green city themes, disaster resilience, and recovery. Her journey into sustainable urban development commenced in 2019, marked by her participation in the Young Ambassadors Program of the United States Embassy in Brazil. During this transformative program, she initiated the “Sã&Salva” project, which earned recognition and secured total funding through the English Immersion Program. This project centered on empowering women in urban environments, showcasing Andressa’s unwavering dedication to gender inclusivity and sustainable development.
Presently, Andressa is fully immersed in two significant academic projects. The first, “READURBAN,” is a visionary endeavor focused on Resilience and Urban Adaptation. It seeks innovative solutions for cities grappling with the impacts of climate disasters. The second project, “ACESSÁVEIS,” explores Urban Planning along Brazil and Uruguay’s borders. This research initiative is explicitly geared towards understanding and promoting green health in these border areas.
Blaise Binama
PhD candidate, University of Bielefeld, Germany
Blaise is a dedicated researcher deeply committed to the fields of chemical ecology, biodiversity preservation, and nature conservation. Blaise’s academic journey commenced with a bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, and conservation at the University of Rwanda. Here, he cultivated a profound passion for the natural world and set the stage for his future pursuits. Building on this foundation, he earned a Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Collection Management from Technische Universität Dresden/IHI Zittau, Germany. Currently, he is on an academic quest, pursuing a Ph.D. in natural sciences at the prestigious University of Bielefeld in Germany. Blaise’s research is both fascinating and critical, as it delves into the intricate world of invasive plant species and their interactions with antagonistic forces, illuminating the mechanisms behind plant defence strategies.
Bruna Pacheco de Campos
Sustainability Consultant for Real Estate Developments, Petinelli, Brazil
Bruna work building connections between real estate developments and the best practices in efficiency, resilience, and well-being, all aimed at creating more sustainable cities. Whether at the scale of individual buildings or urban development as a whole, Bruna firmly believes in the technical and economic feasibility of this approach as the key to transforming the market and implementing innovative solutions that enhance safety, health, and the overall quality of life in constructed spaces.
Bruna’s educational background includes a degree from the Federal University of Santa Catarina and specialization in Urban Space Rehabilitation at the University of Brasília (UnB). Bruna is also a certified professional in LEED for Cities and Communities Advisory and hold the LEED AP BD+C certification. Bruna approaches sustainability with a structured and comprehensive methodology, applying validated techniques to assist projects in achieving superior results with reduced resource consumption.
Colin Fernandes
Trial Site Coordinator, Marginpar, Kenya
Colin is the Trial Site Coordinator for Marginpar, a role that focuses on introducing new and improved product varieties into the commercial market. He manages a team of 25 people across sites in Kenya and Ethiopia. In 2024, he was awarded the Young International Grower of the Year prize by AIPH at the IGOTY Awards.
Dominique Bird
Student, Antigua State College, Antigua
Dominique Bird is an 18-year-old from the beautiful island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominique Bird is a young woman with a passion for the natural world.
Currently, Dominique is a second-year A-level student at the Antigua State College. She has her sights set on pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at the University of the West Indies, Mona, with plans to further delve into Environmental Studies and Sustainable Energy in her future endeavors. Her academic pursuits reflect her commitment to understanding and preserving the world around us.
Dominique is not just an avid learner but also an enthusiastic volunteer. She often finds herself volunteering with various environmental initiatives. She is determined to make a positive change and be an involved youth. Her aspirations extend beyond the classroom; she dreams of becoming an Oceanographer and an influential activist and advocate.
Dominique strongly believes in the concept of green cities, which she sees as the key to environmental preservation, reduced climate risk, increased economic health, better adaptability, and improved social and physical wellness. She invites everyone to work together to achieve this vision.”
Emmanuel Baffoe Bonney
Coordinator and Project Manager, Green Land Nkyirimma Organization, Ghana
Emmanuel is an urban enthusiast with a background in environmental science and urban planning. Over the past five years, he has actively contributed to the development of green spaces and sustainable initiatives within my community. His passion lies in creating cities that are not only environmentally friendly but also vibrant and inclusive for all generations, especially the youth. He believes that by fostering a strong connection between urban environments and nature, we can inspire future generations to become stewards of our planet. As a Youth Jury member, he hopes to leverage his experience and enthusiasm to help identify the most inspiring green city projects that resonate with the aspirations of today’s youth.
Ferdinand Combary
Urban planner and PhD candidate in sustainable urban development, Regional center of excellence on sustainable cities in Africa, Burkina Faso
Ferdinand is a young urban planner and doctoral student in sustainable urban development. His study focuses on green cities, i.e. the integration of nature and biodiversity into the planning strategies of African urban greenways. He has over five years’ experience of working with youth organisations on climate and biodiversity. He is also programme manager for the Global Youth Biodiversity Network in Burkina Faso. He has taken part in several capacity-building programmes on ecological concerns with other young people.
