Profile

About me

I grew up in Dublin and spent time in several cities across Europe, before ending up in Shanghai, China in 2011 where I live now. For most of my career I have been helping governments, property developers, and local communities to create places that enhance the quality of urban and rural life. I've always had a keen interest in cities, geography and understanding spatial and cultural relationships. I am always happy exploring new places and landscapes and meeting new people along the way.

This blog is informed by my academic background (5 years at UCD in Ireland and 2 years at KU Leuven in Belgium), my experience in other European cities like Berlin and Barcelona, and my extended time living in China. During my time in Shanghai I have worked as an urban planning and design consultant for a range of firms. I have also spent time in the technology sector — including roles with leading tech firms supporting cloud platforms and data-driven decision-making for enterprises in the business of digital transformation. This experience at the intersection of design and technology, engineering and architecture, informs my understanding of adaptive urban systems, cultural change, and data-informed planning.

I have a bachelors and masters degree in Geography from University College Dublin + TU Berlin, and a masters in Urbanism and Strategic Planning from the Faculty of Engineering at KU Leuven, Belgium + UPC Barcelona.