INCLUSIVE URBAN FUTURES

In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, our host Dr Orna Rosenfeld had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Teri Okoro MBA ChPP FRIBA FAPM, architect, project management expert, and founder of TOCA London, whose work is dedicated to embedding diversity, inclusion, and social value into the way we plan, design, and deliver projects.
Drawing on the ideas behind her new three-book series on inclusive project management (links to the first book below), Dr Okoro challenges us to rethink inclusion—not as a final objective or a simple compliance exercise, but as an ongoing process that must be intentionally woven into every stage of decision-making. From the earliest vision of a project to its delivery and long-term governance, she argues that inclusion should become part of the way organisations think, collaborate, and create value.
Throughout the conversation, Dr Okoro explores what an inclusive urban future truly means. She reminds us that cities are constantly evolving and that our buildings, neighbourhoods, and public spaces should evolve with them. Designing for inclusion means creating places that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of responding to the changing needs of diverse communities throughout their lives. It also means looking beyond regulations and asking a deeper question: Who might we be unintentionally leaving behind?
The discussion also highlights the importance of broadening the voices involved in shaping our cities. Dr Okoro advocates for engaging communities from the outset, recognising different lived experiences, and slowing down decision-making when necessary to challenge assumptions and uncover hidden biases. Whether designing housing, public spaces, or major infrastructure projects, she demonstrates how an inclusive approach can lead to better outcomes—not only for specific groups, but for everyone.
Despite the many challenges facing our cities today, Dr Okoro remains optimistic. She believes that meaningful change is already underway as more organisations, project teams, and decision-makers recognise that inclusion and sustainability are inseparable. Her reflections remind us that truly successful projects are not measured solely by what they build, but by the positive and lasting impact they have on people's lives and the communities they serve.
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INCLUSIVE URBAN FUTURES 
https://inclusiveurbanfutures.org/
More About Dr Teri Okoro
Dr Teri Okoro is an architect, project management expert, author, and founder of TOCA London, with extensive international experience leading complex programmes across the built environment. Throughout her career, she has championed the integration of diversity, inclusion, and social value into project management, infrastructure, and urban development.
Combining a background in architecture with expertise in project delivery and organisational strategy, Dr Okoro works with public and private sector organisations to help embed inclusive thinking into every stage of projects—from initial vision and governance to design, delivery, and long-term impact.
She is the author of a three-book series on inclusive project management, exploring the foundations of diversity and inclusion, practical approaches to embedding inclusive practices within projects, and the organisational systems needed to create lasting change.
An internationally recognised speaker, mentor, and advocate for inclusive leadership, Dr Okoro continues to work at the intersection of the built environment, project management, and social impact, helping organisations create places and projects that deliver better outcomes for people, communities, and society.
Links to Dr Teri Okoro's first book:
Hard Copy - https://www.apm.org.uk/book-shop/foundations-of-diversity-and-inclusion-in-project-management-book-one/
Digital/Kindle - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Foundations-Diversity-Inclusion-Project-Management-ebook/dp/B0FZY61NDX

In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, recorded live at the World Urban Forum, we had the pleasure of speaking with Keith Thorpe, an internationally recognised expert in housing, urban development, and public policy, whose career spans more than five decades of public service and international collaboration.
Drawing on his extensive experience in housing policy, planning, and local government—including senior leadership roles within the UK Government and his work with the OECD—Keith reflects on one of the defining challenges of our time: housing. But as the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that housing is about much more than the homes we build. It is about creating communities where people can thrive—places that provide not only affordable homes, but also jobs, education, services, transport, biodiversity, and opportunities for people to build meaningful lives.
Throughout the conversation, Keith highlights the complexity of today's housing crisis and reminds us that there are no simple solutions. Housing is shaped by economic, social, demographic, and political factors, meaning that effective responses require long-term thinking rather than isolated interventions. Housing challenges also differ across the world: in some countries the priority is addressing homelessness, while in others the greatest concern is the growing lack of affordable housing. Rising house prices, stagnant wages, declining investment, lengthy planning processes, and shortages of social housing all contribute to a problem that continues to deepen.
Rather than searching for quick fixes, Keith advocates for integrated and balanced approaches. He discusses the importance of innovative tools such as land value capture, while also acknowledging the delicate balance governments must strike when designing housing policies. Well-intentioned legislation, he explains, can sometimes produce unintended consequences if it fails to consider the wider housing market and the perspectives of all those involved.
Ultimately, Keith reminds us that successful housing policy begins with listening. Governments must understand what people actually need—not what policymakers assume they need. Only by placing communities at the centre of decision-making can we create places where people genuinely want to live, work, and thrive.
Thoughtful, measured, and deeply insightful, Keith's reflections remind us that solving the housing challenge requires more than increasing supply. It requires creating inclusive communities where housing, employment, public services, nature, and quality of life are considered together. Because ultimately, building homes is only part of the solution—building thriving communities is the real goal.
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Host: Dr Orna Rosenfeld 
Edition : Clara Marcuard Fregonese