Hanieh Moghani
Senior legal counsel and advocate, Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment (CENESTA), Iran
Hanieh is an indigenous advocate, legal counsel, community facilitator, educator, and activist, working at the interface of science, policy, and society, with expertise in developing political, economic, and systems analysis models for complex problems involving water, energy, food, climate, and environment to derive policy, law and governance insights. She has a Ph.D. in international law, an M.A. in environmental psychology, and another M.A. in regional studies, Middle East and North Africa. She has over a decade of field experience and has been actively involved in more than 20 national and international projects with city and village dwellers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, academies, UN agencies, governments, and industries to advocate for community-based and endogenous solutions, sustainable development goals, and the right to live with human dignity.
Justin Ho Guo Shun
National Consultant, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippines
Justin is a dedicated advocate for sustainability and positive change. With a strong educational background and a passion for fostering innovation, Justin has held roles as a professor, mentor, and leader in various international organizations.
Justin’s commitment to driving positive change led him to become a National Consultant at the Philippine Government’s Cooperative Development Authority, where he contributed to the development of cooperative enterprises promoting equitable growth.
Justin has also served as a Board Member at the Rotary Fellowship for Global Development, an Ambassador at the Institute for Economics & Peace, and a Delegate for Innovation & Investment at the ASEAN Australia Strategic Youth Partnership. These roles have given him a global perspective and a deep understanding of innovative solutions for sustainability.
Justin’s mentorship roles at organizations like WWF Singapore’s Youth Sustainability Incubator Programme and his representation at the Climate Reality Project have showcased his dedication to nurturing young talents and advocating for climate action.
Karunarathnalage Lilan Udayanga Dayananda
Managing Director, Elzian Agro (Private) Limited, Sri Lanka
Karunarathnalage is an international award-winning young social tech entrepreneur. Karunarathnalage is among the latest top ten Social Entrepreneurs of the Global-South according to the United Nations Youth Envoy’s Office, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and UNDP Youth Co: Lab.
He is a successful graduate of the Silicon-Valley based Founder Institute’s accelerator program and a Business Management (Special) Degree holder from the University of Kelaniya. He has more than 500-course completion certificates (including 300+ Coursera certificates). He is an ALS fellow of the Harris School of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Karunarathnalage is the leading technology partner for the International Analog Forestry Network. He works closely with marginalized communities in 22 countries (including Costa Rica, Cameroon, Peru, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Paraguay, and Bolivia) reaching more than 100,000 marginalized farmers representing various geographical locations, cultures, religions, income classes, races, and genders.
Laura Barron
Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Sustainability, Clinton Global Initiative, USA
Laura is Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Sustainability for the Clinton Global Initiative. Her background includes both research and practice at the University of Pennsylvania, in their Sustainability Office and at the Penn Institute for Urban Research, where she worked while she also completed her dual Master’s in Environmental Studies and Public Health. She has also led various community development programs addressing urban environmental and health issues with non-profits in Philadelphia and New York, including the Reinvestment Fund, Greener Partners, and Mobile Kitchen Classroom. She also completed a Post-Baccalaureate degree in Urban Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York where she worked with the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation on a community garden and health education project in Brooklyn. Her work there addressed how environmental programs, like urban agriculture, can increase safety, community involvement, and health in disadvantaged areas. She received her Bachelors of Art in Anthropology, Spanish, and International Studies at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Leena Joshi
Founder and Executive Director, Ethereal Inc., India
Leena is a social entrepreneur, climate advocate and author. She’s the founder and executive director of Ethereal, a youth-led nonprofit, with 9000 volunteers in 40+ countries. She has sat on boards and advisory councils for several organisations. She has been a member at Harvard Business Review Ascend Select and has provided insights to editorial, marketing and product teams of HBR and has contributed to research projects by HBR Ascend.
Leena’s work has been featured by World Bank Group, Girl Up, United Nations Foundation, International Universities Climate Alliance, Climate Reality Project, Her Campus Media, Next Generation Fellows, Medium, GrasshoppHer. She was previously a Member at Global Leadership Challenge at Oxford University. She has been an Ambassador for organisations including World Bank Group, GreenPeace USA, 4ocean, Beni and the Climate Initiative.
Leena is a prolific public speaker who has spoken at events across the world including Conferences of Youth, RCOY, Girl Up Global Leadership Summit, GatherVerse Summit, YOUNGO at UNFCCC and even at the High Commission of Canada. She has authored books including ‘The Climate Awakening’ and ‘Ethereal’ and writes poetry about social impact.
Muntasyir is an Indonesian who currently lives in Canada and Turkey. He received his bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey and he is pursuing a master’s degree in architecture at Bahcesehir University. Currently, he is in the process of writing his thesis. He has developed an understanding of the urban planning and architecture impact on communities.
Raluca Mihai
Landscape Architect, National Body of Standardization of Romania, Romania
Raluca is a landscape architect from Romania, currently doing her Master’s program in Environmental Governance in Germany. Her professional interests revolve around quality standardization of urban spaces, in particular urban vegetation and how can we achieve a better governance on environmental matters.
Vathanak Soeun
Founder, Sustainable Design and Climate Change Advisor, SD11 (Youth Community – Non Profit Entities), Cambodia
Vathanak has eight years of professional experience in the construction and urban development sectors in Cambodia, Australia, and the US. He received a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Queensland in Australia, and he was also given a professional fellowship in environmental sustainability by the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). Building sustainable cities and communities in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia, is a subject he interested in. As a founder of SD11 (Sustainable Design for the Global Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), he is in charge of organising the project, overseeing it, and educating the community’s youth and residents about issues like climate change, sustainable cities and communities, affordable housing, energy and water efficiency, biodiversity preservation, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment.
