Government
Position
Case Officer and Deputy Head of Division at the Federal Ministry for Land Use, Environment, Climate Change, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria (BMLUK).
Education
Barbara studied Biology at the University of Vienna, where she graduated with a doctorate.
Professional experience
Barbara has been employed at the Austrian ministry responsible for environment and climate since 1991, accumulating over three decades of experience in environmental and climate policy at the federal level.
Area of expertise
Her work focuses on adaptation to the effects of climate change and increasing climate resilience, including the coordination of Austria’s National Adaptation Strategy and its dissemination instruments. She also oversees the scientific foundations of climate change research through technical supervision of applied research programmes such as ACRP and StartClim.
Civil Society
Position
Project Manager, Environmental Umbrella Organisation (Umweltdachverband), Austria.
Education
He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Regional Studies from the University of Vienna, with additional international research experience through an Erasmus internship at Berchtesgaden National Park.
Professional experience
Kurt Lichtenwöhrer is an environmental scientist and project manager specialising in biodiversity conservation, water management, climate adaptation, and sustainability. He currently serves as Project Manager at the Environmental Umbrella Organisation (Umweltdachverband), where he leads initiatives on water, biodiversity, agriculture, forestry and habitat conservation, and is Co-Director of Project Management.
His professional background includes roles at the Climate Centre of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment and Berchtesgaden National Park, focusing on climate change, hydrology, and water-related ecosystem monitoring. He lectured in the University of Vienna postgraduate programme Understanding Global Change and Sustainability. He has extensive experience in interdisciplinary project management, applied environmental research, and stakeholder engagement. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications on climate change impacts, spring ecosystems, hydrological monitoring, and biodiversity conservation. His expertise supports the GreenEsteem Expert Support Group through contributions in Nature-Based Solutions, environmental policy, ecosystem management, and collaborative knowledge valorisation.
Government
Position
Mayor of the market town of Bad Schallerbach, a position he has held since October 2020, and Environmental Chemistry Expert at the Environmental Directorate of the Province of Upper Austria.
Education
Graduated with the Austrian Matura (university entrance qualification) from the Higher Technical College (HTL) for Chemical Process Engineering in Wels in 1991.
Professional experience
Markus has worked since 1991 as an expert in environmental chemistry at the Environmental Directorate of the Province of Upper Austria, specialising in contaminated site management. He has completed advanced professional training in contaminated land management and was a member of the standardisation committee on contaminated sites at the Austrian Standards Institute.
Political and civil society engagement
Markus has been a member of the Municipal Council of Bad Schallerbach since 2003, serving as Chair of the Environmental Committee and later as Chair of the Committee for Spatial Planning, Construction, Tourism and Economic Affairs. He served as Deputy Mayor from 2018 to 2020 before assuming the role of Mayor. Beyond his professional and political roles, he is an active member of the Bad Schallerbach Municipal Band and leads his own big band.
Academia
Position
Thematic Coordinator and Senior Scientist at AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation Systems and Policy as well as Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna.
Education
Gudrun Haindlmaier studied sociology and geography at the University of Vienna, and has completed her doctoral studies at the Technical University of Vienna in the field of spatial planning.
Link to her personal page
Professional experience
Gudrun is Thematic Coordinator and Senior Scientist at AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation Systems and Policy as well as Senior Lecturer at the University of Vienna. Her academic work focuses on urban transformation, planning-implementation gaps, stakeholder engagement, sustainability transitions and place-based innovation policies. She has contributed to European and international research and practice-oriented projects addressing urban transition, nature-based solutions, multi-level governance, and transformative capacity in cities and regions.
Publications
Gudrun has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on topics such as urban smart grids, the circular economy, sustainability transitions, and transformative urban capacity. A comprehensive list of her research and published work can be reviewed on her AIT Publications Profile.
Industry
Position
Management Consultant specialising in climate change adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), and Regional Manager for the Climate Change Adaptation Model Region KLAR! Mistelbach-Wolkersdorf in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria.
