Core Team
Dr. Ing. Pietro ELISEI
Founder and managing director(+40) 731 159 785
Town and regional planner, senior researcher and policymaker. He collaborated, as consultant, with ministries, cities and towns all over Europe, holding important positions in international organizations dedicated to urban planning (PLANUM, ISOCARP).
International expert in urban regeneration policies, integrated planning for small-medium sized cities and topics related to smart cities. A collaborator with EU universities and research centers, he works with international institutions (European Commission: URBACT and UIA Secretariats, UN-Habitat, UNECE) for important planning research. Dr. Elisei also routinely holds keynote speeches in international conferences and publishes a number of scientific articles on topics related to urban planning.

Prof. Dr. Nicoleta Silvia IOANA
Executive directornicoleta.silvia.ioana@urbasofia.eu
Holding a degree in Philology and a Post-Degree in Communication and Public Relations, Nicoleta is currently involved in projects with a strong social dimension, being responsible for education and continuous professional training and works as a trainer and evaluator of FPC competences. Within Urbasofia, she is responsible for the internal management and project coordination, being involved in overseeing financial, administrative and communication activities.
Dr. Sabina REICHERT
Strategic Planning Expert(+40) 773 702 216
Urban Planner and EU Project Manager for Transnational / EU R&I projects. PhD in multilevel governance as an instrument for integrated strategic planning at metropolitan level. University Assistant at the „Ion Mincu” University for Architecture and Planning in Bucharest, Romania. President of the Romanian Professional Association of Urban Planners (APUR), ISOCARP member and URBACT Ad-Hoc Expert.
Worked on several integrated urban development strategies for small and middle-sized cities as well as metropolitan areas in the EU, SUMPs, sectoral / SC strategies. Designing and implementing projects on Horizon2020, Interreg DTP, former FP7, URBACT, recently UIA. Certified trainer.
Dr. Miruna DRĂGHIA
Urban, territorial & landscape plannerStrategic urban and territorial planning expert currently enrolled as a PhD candidate (FU UAUIM), where she is working as an associated teaching assistant. Former Erasmus student at Faculty of Architecture from University of Lisbon (FAUL). Her research study is mainly oriented towards methodologies, tools and policies for spatial planning at the level of functional urban areas.
She is particularly focused on urban and territorial pressing challenges, being actively engaged in European-funded cooperation projects (Horizon 2020, UIA, INTERREG Danube, URBACT III), paying particular attention to mobility-related topics, cultural heritage as a catalyst for urban development, governance frameworks and collaborative actions of multiple actors, as well as systemic and circular approaches for urban regeneration processes.
Codruţ PAPINA
Urban Planner and Landscape Designer, PhD studentPhD(c) Codruț Papina is an urban and landscape planner, doctoral student and junior researcher, holding a degree in Landscape Design and Planning with a master’s degree in urban management for Competitive Cities. He is a PhD candidate at UAUIM Bucharest with a focus on the development of urban peripheries, biophilic cities, sustainable approaches on how cities can grow and transform. He is holding valuable experience in co-creation processes for strategic planning, urban design and urban regeneration. Currently involved in HORIZON2020 projects proGIreg and STARDUST and Urban Innovative Actions project, SPIRE Baia Mare, exploring and experimenting with nature-based solutions and smart city development.
Ionela Mădălina RUSEN
Urban Planner & Urban Designer
Adelin LAZĂR
Geographer & GIS SpecialistGeographer, territorial planner and specialist in GIS and remote sensing techniques, which he uses in his studies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geography with a specialization in the field of territorial planning. In the same field of territorial planning and management of urban and rural settlements, he obtained a master’s degree. He has been involved in several projects, urban regeneration, creation of urban plans, GIS applications and maps but also projects of the impact of geomorphological elements on the environment. His main concerns are the process of urban sprawl, urban entropy, urban green spaces, transport infrastructure, land use dynamics, but also social processes such as segregation and gentrification. Cartography, remote sensing, Earth observation and everything related to GIS and geospatial data are also among his interests.