Moreover, he has experience working as an educator at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, where he supported academic student involvement and taught students about topics including conceptual architecture, research methodology, thesis writing, interior design, and land-use planning. He served in two roles in 2023: as an MTE Climate Ambassador for the Global Youth Climate Network and as a Youth Biodiversity Leader for the ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Programme.
Widson Ambaisi
Landscape Designer, Kenya School of Monetary Studies and Botanical Landscaping, Kenya
Widson is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and urban greenery. He has made significant strides in the field of environmental conservation and urban development. With a diploma in horticulture from Egerton University and ongoing bachelors degree in geography and environmental studies at the University of Nairobi, he has cultivated a strong academic foundation in these critical areas.
In 2018, he founded Botanical Landscaping, a company specialising in landscaping services. This venture has allowed me to actively contribute to the practical implementation of landscaping projects, including design, installation, and ongoing maintenance, further solidifying a commitment to fostering green and sustainable urban spaces.
While they were not selected as finalists, seven entries were awarded Certificates of Merit for demonstrating a particularly inspiring and innovative approach to city greening which has the potential for replicability by other cities around the world.
A holistic approach to protect and restore forested areas and create biodiverse green spaces – Saint-Lazare, Canada
Green paths to future Dubai Expo 2020 – Dubai, UAE
Tel Chubez and Lira Shapira – Tel Aviv- Yafo, Israel
Dubai Underground Water Sustainability – Dubai, UAE
Greening Belo Horizonte – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
BAQ-Cultiva, Strengthening Urban Forestry and Implementation of Urban Agriculture – Barranquilla, Colombia
The Belly of Ljubljana – urban agriculture and food systems – City of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Eighteen internationally recognised green city experts joined the Jury for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024.
Following completion of the first round of judging by the Technical Panel, 21 green city initiatives were named Finalists for the 2024 Awards. The list is comprised of the three entries in each of the seven categories that achieved the highest scores by the Technical Panel. These entries were presented to the jury who selected one winner for each category, as well as one Grand Winner.
Meet the Jury
Bill Hardy – Chair of the AIPH Green City Committee and President of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), Canada
Bill has had many roles and responsibilities within the horticulture industry over the years and has always had an avid involvement in industry professional development, education, and environmental issues. Bill believes in the power of plants and working landscapes to help cities become healthier, more livable spaces, and he puts his beliefs into action by committing his time and talent as a volunteer on many green city initiatives. Bill is active with several industry associations including the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association; HortEducationBC; the International Association of Horticulture Producers; and the Green Cities Foundation.
Dr Bruno Marques – President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), New Zealand
Dr Bruno Marques is a registered landscape architect and educator. He completed his Landscape Architecture studies at the University of Lisbon (Portugal) and Berlin Technical University (Germany), followed by his PhD studies at the University of Otago (New Zealand). Bruno has practised in Germany, Estonia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, having an extensive portfolio of built projects. During the past ten years at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, he has developed a comprehensive research agenda to embrace the formulation of frameworks on landscape rehabilitation, cultural landscapes, place-making and Indigenous community health and wellbeing. He is currently the Associate Dean for the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation and the President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).
Prof Dr Cecil Konijnendijk – Director, Nature Based Solutions Institute, Netherlands
Cecil co-directs the Nature Based Solutions Institute, a think tank for the evidence-based greening of cities. He has close to 30 years of experience studying, teaching, and advising on aspects of urban forestry and nature-based solutions. A Dutch national, he has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, and North America. He is an honorary professor of urban forestry at the University of British Columbia. He has advised international organisations such as the United Nations (FAO and UNECE), as well as national and local governments in more than 30 countries. In 2021 Cecil launched the influential 3+30+300 rule for the greening of cities.
Damian Tang – Founder of URDX, Chair of Circular Cities Summit, Chair of IFLA Asia Pacific Advisory Board, Singapore
Damian Tang, founder of User-driven Regenerative Design Experience (URDX), is an esteemed professional with a rich educational background, including a Bachelor’s in Architecture, a Master of Landscape Architecture, and executive education from Cambridge Judge Business School in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies. As the Chairman of the Circular Cities Summit and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Asia Pacific Advisory Board, he plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable urban futures. With over two decades of experience in Singapore’s public service, Damian has made significant contributions across various sectors, earning him three Ministerial Awards and the prestigious Public Administration Medal. His work spans strategic planning, therapeutic design, resilience strategies, and biophilic innovation, underscoring his leadership in environmental and urban sustainability.
David Maddox – Founder and Editor of The Nature of Cities, USA
David loves urban spaces and nature. He loves creativity and collaboration. He loves theatre and music. In his life and work he has practiced in all of these. After a PhD at Cornell he worked at The Nature Conservancy on climate change and stewardship, leaving in 1992 to be a theatre artist. In 2012, David founded The Nature of Cities, a transdisciplinary essay, discussion, and event platform—1,000+ writers from around the world, scientists to activists, designers to artists. TNOC also conduct a global virtual event called TNOC Festival. He has published over 60 journal articles and books chapters, edited six books (both fiction and non-fiction), been sound designer for over 100 plays, and written 7 works of musical theatre. He lives in New York City.