Education
Johannes has over 20 years of experience in environmental management, climate adaptation, and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). He has held senior positions at the Austrian Energy Agency, 17&4 Organisationsberatung GmbH, and Klimabündnis Österreich, and has served as an Energy Advisor for the State of Lower Austria since 2019. Since 2022, he has worked as an independent consultant specialising in organisational development, environmental management, and climate adaptation. His portfolio includes internationally recognised NBS projects, such as NABI and sponge city demonstration projects in Lower Austria, as well as capacity-building programmes for the construction and energy sectors.
Professional experience
His professional background includes roles at the Climate Centre of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment and Berchtesgaden National Park, focusing on climate change, hydrology, and water-related ecosystem monitoring. He lectured in the University of Vienna postgraduate programme Understanding Global Change and Sustainability. He has extensive experience in interdisciplinary project management, applied environmental research, and stakeholder engagement. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications on climate change impacts, spring ecosystems, hydrological monitoring, and biodiversity conservation. His expertise supports the GreenEsteem Expert Support Group through contributions in Nature-Based Solutions, environmental policy, ecosystem management, and collaborative knowledge valorisation.
Voluntary and civil society engagement
Johannes is Chairman of the Weinviertel-Initiative 2020, an association promoting the common good in the Weinviertel region, and moderates the annual Weinviertel Pentecost Symposium. He is a member of the advisory board of the Genossenschaft für Gemeinwohl crowdfunding platform and is an active choral singer.
Academia
Position
Professor (ao.Univ.Prof.), Institute of Spatial Planning, Research Unit Sociology, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Austria.
Education
He studied Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien), where he also completed his dissertation at the former Institute of Spatial Planning and Regional Development with the title “Space, structure and action as categories of development theory”. He later earned his habilitation (venia docendi) in urban and regional sociology with a focus on city-regional governance, space, and social cohesion.
Professional experience
Alexander Hamedinger is an expert in interdisciplinary urban and rural research, specialising in urban and regional sociology, sustainable urban and regional development, social inequality and space, communicative planning, and transdisciplinarity. He currently serves as a Professor at TU Wien within the Institute of Spatial Planning’s Research Unit Sociology, and acts as the speaker of the urban sociology section within the Austrian Society of Sociology.
His professional background includes early roles as a research project assistant at WU Wien exploring spatial governance and social inequality (1996–1998), followed by a tenure as a university assistant at TU Wien (1998–2014) before assuming his current professorship. He is an active member of various European research and planning networks and has extensive experience as an author and editor of numerous publications within his fields of expertise. His profound understanding of urban and regional governance, communicative planning, and sustainable development strongly supports the GreenEsteem Expert Support Group’s objectives.
Industry
Position
Thematic Coordinator and Senior Scientist at AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation Systems and Policy as well as Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna.
Education
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management & Entrepreneurship from Fachhochschule Wien der Wirtschaftskammer Wien (University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce), complemented by international experience studying Business & Tech at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Professional experience
Andreas Köhazy is an award-winning communications strategist and organizational director specializing in sustainability, stakeholder coordination, and campaign strategies. He currently serves as Spokesperson and Organizational Director at the Future Alliance & Business Climate Alliance (by Climate Initiative), overseeing the overall organization and coordinating stakeholder groups including ministries, partner organizations, companies, and NGOs.
Andreas has a proven track record in sustainable business marketing and digital communications. In addition to his strategic communications consulting work through studio kōhazy, he held several key leadership roles at the food-waste impact company Too Good To Go between 2019 and 2023. As Senior Global Campaign Manager, he oversaw operations and strategic direction for over 50 campaigns annually across 17 markets in Europe and North America. Prior to that, as Head of B2B and B2C Marketing, he successfully expanded the Austrian user base to 1.4 million users and built the country’s fastest-growing Instagram brand community. His impactful work has earned him numerous accolades, including the State Prize for Marketing, five EFFIE Awards, and two Green Marketing Awards.
