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Cities, Settlements and Infrastructure - Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

Tracks
Thursday Stream 4
Thursday, October 16, 2025
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Speaker

Ms Ana Terra Amorim Maia
Postdoctoral Researcher
Basque Centre for Climate Change

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Dr. Amorim-Maia is an interdisciplinary socio-environmental scientist exploring the intersections of climate change adaptation, urban governance, and social justice. She is a Juan de la Cierva Fellow and postdoctoral researcher at BC3, where she contributes to IMAGINE Adaptation, supporting cities in envisioning resilient futures and assessing progress toward achieving them
Ms Ana Terra Amorim Maia
Postdoctoral Researcher
Basque Centre for Climate Change

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Dr. Amorim-Maia is an interdisciplinary socio-environmental scientist exploring the intersections of climate change adaptation, urban governance, and social justice. She is a Juan de la Cierva Fellow and postdoctoral researcher at BC3, where she contributes to IMAGINE Adaptation, supporting cities in envisioning resilient futures and assessing progress toward achieving them
Dr Marta Olazabal
Researcher
Basque Centre for Climate Change

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Dr Marta Olazabal is an interdisciplinary scientist exploring pathways of progress on climate action in cities worldwide. She is an Ikerbasque Research Associate and Ramon y Cajal Fellow at BC3 where she leads the Adaptation Research Group. She is the Principal Investigator of the European Research Council project IMAGINE Adaptation.
Jeannette Dubinin
Director of Resilience and Adaptation
The Center for Planning Excellence

Adaptation and Resilience Clinic

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Biography

Jeannette is the Director of Resilience and Adaptation and focuses on policy, planning and implementation tools with and for Louisiana’s communities. She has co-authored several of CPEX’s publications and works at both the state and community scale to identify opportunities for adaptation and resilience through land use and community planning.
Mrs Migel Estoque
Senior Climate Change & Sustainability Advisor
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

ClimateWise – Addressing the adaptation gap for small and medium enterprises

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Biography

Dr Sarah Anderson Sarah, Programme Director for Climate Connect Aotearoa (CCA), has 25+ years in climate, sustainability, and innovation. Since moving to Tāmaki Makaurau in 2017, she’s led regional climate action and adaptation efforts. Previously, she managed major UK and EU projects in flood risk, resilience, and environmental strategy. Patrick Pringle Patrick, with 15 years in Climate Change and Resilience, led the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), bridging international science and policy. As a climate adaptation specialist, he helps build climate resilience across Aotearoa and Small Island Developing States. Dr Sukaina Bharwani Sukaina Bharwani, an interdisciplinary researcher in climate adaptation, blends social anthropology and computing. She directs weADAPT, co-led SEI’s Climate Services initiative, and leads research in major EU projects. A contributor to the IPCC report, she advances urban adaptation, disaster resilience, and climate services through transdisciplinary collaboration. Mark Baker-Jones Mark Baker-Jones, a leading expert in climate law and policy, has advised governments, businesses, and academia in Aotearoa and Australia. A former political adviser to NZ’s Climate Minister, he has published widely on climate risk, and contributed to climate legislation development. He now leads his own Pakihi Māori business, providing Climate Change Advisory Services to Aotearoa, Australia and Asia Pacific. Lynn Migel Estoque Migel is a Senior Climate Change & Sustainability Advisor at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) – Auckland’s cultural and economic development agency. She leads the climate risk and resilience work across the organisation. With a Masters in Disaster Management, Migel focusses on building climate resilience and embedding climate considerations in organisational decision-making.
Dr Shreya Banerjee
Assistant Professor
IIT Jodhpur

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Shreya is an Assistant Professor at IIT Jodhpur. Previously, she was post-doctoral fellow in 'Cooling Singapore 2.0'. She is an architect-urban planner turned applied climatologist researching heat mitigation and adaptation, nature-based solutions, and environmental health employing data-driven evidence and visual story-telling. Shreya is Asia Councillor of International Society of Biometeorology.
Amy Bosworth
Impact Analyst
ImpactLab

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Amy is a multi-disciplinary sustainability professional with a foundation in Global South perspectives and experience in research, impact evaluation, and learning facilitation. A South African based in Wellington, Amy is an Impact Analyst at ImpactLab and worked for the Sustainability Institute and the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University. Participant 4 Contribution:
Muhammed Cesay

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Muhammed holds a B.A. in Development Studies, University of The Gambia, 2020, and a M.A. in Geography, Ohio University with specialization in Climate Change Adaptation. He is a climate change adaptation researcher. He has wide experience in education, development practice, climate change & environmental project management, and human rights.
Ms Jimena Eyzaguirre
International Team Director and Climate Change Adaptation Business Area Lead; Managing Partner
Essa Technologies Ltd

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Jimena Eyzaguirre is a Managing Partner and Practice Lead for Climate Change Adaptation at ESSA Technologies Ltd. She works with government, community, and non-profit clients to understand climate risk and adaptation options, strengthen systems-level capacity to manage climate risk and build resilience, and learn from investments in adaptation. Participant 6
Mr Tom FitzGerald
Co-Convenor
Aotearoa Society of Adaptation Professionals

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Tom co-convenes the newly-established network of adaptation practitioners in NZ and works on regional adaptation in Wellington. For over 20 years, Tom has worked across all sectors – including non-profit, public, private, and academia – and understands the power of being able to tell a narrative around adaptation progress and justify investment.
Mr Sean Goodwin
Postdoctoral Researcher
Basque Centre for Climate Change

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Sean Goodwin is a multidisciplinary researcher with a focus on urban climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and monitoring, evaluation and learning. His research addresses pressing questions facing communities of research and practice at the intersection of climate change, biodiversity conservation, urban planning and social justice.
Dr Luna Khirfan
Associate Professor
University of Waterloo

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Associate Professor, School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Canada who investigates public engagement, place making, and climate adaptation with an emphasis on climate justice. She is Co-Author of the UN-Habitat's 2024 World Cities Report (2024) and Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (2022).
Ms Helen Scott
Team Leader Environmental Planning
City of Kingston / RMIT University

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Helen is an Environmental Team Leader at City of Kingston, working 25 years in sustainability, including 15 years in climate adaptation. Her PhD investigated how monitoring and evaluation of adaptation is undertaken and used by local government. Previous roles include Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network, ICLEI, and RMIT University.
Mr Edward Sparkes
Senior Research Associate
United Nations University - Institute For Environment And Human Security

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Edward’s research covers complex risk analysis, adaptation pathways, and monitoring, evaluation and learning in complex systems. He is passionate about co-creation and concept development. His work focusses predominantly on understanding and managing the complex impacts from climate change. He is currently perusing his PhD on pathways for complex risk management.
Dr Katharine Vincent
Director
Kulima Integrated Development Solutions

Monitoring, evaluating, and learning (MEL) for adaptation across urban and local contexts: Opportunities, tensions, collaborative storytelling

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Katharine Vincent conducts applied research and technical consulting on adaptation. In her role as director of Kulima Integrated Development Solutions, she engages in transdisciplinary partnerships and facilitates co-production of useable knowledge that helps society to manage the risk posed by climate change, particularly in southern and east Africa.
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