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.
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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.
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Anca COVACI
Administrative ManagerWith a University degree in Economics and a specialisation in management, Anca is expert in administrative management of projects funded under EU programmes. With over 20 professional experience in accounting management, Anca has been involved in more than 15 projects financed under EU funds (especially Phare and Technical Assistance projects), as well as in several projects under bilateral cooperation agreements, funded by the Italian Government in support of Romanian public authorities (at central, regional and local level). Under these assignments, Anca has assisted the team of experts in providing consultancy, training (i.e. addressed to EU funds beneficiaries, such as former Human Resources Development Sector Operational Programme 2007-2013 and Technical Assistance Operational Programme 2014-2020), as well as in the elaboration of studies (i.e. Regional Innovation Strategy for Bucharest-Ilfov Region), local development strategies (i.e. Baia Mare, Dolj County, South East Region), and programmes’ evaluation (ROP 2014-2020 on going evaluation), being responsible of contracts’ management and backstopping coordination, as Project Director. Anca is certified by the National Authority for Qualifications as expert in structural and European cohesion funds, project manager, trainer and turistic enterprise administrator.
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.
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Alexandra ZLOTEA
Urban planneralexandra.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.
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Ioana SANDU
ioana.sandu@urbasofia.eu
Ioana Sandu is an urban planner, a graduate of the University of Architecture and Urbanism „Ion Mincu” in Bucharest, Faculty of Urbanism, specializing in Urban Design and Planning, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Spatial Planning and Regional Development.
She has worked on projects related to the development of integrated urban development strategies for cities and metropolitan areas in Romania.
At Urbasofia, she is involved in SET-PED, an innovative European project exploring solutions for resilient urban regeneration through the sustainable renovation of buildings, integration of renewable energy, and development of smart urban furniture. She is also working on the TIMBERHAUS project, which focuses on intelligent, circular, and sustainable climate solutions for the use of wood in the construction sector.
She is interested in strategic planning and sustainable urban development, with a focus on innovative solutions that support the transition of cities to more resilient and climate-neutral models.
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.
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Ana DRAGOMIR
Urban planner, PhD. studentana.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.
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Valentina STAN
Urban plannervalentina.stan@urbasofia.eu
Urban Planner, graduated in Urban Planning and Design at the University of Architecture and Urban Planning “Ion Mincu” in Bucharest, currently pursuing 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.
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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.
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...