Government
Position
Deputy Mayor on Urban Planning and Development at Sofia Municipality.
Link to personal page
Education
Ljubo began his architectural studies at IUAV in Venice, Italy, and holds a Master’s degree in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences from TU Delft in the Netherlands (2007).
Professional experience
Ljubo is an architect and urban planner with an extensive international background in design, civic activism, and urban management across Scotland, Italy, the Netherlands, China, and Bulgaria. Since the beginning of 2026, he has served as the Deputy Mayor on Urban Planning and Development at Sofia Municipality. Prior to this, he led the Team Sofia initiative (2022–2025) and served as the Director of Sofiaplan—Sofia’s municipal strategic and spatial planning body (2017–2021). Concurrently, he led the team responsible for creating Vision Sofia 2050, the city’s long-term development plan.
His diverse background also includes roles as an urban development consultant for the World Bank (2024–2025), a lead expert in the URBACT program (2024–2026), and Director of the One Architecture Week international festival (2014–2016). In architectural practice, he has held senior and founding roles at firms such as Turenscape (Beijing), de+ge architecten, and studioLjubo, as well as working with renowned studios like MVRDV and Claus en Kaan Architecten.
Professional Engagement and Initiatives
Ljubo is a highly active voice in contemporary architecture and urbanism. He has organized and curated numerous discussion platforms and events, such as the Laboratory for Urban Development, Sofia Architecture Week (co-curator), and the Failed Architecture debate platform. He has delivered lectures and presentations at prominent forums across Europe, including TEDxVitosha, the Newrope Lab at ETH Zurich, the Public Space Biennale in Rome, and the World in Denmark congress at Copenhagen University.
Academia
Position
Vice-Rector for Research and Development, Quality and Accreditation at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG), Sofia, and Professor in the Department of Higher Geodesy.
Education
Elena holds an MSc in Geodesy from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (1996) and a PhD in Higher Geodesy from UACEG (2001).
Professional experience
Since 2024, Elena serves as Vice-Rector for Research and Development, Quality and Accreditation at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG), where she leads the University’s research, development, consulting and expert activities, as well as institutional quality assurance and accreditation processes. She is also a Professor of General, Higher and Applied Geodesy with more than 25 years of academic, research and leadership experience. Previously, she served as Dean of the Faculty of Geodesy (2016–2024) and Head of the Department of Higher Geodesy (2020–2024). Her expertise includes geodetic infrastructure, national reference systems, gravity field and quasi-geoid modelling, precise levelling networks, and geodetic data processing. She has also contributed as a key expert to the development of Bulgaria’s State Levelling Network and the implementation of the European Vertical Reference System (EVRS).
Research, international collaboration and professional engagement
Elena has led and contributed to numerous national and international research initiatives, including the European Gravity and Geoid Project (EGGP), the modernisation of gravity networks in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the State Levelling Network of Bulgaria, and the World Gravity Map initiative. She is an active member of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the National Committee of Geodesy and Geophysics, and the European Geosciences Union (EGU). She has authored more than 50 scientific publications, a monograph, and a multilingual terminology dictionary, with her work indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Throughout her career, she has actively promoted collaboration between academia, public authorities, and professional organisations, supporting knowledge transfer and evidence-based decision-making in geodesy and spatial infrastructure.
Memberships and Scientific Record
- Member, International Association of Geodesy (IAG); National Committee of Geodesy and Geophysics; European Geosciences Union (EGU).
- Over 50 publications, one monograph, and a multilingual (Bulgarian-English-Russian) terminology dictionary; work indexed and cited in Scopus and Web of Science.
- Languages: Bulgarian (native), English (B2/FCE), Russian (B2).
Government
Position
Architect and Spatial Planner. Expert and former Acting Director at Sofiaplan, public municipal enterprise.