Felix Loh – CEO, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
A distinguished horticulturist, Mr Felix Loh began his career with a Bachelor’s in Horticulture from Massey University, New Zealand, subsequently obtaining a Master of Science in Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture from Cornell University, USA, supported by a Singapore Government Scholarship. With over 20 years in parks management and horticulture, he received accolades, including the Singapore Government Public Administration Medal in 2005. Mr Loh joined Gardens by the Bay in 2014, championing R&D and achieving notable success with flowering blooms on challenging temperate species like cherry blossoms. He also pioneered technological advancements, introducing Asia’s first fully-operational self-driving vehicle at the Gardens. He is currently Co-Chair of the Tripartite Cluster for the Landscape Industry and Tripartite Cluster for Waste Management.
Gil Penalosa – Founder & Chair of 8 80 Cities; World Urban Parks Ambassador, Canada
Gil Penalosa is passionate about cities for all people. Because of his unique blend of experience, pragmatism, and passion, he has worked in over 350 cities. Gil is the Founder and Chair of the successful Canadian non-profit organization 8 80 Cities and founder of Cities for Everyone. Gil was elected twice as chair of World Urban Parks. He holds an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at Swedish SLU. In 2023 Gil was voted to Planetizen’s Top 100 Most Influential Contemporary Urbanists, at #13.
Gulnara Roll – Head of Cities Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Climate Change Division, France
Gulnara Roll is the Head of Cities Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Climate Change Division. The UNEP Cities Unit provides support to cities in accelerating their climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts; and mainstreaming environmental sustainability into their policies and programmes. Previously, she held various roles at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva and UN Regional Commissions Office in New York. With a background in Environmental Sciences and Policy, and Human Geography, Gulnara studied at Central European University, Brown University, and St. Petersburg State University. She also holds an Executive MBA from the University of Geneva.
Harmen Kraai – Horticulturalist and Aquacien, The Urban Jungle Project, Netherlands
Trained as a nurseryman and horticulturist, out of an interest in bringing nature into the city, Harmen has a practical background. Working in the city, he became fascinated by the importance of architecture, urban planning and design. Today, he knows how to combine all this at The Urban Jungle Project, where he aims to improve city climates by building urban jungles. Harmen is much in demand for jury work, graduation projects, award ceremonies and substantive programmes in the field of greening, such as Floriade EXPO 2022, where he was responsible for the creation of the publication The Green City Guidelines.
Jennifer Lenhart – Global Lead, WWF Cities, Sweden
Jennifer Lenhart is WWF’s Global Cities Lead, which has engaged over 900 cities in almost 70 countries, namely via the One Planet City Challenge. She holds a PhD in urban climate governance from Wageningen University (Netherlands) and an Erasmus Mundus MSc in Environmental Science and Policy co-hosted by Lund University and Central European University. With 15+ years’ experience addressing urban environmental challenges via holistic approaches, Jennifer previously worked at UN-Habitat in Nairobi, Kenya, the City of Malmö, Sweden, and an urban sustainability consultancy in Seattle. She is currently based in Santiago de Chile.
Karen Tambayong – AIPH Regional Representative and Chairperson of the Horticulture Committee for the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, Indonesia
Karen has had many roles and responsibilities within the Horticulture industry over the years as the Chair of the Horticulture Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, and has always had an avid involvement in initiating programs for the Indonesian government and empowering the industry. She also gives recommendations to develop regulations for the horticulture industry.
Recently, Karen initiated the Closed Loop System for Horticulture, which was recognized by the President. Karen is active with other associations including: the Indonesian Flower Association – Advisor, she initiated the Tomohon Flower Festival that transformed the city to become one of the Indonesian tourist destinations. In cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works, she started the Urban Greening Forum, and introduced the Green City Guidelines when she lead the association. In the last 5 years Karen has consulted to the Toll Road Highway, where she introduced Green Infrastructure principles, and developed the Toll Road Planting Guidelines. She has served on the Indonesian Botanical Garden Foundation as Vice Chair of Finance, and at the Flower Foundation as Advisor .
Karen recently received recognition for her dedication as a Green City pioneer and ambassador of Indonesia’s ornamental horticulture when she was named one of the nine winners of the prestigious 2021 Silver Carnation Award in the International Business Management category. Karen is a long-standing board member of AIPH for Region 8 (South East Asia and Oceania).
Kobie Brand – Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI and Regional Director of ICLEI Africa, South Africa
Kobie is the Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI (globally) and Regional Director of ICLEI in Africa. She has over two decades of experience in senior management and leadership roles in the field of urban sustanability and has a passion for greener, safer and more inclusive cities for a current and future urban population. She also directs ICLEI’s global work on biodiversity, nature, health and water and regularly represent our constituency of local and subnational governments at international platforms and in global advocacy processes such as the Rio Conventions and others.