Alexandra ZLOTEA
Urban plannerUrban Planner
alexandra.zlotea@urbasofia.eu
Alexandra Zlotea is an urban planner and consultant in sustainable urban development, specializing in urban regeneration and climate change adaptation. She graduated in Urban Planning and Design from the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism and completed the Urban Planning for Transition master’s program at Università Iuav di Venezia. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Development at the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB).
Her work is dedicated to sustainable urban transformation processes, strategic planning and multi-level governance in the context of ecological and social transitions, as well as urban risk adaptation, post-disaster reconstruction, and heritage conservation.
Currently, at Urbasofia, Alexandra is involved in the NONA (Interreg) and CAREGET (European Urban Initiative) projects, which focus on urban regeneration and green investments for sustainable cities. She contributes to the development of strategies for integrating green investments into the revitalization of degraded areas, collaborating with international partners to implement innovative governance models and territorial inclusion approaches.

ANNA COLICCHIO
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineer, specializing in water resource management and environmental remediation, with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree with honors from La Sapienza University of Rome, where she also successfully completed the excellence program for her degree. During her academic career, she cultivated a strong interest in sustainable urban development, focusing her research on innovative solutions to foster a virtuous interaction between natural ecosystems and human activities, as well as strategies for climate change mitigation and the enhancement of urban resilience. Her final thesis, “Multidisciplinary Approach to Urban River Monitoring,” reflected this vision, combining technical expertise with cross-sectoral perspectives on environmental management.
She first joined Urbasofia through the Erasmus+ Internship Program, where she supported EU-funded projects and gained hands-on experience in international cooperation and multidisciplinary research. Building on this experience, she is now an integral part of the Urbasofia team, contributing to European projects such as WOODCIRCLES (Horizon) and KINETIC (JPI). Her work involves bridging technical expertise with policy-oriented approaches, supporting the transition toward more sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient urban environments.
Andrada-Ioana LUPULESCU
Urban Plannerandrada.lupulescu@urbasofia.eu
Strategic urban planner holding a bachelor degree in Urban Planning and Design at “Ion Mincu” University for Architecture and Urban Planning and a certification in Project Management.
Urban and regional strategic integrated planner working in Transnational / EU R&I projects. Andrada is currently involved in an applied research project within the Interreg Danube programme (AGORA – Advanced coGeneration Options for Reintegrating local Assets). Worked on several urban plans in Bucharest covering small and middle-sized areas in the city, which enabled her to understand the complexity and connections between different levels of information within an urban settlement of national importance. Has experience in the project management of STEM innovative educational initiatives at local level, through an Erasmus financing. Her areas of interest include urban regeneration and resilience, governance frameworks, the integration of digital tools for a sustainable urban development, having also a passion for urban design.

Ana DRAGOMIR
Urban planner, PhD. studentUrban planner
ana.dragomir@urbasofia.eu
Ana Dragomir, an urban planner, who holds a degree in Urban Planning and Design complemented by a master’s degree in Urban Management for Competitive Cities. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UAUIM Bucharest, Ana’s research focuses on the innovative realms of NetZeroCities and Urban Renewal.
Working on multiple strategic documents, she has developed a strong and diverse background in strategic planning and territorial development. Her knowledge and skill set were enhanced by her activity in public administration, particularly in European funds management.
Currently, Ana is applying her experience on projects dedicated to exploring and implementing viable approaches that foster sustainable growth and transformation in cities.

Valentina STAN
Urban plannerUrban Planner
valentina.stan@urbasofia.eu
Urban Planner, graduated in Urban Planning and Design at the University of Architecture and Urban Planning “Ion Mincu” in Bucharest, and holding a Master’s Degree in Spatial Planning and Regional Development at the same university.
At the university, she has been part of the team that elaborated several urban planning documents, such as the General Urban Plan (PUG) and the County Land Use Plan (PATJ). Her areas of interest cover a wide range of challenges and opportunities, from the sustainable development of cities through innovative and participatory solutions, to policy and programme development focusing on territorial cohesion.
She is currently involved in various projects focusing on the sustainable development of cities and the creation of people-oriented solutions, such as INCA (funded by Horizon) and CityWalk 2.0 (Interreg Danube) in which she is the communication manager.

IRINA PANAIT
Irina is a strategic urban planner with expertise in both international cooperation focused on integrated sustainable urban development and experience in urban planning and design with an integrated view on planning policy, housing issues, social disparities and legislation gaps within strategic planning and territorial development. Her experience in European territorial cooperation (URBACT, Interreg Danube Region, Interreg Europe, ENI CBC Romania-Ukraine) and programme management, communication strategy and training for capacity building and knowledge sharing brings a comprehensive and inclusive approach on analysis regarding lessons learned from cities and stakeholders on European level to participate in the decision making on the future Cohesion policy.