Education
Georgetta has over 40 years of experience in spatial planning, applying scientific methods, GIS, and parametric modelling primarily for Sofia and its functional urban area. She is a key expert at OP Sofiaplan, where she served as Acting Director from 2021 to 2026. Her extensive portfolio includes serving as a lead expert for the General Masterplan of Sofia Municipality (approved in 2009) and its updates in 2014 and 2021. She currently leads the team assessing the implementation of the plan as part of its forthcoming comprehensive revision. She has also served as a key expert for the Development Plans of Sofia Municipality (2014-2020 and 2021-2027) and the Sofia Integrated Plan for Urban Recovery and Development 2014–2020 (Sofia IPURD 2014-2020). In addition, she is the Team Leader for the preparation of the new Masterplan of Kostinbrod Municipality, part of the Sofia metropolitan area, and is the author and co-author of numerous spatial concepts, strategies, and detailed urban development plans.
Role in EU projects of Sofia Municipality
Since 2002, Georgetta has been actively engaged in European cooperation and urban development initiatives as part of Sofia Municipality’s international activities, contributing to research, planning, and policy-oriented projects focused on metropolitan development, sustainability, and spatial governance. Her work has consistently combined applied research with strategic planning practice, linking Sofia’s local development priorities with broader European frameworks, including key contributions to the EU Horizon 2020 URBiNAT project focusing on Nature-Based Solutions.
Membership
She has served as Sofia’s primary liaison for METREX (the network of European metropolitan regions and areas) since 2002, contributing to expert groups on climate change, metropolitan governance, and polycentric development. Furthermore, she contributed to the spatial planning for Sofia’s 2014 Winter Olympic Games bid and the EuroBalkans spatial development framework.
Government
Position
Project Adviser at CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency), Landscape Architect, and Environmental Expert.
Education
Holds a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Science. Her specialized training includes Climate Services for Adaptation (ECMWF & Wageningen University, 2021) and Diplomacy & Environment (Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, 2015).
Professional experience
Boyana is an experienced project manager and environmental specialist with over 15 years of expertise in EU programme management, sustainable urban/rural development, nature-based solutions (NBS), and climate adaptation. Since May 2023, she has served as Project Adviser at CINEA in Brussels, where she manages EU-funded calls for proposals, evaluates applications, and monitors project implementation.
Her extensive career spans public administration, research, and consultancy, including key roles as Chief Specialist at the National Institute for Cultural Heritage in Sofia (registering historic urban parks as cultural heritage sites), Chief Expert and Head of Sector Environment & Waste for Capital Municipality (District Mladost, Sofia), and Project Coordinator for the EU-funded “Green Cities for a Sustainable Europe” initiative. As a freelance consultant, she has contributed to master spatial plans for Bulgarian municipalities (Bracigovo, Mizia, Gabrovo) and conducted cost-benefit analyses for NBS implementation across Europe.
Industry
Position
Urban designer and planner, and co-founder of Place.make, an urban planning and design
Education
Nurhan holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) in Sofia, and a Master of Urban Design from Washington University in St. Louis, USA, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar. He further specialised at University College Dublin, Ireland, and completed a summer design studio focusing on global urbanism in Tokyo and Shanghai.
Professional experience
Through his work at Place.make, Nurhan focuses on rethinking existing built environments and infrastructure as the basis for culturally sensitive and civic-oriented public spaces. His practice combines urban design, participatory planning, and placemaking, with a strong emphasis on the social and cultural dimensions of urban form and public space.
Academia & Government
Position
Landscape Architect at Sofiaplan Municipal Enterprise, Co-founder of the OneTree Foundation, and Lecturer at UACEG.
Education
Holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Forestry in Sofia (2009). He specialized in landscaping and the production of ornamental trees and shrubs at Forestfarm in Oregon, USA (2004–2005).
