Internationally recognized expert in the area of urban development, emerging technologies, and government innovation with more than 25 years of experience driving social change in the U.S. and abroad.
As Head of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation, he leads a global team working to advance public-private collaboration in more than 140 cities across the world. Prior to joining the World Economic Forum, he served as New York City’s first-ever Director of Innovation.
Key highlights from his work include helping organize the first entirely online public election in U.S. history; laying the groundwork for the world’s largest, fastest municipal Wi-Fi network; orchestrating the launch and roll-out of the world’s largest city top-level domain; establishing the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance to advance the responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies; and, most recently, establishing a new global Alliance for Urban Innovation to support the revitalization and resiliency of urban economies.
He holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan.
Top city and urban transformation stories: Investigations into Iberian Peninsula blackout; EV sales up almost 30%; Airport expansion in Singapore, Casablanca.
Top city and urbanization stories: How Asia's megacities can build resilience; San Francisco innovators awarded; Why EVs don't always reduce CO2 emissions.
アースデイ、国連、デジタル革命の発祥地であるサンフランシスコは、ネイチャーポジティブかつ気候レジリエンスのある未来の都市として、今また世界的イノベーションの最前線に立っています。地域のニーズと新たなビジネス機会を結びつけるアプローチで、世界中で適応・導入可能な繁栄と幸福の共有の新たなモデルを育んでいます。
The birthplace of Earth Day, Internet and UN Charter is again leading global innovation – this time as a nature-positive, climate-resilient city of the future.
También en este resumen: solo una quinta parte de las ciudades cumplen con los estándares de calidad del aire; y los precios de los terrenos suben en Japón.
Read our monthly round-up of top city and urbanization stories. Cities face climate whiplash, with floods and droughts putting urban systems at risk; and more
Top city and urbanization stories: Los Angeles turns to rebuilding; Thailand-China high-speed railway delay; UAE maps air taxi routes.
Davos 2025 found that innovation and creative thinking are thriving and cities, in particular, are providing a testbed for experimentation and action on the world's top challenges.
El futuro de las ciudades sostenibles podría acelerarse si acercamos el diseño y la implementación de los sistemas digitales a la planificación urbana.
The future of equitable and sustainable cities can be accelerated by advancing data equity in practice when it comes to urban planning and transformation.
Other top city and urbanization news: Cities yet to set net-zero targets; Indonesia’s bid to improve Jakarta’s air; New research on infrastructure, scaling EVs, and nature-positive cities.
While the war that started with Russia's invasion is still ongoing, Ukraine is beginning to rebuild. Here's how it's doing it with Ukrainians in mind.
With over 80% of GDP originating from urban areas, Davos 2024 highlighted the pivotal role of cities in shaping global economies
Top city and urbanization stories: India to spend $7 billion on electric buses in 170 cities; How July's heatwave impacted workers in US cities, and more.
Half of European schools and hospitals located on heat islands; World's most liveable cities revealed; House price fluctuations in China and Australia.
