A group of dedicated organizers, partners, and advisors are working together to make the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) a key moment for advancing urban climate action.
The Conference Advisory Committee plays a central role in shaping the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) as a focused working space for advancing city climate action. Bringing together experienced leaders from academia, policy, practice, civil society, and the private sector, the Committee provides strategic guidance across the conference programme and positioning. Their input helps ensure I4C26 supports the co-production of knowledge, connects research with decision-making, and strengthens the ability of cities and local governments to act on climate, sustainability, and resilience.
Beryl A. Okundi,
Director of Public Communication,
Nairobi City County Addison
Eero Ailio,
Deputy Head of Unit,
European Commission
Aziza Akhmouch,
Head of Division Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development,
Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
Lauren Anderson,
Director of Programs,
Perry World House
Winston Chow,
Lee Kong Chian Professor of Urban Climate, Singapore Management University
& Co-Chair, IPCC Working Group II
Tanya Chung-Tiam-Fook,
Co-Founder and Director,
7GenCities co-lead
Martyn Clark,
Urban Resilience Coordinator,
Group on Earth Observations
Patricia Cummens,
Director of Government Strategy and Policy Solutions,
Esri
Gian Carlo Delgado Ramos,
Full Time Researcher, Institute of Geography,
National Autonomous University of Mexico
David Dodman,
General Director,
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Sherine El Wattar,
Science Network Officer,
IPCC WGII Technical Support Unit
Adam Elman,
Director of Sustainability for EMEA,
Google
Aklilu Fikresilassie,
Director,
Thriving and Resilient Cities, WRI Africa
Laurence Graff,
Adviser for Multilevel Climate Action,
European Commission, DG CLIMA
Julie Greenwalt,
Senior Climate Advisor,
Cities Alliance
Şiir Kılkış,
Senior Researcher,
Middle East Technical University (METU)
Joseph Kimani,
Executive Director,
Shack Dwellers International (SDI) Kenya
Debbie Ley,
Co-Convenor,
Adaptation Futures, Guatemala, Mexico
Brett Miller,
Program Officer, Climate and Environment Team,
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Liliana Miranda,
Executive Director,
Cities for Life Foro – Peru
Émile Gros Raymond Nakombo,
Mayor,
City of Bangui, Central African Republic
Obed Ogega,
Engagement Manager, IPCC Engagement Task Team,
International Institute for Environment & Development (IIED)
Juliet Oluoch,
Co-founder,
Ufanisi Research Network; African Center for Technology Studies
Valentina Palermo,
Scientific Officer,
Joint Research Centre, European Commission (JRC)
Sheela Patel,
Director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres,
Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres
Deneine Christa Powell,
Executive Director,
Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)
José Antonio Puppim de Oliveira,
Professor of Public Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EAESP), São Paulo
Giorgia Rambelli,
Director,
Urban Transitions Mission (UTM)
Aromar Revi,
Director,
Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)
Debra Roberts,
Professor,
University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) / University of Twente (The Netherlands)
Emilia Saiz,
Secretary General,
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Pourya Salehi,
Head, Urban Research, Innovation, and Development Team,
ICLEI World Secretariat
Caterina Sarfatti,
Managing Director for Inclusion and Global Leadership,
C40 Cities
Dr. Meggan Spires,
Director Climate Change, Energy & Resilience,
ICLEI Africa
Bart Van den Hurk,
Scientific Director,
Deltares
Jorn Verbeeck,
Urban Transitions Lead,
Dark Matter Labs
