The sessions of Empowering Women, Public Space and Cimate Change Talks, combine our past topics of Public Space and Climate Change.

Partnering together with Her City a joint initiative of UN Habitat and Shared City Foundation. Partners of the New European Bauhaus and co-organization with partners of BIDs Belgium and City Space Architecture.

Empowering Women, Public Space and Climate Change aims to create further awareness, research and projects on female led initiatives and gathering experts from a variety of sectors with a focus on empowering diverse women around the world. Engaging in inspiring debates and discussions, taking an inclusive approach to highlight women working in the field.

All sessions of Empowering Women and Climate Change recognize the need for more gender equality, racial and social justice. With taking an integrated systemic and connected approach by local governments, private sector and grassroots and civil society organizations, together having a crucial opportunity to enhance their climate responses from social issues to the supply chain, from poverty alleviation and gender equality.

About this session:

Join us for our 11th session of “Empowering Women, Public Space & Climate Change,” where we bring together thought leaders and experts on the topic of:

“Care as a Cornerstone: Redefining Public Spaces and Climate Action Through Women’s Leadership”

Synopsis:

In the face of climate change and the evolving demands of urban environments, the concept of “care” has emerged as a transformative framework for reimagining public spaces. This session explores the intersection of care, gender equity, and sustainability, emphasizing how nurturing, inclusive, and community-driven approaches can reshape public spaces to address climate resilience and social justice.

By centering the voices of women, especially those from marginalized communities, we can redefine care beyond traditional roles, seeing it as an act of leadership, empowerment, and innovation. This session will delve into how care-driven public spaces can foster equitable access, support well-being, and prioritize regenerative practices.

Participants will gain insights into innovative projects and female-led initiatives that champion care as a critical component of sustainable design and climate adaptation.

Join us in paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future at the crossroads of climate change, women’s empowerment, and public space.

This is the first session of 2025 and we look forward to welcoming the following Speakers:

Romina Rodela, Ph.D:

Romina Rodela, Ph.D., is a Senior Researcher and Assoc. Prof. in Env Gov & Management at Södertörn University (Sweden), where she conducts research on participatory processes and sustainable cities. She is the Principal Investigator of the 5-year project “Planning with Youth” (https://medium.com/youth-plan) and the coordinator of the Urban-Learning Hub at the Eco-Justice Research Platform.

In 2025, she and colleagues from Europe and Australia will investigate cases of care-informed planning as part of a small project funded by Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

Ewelina Jaskulska:

Ewelina Jaskulska is an architect and researcher with extensive experience in leading international projects. Her portfolio includes key contributions to high-profile projects, such as serving as the project manager for Poland of the Gdańsk Stadium for Euro 2012 and her instrumental role in the design of the iconic Rondo 1 skyscraper in Warsaw.
In recognition of her innovative approach to architecture, she was named to the prestigious “40 under 40” list by The European Center for Architecture and Urban Studies in 2019, identifying her as one of the most promising emerging talents shaping the future of design.

Ewelina is the co-founder of the ARCHITEKTONICZKI FOUNDATION, an organization dedicated to feminist urban research and design. The foundation challenges traditional narratives in architecture and urban planning by advocating for more inclusive, equitable, and gender-sensitive spaces. Since founding MOLEKULY research and design office in 2014, Ewelina challenges traditional architectural paradigms. She views architecture not merely as the creation of physical spaces but as a transformative tool for shaping social and cultural dynamics. Her work has been recognized in numerous international competitions and exhibited in cities including Warsaw, Athens, London, Weimar, Munich, Paris, and Chicago.

As a key note speaker, she regularly presents at global symposiums and conferences, offering insights into the intersection of spatial design, gender studies, and socio-cultural evolution.

Jenna Dutton

Jenna Dutton is an ambitious and passionate researcher and professional urban planner with over fifteen years of experience working in collaboration with and for academia and local governments. She started her PhD in 2023 on the topic Gender inequality in cities: the role and potential of urban planning. In her previous roles she has successfully led various key projects including those focused on affordable housing, local planning policy, climate and equity, childcare, and accessibility.

As an advocate for equity and inclusion in urbanism she contributes to global planning efforts as Co-chair of the Commonwealth Women in Planning Network, leading research on various topics including Feminist Planning and Urbanism and volunteering with collectives such as the Gender Urban Research Network.

Dr. Luisa Bravo

Luisa Bravo is a global academic scholar and educator, social entrepreneur and public space activist. She has more than 15-years experience in the professional field as urban planner and designer with a specific focus on public space. Her expertise is grounded in extensive academic postdoctoral research and teaching in Italy and Europe, the United States, Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Throughout her academic career, she held different academic positions, in Italy and abroad, and she has been the recipient of prestigious grants and awards such as the Marco Polo scholarship for a postdoctoral research period as Visiting Scholar at IURD – Institute of Urban and Regional Development at University of California Berkeley (USA, 2012) and the Australia Award Endeavour Executive Fellowship for professional development, fully funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education and Training, hosted at the Queensland University of Technology, School of Design, Faculty of Creative Industries (Australia, 2018).

Luisa is the Founder and President of City Space Architecture, an Italian-based non-profit organization promoting public space culture at the global level, and she is the Founder and Editor in Chief of The Journal of Public Space, the first, interdisciplinary, academic, open access journal entirely dedicated to public space, that she established through City Space Architecture in partnership with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

https://www.cityspacearchitecture.org

Rozina Spinnoy

Rozina Spinnoy is a Design Strategist and Social Entrepreneur, Owner/Founder of her NGO BIDs Belgium and Design SME’s based in Brussels and working internationally. A community partner of the New European Bauhaus, with her NGO BIDs Belgium. She is also the Founder of the international/community initiative of Empowering Women, Public Space and Climate Change. Rozina is also an Academician for the Academy of Urbanism and also sitting on a variety of Advisory Councils.

Rozina champions a variety of causes, projects and philanthropic activities, ranging from gender equality, urban place-making, inclusion and diversity. A keen advocate for more mental health awareness, as a supporting member of the WHO pan European mental Health coalition, inclusive communities and co-designing processes in her wide range of diverse projects. You will find Rozina often sharing her views and passion on the value of Design, Creativity and Foresight for positive impact across our society.

https://bids-belgium.com/empowering-women-public-space-climate-change-talks/

This session of Empowering Women and Public Spaces Talks, is co-organised by Rozina Spinnoy, BIDs Belgium and in partnership with Luisa Bravo of City Space Architecture. Partners of Her City, a joint initiative of UN Habitat and the Shared City Foundation, the New European Bauhaus (as community partners of BIDs Belgium).