Professional experience
Aleksandar is a landscape architect with extensive expertise in urban green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, and spatial planning. Since January 2018, he has been a key expert at Sofiaplan Municipal Enterprise, where he leads initiatives focused on Sofia’s green and blue infrastructure. His work integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis for strategic planning, green space and tree mapping, ecosystem service assessments, and urban climate change adaptation strategies.
His earlier background includes serving as lead expert (2012–2013) for the mapping and assessment of natural habitats and species within Bulgaria’s Natura 2000 ecological network. He joins the GreenEsteem team as a volunteer expert and consultant in Nature-Based Solutions.
Civil Society
Position
Landscape architect, green infrastructure inspector, educator, and community animator with over 25 years of professional experience in the design, implementation, and supervision of urban green spaces. Her work focuses on public space research, urban tree protection, and the co-creation of green spaces with local communities.
Education
Magdalena holds a professional background in landscape architecture, complemented by specialisation in urban tree protection, green infrastructure inspection, and participatory approaches to public space design.
Professional experience
Magdalena’s work spans public space research, urban tree protection, and the co-creation of green spaces with local communities. She is the founder of the Zieleniak Project, through which she organises workshops and educational activities for children and adults, promoting outdoor education through participatory and artistic approaches. She also coordinates the Community Tree Archive, an initiative documenting urban trees and exploring relationships between people and urban nature. Magdalena is a lecturer in the postgraduate programme Urban Gardening at the Poznań University of Life Sciences. Her expertise combines landscape architecture, environmental education, community engagement, and participatory approaches to nature-based solutions.
Civil Society
Position
Civic activist, moderator, facilitator, and public speaker from Konin, committed to inclusive participation, climate action, and youth engagement.
Education
Julia is currently pursuing a degree in Integrated Development Planning at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Professional experience
Julia is a member of the M-LAB Association and Akcja ParTYcypacji, where she works on participatory processes that actively involve children and young people in decision-making. She currently serves as a Youth European Dialogue (YED) Ambassador (2025-2026) and is a member of the Second Youth Climate Council at the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment. She is also engaged in the Just Transition Platform, the Children and Youth Participation Team at the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, and collaborates with UNICEF Poland.
Academia
Position
Prof. Mizgajski completed his academic training in human geography and spent most of his academic career at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, where he remains affiliated.
Education
Holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Forestry in Sofia (2009). He specialized in landscaping and the production of ornamental trees and shrubs at Forestfarm in Oregon, USA (2004–2005).
Professional experience
Prof. Mizgajski’s research interests have evolved from environmental management to broader questions of management, including business relations. He has extensive experience in international scientific cooperation, participating in Horizon research projects, serving as a panel member in the evaluation of European Research Council (ERC) grant proposals, and contributing to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Beyond academia, he has held senior public administration roles, including Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of the Environment, and has served on numerous advisory bodies.
Government
Position
Director of the Association of the Konin Agglomeration Office, member of the Konin City Council, and Deputy Chair of the Council.
Professional experience
Emilia has many years of experience in local and regional development, intermunicipal cooperation, and strengthening the role of citizens in public decision-making. Her work focuses on urban policy, regional transformation, participatory governance, and cooperation between local governments. Through her professional roles, she promotes collaborative approaches to sustainable local development and stakeholder engagement in shaping public policies and development strategies.
Academia
Position
Landscape Ecologist and Environmental Planner, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the Department of Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).
Link to her personal page
Education
Agata studied at the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw. She was awarded a Kościuszko Foundation Scholarship at Arizona State University and a Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Texas, reflecting her strong international academic profile.
Professional experience
Agata serves as Vice President of the Polish Association for Landscape Ecology and as Secretary of the journal Problems of Landscape Ecology. She has contributed to numerous environmental and spatial planning documents for Warsaw, other Polish cities, and regional planning authorities, and has prepared Conservation Plans for Regional Landscape Parks. Her current research focuses on the structure and functions of greenbelts within metropolitan areas.