DARIA DUȚU
Urban planner
daria.dutu@urbasofia.eu
Urban planner and sustainable urban development consultant with a strong academic foundation and extensive experience in urban planning projects. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Territorial Planning and Regional Development.
She has contributed to the development of multiple urban planning documents, including Detailed Urban Plans (PUD), Zonal Urban Plans (PUZ), General Urban Plans (PUG), and County Territorial Plans (PATJ), focusing on sustainable urban development, participatory design, and integrated urban and territorial policies.
Her research interests include sustainable urban development, strategic planning, urban regeneration, integrated urban design, circular construction practices, innovative urban policies, and supporting European cities in addressing climate change challenges.
She is actively involved in EU-funded projects, including HORIZON: Timberhaus and Urbreath, focusing on co-creation, strategic planning, urban design, and regeneration, promoting sustainable, circular, and innovative solutions for resilient and inclusive cities.

Giorgia ROMAGNOLI
Sustainable Development EconomistGiorgia.romagnoli@urbasofia.eu
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics and a Master’s degree in Resource Economics and Sustainable Development. Her career path has included valuable internships in the renewable energy sector and environmental impact assessment, providing her with practical experience in several fields. She also completed a course in City Sustainability Management, which opened the door to her involvement in urban planning and regeneration.
With a strong commitment to community engagement, she founded a cultural association focused on promoting sustainable development in urban areas. This initiative has enabled her to actively involve local communities in shaping their sustainable future.
She started working at Urbasofia during an Erasmus+ Internship program and is now an integral part of their team. She is currently working on several European funded projects, using her expertise to promote sustainable development initiatives in different regions, contributing to the creation of environmentally and economically resilient urban environments.

Gabriel SIMON
Gabriel Simon is an urban planner and sustainable urban mobility consultant with a solid academic background and diversified professional experience in urban planning. He graduated in Urban Planning at the University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” in Bucharest and is about to complete an international master’s program in Sustainable Mobility Transition within EIT Urban Mobility, at Aalto University (Finland) and Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya (Spain).
Throughout his academic and professional career, Gabriel has specialized in sustainable urban mobility development, both from a public policy perspective and through pragmatic interventions of tactical urbanism and data analysis. His expertise also includes relevant contributions to the elaboration of strategic planning instruments, such as the General Urban Plan of Bucharest, thus extending his area of expertise to urban design and urban regeneration processes.
Currently, he is involved in the research and implementation projects PROWD and FAIR Mobility, funded by the DUT (Driving Urban Transitions) program, which aim at applying the concept of the 15-minute city in various spatial and social contexts. The PROWD project analyzes low-density urban areas, while FAIR Mobility explores the gender dimension in accessibility and urban mobility. As part of these initiatives, Gabriel contributes both to the development of policy and strategic recommendations as well as to the communication and visual identity component.

MIRUNA CIOACĂ
Urban Planner
miruna.cioaca@urbasofia.eu
Miruna-Mihaela Cioacă is a consultant with advanced expertise in urban mobility. Her strong suits are urban design and accessibility, both supported by her formal education in urban planning and architecture. She is currently a master’s student enrolled in the EIT Urban Mobility SUMT program, having spent a year in Helsinki (Aalto University) and Barcelona (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya), where she built a strong base of knowledge and experiences of mobility as a whole.
Miruna’s academic background directly supports her professional life with roles in mobility consultancy and urban planning. Throughout her career, she has proved herself to be a valuable asset with sizeable contributions to accessible urban mobility and DRT service development. Miruna has also made relevant contributions to the elaboration of strategic planning instruments such as the General Urban Plan of Bucharest, thereby exhibiting her grasp of urban design and urban regeneration processes.
We also thanks our former partners
LAURINE DUIVON
NIMA YASINI
RAZVAN OLTEAN
OANA EMILIA BUDĂU
COSMINA MANEA
YULIA BARSUKOVA
EMANUEL ANDREANA
ALEXANDRU MATEI
IRINA SAGHIN
AGOTA BARABAS
ANDREI SABAU
NATALIA ONESCIUC
& INTERNS...