Pietro Elisei – President, ISOCARP, Romania
Pietro has worked, as a consultant, with ministries, cities and countries throughout Europe, holding important positions in international organisations dedicated to urban planning (PLANUM SG, ISOCARP VP). He is an international expert in urban regeneration policies, integrated planning for small and medium-sized cities, smart cities and strategic planning. He collaborates with European Universities and Research Centres, works as an expert with international institutions (European Commission: URBACT and UIA Secretariats, UN-Habitat, UNECE) in the field of research/urban and territorial planning.
Dr Radhika Murti – Director, Global Ecosystem Management Programme, and Director, Centre for Society and Governance, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Switzerland
Dr. Radhika Murti is the Director for IUCN’s Centre for Society and Governance, based at the Headquarters in Switzerland. In this position, Dr. Murti has the management and oversight of IUCN’s work on social and governance issues in conservation as well as Nature-based Solutions. Originally from Fiji Islands, Dr. Murti has a background in forestry science, land tenure related conflict management in communal ownership and community based climate change adaptation planning.
Rob Adams – Director, Adams Urban, Australia
Professor Rob Adams AM, Director Adams Urban, is a multi-award-winning architect and urban designer. Over his 40 years at the City of Melbourne, Rob co-authored the 1985 Strategy Plan and worked to implement it, playing a significant role in the transformation of central Melbourne. The teams he led received over 175 international, state and local awards. Rob has received the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year (2008), and an Order of Australia (2007). He represented Australia on the Future of Cities Council of the World Economic Forum, 2008-2022 and is sought after as an expert on cities both nationally and internationally.
Thomas Elmqvist – Professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden
Thomas Elmqvist, PhD, is a professor in Natural Resource Management at Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University. His research is focused on urbanization, urban ecosystem services, land use change, natural disturbances and components of resilience including the role of social institutions. He has led and coordinated several major international interdisciplinary research projects, such as the UN-initiated global project “Cities and Biodiversity Outlook” and the Future Earth Project “Urban Planet” He currently serves as Editor in chief for the Nature Research journal “npj Urban Sustainability” and as associated editor for the journals Sustainability Science, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. He has published over 100 papers, 30 books and book chapters and received the Biodiversa prize 2018 for “Excellence in science and impact” and the Ecological Society of America prize for best paper in “Sustainability Science” in 2019 and 2023.
Tim Badman – Head, Heritage, Culture and Youth, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Switzerland
Tim Badman is Head of Heritage and Culture at IUCN, having served as Director of the IUCN World Heritage Programme since 2009 and Director of the IUCN Nature-Culture Initiative in 2019-2020. He is chair of the IUCN World Heritage Panel and heads IUCN’s delegation at World Heritage Committee meetings. Tim joined IUCN having worked as team leader of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, UK. This role culminated in inscription of the site on the World Heritage List in 2001, and the subsequent development of the World Heritage programme on-site.
Dr Zhimin Wu – Director, FAO Forestry Division, China
Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO’s Forestry Division, has close to 4 decades of an extensive experience in national and international forestry roles. Prior to his appointment at FAO in December 2022, Dr. Wu served as Director-General of the Wetland Management Department of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) since 2019. Dr. Wu also served as Director General for International Cooperation, Director General for Wildlife Conservation, NFGA of China. At the international level, he served as President of the COP 14 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Vice Chairperson of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), and Deputy Director General of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR).
Multi-disciplinary experts from around the globe form the Technical Panel for the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards.
The Technical Panel was comprised of leaders in the global green city space whose expertise spans across the seven award categories. The role of the Technical Panel is to assess and score all eligible entries and select a shortlist of entries for each award category to be delivered to the 2024 Jury.
Meet the Technical Panel
Albert Haasnoot
Sustainability Manager, Royal Flora Holland, the Netherlands
Albert Haasnoot (1968) grew up in a flower export company and started his career, after finishing university, at Royal FloraHolland in 1994. In previous positions he was responsible for the direct sales department in Rijnsburg and the auction department of flowers and plants in Rijnsburg and Aalsmeer. In recent years he has worked on sector programs at the intersection of sustainability and innovation and has been allowed to represent the floricultural sector in a number of boards. For example, he is a board member of the Dutch Green City Foundation, Dutch Foundation for Innovation in Greenhouse Horticulture and vice-chairman of Greenhouse Horticulture ‘Club of 100’ of Wageningen University and Research. Albert is also the lead commissioner of the PEFCR Cut Flowers and Potted Plants. With this project, we aim to achieve harmonised rules for calculating the environmental footprint of potted plants and cut flowers in the framework of the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint. Privately, Albert also works in the family’s arable farm.
Amanda O’Rourke
Executive Director, 8 80 Cities, Canada
Amanda O’Rourke has over 20 years of experience leading strategic planning, partnership development, and managing high impact teams. She has led diverse equitable mobility and public space projects in cities and towns in North America, Europe, and Australia. Amanda is a sought-after thought leader, writer, speaker, and experienced facilitator. Amanda holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Queen’s University. She is Co-Chair for the Children Play and Nature Committee for World Urban Parks, Advisory Board Member to Healthy Places By Design, and a Salzburg Global Fellow.
