About

Gabriela is a senior urban designer and planner with multidimensional perspective on urban projects, developed through relevant work in the public sector, private and nonprofit organizations. She holds a bachelor degree in architecture and urban planning from Universidade de São Paulo (FAU-USP, 2009) and a masters in urban design from Columbia University (GSAPP, 2011). Gabriela has over ten years of international experience leading and collaborating on a wide range of projects, from small community-based public space interventions, to large-scale and citywide redevelopment plans, guidelines and policies.

She has worked with international design firms, such as AECOM, and local offices in Brazil. In the public sector, she contributed to large urban plans at São Paulo Urbanismo, coordinated social housing feasibility studies at São Paulo´s Metropolitan Housing Company (Cohab-SP) and joined, for one year, the NYC Department of City Planning team. While in NYC, she also worked as a Teaching Associate for the masters program at Columbia and coordinated design studios in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, allowing students and faculty to collaborate with local authorities on ongoing city projects.

Inspired by her international experience, she founded in 2014 Cidade Ativa, a Brazilian urban design centered think&do tank that promotes liveable cities. Her main role, leading this group, was to ensure a clear vision and strategies that articulate Cidade Ativa´s initiatives. As the director for the organization, she has coordinated multiple research efforts and projects and managed the overall portfolio, nurturing relationship with a wide range of partners.