About me

I’m an urban planner and remote sensing/GIS/python specialist with experience in preparing and implementing urban infrastructure projects covering, among others, social housing, urban transport, and WASH in South and South-East Asia (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank). In addition, I have provided policy advice on solid waste management in Nigeria for the World Bank and affordable housing/resource efficiency in buildings for UN-Habitat (HQ and Delhi Office).

I hold a PGDip in Public Financial Management (SOAS, University of London), a Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development (University College Cork) and an MSc in Geographic Information Systems (Ulster University).

Feel free to get in touch.


Professional experience
From - To Position
01.2024 – present Herda Consulting – Dresden, Germany
Independent Consultant - Earth Observation and GIS for Urban Development
  • Assisting multilateral and bilateral development partners with project management and utilising the power of geospatial to understand contexts, enhance project designs and monitor implementation
01.2022 – 12.2023 GAF AG – Munich, Germany
Project Task Manager - EO-based Urban Planning and Development
  • Project Coordinator for the European Space Agency (ESA) financed Urban Sustainability activity, through which a consortium of European EO/GIS companies assisted the World Bank, ADB and AfDB in making use of geodata for urban projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, covering assets (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, green spaces) and hazards (e.g. urban heat, floods, subsidence), transport and urban growth modelling, nature-based solutions, and more
03.2021 – 06.2021 World Bank Group/IFC – Headquarters (Washington, D.C.) and Nigeria Country Office (Abuja)
Consultant (home-based)
11.2019 – 09.2020 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – Beijing, China
Investment Operations Specialist (Urban WASH, Housing, Transport and Solid Waste Management)
11.2017 - 11.2019 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – Beijing, China
Young Professional
03.2017 – 10.2017 UN-Habitat, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific – New Delhi, India
Regional Housing Advisor for UN-Habitat India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan Country Offices
11.2014 – 03.2017 UN-Habitat, Housing and Slum Upgrading Branch, Housing Unit – Nairobi, Kenya
Consultant, Sustainable Housing
06.2014 – 10.2014 UN-Habitat, Housing and Slum Upgrading Branch, Housing Unit – Nairobi, Kenya
Intern, Sustainable Housing
09.2008 – 09.2012 2 years each working as a lecturer/interpreter in Taiyuan, China, and translator in Cork, Ireland
Intern, Sustainable Housing
Education
From - To Course
09.2020 – 09.2021 Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems (Distinction)
Ulster University, United Kingdom
09.2019 Fitch-led Credit and Investment Program, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
08.2016 – 12.2018 Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Financial Management (ACCA-endorsed)
Centre for Financial and Management Studies, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom
11.2015 Post-Graduate Diploma in Developing Social Housing Projects
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam
09.2012 – 05.2014 Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development (MPlan) (RTPI-accredited)
Centre for Planning Education and Research (CPER), University College Cork, Ireland
2005 – 2008 Bachelor of Arts in Sinology (Chinese Studies) and English Studies
Ruhr-Universität Bochum – Bochum, Germany
  • Results: First Class Honours
Complementary Education
Area Skills
Computer Skills Microsoft Office 365 – QGIS, ArcGIS Pro – Python (analysis and visualisations, GitHub profile) – PostgreSQL, PostGIS – GeoServer, OpenLayers – SNAP (ESA)/Google Earth Engine/ERDAS IMAGINE – JASP/SPSS
MOOC Certificates: Advanced Topics in SQL (StanfordOnline), Python/PostgreSQL (Teclado)
Languages German: Native; English: Native speaker equivalent; Chinese: HSK Grade Level 7; French: Basic
Referees

Contact details for references are provided upon request.