Belinda Bean
Senior Managing Consultant, South Pole, & Senior Strategist, Greener Spaces Better Places, Australia
Belinda Bean keeps her finger on the pulse of environmental and societal trends. She has a Masters in Sustainable Development. She is a Senior Managing Consultant for South Pole (the climate company) and senior strategist for Greener Spaces Better Places – a collective impact program for getting more and better green space in our urban areas.
Daniela Rizzi
Senior Expert for Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity, ICLEI Europe, Germany
Daniela Rizzi holds a PhD in landscape planning by the Technical University of Munich. Daniela has been leading the conceptualisation, dissemination and implementation of UrbanByNature – a facilitated capacity-building and expertise-sharing programme on nature-based solutions to empower local governments all over the world to plan, implement and harness the multifold potential of NBS for sustainable and nature-positive development. Author of one of the most downloaded NBS publications of the European Commission: “The vital role of nature-based solutions in a nature-positive economy”.
Dominic Regester
Director of the Center for Education Transformation, Salzburg Global Seminar, Austria
Dominic Regester is Director of the Center for Education Transformation at Salzburg Global Seminar, where he is responsible for designing, developing and implementing programs on the futures of education. He works on a broad range of projects across education policy, practice, and international development, including as a Director at the Amal Alliance, as a Senior Editor for Diplomatic Courier and as the Executive Director of Karanga: the Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills.
Elysia Glover
Independent Consultant, Switzerland
Elysia Glover is an independent consultant specialising in the convergence of urban governance, economic and community development and the environment. With a breadth of professional experience in politics, economic development and NGOs, Elysia supports teams with implementing climate and nature-positive strategies with cross-sectoral awareness and practicality. In previous roles she has created strategic toolkits for urban forestry practitioners, developed circular economy loan funds and supported the formation and launch of a blue tech innovation cluster. Elysia holds a BA in Urban Studies from Vassar College, a post-graduate certificate in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University and is currently completing her MA in International Affairs at King’s College London.
Erik Andersson
Professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, Stockholm University & Helsinki University, Finland
Professor Erik Andersson has forefronted a more systemic approach to using green infrastructure as a strategic asset in urban and regional planning. He has contributed to a more nuanced understanding of ecosystem services and their benefits as emergent outcomes of human-nature relations. He has also been awarded for his writing on resilience and transformation, as well as his academic leadership. Within the field of environmental sustainability science, Prof Andersson is investigating how people make sense and use of different landscapes, and the outcomes this has for human livelihood and wellbeing, ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity.
Gary Grant
Chartered Environmentalist and Director, Green Infrastructure Consultancy, UK
Gary Grant is a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, working on policy, strategy and design of urban green infrastructure and restoration ecology.
He is author of Green Roofs and Facades (BRE Press 2006), Ecosystem Services Come to Town – Greening cities by working with nature (Wiley 2012) and The Water Sensitive City (Wiley 2016). Projects include the Swansea City Centre Green Infrastructure Strategy, Grosvenor Square renewal, London Olympic Park Masterplan and Biodiversity Action Plan, Whitehill-Bordon Eco Town, the Natural History Museum Wildlife Garden, Education City, Qatar and Saadiyat Island Masterplan, Abu Dhabi. He has been involved in the planning, design, installation and maintenance of hundreds of urban greening projects, including green roofs, green walls, rain gardens and other interventions.
Grant Pearsell
Urban Ecological Planner, Canada
Grant Pearsell is an urban planner with expertise in strategic planning for urban nature and biodiversity. His 40 year career in the environmental sector is founded in his education and experience in land use planning, conservation biology, urban ecology, and civil engineering. He is based in Edmonton, Canada where he worked from 2002-2020 in the City of Edmonton planning department holding a variety of senior leadership roles including Director of Parks and Biodiversity. Grant led teams that created the City of Edmonton’s ecological planning system which has been recognized with many national and provincial honours for their work.
Dr Harriet Bulkeley
Professor in the Department of Geography and at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Durham University & Utrecht University, UK
Harriet Bulkeley FAcSS FBA is Professor in the Department of Geography, Durham University, and at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University. Her research focuses on environmental governance and the politics of climate change, energy, nature and sustainable cities. She has published 8 books, several edited collections and over 70 papers, including An Urban Politics of Climate Change (Routledge 2015) and Accomplishing Climate Governance (CUP 2016). She has undertaken commissioned research for the UK Government, European Commission, NGOs, UN-Habitat, the OECD and the World Bank and in 2023 was appointed to the Scientific Council of the European Research Council.
Dr Holly Peng
Senior specialist of the research institute of ornamental plants and landscapes, ICBR, China
Educated both in China and Canada, Holly holds a PhD in horticultural science and has over 30 years experience working in horticultural and landscaping sector. As a senior specialist who has been leading a group of experts strive to achieve a sustainable solution for horticultural expos, as well as the urban greening in China, she has conducted research on the sustainable development projects including 2019 Beijing Expo and 2024 Chengdu Horticultural Expo. Her expertise in strategic planning of sustainable development empowers the expo organizers and the local government to implement a comprehensive strategy in developing an environmental-friendly coexistence for urban planning.