More About Keith Thorpe
Keith Thorpe is an internationally recognised expert in housing, urban development, and public policy, with more than four decades of experience advising governments, international organisations, and cities on sustainable and inclusive urban development.
Throughout his career, Keith held senior leadership roles within the UK Government, where he contributed to national housing and regeneration policies, and worked extensively with the OECD and other international organisations, supporting countries in addressing complex urban challenges through integrated policy approaches.
A regular participant in the World Urban Forum since its early editions, Keith has developed a deep understanding of the evolution of global urban policy, bringing together practical government experience with international expertise.
Known for his thoughtful and pragmatic approach, Keith continues to contribute his experience and expertise to international discussions on how cities can respond to today's housing challenges while improving quality of life and promoting more inclusive urban futures.

In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, recorded live at the World Urban Forum, we had the pleasure of speaking with Antonio Campagnoli, lawyer, real estate expert, and World President of FIABCI – the International Real Estate Federation.
Our host Dr Orna Rosenfeld, and Antonio reflect on one of the greatest challenges facing cities today: how to rebuild communities in an increasingly fragmented world. While our cities continue to grow, many people feel more isolated than ever before. 
Drawing on his international experience, Antonio explores the importance of collaboration between the public sector, private sector, policymakers, and communities themselves. Through FIABCI's approach to the 5Ps – Public, Private, People and Policy Partnerships, he argues that sustainable urban development can only succeed when citizens are actively involved in shaping the places where they live. Listening to communities, gathering their feedback, and building trust between all stakeholders are essential to creating cities that genuinely respond to people's needs.
The conversation also addresses some of the major transformations shaping our urban future. From Europe's ageing population and the growing pressure on the middle class to housing affordability and the migration towards smaller towns, Antonio highlights the need for greater flexibility in the way we design our cities. Homes, neighbourhoods, infrastructure, and financial models must all be capable of adapting to changing demographic, social, and economic realities.
When asked what inclusion means to him, Antonio offers a simple yet powerful answer: happiness and trust. Happiness because people choose to remain in places where they feel they belong; trust because no meaningful partnership—or city—can thrive without it. His reflections remind us that creating inclusive urban futures is not only about building better cities, but also about strengthening the relationships that allow communities to flourish.
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More about Antonio 
Antonio Campagnoli is a lawyer, real estate expert, and urban development leader whose work focuses on the intersection of cities, infrastructure, investment, and social impact. Throughout his career, he has promoted real estate as a catalyst for improving quality of life, creating social value, and supporting long-term sustainable development.
As World President of FIABCI – the International Real Estate Federation, Antonio has worked with governments, investors, developers, and professional organisations across the globe to advance innovative approaches to urban development. His work places particular emphasis on public-private partnerships, social infrastructure, mixed-use communities, and governance models that bring together institutions, businesses, and citizens to create more resilient and inclusive places.
A lawyer admitted to the Milan Bar, Antonio is the founder of IL PUNTO / CORFAC International and LEXCC Law Firm. He has extensive international experience advising on public-private partnerships, cross-border transactions, valuation, regulatory frameworks, and real estate investment. Increasingly, his work focuses on knowledge exchange, institutional cooperation, ESG principles, and impact-driven urban development, helping cities adapt global best practices to local contexts.
An active speaker at international forums and a member of numerous global professional organisations, Antonio continues to advocate for cities where collaboration, trust, and community are recognised as essential foundations for inclusive urban futures.

