Dr. Hadeel El Naggar, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Hadeel El Naggar is a climate change advocate, architect, and Assistant Professor of Architecture at the American University in Dubai. She specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and flood mitigation strategies for resilient urban design. A RIBA Chartered Architect with a Ph.D. in Architecture from Alexandria University, she brings over two decades of experience across Egypt, the UAE, and Iraq. Her research centers on leveraging GIS for environmental risk assessment and developing nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, particularly in arid and flood-prone regions. Dr. El Naggar contributes to cutting-edge work in climate adaptation and sustainable urban planning. With a portfolio that includes large-scale architectural and infrastructure projects, she integrates advanced technologies with practical design approaches. She is a passionate advocate for environmental justice and a frequent speaker at international forums, inspiring future architects to design climate-resilient cities. 

Lucy Bali, Germany

Lucy Bali is a strategic urban planner with expertise in sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and adaptation. Balancing strategic thinking with deep contextual awareness, she is passionate about helping cities navigate complexity and unlock transformative potential for just transitions and regenerative urban futures. With an interdisciplinary planning background, Lucy works across scales: from city- and regional-level strategies to site-specific, context-based design solutions. She has managed international research collaborations and multi-stakeholder projects with GIZ, MoHUA, AfDB and the World Bank. Her experience spans Kenya, Indonesia, India, and the UK, contributing to regeneration strategies, TOD masterplans, and climate adaptation frameworks. She has shaped retrofit and net-zero policy for the Greater London Authority and City of London and led research on carbon offsetting and climate finance justice. She actively engages in international planning networks and conferences, including AfriCities, the Academy of Urbanism, and the International Smart Cities Network. Namely, she co-authored a peer-reviewed paper on barriers to plan implementation in Kenya, presented at the 2022 ISOCARP Congress. 

Rafif Abdelmalik, Sudan

Rafif Abdelmalik is an accomplished Urban Planner with over a decade of multidisciplinary experience across Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mauritania. She holds PMP, RMP, and LEED AP BD+C/ND certifications and a Master's in Planning Information Technology. Her work focuses on sustainable urban development, risk-informed project planning, and stakeholder engagement. Rafif has led strategic initiatives in urban regeneration, infrastructure, and green building design, integrating GIS and remote sensing in site selection and policy development. With a strong background in project coordination and technical leadership, she has successfully managed complex programs and international collaborations. Her experience spans governmental, private, and development sectors, contributing to projects such as sustainable villages in Darfur and sugar industry development across Africa. Passionate about creating healthier environments and inclusive communities, Rafif regularly contributes to international conferences and publications in the field of urban sustainability.

Dr. Rajshree Kamat, India

Dr. Rajshree Kamat is an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture & Planning, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, India, with over 32 years of experience in architecture, urban and regional planning, disaster management, and climate change. She has authored 50+ research papers in reputed journals (SCI, Scopus), 15 book chapters, and 5 books. A frequent expert speaker, she has delivered 40+ invited talks and worked with key national institutions including UPSC, AIILSG, and the Disaster Management Institute. Dr. Kamat has attended and presented at several international conferences across Europe and Asia. She has served as a Track Rapporteur and co-editor of the proceedings for ISOCARP WPC60 and has participated in three consecutive ISOCARP Congresses. She is actively involved in research, teaching, and consultancy and currently supervises PhD and postgraduate students.