Ian Shears
Principal, Ian Shears Green Infrastructure + Urban Forestry, Australia
Ian Shears is acknowledged as one of Australia’s experts in urban landscapes and as an experienced practitioner in public open space design, implementation and management. He has specialised in urban greening for 30 years and worked for 19 years with the City of Melbourne. Ian and his teams have been credited with the development of some of Australia’s most progressive environmental policies, programs and projects and have won many state, national and international awards for their work. Ian currently undertakes consulting in urban forestry and green infrastructure both nationally and internationally, has several board positions and advisory roles, and is an honorary fellow at the School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences at Melbourne University.
JD Brown
Program Director, Biophilic Cities, & Senior Associate in Policy & Planning, Second Nature Ecology + Design, USA
JD collaborates with cities around the world to shape innovative mechanisms to advance the planning and design of biophilic cities. With a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, JD helps cities develop policy frameworks to promote abundant and equitably accessible nature. He has authored a range of guiding documents to assist cities, including Planning for Biophilic Cities published by the American Planning Association. JD serves as the Program Director for Biophilic Cities and Senior Associate in Policy & Planning for Second Nature Ecology + Design.
Jennifer Dunn
Network Development Specialist, Salzburg Global Seminar, Scotland
Jennifer Dunn is the network development specialist at Salzburg Global Seminar. She is also pursuing an M.Sc. in spatial planning and sustainable urban design at the University of Dundee, UK. She specialises in creating and strengthening connections between people and organisations across sectors, geographies, and generations. She aims to support positive environments for the wellbeing of people and planet.
John-Rob Pool
Manager of Knowledge and Partnerships, UrbanShift, World Resources Institute, USA
John-Rob is the Manager of Knowledge and Partnerships for UrbanShift at the World Resources Institute. UrbanShift supports cities around the world to adopt integrated approaches to urban development, in an effort to build an equitable, zero-carbon future where both people and the planet can thrive. Prior to UrbanShift, John-Rob was the Implementation Manager for Cities4Forests, an initiative that aims to cultivate awareness and catalyze action on the part of urban residents and city governments to conserve, manage, and restore trees, forests and other nature-based solutions (NBS) inside and outside city boundaries, and to harness the previously untapped voices of mayors in support of global forest conservation. John-Rob is a recognized and published expert on urban nature-based solutions, urban green infrastructure and urban biodiversity. He holds a Master of Science in Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Biodiversity and Conservation and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Environmental Science, both from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Laura Parry
Senior Manager of Partnerships and Fundraising, Cities States and Regions, CDP, UK
Laura is Senior Manager of Partnerships and Fundraising in CDP’s Cities States and Regions team. CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. Before joining CDP in 2020, Laura worked within several UK local authorities on areas including sustainable transport, air quality and business engagement.
Lauriane Suyin Chalmin-Pui
Postdoctoral Wellbeing Fellow, Royal Horticultural Society & University of Sheffield Department of Landscape Architecture, UK
Lauriane is a postdoctoral Wellbeing Fellow at the Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Sheffield Department of Landscape Architecture. Her current research focus is on the influence of gardens and gardening on human health and wellbeing. Lauriane holds a BA in Geography from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD in Landscape Architecture from the University of Sheffield. During her doctorate, she was also a visiting scholar to the Center for Design and Health at the University of Virginia School of Architecture.
Loredana Scuto
Programme Officer – Urban, IUCN, Germany
Loredana Scuto serves as Programme Officer – Urban at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As part of the Urban Initiative, she supports the development of IUCN knowledge products, such as the IUCN Urban Nature Indexes, as well as the implementation of projects for the protection of urban biodiversity and the sustainable development of urban ecosystems. A UNESCO World Heritage specialist by training, prior to joining IUCN she worked in the fields of (World) heritage management, human rights and sustainable development both at local and international levels.
Luis Romahn
Executive Director, World Urban Parks, Mexico
Luis is the Executive Director of World Urban Parks Organization. President and founder of Parks of Mexico and Founder of the National Association of Parks and Recreation Mexico (ANPR) and co-founder of Park Art. Has worked for the last 12 years in public space projects through participatory design, community building and financial sustainability. For the past 5 years, he has led the ANPR, offering its members professional development, updated information, networking and employment opportunities; benefiting the sector through research, standards, data and advocacy, promoting the values and role of the field. He is part of the Emerging Urban Leader First Cohort. A programme of the World Urban Parks and the Salzburg Seminar. Speaker in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, México, Spain and the U.S. about public spaces and parks. Author of the book “Building My Park – From Citizen Participation to the Administration of Public Space”. Has a professional degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Education and Communication, both by Monterrey Tec.
Michael Casey
Director, Evergreen Infrastructure, Australia
Michael Casey, a renowned figure in the field of green infrastructure and horticulture, has built a distinguished career marked by his unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable connections between urban environments and the natural world. A Registered Horticulturist and advocate for nature-based solutions, his work transcends conventional landscape design, encompassing innovative projects like green walls, green roofs, and urban farming initiatives. Serving as the Director of Evergreen Infrastructure, a leading firm specialising in sustainable green space design, Michael has left an indelible mark on various sectors, including education, health, commercial, and residential. Michael actively engages in industry associations, serving as the National President of the Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) and contributing to the founding of the Australasian Green Infrastructure Network (AGIN) and Therapeutic Horticulture Australia (THA).