In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, recorded live at the World Urban Forum, we had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Ali A. Alraouf, architect, urban thinker, researcher, and educator, whose work is driven by a profound commitment to social justice, cultural identity, and more inclusive cities.
Throughout the conversation, Professor Alraouf reflects on the experiences that shaped his professional journey and inspired his lifelong commitment to creating urban environments where public space belongs to everyone, regardless of income or social status.
A powerful message that emerges from the conversation is his call to move beyond the image of cities and focus instead on their lived experience. Rather than asking how a city can become "the next Singapore," he challenges us to ask how it can become a better version of itself—one that responds to its own people, culture, and aspirations. For Professor Alraouf, successful cities are not defined by iconic buildings or impressive skylines, but by the quality of their public spaces, the everyday interactions they enable, and their ability to foster community and belonging.
The conversation also explores the opportunities and limitations of emerging technologies. While recognising the value of artificial intelligence, Professor Alraouf reminds us that technology can never replace community. Cities must continue to be shaped by people's needs, experiences, and relationships, creating places that genuinely reflect the lives of those who inhabit them.
Speaking candidly about his experience at the World Urban Forum itself, Professor Alraouf also reflects on the gap that can exist between global discussions and urban reality. Discussing inequality, housing, and poverty inside the conference halls, only to step outside and be confronted by neighbourhoods defined by extreme wealth, serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful change requires more than ambitious conversations—it demands action.
Throughout the conversation, Professor Alraouf's deep empathy for people living in disadvantaged circumstances is unmistakable. His reflections reveal a genuine concern for growing inequalities and a belief that architecture and urban planning should ultimately serve people before prestige. Thoughtful, compassionate, and quietly provocative, he reminds us that the future of our cities depends not only on better planning, but on our willingness to place dignity, community, and justice at the heart of urban development.
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Linkedin Ali A. Alraouf : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-a-alraouf-76516521/
IUF instagram : https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_urban_futures/?hl=en

More About Professor Ali A. Alraouf
Professor Ali A. Alraouf is an architect, urban designer, planner, researcher, and educator whose work explores the relationship between architecture, cities, culture, and social justice. With decades of international academic and professional experience, he has dedicated his career to understanding how urban environments can become more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the communities they serve.
A registered architect and urban planner in Egypt, Bahrain, and Qatar, Professor Alraouf has held teaching and research positions at universities across the Middle East and internationally, including as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. His academic work spans architectural history and theory, urban design, and design studios, while his research focuses on knowledge-based urban development, post-carbon cities, urban regeneration, cultural identity, creative cities, and the transformation of Gulf cities.
Professor Alraouf has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, books, book chapters, and critical essays, and has been invited to present his work at leading universities and international institutions around the world. He has also served as a consultant to organisations including UN-Habitat, UNESCO, ESCWA, and ICOMOS, contributing his expertise to projects that promote sustainable and inclusive urban development.
Today, Professor Alraouf is based in the United States, where he is the Founder and first Head of the Urban Lab and Design Studio at the Center for Middle East Architecture and Urbanism. Through his research, teaching, and professional practice, he continues to advocate for cities that celebrate local identity, strengthen communities, and place people, rather than prestige, at the centre of urban development.

In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, recorded live at the World Urban Forum, we had the pleasure of speaking with Pietro Elisei, urban and regional planner, founder of URBASOFIA, and former President of ISOCARP.
As cities around the world face growing pressures from housing shortages, climate change, social fragmentation, and economic uncertainty, Pietro invites us to look beyond individual challenges and consider the city as a complex and interconnected system. While housing remains one of the most pressing urban issues of our time, he argues that sustainability is the fundamental challenge that underpins them all. Creating cities that can thrive socially, environmentally, and economically requires a more integrated and long-term perspective on urban development.
Throughout the conversation, Pietro reflects on the importance of building more inclusive and less segmented cities. He highlights the need to move beyond siloed approaches and embrace systemic thinking, recognising how housing, mobility, public space, governance, and social inclusion are deeply interconnected. For him, the future of cities depends on our ability to understand these relationships and develop solutions that respond to the complexity of urban life.
Recorded amidst the energy and global conversations of the World Urban Forum, this episode offers thoughtful reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing cities today, and why collaboration, integration, and inclusion must remain at the heart of urban futures.
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More About Pietro Elisei
Pietro Elisei is an urban and regional planner with more than 25 years of international professional and academic experience working at the intersection of urban geography, spatial planning, and European urban policy. His work focuses on urban policy design, urban regeneration, strategic planning, sustainable urban development, governance models, and participatory planning processes.
He is the founder and owner of URBASOFIA and served as President of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) between 2021 and 2024. Pietro is currently President of the Global Design Association and a founding member of the International Urban Professionals Forum (IUPF).
Throughout his career, he has supported cities and regions across Europe and beyond in developing integrated urban strategies, contributing to EU Cohesion Policy, the Urban Agenda for the EU, Horizon Europe, URBACT, and Urban Innovative Actions programmes. He has also worked as an expert for the European Commission, UN-Habitat, and UNECE.
Alongside his professional practice, Pietro is a lecturer, researcher, and academic specialising in urban and regional planning, urban geography, strategic spatial planning, sustainable urban development, and the governance of territorial systems.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pietro-elisei-a1a2071b/
Host: Orna Rosenfeld
 www.ornarosenfeld.com