Pablo Arturo López Guijosa
Head of Communications and Project Manager, Urban Biodiversity Hub, and Communications Officer and Global Focal Point for Congress Resolutions, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Costa Rica
Pablo Arturo López Guijosa holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from the University of Queensland, Australia, a Biologist degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and exchange studies in biodiversity conservation from the University of Helsinki, Finland. His expertise is in international relations, specializing in communications, protected areas and biodiversity conservation. He has worked with national and subnational governments, academia, the private sector and NGOs as well as international organizations, including the Ramsar Convention and the United Nations Environment Programme. He is currently working for the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Costa Rica.
Peter Massini
Director, Future Nature Consulting, UK
Peter is an experienced green infrastructure strategist, policy-maker and practitioner. Following career working for environmental NGOs, government agencies and London government, he established his own practice – Future Nature Consulting – in 2021. He advises both public and private sector clients on the policy and practice of green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, urban greening and biodiversity conservation in the urban environment. From 2008 and 2020, Peter was the green infrastructure policy lead at the Greater London Authority where he successfully embedded green infrastructure and natural environment policies in the London Plan and the London Environment Strategy.
Simone Borelli
Urban Forestry Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Italy
Simone Borelli holds a degree in Forest Science, an M.Sc in Watershed Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management. He has worked for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) for over 25 years and is currently responsible for the urban forestry programme of the Forestry Division providing technical support to member countries. He is one of the creators of the World Forum on Urban Forests and the Tree Cities of the World programme. Prior to joining FAO, he worked for WWF, IPGRI and as a consultant for public institutions and the private sector.
Stefania Romano
Coordinator of Transformative Urban Nature Action, UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, Switzerland
Stefania has extended experience in environmental international affairs, spanning from Central Eastern Europe, Türkiye, the Middle East, the Gulf Countries, Brazil, and South Africa. She has worked for the Italian Ministry of the Environment, seconded to international organisations, such as the Regional Environmental Center, as Director of the Italian Trust Fund, developing programs and projects across countries, channelling resources, and establishing partnerships. After two years working for ICLEI as Global Coordinator of the international, partnership initiatives CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature, she is now the Coordinator of Transformative Urban Nature Action on behalf of UNECE.
Swetha Stotra Bhashyam
Global South Focal Point and Steering Committee Member, Global Youth Biodiversity Network, USA
Swetha Stotra Bhashyam, a wildlife biologist by training, has dedicated the past 12 years to empowering and mobilizing youth to take action for biodiversity. Serving as the Global South Focal Point for the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) from 2018 to 2023, she has played a pivotal role in representing and amplifying the voices of youth in the Global South. In 2022, Swetha was appointed as the Chair of the IUCN CEESP Inter-generational Partnerships and young professional groups.
Tadashi Touchi
Managing Director, Teijyuen Co. and Board Director, International Society of Arboriculture, Japan
Tadashi Touchi is a Japanese tree doctor, landscape architect and researcher. He manages a Japanese landscape and tree care company, Teijyuen Co.,Ltd. established in 1877. He graduated from the BLA of Chiba University in Japan and the MLA of Louisiana State University in the US. Touchi has also worked with various landscape and tree care associations to further their objectives. He is a delegate from Japan Landscape Contractors Association (AIPH member) and currently serves as a Board of Director of International Society of Arboriculture.
Ton Vergeldt
Senior Project Manager, Arcadis, the Netherlands
Ton Vergeldt is a senior project manager at Arcadis Nederland BV and works in integral sustainable projects in which all professional disciplines (environment, water, infrastructure and buildings) are inclusively represented to create a better urban environment for future generations. After completing his HBO studies at Larenstein International University of Applied Sciences, he studied for a year at Wageningen Agricultural University before joining a landscape architecture firm. Employed by Arcadis from 1-1-1999, he realised, among other things, the Floriade 2012 and 2022 for the Venlo and Almere regions from the initiation phase to realisation, exploitation and dismantling. In the period 2007-2010, he developed sustainable area development (C2C) together with several leading municipalities in the Netherlands and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in order to translate sustainability into the design and implementation phase of urban area development. This formed the foundation for the further development of sustainable area development, in which all aspects of sustainability are addressed at the various scale levels. He like sto help others on their way to sustainable future cities.
Ursula Wellmann
Manager: Biodiversity and Nature, ICLEI Africa, South Africa
Ursula Wellmann has a background in Politics and Economics with a degree in Social Science, a Skills Development Facilitation certificate and a passion for the green economy. Supporting sustainable growth in both the renewable energy sector and Greentech manufacturing was a focus of her recent years’ work. Together with this, her passion for nature and biodiversity resulted in numerous projects implemented supporting decent employment opportunities within the Western Cape’s growing green economy. Since joining ICLEI Ursula has managed the African biodiversity portfolio, including project management of INTERACT-Bio, one of its flagship projects.